I HATE TRAFFIC!!

When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

JOHN 11:4

Have you ever noticed when you are flying, you look at everything from a different perspective? Once, as I was coming in fro a landing, I noticed a HUGE traffic jam on the expressway. There was chaos as traffic was backed up for miles. As I looked, I could see what they could not see, which was clear, moving lanes. When the plane landed and I got into my car, I had a completely different perspective than the other drivers.

We are so earthly and carnal, but if we could somehow look down upon ALL our “TRAFFIC JAMS” in our lives. This would really allow us to react differently to many things that may stop us from moving. Ask yourself if you see your problems from above through spiritual eyes or from ground level?

In the story of Lazarus’ death and resurrection, both perspectives are evident. We see the ground-level perspective in Mary and Martha and the Divine perspective in our Lord. Lazarus’ death is symbolic of the extremes we encounter in life, the difficulties that come to all of us. A death of a loved one, the loss of position, or the rebellious actions of a child.

Our Lord’s approach shows us how our Heavenly Father deals with us in the midst of the problems we face. From ground level we tend to think that God really doesn’t care. These times produce certain times where it gets very difficult to keep believing in the goodness of God.

With ALL MY HEART LORD…

“Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the Lord his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.” 2 Chronicles 31:20-21

The word “HEART” is used in many different ways and is a very interesting word. It is a word that simply is used when one is describing themselves (YOU/I). The heart is the central core of our being.

Hezekiah did all he did with “ALL HIS HEART.” All of who he was engaged in what was “GOOD AND RIGHT AND TRUE BEFORE THE LORD.”

Jesus said a house divided against itself cannot stand. He was speaking about the heart. The heart must not be divided or it will not prosper. Only God can fashion within us a heart, which is united and prosperous (GAL 4:19). That is why Paul spoke so often of Christ “IN US” being our hope and glory.

Our goal each day must be to live from a heart that is filled with God until we can say, “FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN” (PHIL 1:21). A life that should be “WHOLE HEARTED” for God everyday. By faith, ask God to fill your heart. Ask God to make you like Hezekiah whose heart was engaged in the works of God.

WOUNDED WARRIOR

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself Galatians. 6:1-3

Have you ever met someone who belongs in church, but you have never had the courage to ask why he/she never has become a member of any local church? Well I did, this person started talking about the saddest days of his life. A great deal of terrible things had occurred to him and it seemed to be happening all at once. His family was in shambles. He was an emotional train wreck. His faith in God was shaken to his core. In the beginning of his walk with the Lord, a very well respected leader and father figure to him fell into a lifestyle that contradicted Scriptural guidelines to live holy unto God.

Have you ever heard of the cliché that states, “The Christian army is the only army that shoots its own wounded?” Sadly, like most clichés, there is a core truth there. Christians who fall into sin are too often left to die of neglect and rejection for their failures. BUT WHAT IS THE PROPER RESPONSE?

Scripture teaches us the beauty of restoration. Paul writes that the one who has fallen should be restored. This fallen generation needs a lot of that. Faith, position, credibility, trust, fellowship, relationship and yes, sometimes even sanity. There is a process in restoration and it is hard work. It is always easies to ignore a wounded warrior than it is to nurse him or her back to health. Such work requires gentleness, humility and compassion.

THIS ONLY COMES THROUGH THE CROSS

QUESTION:

IS THERE A WOUNDED SOLDIER OUT THERE THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN OFF? MAYBE A BROTHER OR SISTER HAS STOPPED GATHERING WITH THE CHURCH AND GONE BACK TO THE OLD WAYS. WHAT CAN YOU DO TODAY TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF RESTORATION?

HIS PLANS ARE TO…

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope-JER 29:11-NKJV

The Message Translation breaks it down like this “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for-Jer 29:11″ This portion of Scripture is one of my favorites. I certainly brings me HOPE in those areas that bring DOUBT & CONFUSION.

As a dad  I try my very hardest to teach out of example to my daughter Aliya that God always has better plans for us, but better yet God is very much mindful of HER. That God’s plans are to prosper her, plans that will give her hope and a better future.

I don’t know about you, but life, MY LIFE sometimes makes this awesome FACT very difficult to BELIEVE! It feels as if sometimes, the storm clouds look so darkin life, that it’s very hard to even see beyond the moment in which we see ourselves in. But God certainly sees beyond these moments and sees us as he created us. He sees us as His sons and daughters-heirs of His Kingdom.

Attached is a video of my “prophetess” breaking it down for Jesus. It is a song that speaks about God and His limitless power. As well as His desire to watch His children increase in ALL areas of life! I do tell you one thing you must have faith, faith like a 5 year old.

I PRAY THAT YOU TAKE OFF YOUR LIMITS, SO THAT YOU CAN THEN EXPERIANCE GOD AND HIS AWESOME PROVISION!

THE POWER OF LOVE…

NLM SOUTH/NORTH HOMELESS OUTREACH

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NLM SOUTH/NORTH HOMELESS OUTREACH

We gathered as a church this Saturday to go feed and clothe the homeless people in the streets of Miami, at the same time, I had soccer with my daughter Aliya, so I did what every normal parent would do, which is just ask her. I asked her, “ALIYA WE HAVE SOCCER THIS SATURDAY AND THE CHURCH IS GOING OUT AND WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO FEED AND CLOTHE THE HOMELESS PEOPLE, SO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO?” SHE REPLIED, “DADDY LET’S GO FEED AND CLOTHE THE POOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE STREETS AND HAVE NO HOME.”

BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE …1 CORINTHIANS 13:13

We the church are guilty of making Christianity at times look so hard, a lifestyle that is humanly impossible! A lifestyle that is only for a selected and superior group and can only be accomplished by the “ELITE”! In this blog, I will try to clear up some of that nonsense in which some people might have taught you or even told you in the past.

CHRISTIANITY IS ALL ABOUT LOVE AND THE POWER IT HAS! It really is that simple. Unless you love God you will never have the power to obey him. The Bible teaches us that if we love God we will obey him (John 14:15). One of the most over looked lessons in the Bible about LOVE is, that without the POWER OF LOVE to MOTIVATE, a person can’t and will not be able to obey God. Human effort will never be enough to help a person obey God.

YOU MUST HAVE A LOVE FOR GOD THAT COMES OUT OF A DEEP SENSE OF GRATITUDE FOR WHO GOD IS AND WHAT GOD HAS DONE. When love is ROOTED in gratitude for all God has done, there is no falling out of love. The Bible says that this type of love spills over into our human relationships. As Jesus states “LOVE God with your heart, soul, and mind, and to also love your neighbor as yourself”. (Matthew 22:37)

IT’S NEVER WRONG TO LOVE! DO NOT SHORT CHANGE LOVE… IT’S PRECIOUS AND THE MOST POWERFUL GIFT!

IF YOU WANT TO GROW THE RIGHT “STUFF”…

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap

Galatians 6:7

Hey quick question, “search your fields (HEART) and examine what you have sown (ACTIONS) lately?  Is it purity, righteousness, love or the desire to walk in the narrow path in which the Bible describes as the way that leads to life? I tell you do not be fooled by the temporal pleasure of sowing sin because it’s very short lived.  Do not allow yourself not to be led astray by your flesh.  Nor think that by being in the broad way, which is full of short lived moments that it has no consequences!  When you  sow in darkness  do you think that no one can see you? Sometimes even this thought can bring you some sort of comfort and confidence in your style of living.  Yet, God can’t be mocked and out of His many names, which represent different characteristic of God there is one, which is “EL ROI.” This term means “the God who sees!”

Do you think, you can sow wickedness and get away from the judgment and wrath that is to come because of your actions?   Ask Achan that question!  He was sowing wickedness in secret and thought he could get away with it, but it brought death not only to him but to his family.  So, I ask you, “what’s under your secret tent?”  Is your tent full of the world as the Bible describes this to be an enemy to God?  Is it full of praise and worship or SPIRITUAL ADULTERY?  What are you sowing? Because seeds always produce life and as you sow be sure to know that something is in the works RIGHT NOW and soon it will spring forth life?

Will you LIVE righteously or unrighteously?

Will you WALK in the narrow path or the broad way?

Will you SERVE God or Satan?

Will you LIVE in the Spirit or in the flesh?

Will you ABIDE in the truth or in lies?

Will you FOLLOW the light or be LOST in darkness?

Make a wise decision and chose this day who you will serve. Be sure to know this that you can only choose one.“He who is not for me is against me (Matt. 12:30),” were the words of our Lord Jesus . “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life (Gal. 6:8). So, let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart-Chris Pichardo-

Sacrifice, Compassion and Love it’s all ACTION so…

W.I.S.H. WALKS

At New Life Miami we believe in the church going outside the four walls and showing in action Jesus’ heart. By doing this we are going out into the community this saturday and joining the community and showing them that we the church do care.

W.I.S.H. (Women Intimately Serving Him) is a ministry with in our church where Women can come together and talk, laugh, cry and most importantly, grow in the Lord. This ministry believes that they have a High Calling as Women. In their daily lives they fill many roles and they understand the responsibilities that this role entails. This is a ministry where God has allowed them to come together and share their burdens, pray for each other and lift each other up in times of trials and to rejoice together as God answers their prayers.

New Life Miami…

This past Saturday we had a church baptism. It was done at Crandon Park and by far it was the largest group that we have ever baptized (26). Then Sunday we presented a total of 34 church members. WHAT A WEEKEND IT WAS! Each of these individuals are so precious and I thank God for their lives as they have surrendered to God. We as a church are so grateful for them and we pray that the lord continues to multiply New Life in ways, which we cant even explain!

“RECKLESS FAITH”

DEEP LOVE…

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: LOVE

Galatians 5:22, NLT

We are now at the very beginning of football season and I remember hearing about a story that is just to funny to leave out of this blog. It goes like this, “a wife came to the husband and said, and “you are always watching football games you must LOVE football more than you LOVE me.” He said, well, to be honest with you, I do LOVE football more than you, but I LOVE you more than baseball.”

It’s challenging to LOVE other people but the Bible says that when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He helps us to LOVE more deeply. I want you to play the video of your life back about five maybe ten years and do a little comparison to your life today. Do we LOVE more today than yesterday? Do we have bigger hearts filled with a greater measure of compassion for others? Is your capacity to LOVE expanding or contracting, enlarging or shrinking?

Now, why is this so important? The Bible teaches us that the greatest quality that you can possess in all of life is LOVE.  What held Jesus to that grueling cross? Why was he willing to endure the pain of the cross, to endure scourging, public humiliation, intense pain and to die for us? LOVE

Dear YOU..

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:2

Wednesday, my wife and I were brought to tears as we saw an episode on “The Oprah Show” that really blessed us! You might say, “but Pastor on “The Oprah Show,” I say YES! Here is a young individual singing a song that is called “NOTE TO GOD.”  I started to think about this and I said to myself. “I want to write a letter to YOU,” so here I go, my heart and my soul will be poured out to you.

IN THE MIGHTY AND PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS CHRIST I PRAY YOU BE MOVED TO LOVE GOD MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF THROUGH THIS LETTER!

Dear YOU,

We live in a world that brings hatred, weakness, bitterness, unforgiveness, anxiety, confusion, hopelessness, and a lot more other things, that are considered evil. I ask YOU a question, so what are YOU going to do about it? YOU cannot allow these things to overtake YOU. Have a consciousness of the reality of the evil that is in this world. Paul tells YOU to respond to evil in a radically different way than the fallen human nature would prescribe. Instead, YOU are to work to overcome evil with good. The first eleven chapters of Romans teach YOU about a new kind of person. It is a person that has been transformed by the grace and mercy of God. Chapter twelve is the application in which YOU the new person should react as YOU encounter evil. As a person, if YOU feel YOU cannot do this, than give yourself completely to God. When YOU do this YOU give Him the ability to then respond in a manner only the Holy Spirit can do through you.

Your friend & brother,

Pastor Leo

P.S. If you were to write a note to God how would it read?