Fanny Rodriguez

Accepting Jesus as our Savior means entering the divine operating room for Him to remove sin from our lives, which is a painful but healing process. The blood shed is that of Jesus on Calvary, which has the power to cleanse and heal. The Holy Spirit illuminates areas of weakness that need to be eradicated. Let the Surgeon of the Soul remove everything that has kept you tied up, so you can be used as an instrument to help others enter a relationship of freedom in Christ. Pray for transformation in this new year.

The Prince and the Beggar, a movie about twin brothers separated at birth, reminds the author of Jesus' sacrifice in leaving his royal status to enter a hostile world to bring light and reconcile humanity with the Heavenly Father. The true meaning of Christmas is the adoration of Jesus, who can transform lives and bring true peace and joy. The author invites those who have not accepted Jesus as a gift to do so and experience His guiding and comforting presence.

The author reflects on a clean car that stands out amongst dirty cars after a storm in Boston, and how it serves as a reminder of our call to be the light of the world. The author emphasizes the importance of living a life that exemplifies walking with Christ, impacting not only the workplace but also our homes and neighborhoods. The continuous pursuit of holiness will help us to have a testimony that makes others want to know the author of our salvation. The author prays for the daily cleansing of our lives through spiritual disciplines so that God's light may shine through us.

The new year may have started with difficult situations, such as illness, unemployment, financial struggles, or the loss of a loved one. The Psalmist advises us to lift our gaze to the Lord and depend on Him for strength to overcome these difficulties. If we have not yet asked Jesus to enter our hearts and give us eternal life, we can do so today and have peace in the midst of any storm. May the Lord bless us and strengthen us to emerge victorious in His name.

The writer loves dulce de leche and reading, but those delights are temporary. They suggest finding lasting delight in God's presence, even if it's difficult to take the time for prayer and meditation. Singing Bible verses is one way to do this. Delighting in God's presence doesn't guarantee getting whatever we ask for, but it brings peace in waiting or receiving a negative answer. The writer encourages readers to delight in God just for the sake of enjoying His presence.

The passage from John 1:45-51 shows the importance of cultivating the character of Jesus, especially in a society that values credentials over character. Nathanael was praised for his integrity, and we should strive to be true to our values and not deceive others. Let us take care of the image of Jesus that we present to the world. We cannot reach the stature of Christ on our own, but we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us live lives worthy of being called children of God.

Watching children build a sandcastle and then seeing it destroyed by a wave made me realize how we should be like children - focusing on enjoying the present instead of worrying about the future. We should prioritize love, as it is the only thing that will not pass. As parents, we should sow love into our children and nurture our families with love. We should seek guidance from God's word and prioritize our relationship with Him. We should strive to pour out God's love to others and not let worldly anxieties cloud our priorities.

A journalist interviews a wise man and asks what surprises him about humanity. The wise man responds, "That they are bored of being children and want to grow up fast, and then want to be children again." He also shares life lessons, such as the most valuable thing in life is not what we have but who we have, and that money can't buy happiness. These lessons can be found in the Bible and following Jesus' example can lead to a full life. The key to finding wisdom is through daily reading of the Word of God and cultivating a life of communion with the Lord.

The movie "Pay forward" tells the story of a boy who is assigned to find a way to contribute to humanity. He invites a homeless man to stay at his house, but his alcoholic mother gets scared and yells at him. The boy perseveres in his mission to help others and comes up with the idea of a pyramid of people helping each other. The author reflects on how Christians have the power to transform the world through the Holy Spirit but may have forgotten the important mandate to make disciples. She prays for wisdom, discernment, and courage to approach people in need of an encounter with the Lord.

The teachings of a father endure in the lives of his children leaving a mark that neither time nor the changing conditions in life erase. The author shares a teaching their father gave them in a time of illness that he knew would be brought into the presence of the Lord. His desire was to establish unity and harmony between them as siblings. He used an image of five chopsticks to represent the family unit and how staying in unity will help them not only achieve their individual goals but also prevent them from being hurt by walking alone. The author reflects on the importance of unity in families and how it promotes a healthy and united church. They pray for their family and the church to have unity and harmony in all relationships.

The author shares a story about a student who is intelligent but struggles with aggression and disrespecting authority. Despite guidance over the course of 9 months, the student still struggles to take responsibility for her actions. The author shares a moment where the student asks for a privilege but acknowledges that she doesn't deserve it due to her previous behavior. However, during recess, the student gets into another fight and almost hits another student. The author reminds the student of the importance of self-control and consequences for our actions. The author reflects on their own mistakes and the infinite mercy of God. They pray for readers struggling with weaknesses and sins to understand God's principles and to walk in integrity. They ask for strength to fight against anything that opposes communion with God and to extend grace to those around us.

God created us and gave us life, but we turned away from Him to follow our own will. Although we may feel complete, apart from the Creator we do not know the purpose for which we were made. Jesus Christ paid a great price for us, making reconciliation with God and a truly new life possible. Each person has received a unique ability, a gift intended to fulfill a purpose greater than simply earning a salary. Whatever our work may be, we can use that gift to transform our surroundings, bring light into the darkness, communicate peace, and sow in others a love for the Word. We are valuable to God in every occupation.

Christmas transforms the atmosphere and invites us to celebrate with joy, reconciliation, and music that honors the birth of Jesus. He is the true meaning of this celebration: God laid aside his royal status, took on a human body, and became a servant to save us. I used to reserve songs and praises for Christmas and church, but now I enjoy praising God throughout the year. Let us also make our homes places of praise, for this music can strengthen us, comfort us, and fill us with peace. Let us receive Jesus, give him priority, read and treasure his Word, and share this wonderful gift with others.

God remains steadfast, like the sun in its place. When we place Him at the center of our lives and keep our eyes fixed on Him, we walk in His light, even when storms prevent us from perceiving it. Turning our backs on Him, by contrast, leads us into darkness. Many wrong decisions arise from acting without consulting Him, but His mercy and grace receive and deliver us when we cry out. Therefore, we should seek His guidance even in small matters, paying attention both to the confirmation and to the uneasiness of the Holy Spirit. We can trust that God does not change: He loves us, cleanses us, and remains attentive to our needs.

Just as a GPS guides a driver along an unfamiliar route and redirects them when they stray, God directs our walk. Abraham set out without knowing his destination or the way, trusting in God’s promise. Although he tried to overcome difficulties by taking his own shortcuts, God delivered him and led him to the Promised Land. We, too, need direction when we do not know what decision to make. The Word of God is our Manual for Life, and the Holy Spirit grants us wisdom to discern His will and find solutions in times of conflict. Therefore, we must seek His presence daily, nourish ourselves with His Word, and cry out to Him at all times, cultivating a genuine faith like Abraham’s.

Joseph was able to forgive his brothers because he cultivated continual fellowship with God and rested in His presence through rejection, slavery, temptation, and imprisonment. Although they received his forgiveness, they continued to be afraid because they did not embrace a grace they considered undeserved. We, too, may believe that our sin cannot be forgiven, especially if others still condemn us. Yet the blood of Jesus cleanses us completely and offers us full forgiveness. We must receive it, forgive ourselves, and walk in freedom, trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit to live with integrity. The grace we receive also enables us to forgive those who have hurt us.

Love can move us to act with courage and self-sacrifice, like the mother who, despite not knowing how to swim, plunged into the lake to save her daughter. In an even more perfect way, God loved us while we were still living in sin and sent His only Son so that we might receive eternal life through Christ Jesus. This wonderful gift of salvation deserves our gratitude and a daily response: to love God completely, obey His commandments, and bring His love to others. We must ask Him to teach us to love fully and unconditionally, especially those who have hurt us or with whom we have difficulties, beginning with our family, friends, and companions.

Human love can make us feel special, but it can never compare with God’s infinite and eternal love. He draws us with cords of love and persists in communicating with us; yet worries, commitments, friendships, and even family can distract us to the point that we fail to perceive His calls and His presence. We need to set aside time from our routine, be still, and listen to the Holy Spirit. We can even replace whatever fills our ears with songs of praise that help us enter God’s presence. Let us seek to be with our Father not only to bring Him our requests, but also to delight in His presence and learn to listen to Him.

Christmas celebrates the coming of Jesus, the Savior promised by Isaiah and announced to Mary as the eternal King. Although he deserves all honor and sovereignty, he did not come clothed in earthly power; instead, he set aside his royal status to take on our human frailty and obediently serve the Father. Jesus himself is God’s gift and the true meaning of Christmas. Therefore, let us not allow gifts, preparations, and meals to draw our attention away from him. Together with our families and friends, let us thank, praise, and honor him. If you do not yet acknowledge him as the King of your life, surrender to him and receive forgiveness and salvation.

Christ’s death and resurrection gave us direct communication with our heavenly Father, without the need for intermediaries. We can come to God at all times, trusting in his promise: he answers, reveals what is unknown, and gives wisdom generously. This fellowship should not be limited to times of illness, financial hardship, family conflict, loneliness, or difficult decisions. God also wants to hear about our joys, victories, and gratitude. Therefore, let us share every blessing with him and celebrate the new life we have received, making Jesus the center of our home. We ask for constant fellowship that leads us to consult God first in difficult days.