Tag Archives: forgiveness

The Word

03 Thursday Mar 2016

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Instrument Blessing
INSTRUMENT OF BLESSING OR CURSE?
Today’s Reading: Hebrews 4:12 Version NIV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4%3A12&version=NIV

A harsh word can be worse than a face slap. Many people, who found that physical aggression within the family is something absurd, assault with harsh and cruel words, his wife and children.

The word may also be, like a sharp knife. Murmuring that become slander and slowly kill innocent people.

The word is constantly falsified and lies become ordinary. This happens at all levels of society, from the government to the rich, and to the poorest people of the city.

God gave us the word to bless and not to curse. It is with the word that we comfort those who suffer. We teach the truth; we value those who are desperate and convey our love to them.

Jesus is the Word of God in human form; He is the means of communication of God; the distribution of his love, forgiveness and life for all human beings. You must ask God: “Lord, do not let my voice say harsh words; slander and lies. Open my mouth to utter words of comfort, purpose, value and to tell others of your love and your grace”.

We must use words as instruments to bless others and never to curse them.

Ildefonso Torres

Happy Forever?

02 Wednesday Mar 2016

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Shelter Final
THE SHELTER
Today’s Reading: Psalm 46:1-7 Version NIV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+46%3A1-7&version=NIV

At weddings, we hear this phrase, “Happy forever!” Later, however, the reality of every day upsurge; and with them, attempts to change the other person. As you cannot change a person, without destroying their personality or willpower, it only remains to sigh: “Ah, it was good when I was single!”

Given the problems of life, marital or of any other nature, it does not make any sense to say: “If I had not married!” “If my husband or wife was someone else”!

The woman or man you married is what he or she is. Unless he or she dies, unless there is a separation, you will continue next to each other. You need to do something, react and strive to understand and love this person as she or he is.

If after so much discord and so many fights in your marriage not even a little bit of love is left, have the humility to ask God for forgiveness and grace to start all over again.

God is more interested in your life and the stability of your marriage, than you think. He is the source of love, joy and life. God is your shelter and strength.

Ildefonso Torres

Freedom

22 Monday Feb 2016

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Jesus Advocate

Today’s Reading: 1 John 2:1 Version NIV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A1&version=NIV

When a Christian commits an error, a mistake, a grave sin, there are those who are ready and willing to condemn and ridicule his behavior.

Only a few people remember that Christ forgiveness cleans and purifies our sins; Christ accepts the sinner again and again without restriction.

No one needs to carry that feeling of guilt, head down and ashamed, if it was forgiven and received by Christ. Peter denied his Master, lied, then confessed and pulled out of his chest the rottenness that his act meant. The burning tears streamed down his face, Jesus opened his arms to receive and restore him. That sin was forgiven. Forgiveness is forgiveness!

There are grave sins that destroy our inner being and need to be removed. This problem does not have an easy solution. For the children of God, although freed by Christ, live a life burdened by a thousand rules and precepts. The rituals of religion, worship and everyday life become enslaving and a heavy burden, after all, didn’t Christ set us free from all of these? You say, “I do not know, I’m free but yet, I’m still scared. He is a righteous judge; could we be condemned by our defense counselor, our advocate?

If Jesus does not condemn you, who will? Have confidence in God’s forgiveness. Repent, confess your sins, turn to God and live in peace and enjoy freedom! Jesus is our Advocate!

Ildefonso Torres

Oasis

01 Monday Feb 2016

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Jesus the Living Water
Today’s Reading: John 4:7-9 Version NIV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A7-9&version=NIV

The sun is high in the sky, it must be noon, and Jesus stopped to rest at the well of Jacob, in close proximity to a city of Samaria.

A woman from the city comes to the well. Why does she come at noon and not like the other women, in the morning? “Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.” He was just a man asking for a drink of water, but it was enough for the two to talk about their concepts of race and religion. She did not show a desire to talk; but Jesus could read her soul like an open book. This woman had a huge thirst for life. She had come to the well at noon, because she was a woman of many men and the other women did not want her company. She needed to restore her life and feel the sustenance of forgiveness, love and goodness. Ah, if there was a water source capable of killing her spiritual thirst! Yes there was! Jesus could bring out from her a source of living water. So, the water well became secondary.

When she ran to tell the others what had happened, she remembered that she had forgotten her water container. The vessel was left behind, as was also behind the desert of her life. She had reached the oasis that Jesus represents!

Ildefonso Torres

The Bible

29 Friday Jan 2016

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Read the Bible Final
Today’s Reading: 2 Timothy 3:16-17
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+3%3A16-17

There is something that makes this message different from others. We’re not trying to sell you anything; we just want to open doors. Yes, doors of forgiveness, happiness, salvation, life and love. The problem is that we don’t have a lot of space or time to bring to you a complete message.

It would be nice to elaborate more about this subject. Life is precious when we live in harmony with the laws established by our Creator. We like to spend our time talking about the only way we have for happiness. This is the way; a personal relationship with the One who has given us life.

We do not have much space and time for this short message, but you can find in the Bible the answer to the most important issues of your life. The Bible opens the door to happiness, security, salvation, life and love.

Perhaps you have already been tempted to read the Bible and found it very complicated. Try again. However, before you read, pray to God. It is very simple. For example you can say something like, “Lord, open my heart to understand your Holy Word!” Do it! The relief, the peace, the joy, the forgiveness that you need is at your disposition now.

Read the Bible!

Love

15 Friday Jan 2016

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The Love of Jesus Final
Today’s Reading: 1 John 4:10 Version CEV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A10&version=CEV

Love! Love! A word so small, so simple and yet often misunderstood and sometimes unknown, in relation to its real meaning.

To talk about love is to talk about Jesus Christ, because for Him love is much more than an abstract idea: it’s a lifestyle.

To worship God and to love our neighbor is a way to show love. And love can be demonstrated through forgiveness, understanding, justice, brotherhood and intercession.

Jesus’ teachings were made in the form of phrases, filled of love, whose contents he demonstrated with his actions. Many were touched by the love of Jesus, many! Paralytics, epileptics, blind, possessed, and none stopped from being struck by the love that came from heaven.

There is no emptiness in the human heart that cannot be filled by love. And we, creatures of God have the ability to love because He loved us first and sent his only Son to die for us. Is there a love greater than this? Would you be willing to die for your friends?

Jesus tells us to love those around us and only then we will become his disciples.

Ildefonso Torres

Salvation

06 Wednesday Jan 2016

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I Am The Door - Final
Today’s Reading: John 10:9 Version NKJV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A9&version=NKJV

What is the meaning of salvation? Salvation is freedom, abundance and life. Salvation means not only a heaven after death, but our encounter with life, here and now. Salvation is healing, removing all our worries and our disappointments. It is the healing of the wounds of the heart, caused by contempt, bitterness and disappointments.

Salvation is the restoration of the dignity of man, created by God in his image and likeness. It is to receive back the desire to live, to fight, to understand and to become someone useful.

The gateway to a country is a passport. The gateway to a good job can be knowledge, experience or unfortunately influence. The gateway to life is not money, or health, or good friends. The gate to life is Jesus! You must go through Him, receive forgiveness, inner freedom, the power of his Spirit, so that life outbreaks naturally. Life, then, becomes joy, peace, love, kindness and understanding.

There is a door that opens onto a new relationship with God and with people. Jesus is the door! Enter through this door and live!

Ildefonso Torres

Graphic by Michelle Kincaid

Forgive

19 Saturday Dec 2015

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Forgiveness-2
Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 2:5-7, Matthew 6:14-15 Version CEV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+2%3A5-7%2C+Matthew+6%3A14-15&version=CEV

Have you stopped to think about how many times we start talking with the phrase “if at least”? “If at least they had not betrayed me, if at least she or he had not abandoned me.”

Remorse is one of the weapons used by Satan to steal from us the joy of living our present. We allow bitterness and past failures destroy our lives. No one can get rid of this evil.

If you remember something that someone did to you in the past, immediately you may think all that you would like to do against that person. The options are few when we face bitterness; and some people try to take revenge. The problem is that this does not work, because it becomes a vicious cycle each claiming revenge on the other.

Others practice the silent treatment: loaded with bitterness, alone in silence. But inside, they are ready to explode, full of resentment and pain. There is another option; forgiveness. No matter that you do not feel like forgiving, that you want the taste of revenge, that the person who has wronged you does not deserve forgiveness. The only way to erase the past is to forgive.

Only through God’s grace can we remove the bitterness of our heart, for a new beginning.

Ildefonso Torres

God’s Forgiveness

09 Wednesday Dec 2015

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Death Penalty 1
Today’s Reading: Romans 6:22-23 Version NIV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+6%3A22-23&version=NIV

The criminal was tried and sentenced to death. By a squad?  By the electric chair? By lethal injection? No matter the method, the goal is the same: Death!

The history of mankind is the history of death, the death of thousands and millions of men and women, old, young and children.

In newspapers, radio, television, or the internet, the news are always hot when it relates to fatalities.

How many will die this year in wars, revolutions, terrorism, bombings, and assaults?

You and I are doomed! Condemned to die! Today, tomorrow or within a few years, but it will happen because there is condemnation “The wages of sin is death,” says the Bible.

In this confusion of bodies and in the unbearable stench of death, there is a ray of hope. The smell of life emerges and spreads: Jesus, the Son of God, agreed to be sentenced to die in our place, but transformed his death into life, life for himself and for all who are condemned to die.

Jesus is God’s forgiveness to free us of the death penalty!

Ildefonso Torres

Forgive Anyone

05 Saturday Dec 2015

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Separation Wall 2
Today’s Reading: Colossians 3:12-13 Version CEV
The Berlin Wall was built in August 1961 and tear down in November 1989. This means that there were 28 years of separation. However, it did not separate enemies but brothers. Separating people from the same family, people of the same race.

We raise walls when we stop talking with someone. Friendship ends, respect no longer exists, communication and relationships are broken. This may also occur inside the home. A wall can rise between husband and wife, between parents and children, between brothers and sisters. A wall rises when secrets are kept, when disrespect; or when love, understanding, kindness, turn into purely selfish desires.

Do not increase the height of that wall with your indifference! Do not build insurmountable barriers because of your intolerance! Do not put wire fences with hurtful and damaging words! By contrast, completely destroy what causes separation. Return to the path of dialogue. Restore the lost communication.

It is possible to break down the wall. Not with spikes, hammers or heavy equipment. The wall of enmity, hatred, misunderstanding and division collapses with the instrument of forgiveness!

Follow the advice of God: “Forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.”

Ildefonso Torres