"How much is it that You need?"

Here is another conversation I had with the Father. This epiphany happened while I was at the office of the bookstore I work with. I was praying for some needs I have, financial mainly, but the lesson applies for everything in life.

Me: Father, will you provide financially for this and that? (mentioning whom I had to pay)
Father: (Pretending not to hear)
Me: I know you will provide, I know it, I know it
Father: Alright, Daniel. I am in a good mood, anything that you ask, I shall provide
Me: Father, I need to pay for this and that
Father: How much is it that you need?
Me: Um... um... around this much, I think
Father: You don't know exactly?

And the chance to ask during His super-archi-mega good mood was gone

It was then that I learned (through more of His Word) that you must be specific always, even in your prayers. Of course God knows everything that you need, but He wants YOU to know everything that you need. Don't be like me not knowing the exact amount I needed when the King asked.

Now I am prepared, I do all my numbers and I know exactly whom I owe and how much. I advise you do the same. Also write what the blessing you want is, and why you want. Lest you be caught off guard the question "Why do you want it?". If you don't know why you want that blessing, don't expect to receive it!

The Spirit teaches, but doesn't spoil!

One experienced marked me forever. I used to hear a lot of my Christian friends and leaders say "We'll let the Spirit lead". It sounded cool, so I decided to employ that saying too. "The Spirit will lead" I would say, and of course, the Spirit would never lead. Why? Because the Spirit leads the prepared ones.

Here is what happened: We had agreed on the first prayer walk on our Cal State Long Beach (which is happening again on Jan 29! check here). And after creating a facebook event, I had no clue what to put on the description. So I tried to sound cool and wrote "The Spirit will lead".

I went to bed calm, but I woke up feeling silly (the Lord works in funny ways!). I thought "What kind of lack of professionalism that is?". Sure enough, I read that description and thought "No one will come if this is what it says!". Even better, a friend of mine called and pointed out the same issue. Thank God for confirmations!

Friends, don't ever cover up laziness with the leading of the Precious Holy Spirit! Make a plan, pray about it, fast about it, look at how others have successfully done it. But then, at the end of it all, pray "But Lord, please change it up as You wish, mess with it as You see fit. I am here Lord, listening, what do You say about this?". And believe me, the Spirit will show up and give you directions. But DO NOT expect the Spirit to write it all up for you. The Spirit teaches, not spoils!

Semantics ruin you everyday

One of the apostles writes: 'You believe in God? Well, good! even the demons believe! and they tremble'. Well, that's powerful right there. I would like to believe and add, in my own imagination if you will, that James is saying "And they tremble! but you don't even tremble, you just say you believe but don't really believe it, at least they tremble! but not you, not you"

How does that feel? Would you be offended if I told you that demons believe more in God that you do yourself? You child of God? When God says 'I will destroy you', the demons flee for they know He means business! But you? When He says 'I will bless you'. Do you rejoice? Do you praise? Do you thank? What's your reaction to God's word? Ask yourself this question "Are semantics ruining me?"

Look friend, you are talking about God here. God Himself. Mr. Creator of the universe. The God who created the Heaven and the Earth, and the hell too. The God who has the power to cast you into eternal damnation. The God who can revive the death and heal the sick. The God who provides miracles. The God so compassionate that He gave His only begotten Son that whomever believes will live in eternity with Him. THAT is the God you call your God. Yet, are you limiting Him? Are you talking to this mighty, powerful, everlasting, ever merciful God as if you were talking to a mean, grumpy dude?

Don't let semantics ruin you everyday. Meditate upon His nature and rejoice. Rejoice! because the Creator, the Almighty, the I am that I am calls you Child. And if you really believe He is God, then begin to act like it.

The best gift you can give is...

It was my birthday a few days ago. I was pretty humbled by all the kind words, wishes, and love. But it made me think about gifts, I got a few, and they were cool and all, but I thought "what's the best gift you can give to someone?". Now mind you, nothing against gifts (duh), but I thought about the greatest gift. And I came to the conclusion that the best gift you can give is you. The best gift you can give to the world is you.

This is not the cheesy-corny thing you want to hear. But it is the truth. I can have all the stuff later, but I won't have you around forever. If you want to make the best, most expensive, most qualified, most lasting gift to me, your friends, and your family, then be a man or woman of integrity, of righteousness, who earns everything she owns. Don't settle for small dreams, go for the big ones. Don't live for yourself, but live for the very glory that leads to eternity.

Be kind to people and let them remember you for your character. Don't forget the little ones, and don't depreciate the hopeless. Remember the poor and encourage the afflicted. Seek wisdom and hate ignorance. Cut back on tv, and open that book sitting on the shelf. Say 'bye' to your couch and call some friends. And when you gain new heights, remain humble. This is truly the best gift, it's more than enough.

Pencil writing history

The "I am this way and I will never change" approach is not going to take you anywhere. I have heard it in a lot of places from a lot of people, and these same people end up living miserably, unhappy, and wondering why 'nothing works for them'. Here is how to identify them:

• "Everyone/all guys/all girls are the same" (No, YOU are always the same)
• "This is how I am and I'll die this way" (Yes, you will)
• "No one is going to change me" (You are absolutely right, only you can change yourself)
• "Why change? It never works" (It has never worked because you have never changed)

Wake up! It is only if you are willing to be changed that you can be used to change the world around you. No change in you, no change in others. Do you really want to be the vessel of change? Do you really want to be the pencil in God's hand? Then be willing to be changed. Submit yourself to a process of change, no matter how painful and slow it is.

Here is the analogy my mentor gives me: When you came to God, all you were was mud, but through burning you and spinning you around, God begins to give you shape. Sometimes it burns a lot, and sometimes He rids you of big parts of your life, but that's what it takes. Are you willing?