There Is A Way - God's Way!

Proverbs 14:12 

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."

Our eldest daughter introduced us to a website called coolmath.com.  Her elementary school uses it to challenge students in their math and thinking skills.   It is a fun tool for kids and adults alike!  There is a brainteaser game she got our family playing last night called "Bloxorz."  Well, the fun continued this morning and we have to say this game is quite addicting!  The object of the game is to get a three dimensional, rectangle block to fall into a square hole that is placed somewhere along a square tile puzzle path.   Using the arrow keys, you maneuver the block and try to avoid falling off the edges of the tiles.  There are secret tiles and symbols placed strategically around the path.  Out of 33 levels we are up to level 20.  Up for a challenge?  Here's the link to the game:  http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-bloxorz/index.html.  Make sure you read the directions!!!  Have fun! This game brought the above scripture to mind this morning.  After reading the scripture, I recalled driving one day on some side streets to get on the freeway to my next destination.  Placing an important call to handle some business, I got deeply involved in conversation.  I merged onto the freeway and saw a familiar landmark that I was used to seeing but it was on the opposite side of the road.  My immediate thoughts were, "Wow... they just built another store on the other side of the freeway."  Because of my concentration on the phone discussion, it didn't dawn on me that I was going in the wrong direction.  It wasn't until I paid attention to the freeway signs that I realized I was going the wrong way.  I lost thirty minutes of my time going the wrong direction!  Like in the game "Bloxorz," there is a consequence for going in the wrong direction, you fall off the path and have to start over from the beginning of the puzzle.  In my instance it was lost time! So many times we make life changing decisions and think we are headed in the right direction but all of a sudden we figure out that our decisions have lead us the wrong way.  Tip of the day:  Pay attention to where you are going!  Keep the end in mind, but focus on your steps in getting there.  Every step today could affect your desired destination. Look ahead.  Choose God's path for your life and not your own.  Heed the warning signs of the Holy Spirit and you will end up where you need to be! Have a great day!  God bless you. Louis & Elisa Quintana

Find Rest In Jesus

Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (NLT)

"It's Hump Day!"  We're sure some of you will hear this expression tossed around today or if not today you have probably heard or said it before.  The Urban Dictionary defines "Hump Day" as, "The middle of a work week (Wednesday); used in the context of climbing a proverbial hill to get through a tough week."  How busy is your "Hump Day" today?  Are you weary?  Are you carrying a heavy burden?  The words of Jesus say it all, "Come to me."  Find rest in Jesus today!

Have a great day!  God bless you.

Louis & Elisa Quintana

The Lord Is Your Deliverer

Psalm 18:1-3

 ¹ I love you, O LORD, my strength.  ² The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  ³ I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.

Sunday evening we gathered around the kitchen windows and peered out into the backyard watching a storm blow through.  We watched the wind blow the tree's branches in every direction and blinked with every bright flash of lightning and crash of thunder.  As we gazed through the window, we saw a bright lightning bolt streak down from the dark clouds and immediately heard a loud "boom!"  We cringed as we saw the flash and loud sound and thought that the lightning bolt must of hit something.

We could hear the thunder still rumbling at a distance but knew the worst of the storm was over.   We then sent our daughters upstairs to get ready for bed but noticed they quickly returned running frantically into our bedroom and jumping onto our bed.  Once again the storm produced fear in their minds but they knew where to run to find refuge, Daddy and Mommy's room.  As I (Louis) walked out of the room and through the house, I found my youngest daughters tiny hand grab a hold of mine and heard these words, "Dad I want to go where you go."  I said "Oh really, why?"  She said, "Because you're bigger! I want to be with you."  She once again found refuge not in our California King size bed but right next to my side!     

The storm was much more devastating than we suspected.  We got word later Sunday night that a house a couple of miles down the road was struck by lightning and caught fire.  We drove by the home yesterday to see that most of the house was destroyed by fire.  We thanked God as we heard no one was injured or hurt.  Driving away from that home left us with mixed emotions.  We had a sinking feeling in the pit of our stomachs and fought back the tears as we empathized with the loss of this family's home.  We humbly thanked God for protecting us through yet another storm.

God is your deliverer!  Call to the Lord today, take refuge in Him and He will save you from your enemies!

Have a great day!  God bless you.

Louis & Elisa Quintana

The Lord Determines Your Steps

Proverbs 16:9

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."

Yesterday we spent most of the day at the mall trying to escape the hot, humid, Texas weather.  Before leaving the mall we had a great idea to stop and get something cold to eat and drink.  We had two options, we could drive across the street to a new coffee shop for a cold drink or try a new ice cream place not too far from the mall that makes fresh ice cream daily.  Due to the heat outside, ice cream sounded like a better idea.  

On our way we noticed there was a storm coming in from the West but thought we had enough time to enjoy some dessert.  We arrived at the ice cream place and saw they had a drive thru window as well as a walk up window with outside seating.  As we looked over the menu and tried to decide which ice cream we wanted, our youngest daughter had to use their facilities.  As we waited for her, we glanced over toward the drive thru and noticed that a white Volkswagen Beetle had stalled.  A lady and her son got out and asked a couple of people if they had any jumper cables.  We normally carry jumper cables in our other vehicle but just so happened to have our set with us.  We offered our assistance and told her we would try to help her before the storm hits.  We pushed her car to an open space and gave her a successful jump.

Drenched in sweat, the idea of sitting and eating ice cream outside with the possibilities of it beginning to rain did not seem like a good idea after all.  We got back in the car and thanked God we were led there to not have ice cream but to lend a helping hand to someone in need.  We decided to drive to an "air conditioned" coffee house near our home.  As we drove to the coffee house Elisa asked, "Why did you come this way?  I (Louis) explained there was a new coffee house near our home that just so happened to be part of the new chain of coffee houses like the one we contemplated going to near the mall.  When we arrived at the coffee house we explored the menu and noticed they offered one of our girls favorite desserts, Gelato (Italian ice cream)!  The girls cooled off with some Gelato and we enjoyed some blended espresso drinks.  As we sat there relaxing, the words Elisa spoke earlier echoed through my mind, "Why did you come this way?"

Sometimes we go through our day thinking we have it all planned out just right.  We go places and we do things all without asking ourselves "why did I come this way?"  Wherever you go and whatever you do always keep in mind the Lord will determine your steps.

By the way we got home before the storm.  That's another story!

Have a great day!  God bless you.

Louis & Elisa Quintana

What An Amazing Promise!

1 Corinthians 3:16

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God'sSpirit lives in you?

1 Peter 2:4-5

⁴ As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

In the Old Testament the Lord dwelled first in the Tabernacle and then in the Temple.  They were places where His people could come to sacrifice and worship Him.  In the New Testament the Apostle Paul writes that we are the Temple of God and that His Spirit dwells in us.  In John 14:23 Jesus says, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.  My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

Today make the sacrifice to love the Lord and obey His teachings and He will make His home with you.  What an amazing promise!

Have a great day!  God bless you.

Louis & Elisa Quintana

Make Yourself Ready And Be Filled With His Presence

Exodus 40:34-35

³⁴ Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.  ³⁵ Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

1 Kings 8:6, 10-11

 ^{6 The priests then brought the ark of the LORD's covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim...10 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD.  11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.}

When Moses and the Israelites erected the Tabernacle and made it ready for service, "the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle."  When Solomon completed the Temple and the priests moved the ark of the covenant into the Most Holy Place, "the glory of the Lord filled His Temple."  

Make yourself ready for the Lord's service and allow Him to fill your life with His presence today.

Have a great day!  God bless you.

Louis & Elisa Quintana

God's Abundant Favor

2 Samuel 7:1-3

 ¹ After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, ² he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."  ³ Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you."

After reading this passage we realized that God never commanded King David to build Him a Temple.  In 2 Samuel 7:7 it says,  "Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"  King David thought it was a good idea for the Lord to have a permanent dwelling place and God allowed this idea to move forward.  God really showed David favor as the Prophet Nathan confirmed by saying, "the Lord is with you."  Even though God did not permit David to construct the temple himself, He still gave him approval by allowing his son Solomon to carry out the task.

Imagine that you have God's abundant favor in your life today, so much so that even your own ideas gain His approval.  Wow!!!  Could this be your reality today?  If you feel you don't have God's favor in your life, what would you have to do to gain the type of favor King David had?

Have a great day!  God bless you.

Louis & Elisa Quintana

Everyone Who Is Willing

Exodus 25:1-2, 8-9

¹ The LORD said to Moses, ² "Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give... ⁸ "Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. ⁹ Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.

Reading this got us thinking about how God asked everyone who was willing to bring an offering to do so from what they had.  They were not asked to give what they did not have!  Everyone who was willing gave from their personal belongings, natural resources, gifts, talents, and abilities.

When the Lord is doing something great for Himself,  He asks you to get involved.  He doesn't "make" you.  He asks everyone who is "willing" to involve themselves with His great purpose.

What are you giving today?  No, we are not talking specifically about or asking for money here!  What is God asking you to participate in for His greater purpose today?

Have a great day!  God bless you.

Louis & Elisa Quintana

Succeed With God's Wisdom & Understanding

1 Chronicles 22:11-13

^"11 Now, my son, the Lord be with and prosper you in building the house of the Lord your God, as He has spoken concerning you.  ¹² Only may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding as you are put in charge of Israel, that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.  ¹³ Then you will prosper if you are careful to keep and fulfill the statutes and ordinances with which the Lord charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage. Dread not and fear not; be not dismayed."

King David spoke the words written in 1 Chronicles 22:12-13 to his young son Solomon.  David had shed much blood and was not to build the house of the Lord.  Solomon was chosen by God to build the house of the Lord but he was "young and inexperienced" so King David made preparations for it to be built before his death.

When God grants great responsibility, inexperience and limited understanding needs to be guided by God's "wisdom and understanding." He will lead us to experienced men and women of faith to help guide us on our journey in life, however, it is our obedience and submission to the Word of the Lord that guides our success.

Have a great day!  God bless you.

Louis & Elisa Quintana  

Keep Fighting The Good Fight Of Faith

Hope you all are having a great Summer.  Just wanted to let you all know that our "God (got) A Second?" posts will resume the week of July 20, 2009 not today as we had planned.  See you soon!

Food for thought:  

1 Timothy 6:12  

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

Heard a pastor the other day say something that we have heard many times.  He said, "It's not only how you start that makes a difference in the race, it's how you finish the race."  Every time we think about this a picture of Rocky Balboa comes to mind after he defeated Apollo Creed in Rocky II.  He says, "Yo, Adrian, I did it!" 

 

If you have seen the movie, we're sure your wiping the tears away right now after watching this clip again!  "Fight the good fight of faith" and finish your Summer strong!

Have a great day!  God bless you.

Louis & Elisa Quintana