Why - Cancer

The big "C". I know God hates this disease and we should too. There have been so many of our family and friends attacked by this horrible deteriorating disease. I have to wonder if this is environmental...chemical....the mixing of all these things and how we have eaten and what man has created to facilitate our lives. I wonder if the hairspray we put on each day enters our scalp and can cause....

What about the powdered drinks we mix with water. The Pills we take each day that mix in our system with other chemicals in food that we eat....the list goes on and on. We can get obsessed with the "if", "why" and "what's".

I've known so many that have had this disease and some live and some die. How do you pray? I do know that it is God's will that all should be healed. So why is it that some don't get healed? Does it have to do with "their" faith? Does it have to do with how "we pray" for them? So many questions...

We probably will never know the whole reasoning behind this. Is it ok to question? Yes of course! I ask God these questions all the time. He does not always give me a straight answer but I'm smart enough to know that He doesn't have to. He is after all "GOD"! What He does give me is a peace that comes upon me that assures me that He is always in control!

My brother in law is 85 years old and has cancer. He just finished a treatment at MD Anderson. Praise God he is doing well. He knows the Lord through all of this and is ready to meet him when the time comes. "God is in control".

My daughters' best friends are dealing with their father with Cancer. He is at the end of his days. He knows the Lord, praise God! His family will miss him tremendously. He is only in his late 40s early 50s. "God is in conrol".

A friends husband from church was just diagnosed with cancer in his mouth last week. We are praying for his complete healing of course. I say "God is in control".

Let's pray and ask God to give us wisdom in how to pray when we hear of loved ones being struck by this evil. Let's pray that the Lord keep us strong and believe in the power of the blood of Christ that was shed for our illnesses. I pray for your loved ones and I ask that you pray for mine.

Love, Ruth

Why - Hosanna!

Hosanna is the cry of praise or adoration that was shouted in recognition of the Messiah - Jesus Christ! Hosanna is a cry of salvation! A declaration of Praise!

When I come across people that I know and love and know they are lost....I whisper "Hosanna" to them. It also means "Save Now". I encourage you speak this to the lost....

I had lunch with a friend the other day....He is now saved! Its was a promise from God because I prayed for him for so many years...

His mother is a catholic and he is concerned because she would not go with him to church. She would only go to a catholic church and he is no longer a catholic. He reminded me that she has been a devout catholic all her life yet does not know anything about being saved. Her religion is a ritual to her. She does not know Christ as her personal Savior. When I prayed for her this morning I whispered "Hosanna" (Save now) ...... God can reveal all things to her personally, she does not have to change religion she just has to read her bible herself, speak to Christ herself, ask Him to save her by becoming her personal Savior...She needs to understand that the Priest is just there to preach the gospel...and he cannot save her....she has to make the request herself to Jesus alone...for her salvation. Just good deeds will not save her....

I've been listening to this song since Sunday morning and requested it for this coming Sunday morning....Its one of my favorite....

Hosanna!

"I see the King of Glory, coming on the clouds with fire
the whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes
I see His love and mercy, washing over all our sin
the people sing, the people sing

Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation rising up to take their place
with selfless faith, with selfless faith
I see a near revival stirring as we pray and seek
we're on our knees, we're on our knees

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity.

Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosann in the highest!

If you have a chance....go to youtube.com and listen to it yourself..... "Hosanna by Hillsong"

It's powerful!

Why - A watchman?

Last night I saw our dear Pastor Randy on TV. Now normally "I DO NOT WATCH TBN, DAYSTAR...etc" but I did last night because of him. I love my Pastor and greatly respect him.

He was great and so natural...his comments of how the state of the world is at this time, rang a bell in me...I was so proud of Him.

This brings me to Ezekiel 33 which I read last night before going to sleep. This chapter speaks of "Ezekiel a Watchman". As I read, again it was like a bell went off in me, I perked up and re-read these versus....

We are to be prepared. Our Shepherd is our watchman...If our watchman says "its time to come back to the Lord" ... come back, if he says..."there needs to be an awakening of the church", lets wake up..."there will be harder times ahead"... let's get prepared.

In Ezekiel, it says:

1. If the watchman sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head.

2. If he (not the watchman) had taken the warning, he would have saved himself.

3. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, God will hold the watchman accountable for that life...

We see the state of the World, the financial state, the moral state, the spiritual state. We've heard the words of our Pastors' "the Watchman" all around the world. We need to be prepared. Our world is changing as I am writing this....what we've done in the past to be close to God is no longer enough. How we've served in our churches in the past is no longer enough...How we've prayed in the past is no longer enough...how we seeked His face in the past is no longer enough....

I encourage you and myself to change how we've done things in the past and upgrade. Let's not be caught off guard. There is a financial crisis...lets be careful with our money. There is a strong attack against Christians...lets be knowledgeable and use our sword and be bold. There is a spiritual complacency all around us...get on your knees and ask for discernment, ask the Lord to knead your Spirit.

You wonder why I don't listen to those Christian networks..."they compromise". Most of the people that appear are teaching false doctrine. I know there are some that are good and sound but those are so few. So instead of allowing someone else to filter my mind with false teaching...I listen to my Pastor who I see weekly and I see his character. But mostly I seek God and read and discern myself with His guidance. I do seek a few of the trusted scholars that I know and learn from them. Its not about knowing everything, because obviously I don't... But be careful who you listen to .... don't accept every teaching that is out there... always go back and verify it with the Word of God.

Read Ezekiel 33 - the whole chapter...it gave me chills and it is so relevant to our time!

What makes you a good Leader in the Church?

As Pastors, teachers, leaders......etc....we need to know what makes us good leaders as we each serve the Church with our gifts.

Many leaders are Type A individuals that at first they think they would do a much better job if it were not for all the problem people around them. Type A leaders are often lifted up as the ones who build great ministries because they are efficient. Many of these begin their work aggressively, getting the job done at all costs. Beginners unconsciously see talented people as tools to build something for the glory of God and weaker people as dead weight who bring everyone down. These rookie leaders think more about the responsibility others have to them than the responsibility they have to others. I encourage you not to fall into this category.

In Hebrews 13:17 and Phil 2:4 we are commanded to live for others. After a few awkward instances we realize that we can't do what God has called us to do without help. Once this has been cleared up in our heads we as leaders began to care how well others are doing in their own race because it affects how well they can do. When a leader realizes he/she cannot afford to try and go it alone the Lord turns their attention to those around them.

If you are a leader and are a part of a ministry - you have a few responsibilities:

1. See those around you and seek them....

The young girl that got her feelings hurt is important to God. The shy young man that never contributes because of his shyness is important to God. The woman that has so many needs...is important to God. The man that is harsh with words...is important to God. We need a personal relationship with each one of them. Leaders are to know people by name, know what they need, know where they are going and what they need to do.

2. Encourage them...

When I was 16, I encouraged a very shy young man that went from never talking to being the clown in our church group. I spent time with him as a friend during a youth conference and literally by the end of the weekend he was out of his shell. It was incredible to me because the change was so drastic. His family asked what I had done to him jokingly...but all I did was listen to him, tease him and encouraged him. A few years later when he got married he wrote to me and thanked me for helping him come out of his shell. He was no longer shy and made a choice to not let others and fear keep him locked up. Man! that was such a blessing to me. I will never forget him!

3. Once a relationship is developed - Shake up their world...

Let them know they can do far more than they dreamed. Build a fire in their heart...let them see God's power working through you as a leader.

4. Help them grow...

Suggest ministries and events for them to get involved in. Share with them the books that have impacted your life. Contact them, check on them periodically. We are to steer them not drive them. Pointing them not forcing them into God's direction.

5. Show them...

I personally trained my last secretary and I literally had her follow me everywhere around the office. I took her under my wing and walked each day with her for 2 weeks and showed her all the things I needed her to learn and understand. I showed, pointed, gave examples and encouraged her. She is still a dear friend to me and we had and have a mutual respect for each other til this day even though we don't work together any longer.

6. Shape their heart...

How do you do this? By example. You should always use nurturing words, not harsh ones, if a harsh word slips be quick to apologize. "Sometimes we don't see clearly how we deliver the message"...(a dear friend J.O. mentioned this statement to me and it prompted my spirit!) Thanks blondie!

7. Set them Free ...

We need to supervise but not smother...When the ministry has the right people in the right spot who are working in love and unity, we are promised that the ministry will increase with the increase of God. Thats so much better than the increase of a bunch of talented people!

God personally cares for all His people. Leaders should be known for their care of people more than they should be known for accomplishing great deeds.


What kind of Leader are You?

by: Ruth Galdamez - June '09

Why - Are you looking for a relationship?

Are you looking for a relationship?

So many of you young people are probably saying yes! Right? Well the correct answer really should be no!

If I could tell you personally of all the heartache you will eliminate just by this one small rule….don’t pursue someone…

Does God have someone especially made for you? I believe He does…He did for me.
I met my husband when I was 16 years old and he was 19. Our story is a little different than most but I believe God ordained it. My family is originally from Guatemala and my parents moved to Houston, Texas when I was 3 years old. I had never been back to Guatemala and so at the age of 16 I traveled there with my mother and older sister. Six days into our vacation there, my cousin (who we were staying with) took my sister and I out for a tour of the downtown area. As we were crossing a street I walked past this good-looking, nice smiling guy and he looked back at me! Our eyes met and held for a moment. As we got to the other side of the street my cousin commented that she knew that guy. “He lives in our neighborhood” she said. She quickly motioned to him to come to us. He was with 3 other guys…as he arrived to our side of the street my cousin introduced my sister and I to him as her “cousins from the United States”. Long story short…we connected…there was a true attraction. The next day walking in the neighborhood we ran into him again. This time he walked with me as we began getting to know each other. He asked if he could come to where we were staying to take me and my sister on a tour of some Indians ruins that were close by. I agreed. The next day he arrived with a friend for my sister. As we spent the morning walking around this park we began sharing our life with each other and we realized that we were both Christians. He then asked me to marry him. I was speechless…for a moment and I said “yes” and it felt right. He assured me that God had already prepared him for this meeting and he knew in his gut that we were meant for each other.

After 3 days of knowing him we were engaged! Crazy right? Well yes it sounds crazy but God had already planned this for us. I left there 6 days later and came back home to Houston. We developed our relationship through letters and phone calls for 3 years. God got us through our long distance relationship. We saw each other every six months until the date of our wedding. God had a plan. We have been married now for 29 years. We still are “In Love” with each other and it has taken lots of work on both of our part to get to where we are now. We also are best of friends. Marriage is great but it is hard.

So you are probably wondering if that’s the way it happens always? No, but God has a plan for you.

For example…what often happens is that you meet a girl/guy in some enforced setting (like once a week at church or youth or maybe in a mission’s trip) and you feel an attraction. Then what you do is that you began pursing that person, making things happen to get her or him to be your boyfriend/girlfriend. That’s when things began to get a bit crazy…because then you began dating and realize that you don’t really know the person and so you start getting to know them during this process, when in fact you should have done that first in the beginning. This is often where the trouble and stress begins because by the time you find out that you are not suited to be a couple, chances are you have already progressed physically or emotionally to a point that makes it hard to admit your mistake and end the thing.

We had the fortune that we lived 2000 miles away from each other and thus we had to take our relationship slow without being physical by kissing and getting all emotional on a daily basis. We had no choice but to get to know each other through letters and phone calls. Thank God for that! I know it made it easier for us. Although the distance was hard on us.

It makes so much sense to get to know the person first, go out in groups of friends and enjoy the friendship. If you feel some kind of connection with the person and its clear that he/she is also interested then spend time with them by themselves and getting to see how they relate to you alone and with others. All this should be happening with out ever getting physical (obviously, I’m not talking sex because that should not be happening at all unless you are married). As soon as you began exclusively dating each other and kissing and getting emotionally involved then your romantic filters get in the way of you seeing each other realistically.

The problem is that far too many young and older people are so desperate for any relationship that they are willing to take a bad relationship over no relationship and satan loves that. I believe that you should not have to be romantically involved in three or four or five relationships to find the one God has for you. With each relationship you are involved in you give a part of yourself to that person, a part you might not ever get back….then if and when you meet the one God sent to you…you have already dealt with pain, heartache, baggage etc…and have little of your true self to give.

God never created a playground for “kissing friends” or “friends with perks”. Relationships are not there for a quick feel good time or to fit in socially… the ultimate and end point of every romantic relationship should be marriage and if you know that it is not heading towards that way, then you should end it.

When you are desperate and looking for a relationship, the chances of you being hurt again are intensified (because you are not thinking clearly but emotionally). This is when you better turn it over to God so he can change your needs. Your needs should never become desperate. Trust God with your heart; He is the only one that will not break it!
Prov.4:23 – Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Phil. 4:7 – And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God knows that if we don’t guard our hearts we can fall in love with the wrong person.

June 2009 by Ruth Galdamez

Why Dreams....?

Why do we have some dreams? Well there are many reasons but I'll tell you what my dream was. I normally do not dream..I have video clips...

Somewhere in the wee hours of Sunday morning I had a video clip. I openned a door and blew up to smitherines. Didn't feel anything! It woke me up though and it felt weird. But I went back to sleep with no problem. We got up for Sunday morning church and realized we forgot to put the lasagna in for the luncheon at church! We were in charge of 2 dishes and so Harold went downstairs and put both in, and of course they were frozen and so that takes longer than the designated time the cooking instructions say on the box.

We left for church and decided I would return to the house after praise and worship to get them out of the oven and we were a bit apprehensive leaving with the oven on. But....we did!

As I was driving to the house to get the lasagna's, I started to remember my dream/video clip and began to get nervous...I thought "maybe God was giving me a warning"? Maybe as I open the door to the kitchen the whole house would explode due to a gas leak of the oven....I was having all these weird thoughts and wondering how long it would take for everyone at church to realize I never came back with lunch....my only consolation was that I would not feel a thing and would probably be having lunch with Jesus in a few minutes. I really had all these thoughts on the drive home and started to get weepy of all the things I have not done yet or the things I have not had time to finish yet.....

Well I got home and as I touched the door knob, I rebuked the devil for putting these thoughts in my mind and just went ahead and open the door with boldness....well of course nothing happened and I got back to church in time to set the food on the serving table.

I mentioned this to Harold on our way home after church and he laughed at me and said,

"First of all...we dunt (cute accent) have a gas stove...its electric"! Oops! guess I let the cat out of the bag that I have not done any baking in a long time.... we laughed all the way home!

By the way, Satuday night we had watched the movie "True Lies"....and there was so many explosions on it and that was probably why I had that video clip in my head.

Crazy!