In Mark 5, we meet Jairus. As Jesus crossed over the water, a crowd was there to meet Him and most likely ask Him for something. Jairus was first in line. At the sight of Jesus, Jairus fell at His feet and begged Him to go to his house and lay hands on his dying daughter so she could be healed. Jesus agreed.

On the way to Jairus’ house, Jesus stopped because He felt power leave Him. He asked, “Who touched Me?” A woman who had been suffering for 12 years confessed that she had and was immediately healed.

Can you imagine how Jairus felt? He was up early, maybe waiting for a long time to meet Jesus. He was first in line, and now a lady got her healing before his daughter did! She cut in front of him!

While Jesus talked with her, people from Jairus’ house came with the news. It was too late, “Your daughter is dead!”

“It’s not fair! I waited. I was first. This lady cut in front of me, and I lost my turn!” — Jairus

Jesus responded to Jairus’s internal struggle and said to him, “Don’t be afraid; only believe.”

Jesus was telling Jairus, “Just because someone cut in front of you doesn’t mean you won’t get your turn!”

Jesus gets to Jairus’ house, takes the girl by the hand, tells her to get up, and immediately, she does!

Jairus got his turn.

This story should remind us, “Just because someone cut in front of you doesn’t mean you won’t get your turn!”

En Marcos 8:11-12, leemos acerca de un grupo de fariseos que pedían una señal. Jesús preguntó: “¿Por qué esta generación busca una señal?”

Hoy en día, muchas personas buscan “los dones del Espíritu.” Viajan a un servicio o a una conferencia para escuchar a alguien que opera en “los dones.”

Mi pregunta para aquellos que constantemente buscan “los dones” es: “¿Por qué esta generación busca dones?”

Demasiadas personas quieren los dones del Espíritu, pero no el fruto del Espíritu. Quiero desafiar a esta generación a dejar de buscar los dones del Espíritu y, en su lugar, esforzarse por producir el fruto del Espíritu. Creo que si nos enfocamos en producir el fruto del Espíritu, eventualmente operaremos en los dones del Espíritu.

In Mark 8:11-12, we read of a group of Pharisees asking for a sign. Jesus asked, “Why does this generation seek a sign?”

Today, many people seek “the gifts of the Spirit.” They will travel to a service or a conference to hear someone who operates in “the gifts.”

My question for those constantly seeking “the gifts” is, “Why does this generation seek gifts?”

Too many people want the gifts of the Spirit but not the fruit of the Spirit. I want to challenge this generation to quit seeking the gifts of the Spirit and instead work to produce the fruit of the Spirit. I believe that if we focus on producing the fruit of the Spirit, we will eventually operate in the gifts of the Spirit.

¿Alguna vez has tenido o tienes actualmente a un ser querido con quien es difícil conectar? Puede parecer que has intentado todo lo posible para lograr un avance, pero sin éxito.

Mientras leía Marcos 3:27, este pensamiento vino a mi mente:

“Nadie puede entrar en la casa de un hombre fuerte y saquear sus bienes si primero no ata al hombre fuerte. Entonces podrá saquear su casa.”

Probablemente te estés preguntando: ¿cómo puedes pensar en eso cuando el pasaje trata de algo diferente?

Piensa en ello de esta manera: el hombre fuerte es la persona con la que estás tratando de conectar. Su casa es su corazón. Sus bienes son la conexión.

El método para saquear sus bienes es atarlo. Ahora, sabemos que no podemos atar físicamente a alguien sin meternos en problemas, pero ¿podemos atarlo en un sentido metafórico?

Aquí hay algunos pasos para ayudarnos a “atar al hombre fuerte” y así “saquear sus bienes”:

1. Identificar los bienes.

2. Obtener acceso.

3. Aprovechar la oportunidad.

4. Atar.

5. Saquear.

El primer paso es identificar lo que quieres de la persona.

El segundo paso es obtener acceso a ella. ¿Cómo puedes lograr que abra la puerta de su corazón? Un acceso limitado es mejor que ningún acceso. Descubre sus intereses.

En tercer lugar, una vez que logras el más mínimo acceso, avanzas poco a poco. Una puerta entreabierta es una oportunidad para entrar lentamente. Lograr entrar se consigue manteniendo su interés.

En cuarto lugar, ¡lo atas! Aquí es donde logras comprometer su atención por completo. Una vez que estén comprometidos, finalmente saquearás sus bienes. Este es el nivel de conexión.

Lograr un avance con alguien que amas no es imposible, pero sí es un proceso. La próxima vez que sientas que no puedes conectar con alguien a quien aprecias, recuerda:

1. Identificar los bienes.

2. Obtener acceso.

3. Aprovechar la oportunidad.

4. Atar.

5. Saquear.

Mi papá solía decir: “Boca cerrada no se alimenta.” No entendí eso hasta que me convertí en adulto. La verdad es que podemos tener una necesidad, pero hasta que la comuniquemos, nadie la suplirá.

A lo largo de la Biblia, leemos historias de personas que tenían necesidades, pero hasta que las expresaron, Dios no las satisfizo.

En Mateo 20, leemos la historia de la salida de Jesús de Jericó. Una gran multitud lo seguía. Entre esa multitud había dos hombres ciegos. Estos hombres querían recuperar la vista y entendían que eso solo ocurriría si lograban captar la atención de Jesús. Le gritaron, pero la multitud los reprendió y les dijo que se callaran. ¡Intentaron silenciar su clamor!

Sin embargo, el deseo de estos hombres por ver era mayor que su deseo de agradar a la gente. No permitieron que la multitud los silenciara, “sino que clamaron aún más.” Como resultado, Jesús se detuvo, los llamó y les preguntó: “¿Qué quieren que haga por ustedes?” Ellos le respondieron: “Señor, que se abran nuestros ojos.”

Hasta ahora, vemos a dos hombres ciegos que clamaron para captar la atención de Jesús porque querían recuperar la vista. La multitud intentó silenciarlos, pero ellos se negaron y clamaron aún más fuerte. Como resultado, la historia termina así: “Entonces Jesús, teniendo compasión de ellos, les tocó los ojos, y al instante recobraron la vista y lo siguieron.”

Esta historia nos recuerda que debemos comunicar nuestras necesidades para que sean suplidas y que no debemos permitir que nadie nos silencie.

¡No puedes silenciar mi clamor!

My dad used to say, “A closed mouth doesn’t get fed.” I didn’t understand that until I became an adult. The truth is we can have a need, but until we communicate our need, no one will meet our need.

Throughout the Bible, we read stories of people who had needs, yet until they communicated, their needs were unmet by God.

In Matthew 20, we read the story of Jesus’ departure from Jericho. A great multitude followed Him. Among that crowd were two blind men. These men wanted their sight. They understood that this could only happen if they got Jesus’ attention. They shouted to Him, but the multitude warned them that they should be quiet! They tried to silence their shout!

These men’s desire for sight was greater than their desire to please people. They did not allow the crowd to silence their shout, “so they shouted out the more.” As a result, Jesus stood still, called them, and said, “What do you want me to do?” They said to Him, “That our eyes may be opened.”

So far, we see two blind men who shouted to grab Jesus’s attention because they wanted their sight. The crowd tried to silence them, yet they refused and cried all the more. As a result, the story ends: “So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.”

This story serves as a reminder that we need to communicate our needs to have them met and when to not allow anyone to silence us!

You can’t silence my shout!

You are stronger than you think!

The story of Cain and Abel is one where we can learn that we are truly stronger than we think. We must believe and act on that belief.

Cain had encountered rejection and embarrassment. God accepted Abel’s gift but rejected Cain’s. This upset Cain. He was angry, embarrassed, and hurt. God saw him and asked, “what was wrong?” We don’t know what Cain told God but we see God giving Cain advice, “you are stronger than you think.” You must overcome your anger, embarrassment, and hurt. If you don’t, it will overtake you. Cain did not heed God’s advice which leads him to attack Abel and that lead to his death.

We all have something we need to overcome. God wants us to know that we are stronger than we think. If we aren’t careful, it will overtake us. You can do it! You can overcome it! You are stronger than you think!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13

This year has been chaos! 2020 was supposed to be different. It was a new decade full of promise. It was supposed to be a year of perfect vision, but all of a sudden, everything changed. In March, the whole world stopped. Our focus shifted. We went from our focus being “what could be” to “how do we survive”?

We have every excuse to be worried and fearful because of what we see and hear. But is that really how we want to live? Do you want to be so focused on what the headlines are saying (which is never good news), or would you rather see all possibilities that the idea of 2020 presented you?

The Apostle Paul said; “for we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

We walk by faith. What is faith? I’m glad you asked! The author of the book of Hebrews wrote: “…Faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1

When we walk by faith, we walk in the assurance of what we are hoping for, and in the certainty of what we do not see. So, what are you hoping for that you don’t see with your physical eyes? Instead of focusing all your attention on the latest news, focus your attention on what you would rather see! Walk by faith!

You may be asking, how do I refocus? The answer is simple, quit focusing on what you see (headlines, news, social media, etc.), and shift your focus on what you hope to see! It is time to refocus!