Valley christian magazine issue #85 by Valley Christian Magazine

Magazine Issue #85

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Valley Christian Magazine is a free monthly magazine published by Texas Christian Publications a 501c3 non-profit ministry located in the Rio Grande Valley. For advertising information call 956-314-0161. Questions, story ideas, events, or comments call 956-314-0161 or email info@ValleyChristianMagazine.com.

On The Cover:

Happy New Year! Start Your Year Right by Spending Time with Jesus. Pray and Listen. It is the purpose of Valley Christian Magazine to be a magazine that points people to Jesus Christ. How to trust Him. How to do life with Him. Supported by local businesses, ministries & faithful believers. Valley Christian is a free resource for us all.

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Issue #85

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Jennifer Maggio

Lysa Terkeurst

Finding Rest As A Single Mom (No Joke!) How Can I Grow Closer To God?

10 Greg Laurie

How Unforgiveness Hurts You

12 James MacDonald Just Keep Walking

14 Lori Gardiner

Turn Your New Year’s Resolutions into Healthy Habits

16 John Eldredge

The Hope That Is Our Lifeline

18 Time with Our Creator

Looking Back For Encouragement To Go Forward

19 Valley Christian New Reads Spotlight

-The Unbelievable Gospel by Jonathan K Dodson -Mornings With Jesus 2018 by Guideposts

20 Luis Palau

Viviendo en Comunión con Dios

21 Kids Talk About God

Why Should We Forgive One Another?

22 Music Review by Jono Davies Gateway - “Monuments”

23 Dave Ramsey - Dave Says -The Past Can Haunt You -Stay Intense!

24 Raul “Rudy” Rodriguez The Restoration Story

16 Cast All Your Anxiety On Him Because He Cares For You. -1 Pet 5:7

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Finding Rest As A Single Mom by Jennifer Maggio

Photo by Milos Tonchevski on Unsplash

Is that a joke? Finding rest as a single mom? Motherhood is a full-time, 24/7, 365 days per year job and there’s simply no vacation. We love those babies more than anyone else on earth possibly could. They bring us joy and laughter and our hearts could almost burst when we see them hit a new milestone. Mothers love like no other, but we also serve like no other. The role a mom plays in a household is irreplaceable. Many moms often struggle to find time to sneak in a shower or sit down for thirty seconds, much less actually rest. And if you factor in that single moms have no reprieve offered by a spouse, it’s easy to see why single moms are exhausted. Moms are the boo-boo kissers, chauffeurs, schedulers, advice givers, organizers, cleaning ladies, homework helpers, cooks, sock locaters, problem solvers, and defenders. We iron, wash dishes, make the phone calls, throw in a load of clothes, apply lipstick, and cook a meal – and that’s usually before the kids even wake. As my older children have aged into adulthood, there are a few things I have learned to be critical for me to be the best mom I can be. 1. Don’t stop dreaming. When I found myself a single mom of two children at nineteen years old, it was all I could do to simply survive. The day-to-day tasks of caring for children, working, and cleaning seemed to be unbearable. All my childhood dreams went on the backburner somewhere and were forgotten for many years. As the

about jennifer

years passed, I began to recognize that the dreams God gave me were not lost, they were stifled. The more I embraced who God wanted me to be through those long-ago dreams, the most at rest I found myself. I stopped striving and simply rested. 2. Take time for you. I talk to so many single moms that feel guilty for taking any time for themselves. They work full time and have an endless to-do list, so when they do get a few minutes of downtime, they are convinced they cannot spend it on themselves. Yes, it is crucial that your children receive quality time with you. But also recognize that taking the time to rest, to work on you, and to grow as a woman of God isn’t slighting your children. It actually serves them well to have their mom running at 100% versus barely functioning at 50%. 3. Join a single mom’s Bible study. I’ve said it a thousand times and I’ll say it a thousand more. We all yearn for fellowship. Single moms are no different. Single Mom’s Bible studies give single mothers the opportunity to share experiences that are unique to them. They network, share ideas and best practices, celebrate the victories, and pray through the hardships. Single Mom’s Bible studies are growing in popularity around the country. Find one near you. 4. Enjoy a girls’ weekend. Even if it’s a stay-cation, you can find great rest in gathering girlfriends and enjoying some special time! Get a few friends together and plan a weekend. It doesn’t have to cost much.

Jennifer Maggio is an author of four single parenting books, CEO of The Life of a Single Mom Ministries, and national speaker. She is a mother to three beautiful children. She has a passion for single mothers to live a life of freedom in Christ. For more information, visit www.jennifermaggio.com. The Life of a Single Mom Ministries is a global nonprofit committed to seeing no single mom walk alone. Having served more than 46,000 single mothers and 1,500 churches, the goal of the organization is establish support groups for single mothers in cities around the world, while also empowering single moms to grow spiritually, emotionally, physically, financially, and parentally. For more information, visitwww.thelifeofasinglemom.com. All Rights Reserved. Used with Permission. Copyright 2018

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Cast All Your Anxiety On Him Because He Cares For You. -1 Pet 5:7â&#x20AC;&#x192;

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“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’ “Luke 9:23 (NIV) I would love to tell you that I have a long and impressive list of goals for 2018. But I’m not really into writing out my goals for the new year. Honestly, I just want to follow hard after the Lord every day and let Him renew me and shape me into the woman I need to be this year. I want to grow ever closer to God — pressing into Him so He makes the deepest impression on me. So that’s my goal. Maybe it’s one of your goals too. Growing closer to God. But how do we do that? How can we position ourselves to grow closer to God this year?

Closeness when He eats with them after His resurrection. (Luke 24:36-43) Closeness when they are among the first to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:1-4) So not only did they have the promise of eternity with Him in heaven, they also had the privilege of experiencing unparalleled intimacy with Him on earth.

This is what my heart hungers for when it comes to the Lord. I want connection. I want communion. I want closeness. Not only in a distant heavenly future but right here. Right now.

His words seem surprising at first. The disciples had already given up everything to follow Jesus. Or so it seemed … Family. Friends. Jobs. The comforts of home. Yet, in our key verse today, we find Jesus telling them the cost is going to be even higher than they had originally anticipated. The disciples aren’t being asked to lay down some things. They are going to need to lay down everything. Their plans. Their agendas. Maybe even their own lives. And while it may sound like a lot to ask, because of their willingness to continue following hard after Jesus they will get to experience a level of closeness with Him unlike anyone else. Closeness when they take communion with Him before He is

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Closeness when He bends low to wash their feet. (John 13:117)

Could they have received any sweeter gift?

In Luke 9:23b, Jesus tells His disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

crucified. (Luke 22:12-20)

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That’s why I’m so thankful Jesus’ invitation to the disciples in Luke 9:23 is for us, too. We are also invited close. Which means we are also called to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. I realize “taking up our cross” may sound strange or vague at first, but for me it’s meant breaking old habits to create space in my heart for new growth. It’s meant moving beyond a plastic Christian checklist … Go to church. Read the Bible. Don’t cuss. Be nice. Pray. Give to the poor … and letting God mess with any and every area of my life. It has meant things like offering Him my willingness to step away from TV for a season, fixing my eyes on Him first in the

morning, instead of my phone and allowing Him to call me to a new level of discipline in my eating habits. Things I have said “yes” to because I long for an ever-closer walk with Him.

give me the strength to lay it down — for a season or maybe even forever. I long to be closer to You. No matter the cost. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I don’t know exactly what following wholeheartedly after God will look like for you. But I do know that if we want to grow closer to God this year, we’ll have to distance ourselves from whatever is distracting us. We’ll have to lay aside whatever we are prone to delight in more than Him.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Let’s ask God which distraction we need to distance ourselves from in order to grow closer to Him, and then let’s do the hard and holy work of denying ourselves. Because a deeper level of intimacy with Him will always be worth the cost.

REFLECT AND RESPOND:

Lord, show me what stands in the way of intimacy with You, and

Luke 9:24, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (NIV)

Lysa TerKeurst is a New York Times bestselling author and speaker who helps everyday women live an adventure of faith through following Jesus Christ. As president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa has led thousands to make their walk with God an invigorating journey. In the midst of her busy schedule, Lysa simply seeks to glorify God through her life and family. She resides near Charlotte, N.C., with her five priority blessings named Jackson, Mark, Hope, Ashley and Brooke. Used by Permission. www.proverbs31.org

Cast All Your Anxiety On Him Because He Cares For You. -1 Pet 5:7

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Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. —Ephesians 4:32

If you’re someone who holds grudges, if you keep score and can’t let things go, then you need to know something: You will suffer in life. You also will see your prayer life come to a screeching halt. Forgiveness is the key to all healthy, strong, and lasting relationships. That’s why we must realize how important it is to forgive. Jesus said, “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God” (Matthew 5:23–24). Maybe you’ve decided that you won’t forgive someone who has wronged you. Guess who will be the one to get hurt? You will. Harboring resentment and unforgiveness will hurt you more than the person you’re refusing to forgive. If you want to be healthy and vibrant spiritually, then you must learn to forgive. Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” (Matthew 6:12). You may think they don’t deserve forgiveness. But do you? Do I? No, we don’t. Our forgiveness doesn’t hinge on forgiving others, but forgiving others should hinge on God’s gracious and generous forgiveness toward us. The forgiveness that comes to us from Christ is based on His merit and on His death and His love for us. If we know anything about what Christ has done for us, then we should forgive others. The Bible says, “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). Forgiven people should be forgiving people. And if you want to be healthy and vibrant spiritually, then you must learn to forgive.

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Greg Laurie is Senior Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Calif. He began his pastoral ministry at 19 by leading a Bible study of 30 people. Since then, God has transformed the small group into a church of 15,000 plus, one of the largest churches in America. for more, visit www.greglaurie.com. used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie, PO Box 4000 Riverside, CA 92514 Copyright © 2018 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

Cast All Your Anxiety On Him Because He Cares For You. -1 Pet 5:7â&#x20AC;&#x192;

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Just Keep Walking by james macdonald

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him. Colossians 2:6, ESV

While the writers of Scripture use many vivid metaphors to describe the Christian life, by far the most common one in the New Testament is a walk. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). “If we live by the Spirit, let us also

“The Lord has invited you to take a walk with Him on the journey of life.” keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1). “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1, NKJV). The theme of walking echoes through

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Ephesians: “walk in love” (5:2, ESV), “walk as children of light” (5:8), “look carefully then how you walk” (5:15). Walking depicts the course of an individual’s whole life: Enoch and Noah “walked with God” (Genesis 5:22, 6:9); King Jehu did not (2 Kings 10:31). It is a dominant, inspired metaphor in Scripture, and a picture of what our relationship with God should look like. The Lord has invited you for a walk, with Him, together on the journey of life. Along the way, God is changing you. Sometimes you may grow impatient and want instant victory over all your problems. Sometimes you’ll grow discouraged; a lifetime of battling sin can seem overwhelming. But if you are ever going to walk with Christ and be the person God intended you to be, your focus must be on the next step. Just that step and nothing else. When you strain to see the future, or fear you won’t have the energy or strength for tomorrow, the enemy has succeeded in intimidating you, and you’ll have missed the opportunity to live for Christ in this moment. “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (Colossians 2:6). As you walk with God today, rather than scanning the horizon for all that’s ahead, just focus your eyes on the next step. Don’t miss the opportunity to live for Him fully today.

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j ou r na l How does the metaphor of walking with God appeal to you? What next step does God want you to focus on today?

P r ay Heavenly Father, thank You for the invitation to walk with You. I want to be a person who walks with God, like Noah and Enoch. I will trust You to lead, and I will focus simply on my next step. Please show me what You want me to do today. Help me to quiet the other voices vying for my attention and to listen for Yours. Thank You for the intimacy of walking with You, because of Jesus, in whose name I pray, amen. James MacDonald is founding and Senior Pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel in northwest Chicago. James’ teachings can be heard on Walk in the Word, a daily radio program reaching more than 3 million people across North America. Our Journey devotionals are brought to you by Change Partners of Walk in the Word. Copyright © 2018. All rights reserved.

Cast All Your Anxiety On Him Because He Cares For You. -1 Pet 5:7â&#x20AC;&#x192;

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Turn Your New Year’s Resolutions Into Long-term Healthy Habits by Lori Gardiner, MS, RD, LDN

New Year’s resolutions can be a great way to set goals and make positive changes in your life. However, according to Time magazine, only 8% of people who make New Year’s resolutions stick to them, and the other 92% typically give up after about a week. So, how can you improve your odds for success?

unrealistic. Start off with 2 times per week for 30 minutes and increase over time. This also applies to your diet. Slowly add “healthier” food choices and decrease “unhealthy” ones. Do this one meal at a time with only 1-2 changes per week every 2-3 weeks. Baby Steps = Big Long-Term Habits.

Do not base a resolution on guilt. Feeling guilty about your indulgences over the holidays and/or lack of exercise is not enough to make you stick to your resolutions. Guilt is short lived and will, more than likely, cause you to dwell on negative feelings and make you feel worse. A positive attitude and concrete reasons for your resolutions will be key to your success. Focus on the many benefits of health resolutions, such as a higher energy level, increase in stamina, possible disease prevention, and generally feeling better overall. Positive Motivating Factors = Positive LongTerm Results.

Do not expect perfection. EVER. Your resolutions

Make your resolutions realistic and specific. Setting unrealistic goals will leave you feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. Set goals that you can build on and increase over time. If you are not exercising at all, setting an immediate goal of exercising 5 times per week is 14

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will become habits if you learn from your mistakes. It takes approximately 21 days to form a new habit. Stay positive and continue to push through your struggles. You will get there with perseverance and realistic plan. Perseverance = Success whereas Perfection = Failure.

Think in terms of “long-term lifestyle” changes.

Your resolutions should consist of goals that you can maintain long-term. Your goals should focus on the benefits that you will achieve in the long run. The benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle to your body are endless! I don’t think anyone regrets feeling better mentally and physically. It’s a great feeling to do your body good by fueling it with healthy foods and keeping it active.

Don’t focus on your holiday failures between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Instead, focus on taking small, healthier steps for the whole year. Make 2018 your year for positive, attainable goals with long-term habit forming results.

My New Year’s Resolution Recommendations: -Add protein to your breakfast. Try nonfat Greek yogurt topped with fresh berries and a handful of nuts. -Choose fresh fruit instead of fruit juice. Fruit juice is higher in calories and lack the fiber of fresh fruit. Also, fresh fruit will keep you full longer. -Start your lunch and dinner meals with a small garden salad. This will increase satiety; therefore, help you keep the rest of meal in check. Always ask for the dressing on the side. Mix 1 tsp vinaigrette with balsamic or red wine vinegar to decrease calories. -Choose whole grains over refined grains. Refined grains are usually empty calories that can leave you feeling hungry. Whole grains have more staying power and are a great source of fiber. Choose brown rice, quinoa and oatmeal. Quality is key when choosing carbohydrates. -Make your fat servings tangible. Eliminate as much fat from

food preparation as possible. Use fat servings on healthy fats such as nuts, pure nut butters, avocados and healthy oils. Keep oil servings to a minimum. 1 tsp = 1 fat serving (45 calories and 5 grams of fat) -Think of food as “fuel”. What will it do for your body and your health. -Snack with a purpose. Snacks are meant to “hold you over” from one meal to the next. Choose snacks with protein such as nonfat Greek yogurt/fruit or 2% cheese sticks/whole grain crackers. -Count food quality NOT calories.

My Resolution Must Have Tip: Do not underestimate the power of a positive mindset. You cannot move forward without it. With it, you can and will accomplish amazing things. ABOUT LORI: Lori Gardiner is a Registered Dietitian with a Master of Science degree in nutrition. She is the author of the book, “My Little Black Book for a Healthy Non-Diet Lifestyle”. She has conducted numerous workshops and corporate wellness seminars teaching people how to incorporate healthy eating habits into any lifestyle and budget. She has been quoted in The Advocate regarding various nutrition topics and has written articles for several local magazines. Her passion is teaching people how to incorporate healthy eating habits into their lives that are “do-able” and realistic long-term. Lori finds her true joy in being a mother to her three boys and a wife to her husband, Scott. For more information about Lori, please visit her website at www.Lori-Gardiner. com. While you are there, check out her “ab food finds”, nutrition tips, recipes and more.

Cast All Your Anxiety On Him Because He Cares For You. -1 Pet 5:7

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The Hope That is Our Lifeline By John Eldredge

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Last year was a very hard year for Stasi and me; I know it was for many people. As the calendar went on, we experienced wave after wave of loss. First came a suicide in our extended family. Then our son and daughter-in-law — so happy to be pregnant with their first child — went through a brutal miscarriage. As a result, I buried my first grandson on the mountain behind our home. Just a few months later, my dearest friend of 40 years died of cancer. A hard year to be sure. In the midst of so much loss, I found myself asking, Jesus, what is it we’re supposed to look forward to? After your losses begin to mount up, you wonder what it is you’re supposed to hope for. It was about that time I began to take a fresh look into God’s promises. And what I found took my breath away. In Matthew chapter 19, Peter has actually just asked Jesus the same question I had — What is it we are supposed to look forward to? Jesus replies like this: “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every-

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one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” Matthew 19:28b-29 (NIV) That phrase — “at the renewal of all things” — is what caught my heart. I’d never heard God’s promise of hope to us described in this way. I began looking up other versions: “Jesus replied, ‘Yes, you have followed me. In the re-creation of the world, when the Son of Man will rule gloriously, you who have followed me will also rule, starting with the twelve tribes of Israel. And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields — whatever — because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life.’” (MSG) The renewal of all things? The re-creation of the world? We get it all back?! How have I missed this all my life? The Holy Spirit gently nudged me to remember Revelation 21, a passage of Scripture that’s been dear to me: “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has

passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” Revelation 21:4-5 (NIV) When Jesus Christ returns, heaven and earth are restored. As it says in Acts, Jesus remains in heaven … “until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets” Acts 3:21b (NIV). He restores our lives and the earth we love — even our homes and “fields.” I realized I wasn’t really daydreaming about heaven because it was so vague (and kind of religiously weird). But rather when Jesus spoke of the Renewal of All Things, He talked about our relationships, our homes (places that are special to us) and even our work (that’s what “fields” meant in his day). My heart started to sing at the thought that nothing is truly lost. O friends, the great hope of the Christian life is not that we’ll find a parking spot tomorrow. Nor that we’ll get a raise next week (although God cares about those things). The real hope that’s the anchor of the soul, the unbreakable spiritual lifeline, is the hope that any day now, our loving Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will usher in the Renewal of All Things. Everything you’ve lost … everything you might still lose. It’s all coming back to you. And that’s truly a hope worth looking forward to. O Father, I pray You would open my eyes to this breathtaking hope. I pray that I would be filled with the hope of the restoration of all things. Come into my every loss, dear God, and speak to me about this precious hope. I want an anchor for my soul; I want an unbreakable spiritual lifeline. Restore my hope in the restoration. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY: 2 Peter 3:13, “But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.” (NLT)

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© 2018 by John Eldredge. All rights reserved. Valley Christian Magazine and Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks Thomas Nelson Publishers for their sponsorship of today’s devotion. ABOUT: John Eldredge John EldredgeJohn Eldredge is an author (you probably figured that out), a counselor, and a teacher. He is also president of Ransomed Heart, a ministry devoted to helping people discover the heart of God, recover their own hearts in God’s love, and learn to live in God’s Kingdom.

Cast All Your Anxiety On Him Because He Cares For You. -1 Pet 5:7

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Looking Back for Encouragement to go Forward Author: Grandfather El, Contributors Grandchildren: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Heavenly Father, I come in Jesus’ Name to thank You for the privilege of being able to look back in my life and see Your faithfulness in the good and difficult times. “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22-23. Direct me to recall Your goodness and work in all seasons of my life. Develop in me the mental attitude that “God certainly would not bring me this far in life and now all of a sudden drop me and not be interested in my future anymore.” Thank you for the assurance about my future found in Psalm 23:6. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.” Give me the courage and strength to realize that when the challenges and setbacks in life come, You will guide and lead me all the way through to the other side. Since my responsibility is to call upon You and then trust and yield to Your leading, I ask that you direct my life to be exemplary of Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Thank you for allowing me to bring this prayer in Jesus’ precious Name, Amen.

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The Unbelievable Gospel Say Something Worth Believing By Jonathan K. Dodson Zondervan Publishing In The Unbelievable Gospel pastor Jonathan Dodson diagnoses the evangelistic paralysis of the modern church, pinpointing the reasons people don’t share their faith today and offering a desperately needed solution. Showing readers how to utilize the rich gospel metaphors found in Scripture and how to communicate a gospel worth believing--one that speaks to the heart-felt needs of diverse individuals--Dodson connects the gospel to the real issues people face each day by speaking to both the head and the heart. Filled with stories that reveal the long road of relational evangelism and guidance on how to listen to others well, The Unbelievable Gospel is a much-needed resource that will benefit both individuals and churches. Included are study questions for training and group discussion.

Mornings with Jesus 2018: Daily Encouragement for Your Soul by Guideposts (Author) Zondervan Publishing

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28) We hear Jesus’s words and want to respond, but so often we feel we’re too busy, too anxious, or too heavily burdened to take hold of his invitation. Mornings with Jesus 2018, an annual, 365-day devotional, is your entrée into his world. Jesus will comfort you, and you’ll experience the delight and challenge of knowing him and living for him. In Mornings with Jesus 2018, you can read and reflect on one all-new devotion each day that will encourage you to embrace Jesus’s love, to lay down your worries and walk with Him, and to focus on Him as Redeemer, Friend, and Faithful One. Lifting up their voices in heartfelt gratitude, ten writers consider the character and teachings of Jesus and share how He enriches and empowers them daily and how He wants to do the same for you. Every day you will enjoy a scripture verse, reflection on Jesus’s words, and a faith step that inspires and challenges you in your daily walk of living a Christ-like life.

Cast All Your Anxiety On Him Because He Cares For You. -1 Pet 5:7

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Viviendo en Comunión con Dios -Luis Palau

Hace varios años un médico le preguntó a una anciana cristiana: --Si yo le pidiera dinero a Dios, ¿me lo daría? La anciana le respondió con otra pregunta: --Si a usted le presentaran al presidente de la nación, ¿se animaría a pedirle dinero inmediatamente? --No, esperaría a conocerlo mejor--, contestó el médico. --Bueno-- concluyó la mujer--, tendrá usted que conocer a Dios mucho mejor antes de esperar que El conteste su oración. Una vez escuché el siguiente comentario en cuanto a este incidente: “Muchas personas son presumidas y le piden cosas a Dios sin ser sus amigos sino simples conocidos.” Es muy cierto. Como ya dijimos antes, la oración es dos amigos conversando. La Biblia es el turno de Dios para hablar. Cuando leo las Escrituras, a menudo descubro que estoy susurrando una oración. Cuando oro, la Palabra de Dios viene a mi mente. Cuando escucho Su Palabra, mi alma se inclina en adoración. En la Biblia Dios nos habla a nosotros. En la oración nosotros le hablamos a Dios. La lectura de la Biblia y la oración son como hilos trenzados que forman el cordón de la íntima comunión entre Dios y nosotros. Le aconsejo leer las grandes oraciones de Moisés, Nehemías, Esdras y Daniel. En sus peticiones ellos le hablaron a Dios con las mismas palabras de Dios según se hallan en la Escritura. Este es el idioma de la oración que Dios se deleita en contestar. Cuando ore, permita que Dios traiga Escrituras a su mente. Y luego utilice esas palabras para hablarle a Dios. Antes de pasar tiempo leyendo y estudiando la Biblia cada día, pida a Dios que su corazón sea sensible a Su Palabra. Martín Lutero dijo: “Haber orado bien es haber estudiado bien.” No podemos tener lo uno sin lo otro. Jorge Müller conversaba con Dios como lo han hecho muy pocos hombres en la historia. A través de Müller Dios cuidó a millares de huérfanos. A pesar de las tremendas responsabilidades financieras que tenía, Müller nunca habló a otras personas sobre sus necesidades. Las presiones económicas extremas sólo lo motivaban a pasar más tiempo en íntima conversación con Dios. Considere lo que dijo Müller acerca de sus momentos a solas con Dios: “Comienzo a meditar en el Nuevo Testamento temprano a la mañana... Invariablemente encuentro que... después de algunos minutos de meditación, mi alma guiada a confesión, a acción de gracias, a intercesión o a peticiones. De manera que aunque no podría decir que me había puesto a orar sino a meditar, sin embargo en forma casi inmediata, la meditación se convirtió en oración.” Cuando la Palabra de Dios hablaba al corazón de su siervo Müller, él naturalmente respondía a Dios en oración. El disfrutaba de íntimas conversaciones con su Señor. La comunicación es la clave de toda relación. Nuestra relación con Dios sólo puede crecer cuando en oración comunicamos a Dios nuestra adoración, confesión, peticiones, intercesión y acción de gracias, y cuando escuchamos su voz a través del estudio diario de la Biblia. ¿Cuán bien conoce usted a Dios? ¿Cuán íntima es su relación con El? Müller podía dirigirse a Dios como a un gran amigo y pedirle por sus necesidades, sabiendo que de alguna manera Dios las supliría. ¿Podría usted hacer lo mismo, o acaso no es amigo de Dios sino sólo un conocido todavía? Hágase amigo de Dios y pase tiempo departiendo con El en oración. Le aseguro que es una experiencia emocionante. ¿Por qué no lo intenta? Luis Palau

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Issue #85

Luis Palau ya entró en la historia moderna como uno de los contados hombres que le hablaron a más personas en el mundo. Su mensaje fue, y es escuchado por más de 800 millones de personas en 112 países a través de la radio y la televisión, y tiene el privilegio de haberle hablado a más de 22 millones de personas cara a cara en 80 países del mundo, organizando, junto a un selecto grupos de colaboradores internacionales y con el apoyo de invitaciones locales, congresos, seminarios, charlas informales, conferencias y recitales-conferencia llamados “Festivales”. Copyright 2018 Used by Permission.

Why should we forgive one another?

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you,” wrote Lewis Smedes. I’ll never forget the video I saw of a session where a counselor urged a woman to forgive her mother. With great effort, the woman tried several times to utter words of forgiveness. Her entire face and body contorted with the failed efforts. Something very dark and oppressive controlled her soul. Finally, she said out loud that she forgave her mother. Immediately, her countenance changed. The darkness that sucked the very life out of her vanished. She relaxed again. Peace swept over her like an ocean wave. Such is the power of forgiveness. “Forgiveness makes us feel better,” says Bridgette, 6. Yes, this is true as with the woman who forgave her mother. But what about the times when revenge is feeling a lot better than forgiveness? Sometimes, the hurt is too great, the pain is too deep or the embarrassment is a life changer. All you can think about is immediate revenge—the sooner, the better. It’s the kind of revenge that keeps you up at night as you rehearse the details in your mind.

Artwork by Briana Benavides, age 7, 2017 Winner of Vacation at Coulter Lake Guest Ranch in Colorado 1 for hurry up”? Saying you’re sorry is never easy because it requires humility. Forgiveness is a lot easier when I compare the offense I’ve suffered with my cargo ship full of sins that God has buried in the deepest ocean. Suddenly, the wrong against me seems small.

This is when you need a reason to forgive that is bigger than yourself and larger than the wrong you have suffered.

Think about this: Forgiveness makes you a bigger, more gracious person. God wants you to live large. Read “Victory Over Darkness” by Neil Anderson.

“It is the right thing to do since Jesus forgives our sins by dying on the cross,” says Jonathan, 7.

Memorize this truth: “Forgive as the Lord forgave you,” (Colossians 3:13b, NIV).

The debt that we owe God for all our sins is far greater than any sin or sins against us. As Christians, we are forgiven people. In light of God’s forgiveness extended to us through the sacrificial death of Christ, we ought to be the most gracious people in that we’re quick to forgive.

Ask these questions: Would you like to break the bondage of bitterness and vindictiveness? The next time you’re tempted to counterattack, can you meditate on the forgiveness Jesus has extended to you? Can you forgive others by drawing upon the grace God has shown you?

To illustrate the power of greater forgiveness, Jesus told the parable of the two debtors. One owned a lot of money and the other a little. The creditor forgave the debts of both. “Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Jesus asked (Luke 7:42b).

Kids Talk About God is a syndicated column by journalist Carey Kinsolving. To access more columns and other free, Bible-based books, videos and artwork, please visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org.

It’s obvious. The greater the debt, the greater is the love for the one who forgave the debt.

To learn more about the RGV Children’s Arts Festival, please visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/rgv.

We’re all debtors to God. By his sacrifice on the cross for our sins, Jesus paid our debt. If Christians fail to forgive those who wrong them, it’s only because they forget the size of the debt that Jesus paid on our behalf. “Sometimes we say mean words. So sometimes we gotta say sorry,” says Dylan, 5. Everyone has situations where mean words come easy. For me, they want to flow when I encounter mindless bureaucracy either in a human bureaucrat or an automated system. In the latter case, it seems like the options offered over the phone are never the ones that address my need. How about “press

Cast All Your Anxiety On Him Because He Cares For You. -1 Pet 5:7

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Louder Then The Music Review:

GATEWAY - Monuments

GATEWAY have a new album titled Monuments. GATEWAY finds its origin at Gateway Church in Southlake, Tex., one of the largest churches in North America ministering to nearly 40,000 attendees across multiple campuses and thousands more online each week. The collective is born out of the rich heritage of Gateway Worship and features multiple Dove Award winner and GRAMMY nominated Mark Harris as well as Matt Birkenfeld, Anna Byrd, Austin Benjamin, Lauren Dunn, Maddison Harris, Cole Novak, Levi Smith and others making up the voices and songs.

Well this album started much more brightly than I was expecting. I was worried this was going to be another similar sounding soft pop rock mid tempo worship album. It isn’t !!!!. It really isn’t and now I feel bad for thinking that. Let me leave those preconceived ideas at the door. Synths, modern, fresh, exciting, contemporary and crisp are a few words I would use to describe opening track ‘Open The

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We then are pushed ever so slightly to the more alt-pop/rock side of music for the big title track ‘Monuments’. Musically the production of this song is top quality. Other notable songs worth mentioning are ‘Living Water’, where the vocals are truly breathtaking, and ‘Won My Heart’ which is another fabulous song. Track after track I seem to be thinking the same thing, these songs are brilliant. This album grew on me. The more I listened the more I enjoyed it. This isn’t just another live worship album. The fact the band recorded this in a studio really did add an extra element. For me these tracks sound better for being recorded in this way rather than in a live setting. Gateway have created a really strong album here.

“We are so excited about this new collection of songs that represent what God has been and is doing in our church,” shares Harris. “They speak of God’s faithfulness, His greatness and love. The worship leaders and songwriters of GATEWAY unified to pour out their hearts and songs to the Lord like never before.”

Heavens’ and to be honest the album in general feels much like that as well.

Issue #85

Review by Jono Davies LTTM Rating 4.5 Out of 5 Stars Standout Tracks Precious Jesus Living Water Monuments

The past can haunt you Dear Dave, My wife co-signed on a loan for an old boyfriend five or six years ago. Now, a collection agency is after her for the remaining $5,000. We make about $90,000 a year combined, and our attorney recommended we file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The idea of filing bankruptcy scares me. Is there a better way to handle this? Jeffery Dear Jeffery, Your attorney doesn’t sound very bright. A bankruptcy stays on your record for years. It’s just plain stupid to consider trashing your financial life over $5,000. This collector bought the loan for pennies on the dollar. It’s an old debt, and that means there are very low expectations for collection. At the same time, your wife did co-sign for the loan.

Dave Says

If you have the money, and you can pay it off without hurting yourselves financially, do it. That’s the right thing, both morally and legally. If you don’t have that kind of cash on hand, try haggling with them. See if you can get them to agree to settle for $2,500. Remember to get this agreement in writing before you send them a dime, and do not give them access to your bank account. Chances are they’ll threaten to sue and all that stuff, but my guess is you can work out something on an old loan like this. It may take a couple of weeks and a little patience, but that’s a small price to pay if it saves you $2,500. Sorry, but you guys will have to pay something to make this go away. And I hope it teaches you both a valuable lesson — never co-sign on a loan! —Dave

Stay intense! Dear Dave, I just accepted a new job that will pay me $30,000 a year more than my old position. I’ve got about $55,000 in debt I’ve been working hard to pay off, and I know now I need to adjust my budget. Do you have any advice? Mitch Dear Mitch, The first thing I’d say is don’t go crazy on any big-ticket items while you’re paying off debt. Keep it simple, and go out to celebrate with a nice dinner after you get your first paycheck. Remember, the more you put toward debt, the faster it goes away. For the time being, I want you to remain passionate about getting out of debt. Your thought process needs to be, “Wow, I got a new job making more money. I can get out of debt even quicker!”

* Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business. He has authored five New York Times best-selling books. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 8.5 million listeners each week on more than 550 radio stations. Dave’s latest project, EveryDollar, provides a free online budget tool. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com.

Again, I’m okay with you adjusting a bit that first month and having a little fun to celebrate your good fortune. But after that, I want you to turn around and attack that debt with even more intensity than before. Then, once you’re out of debt, you can celebrate that with something a lot nicer. Congratulations, Mitch! —Dave

Cast All Your Anxiety On Him Because He Cares For You. -1 Pet 5:7

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Raul “Rudy” Rodriguez attorney at law

Some historians may argue that among the greatest restoration stories of mankind are the European Renaissance or perhaps the post-World War II era. The cultural movement known as the European Renaissance roughly took place during the 14th through 17th centuries. This moment in history saw the face of Europe evolve with respect to its arts, architecture and long held science tenets. It also saw a rediscovery of the Greco-Roman classical knowledge and a rebirth of the study of Latin and vernacular languages. It served as a bridge between the Middle Ages and the Modern Era. Closer to home, America saw its restoration take place in the years that followed World War II. During this era, couples who could not afford families during the Great Depression made up for lost time. The mood in America suddenly became optimistic. At that time, the unemployment rate of the Great Depression dropped dramatically and the economy improved substantially. The G.I. Bill empowered many honorable service members to finish high school and attend college. As their skills were improved, so was the financial well-being of their families. But, without a doubt the greatest restoration that can take place is when a person does as Romans 10:9 instructs us to do. Romans 10:9 says: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The message is simple: invite Christ into your heart and make him your personal Lord and Savior. At that time, your restoration will be complete. Next He will do as Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” As you seek and strive to honor God with your life, He will reward you by allowing you to take on His characteristics. Hosea 14:4 says, “I will bring my people back to me. I will love them with all my heart; No longer am I angry with them.” I pray that you will invite Christ into your heart and allow Him to restore you! At my office, I also want to be part of your restoration plan, albeit in a different way. I pray that God will use me for His honor and glory in helping me address your needs. If you have been involved in an auto accident and/or other serious injury or if you have lost a loved one as a result of someone’s negligence, I will do my best to restore some sense of normality to your life. I will also help you in matters involving family law, criminal law and real estate and will issues. As always, I bear in mind that in honoring God with the way I handle my business relationships I will be honoring you my esteemed client.

Raul “Rudy” Rodriguez

www.raulrudyrodriguezlaw.com Phone: 956.380.1421 / Toll Free: 877.480.1421 Fax: 956.380.2920 / Mobile: 956.655.5455

511 W. University / Edinburg, TX 78539 e-mail: anointed511@gmail.com