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.

The story of the Gingerbread Man reminds us of how we were created by God and how we often turn away from Him. We need to remember that He bought us with a high price and has a unique purpose for each of us. We should use the gifts He has given us to spread His love and light in the world. Let us be messengers of peace and sow the love of God in others.

The Christmas season is a time of joy and music. We hear songs that invite us to meditate on the birth of Jesus, our Savior. Music was important on the day of the birth of Jesus and the heavenly hosts recognized and proclaimed the meaning of Christmas. The Lord has given us a new meaning to this celebration, and we can enjoy music of praise to God all year long. We should make our homes a place where songs and praises to the Most High resound throughout the year. This Christmas season, we should declare a time of praise to the name of Jesus and receive the wonderful gift of Jesus in our lives. We should make Jesus our priority, read his word, and share this gift with others. We were created to praise and glorify God every day of the year.

The author used a classroom activity about the planets to understand God's position in our lives. Like the Sun in the solar system, when we keep our gaze fixed on God, we will be in His light and experience day. But if we turn away from Him, darkness will come. The author learned to consult God even in small situations and trust in His mercy and grace. They thank God for His unchanging love and willingness to receive and cleanse them.

GPS helps us find directions when we don't know the route. Similarly, Abraham trusted God to guide him to the promised land. In our daily walk, we need direction and guidance from the Holy Spirit, who gives us wisdom and solutions to problems. We must consult our GPS, the Word of God, and pray constantly. By doing so, we can discern God's will and find direction for every situation.

Joseph's ability to forgive stands out in his character. He forgave his brothers for their jealousy and envy that led them to want to kill him and sell him as a slave. Joseph had a continuous communication with God, which helped him overcome all the difficulties he faced. It is not known when he forgave his brothers, but his peace allowed him to use his gifts to administer with authority and grace. Joseph's brothers doubted his forgiveness, but he extended grace to them. If you feel unforgivable, know that the blood shed by Jesus on Calvary cleanses us completely. Accept that forgiveness, forgive yourself, and walk in integrity before God.

A mother jumped into a lake to save her daughter even though she couldn't swim, motivated by the powerful force of love. Similarly, God sent his only Son to die for us out of his perfect love. We are commanded to love and obey God and to love others unconditionally. This month, as we celebrate love and friendship, let us meditate on God's love and share it with others.

A preacher wrote messages on the beach for his wife but she missed them due to distractions. The preacher reminds us of how we may miss God's calls in our lives due to distractions. He encourages us to take time to be silent and listen to the Holy Spirit. He prays for a hunger and thirst for God's presence in our lives.

The prophecy in Isaiah foretold the birth of Jesus, who would be called the Prince of Peace. Jesus was not born with the garments of a king, but rather humbled himself to become human. He is the gift of Christmas, and we should not let the focus on gifts and family gatherings distract us from the true meaning of the holiday. Let us take time to thank God for the gift of Jesus, who is the King worthy of praise and honor. If anyone reading this has not yet accepted Jesus as their savior, I pray that they do so today.

Technology has advanced so much that we have direct access to information and communication through small devices. However, the kingdom of God has enjoyed these advances for centuries with direct communication with the Father through Christ. We can cry out to Him at all times, not just in times of adversity, but also to share our blessings and joys with Him. We should make Jesus the center of our lives and homes. Let us have a pleasant communion with Him and consult Him before turning to others on bad days. Thank you, Lord, for your love and care for us. Amen.