Her Prayer, Our Foundation

Mary, did you know? Every year I hear that song around the Christmas season, and the song reminds me of good questions we can ask Jesus’ mother. This year, however, as I read Luke 1, I have a new question for her: Mary, did you know that your prayer reveals so much about who God is?

This is what Mary prayed in her desire to magnify the reality of God:

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

    and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for those who fear him

    from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

    and exalted those of humble estate;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

    and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

    in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers,

    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

I have identified at least 10 realities Mary’s prayer reveals about God: (perhaps you will find more!)

1. God saves!

2. God considers the humble.

3. God is mighty—He does great things for us.

4. God is Holy.

5. God is merciful toward those who fear Him.

6. His strength is often quiet—He has scattered the proud in their thoughts.

7. He brings down the “mighty” and exalts the “humble”.

8. He fills our hunger with good things.

9. He remembers mercy—even when we fail to be faithful to Him.

10. He speaks through each generation!

While this year, 2020, has shaken up so many things about our existence and even take up lives with it, I find that the more I reflect on God’s character, the more I want to see Him magnified, exalted over my thoughts, interpretations, and even feelings. 

If Mary was here today perhaps she would ask us, “Did you know that your God and Savior is like this…? 

May the Spirit of the Lord give us clarity to know Him as He wants to be known in this season.

—Diego Cuartas

Serve, Celebrate and Kiss!

This blog may not be what you are thinking of. I could not resist to pick three verbs that as humans we are all well familiar with—serve, celebrate, and kiss. And can you believe these are three verbs one king used in the past to advise other kings?

Psalm 2 is a perfect passage to read and meditate on when it comes to election time and after leaders have been elected. 

Even though the author of Psalm 2 is not identified, the Psalm is attributed to King David in Acts 4:24-26. This is the advice King David has to offer other Kings (verses 10-12):

Therefore, you kings, be wise;

    be warned, you rulers of the earth. 

Serve the Lord with fear

    and celebrate his rule with trembling.

Kiss his son, or he will be angry

    and your way will lead to your destruction,

for his wrath can flare up in a moment.

    Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

King David exhorts other kings to serve the Lord with fear, celebrate the fact that God is sovereign, and to kiss the Son of God because He, the Son, has the power to execute judgements. King David wraps up his exhortation with the affirmation that anyone who takes refuge in the Lord is a blessed person.

What is the alternative highlighted here for a king—leader—of any nation? Very simply: any king who does not serve in this way will be left to his own “ways” which will lead him to destruction.

So in our day, our president, congress, senate, supreme court, governors, mayors, freeholders, and any other leader in between, would be exhorted by King David to do their work with this perspective in mind. Whatever you do, serve the Lord with fear (this will keep you from relying on your understanding). Whatever you do, celebrate the fact that God rules (this will keep you humble as you regard the authority God has over everything). Whatever you do, kiss the Son of God (this will position you to receive every blessing Jesus secured at the Cross on your behalf). This too will attest to the fact that your affections and honor are directed toward the Son of God.

We can pray before, during and after the election for our leaders. That they will be given grace to serve the Lord with fear, celebrate God’s sovereignty, and kiss the Son of God!

May God help them. May God help us to pray for them.

—Diego Cuartas

*Please be advised that this blog represents the views, opinions and beliefs of the writer and does not necessarily reflect those of our church leadership or denominational affiliation.

Life Requires a Big Shield, Enormous Glory, and A Great Advocate

I would venture to say that most of us spend a lot of energy and resources to protect ourselves, build lives marked by significance, and establish a sense of wholeness that is approved by us and, to some extent, others.

Recently, as I read Psalm 3:3, God drove deep into my soul the conviction that it is Him who can offer me protection, significance, and redemption in a way that no one else can. Not even me on my best day!

“But you, O Lord are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head”.

It is in the midst of vulnerable times when King David declared these truths about God. David was fleeing from his own son, Absalom, in order to preserve his life. Talk about being tempted to find protection? Significance? Or to stand tall? Truth be told, our lives are not far from King David’s.

How many times do we employ any means to protect ourselves from pain or dangers? From criticism or rejection? From disapproval or failures? 

How many times do we employ any means to find our own significance in life? In an effort to find that significance, we seek to build our own glory, our own reputation, our own sense of importance. 

And, how many times do we employ any means to vindicate ourselves, to defend ourselves, to prop ourselves up so that we come out with our chins up and high? 

Here is what the Psalm confronts us with:

God offers to be our shield—to protect us from things that come from the outside and the inside. Not all the things that threaten our wholeness come from outside, some reside within us.

God offers to be our glory—He invites us into a larger, glorious story, and a glorious person who defines reality in ways that our finite minds can’t perfectly imagine or comprehend. From eternity to eternity God has willed things that are for our good and for His good fame.

God offers to lift our head up—He redeems. He justifies. He vindicates. He defends. He provides the resources to transform us into the image of His Son Jesus. He began a good work in us and He promises to bring it to completion.

What most of you may not know is that these truths about God are really anchors for someone like me—someone who has struggled with fear of man which has left me limping with a tendency to please others. Thanks be to God who is slowly freeing me from the grip of these. I also thank Jesus, His Son, who is so committed to be my constant and gracious advocate.

Is God the person to whom you look for protection, significance, and redemption?

— Diego Cuartas

*Please be advised that this blog represents the views, opinions and beliefs of the writer and does not necessarily reflect those of our church leadership or denominational affiliation.

Keeping the Gospel Message Fresh in our Soul

I remember a philosophy professor told our class about the need to recalibrate underground missiles every so often during the course of a day due to the movement of the earth and the catastrophic consequences that would take place if the wrong target would be hit by one of these. For those of you wondering, this was an ex-military now professor. Like the missiles, my professor noted, our souls need to be recalibrated so often because our tendency is to get off track easily and quickly.

Though our hearts may have been anchored in the Gospel at some point in our lives, the reality is that we need Jesus to rescue us every day. Though saved, we are still dealing with the presence of sin and a heart that easily makes an idol out of anything that shines or promises life to us.

Where can you go to recalibrate often your soul? Where can you go to remind your soul of the precious Gospel message? These days I would recommend Titus 2:14:

"[Jesus] who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."

One verse packed with the truth you need to remind yourself of who saved you and what is the extend of His redemption.

1. Who saved you? Jesus "gave himself for us". He took the initiative to become human so as to enter our world and from that place offer a sacrifice that would satisfy the demands of His Father. In a profound way, Jesus did whatever it took to reconcile human beings with God and give them a chance to participate in his glory--a larger narrative beyond our wildest dreams!

2. What is the extent of his redemption? Jesus came explicitly to...

• Redeem us from lawlessness (He came to address our idolatrous hearts)

• Purify us for Himself (He came to change our condition)

• To make us His own possession (He came to change our identity; not orphans any longer but His treasured possession)

• That we may be zealous for good works (He came to change our purpose; we can now be carriers of His presence in the daily and mundane moments)

I hope you find this passage helpful. Recalibrating our hearts can begin with a few simple questions that can take us back to the Gospel in Titus 2:14:

• What place does Jesus have in my life right now?

• What is my heart treasuring today?

• How am I addressing sin in my life?

• Who do I believe I am? And who is telling me that?

• What do I believe is my purpose?

May God refresh your Gospel-thirsty soul as you recalibrate your heart. Caution: failing to do so often will have catastrophic consequences.

—Diego Cuartas

*Please be advised that this blog represents the views, opinions and beliefs of the writer and does not necessarily reflect those of our church leadership or denominational affiliation.

Is God Comfortable In Your House?

Great question, right? I would let Patty lead you to reflect on this question. I’ve had the opportunity to meet Patty Zuñiga in person through the College of Prayer ministry. Patty has developed a curriculum and training track for families desiring to establish an environment of prayer and worship in their homes. I wanted to share a brief blog Patty wrote as a way of helping promote the H.O.P.E. (houses of prayer everywhere) initiative the College of Prayer has recently launched. Is God Comfortable In Your House? To read more click here. And while your’e at it, feel free to browse other resources available at this webpage.

—Diego Cuartas

*Please be advised that this blog represents the views, opinions and beliefs of the writer and does not necessarily reflect those of our church leadership or denominational affiliation.

You Are Looking More Like Your Father

There is a place in the Gospels where most Bible translations give us a rendition that can discourage us rather than encourage us. Here is an example from the ESV, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” As Jesus teaches about how we should deal with our enemies, He gives us a clear imperative: “love your enemies” (Matthew 5:48). The discourse ends with a significant conclusion: if we love our enemies, we will resemble our Father. Our Father loves perfectly. He is complete and mature when it comes to loving and even loving His enemies. After all, isn’t that how He loved us in the first place?

Reading the passage as translated by the ESV, and some other translations, leaves me with such a weight on my soul. Can you feel it too? You must muster this kind of maturity or perfection in love in order to look like your Heavenly Father! That surely adds some pressure.

Here is a piece of good news though. The verb used in Matthew 5:48 is a future indicative. What that means is that we can translate the verse to say: “You will be perfect…” Reading it this way does fill me with hope! Why? Because now it doesn’t sound as an imperative but rather as a promise. You will be complete and perfect. I will be compete and perfect. We will be complete and perfect when it comes to loving others including our enemies. Hallelujah!

You and I are commanded to love our enemy, but the maturity with which we do that is not something we can muster on our own. God will produce that in you. So take courage. Just because your heart is hard toward your enemy now does not mean it will stay that way.

I encourage you to turn the following verse into your personal prayer while you attempt to love your enemy:

“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

—Diego Cuartas

What Role Has Missions Played in Fostering Justice?

This week I want to share with you an encouraging piece shared by pastor Thabiti Anyabwile in the Gospel Coalition blog. Thabiti helps us see that while some missionary work may have fostered injustices in the past there are lives like that of William Carey whose work contributed to justice in the midst of oppression. To read his short blog click here.

—Diego Cuartas

Can Someone Explain To Me What or Who is Jim Crow?

This is a legitimate question. After our District Superintendent, Kelvin Walker, encouraged us to educate ourselves before we attempt to move quickly into solutions that address injustice, he recommended The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander. As an immigrant myself, I had to ask myself, “What or who is Jim Crow?” You can tell that I was on the edge of ignorance. I found a valuable video produced by Hip Hughes titled “Jim Crow and America’s Racism Explained”. In 17 minutes 44 seconds I learned a lot. While sharing this resource does not mean I agree or subscribe to any views or the level of thoroughness Hip Hughes shares, the resource is a good place to start. Click here to view for yourself.

In an effort to educate.

—Pastor Diego 

Quarantine: Counting Your Losses and Your Gains

In "How do we face the various non-death losses and disappointments caused by the pandemic?” Alasdair Groves, counselor at CCEF, shares good perspective that may be beneficial to all of us. I personally have been encouraged to consider my losses and my gains during this quarantine. In Psalm 90:12, Moses asks God to help him to “number his days so that he may gain a heart of wisdom.” One of the ways we gain a heart of wisdom is by making an inventory of our losses and our gains during quarantine. Alasdair offers a good perspective as we consider our losses. To listen to the video blog click here.

—Diego Cuartas

Fragrance and Spoken Words, A New Pandemic

What do fragrance and spoken words have in common? And why do we urgently need them during this time of pandemic crisis?

Fragrance and spoken words share one thing in common--they influence. The other day I walked into a public restroom, and I was met with a very strong and pleasant fragrance. I could tell it was a fragrance a male would use. As my senses encountered the pleasant smell, my experience in that bathroom changed. I went from that strange feeling sometimes I get when using a facility that is not what I am used to at home to hey, I feel welcomed and comfortable here! Weird as it may sound, the fragrance I encountered that day influenced my experience. 

Spoken words have no less influence. We all know that, right? Did you notice where your thoughts went when I posed the question this way? Spoken words can encourage or discourage someone. They can confront or affirm our thoughts. Some words can build or destroy aspirations, hopes and even dreams. There are words that welcome us, and there are words that make us feel as alienated as if we were actually geographically distant from the person uttering those words.

Influence. Fragrance and spoken words exercise inescapable influence!

The apostle Paul speaks about both of these realities in 2 Corinthians 2:14 and Ephesians 6:19 (I encourage you to read these!).

In the former passage, Paul affirms that God always leads His children in "triumphant procession" in Christ, and that God also makes the "fragrance of His knowledge" known everywhere His children go.

In the latter passage, Paul asks other believers in his time to pray so that he will be given "divine words" when he boldly speaks to reveal the mystery of the Gospel.

These two passages clearly demonstrate that as the children of God we bear the "fragrance of His knowledge" and we can potentially speak "divine words" that reveal the mystery of the Gospel of Jesus.

One application I see is that whatever fills us these days will translate into the fragrance we carry wherever we go, or wherever we are staying. If fear fills you…the fragrance you carry will most likely be fear. If hope informed by who God is and what He says fills you..then the fragrance you spread around will have a different influence. The good news is that God does offer to fill His children, with all of Christ’s resources and life,  through His Holy Spirit.

Here is another application that is accessible to all disciples of Jesus. We can pray! We can, like the Ephesian believers, ask that God will give His children around the world "divine words" to reveal the mystery of the Gospel to a land that is in need of knowing and accessing our marvelous God! We can also keep it personal and ask God to give each one of us opportunities to do so. The good news is that the Holy Spirit is constantly looking for disciples willing to partner with Him in what He is doing in this world. Even better, He promises to empower you so as to bring glory to Jesus!

What are you filling yourself with in these days?

What do most of your prayers sound like?

How is the Holy Spirit inviting you to partner with Him?

We can wear the best fragrance and lead the world around us with words of life given to us.

—Diego Cuartas

The Eyes or The Heart?

It’s been said that the eyes are a window into our soul. These windows connect the material world around us with our hearts and what our hearts desire. Lust, greed and pride in our hearts find their way into the world via our eyes. So where should we start in an effort to address the problem with lust, greed and pride? Is it an eye problem or a heart problem? Do we start with our eyes or do we follow a deeper and complex path into our hearts?

At times we need to say “no” to what our eyes want to look at—beauty I want to have, fame that props my perceived identity up, things I must have to give me a sense of being alive, or that social media feed or wall that any of us could become addicted to—in order to clear the path into our heart.

At times we need to say “no” to what our eyes want to look at while examining the motives that drive our hearts in that moment—and hopefully shift the objects we treasure to the life-giving Christ who promises abundant life here in the now and through eternity.

And then there are times when our windows—eyes—are clear and we see the world around us through godly filters, like the ones the Apostle mentions in Philippians 4:8-9:

whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

So, whether or not your eyes are seeing the material world through godly filters, here is where we need to start or land on:

“My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.”

This is the verse God used a couple of weeks ago to speak to me. It was so encouraging! What God ultimately desires is not an external behavior by which I manage the restrain of my eyes to prevent my heart from lusting, being greedy or leaning on pride. God wants my heart, and so He tenderly says to me, says to you: “give me your heart” first, then your eyes will follow “my ways”.

What are you looking at? Are your filters godly? Does Jesus have your heart?

—Diego Cuartas

Psalm 46, Evil Is Present: Where is God?

I am so glad God led me recently to this precious gem found in the book of Psalms. During these days as our senior pastor Greg leads us through a study on the presence of evil and God, my thoughts are attentive to this theme.

Psalm 46 has a way of intercepting our location and God’s in real time while we face injustice or any form of evil. It also makes clear the invitation God has for His creation in the midst of such realities.

Where is God and, foremost, what is He up to?

God is present, and He promises to be our refuge and strength. Nothing can offer us protection and strength as God can. He is all-powerful and makes Himself available to us. And so even in the presence of evil, He will ultimately preserve us for His will.

We are given the river of His presence. The author of this chapter wants us to know that God’s presence is active, it is not stale. His presence has a movement, it can take us from point A to point B. And furthermore, it brings life in the midst of desert-like conditions. So evil can’t stop the movement of God. Never!

God is in our midst. And this is also emphasized with the phrase: “The Lord of Hosts is with us.” That means God is working in the midst of evil. Evil is real, but it does not have the last word.

The God of Jacob is our fortress. That means God has at least a witness—Jacob and his people. He has been personal in the past, and He will be personal to you today! 

So while God is present and active, He invites us to be still and to know Him. He wants to be known in a way that exalts Him above all else. This is good truth for me as my tendency is to want things now. I want to fix things quickly; I want answers on my time....but God invites me to wait and know Him in the waiting. Being still and knowing God exalted in each situation are deeply linked realities. Surely in the waiting He will reveal His presence and help.

It does not surprise me that Martin Luther, the reformer, composed in 1529 a powerful hymn based on this particular Psalm—and its message has reminded many generations that “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”

—Diego Cuartas

Created to Draw Near

More than a blog, I want to present to you this week a resource that will refresh you concerning the way you relate to people and relate to God. Ed Welch, from the Christian Counseling Education Foundation (CCEF) has authored a book that can help us regain relational perspective. The book is also designed to be a parallel resource to the National Conference this year which will take place closer to our backyard—Hershey, PA! The conference sponsored by CCEF is a must attend, at least once in a lifetime, kind of event.  Click here to watch the book intro and to find out more about the National Conference.

—Diego Cuartas

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

The other day I was having breakfast with my wife and it dawned on me how much thought, energy and resources go into gifting others during the Christmas season. The next thought stopped me in my tracks: “What am I really giving others?” Pondering this question requires slowing down and taking time to listen to God, the One who sent us the Savior. Doing this may help us prepare room for Jesus in our hearts and offer others the better gifts. For more inspiration as you slow down, I recommend you read this encouraging short article.  Click here to read it.

—Diego Cuartas

Lust, The Worst Black Hole!

The other day I was talking with a friend, and she was relating to me how sad she felt at the fact that businesses in our community, directly or indirectly, play down the significance of Thanksgiving—almost like we are forced to think now about Christmas shopping before we even get to the table of gratitude. 

I believe what my friend was describing points to a larger reality that characterizes us as humans beings. One little word can summarize it: “lust.” 

From a biblical point of view, I see that lust (desire, craving) fills the pages of the Bible as if God wants to make it very obvious to us that we are people who regularly lust after something, be it pleasure, comfort, beauty, respect, fame, goods, relationships, praise, clothes, looks, admiration, affirmation, happiness, freedom, money, peace, fulfillment, balance, and the list goes on and on.

As I reflect, I think I am convinced that lust has come and is here to stay. An unwanted guest that has permanency in our hearts. How did I formulated this thought? It comes right from James 1:14, and its context offers us a clear picture. In this case, lust is already present at each temptation we experience in life.

Contrary to popular thought, temptation brings out of us something that already exists inside of us. The apostle James tells us that we are not tempted by God, but rather we are tempted as we are lured and enticed by our own lust. So in reality, circumstances—good or bad—set us up to bring the lust already residing inside of us out into the light. So lust is already inside of us and it is here to stay.

Lust is like a black hole. You can feed it a little bit of this or a little bit of that, but it is never satisfied. Lust will keep searching for more, better, greater and more fulfilling. 

I am thankful that God has provided ways for us to not live hopelessly in the face of lust.

He commands us to practice contentment and gratitude (Ephesians 5:20).

He provides us with something far better than lust, abundant grace (Hebrews 4:16).

He illustrates for us, in Jesus, the highest forms of joy and fulfillment there can ever be (John 4:34).

He is powerful to transform our hearts so that we can live out new desires that honor Him (Jeremiah 32:39).

So whether you are at the store, opening your mail or checking your emails, don’t allow the appeal to your lusts to grab you by the neck lest you fall into the black hole!

—Diego Cuartas

How Can I Cultivate An Effective And Fruitful Faith?

Glad you asked! So many times we fall prey to thinking that faith is all we need. Or perhaps we fall into those seasons where discouragement settles in and we feel like we have lost tracking. God has given us, through the apostle Peter, some clear ways to cultivate a faith that is effective and enduring.

2 Peter 1 not only offers us an imperative exhortation to “make every effort” to “supplement” our faith with certain disciplines and attitudes, but it also presents us with some warnings of what would happen if we do not do so.

The apostle Peter urges us to supplement our faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.

If you are like me, I need some synonyms to help me understand some of these seven nouns. So here are some aides…
Virtue = excellence that is acceptable or pleasing.

Knowledge=knowing, understanding.

Self-control=seize, arrest, self-control

Steadfastness=remain, patient endurance, stay

Godliness=devotion, piety, reverence

Brotherly affection=brotherly or friend love

Love=unconditional “God” love

These are the disciplines and attitudes that help us cultivate our faith in God. Comparing this list to Galatians 5:22 reveals that things like self-control, patience, faithfulness and love are fruits the Holy Spirit generates in us—they are qualities we can’t produce on our own. So we do need God to work these things out in us.

The importance of supplementing our faith with these qualities is highlighted by the following statement:

“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind” (verses 8-9).

Did you hear the sobering truth expressed by Peter? If we lack the qualities listed above, we become useless and unproductive in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. So it is possible to have a faith that is, sort of, futile. He goes further in saying that there is a kind of faith that is shortsighted or blind—the kind of faith that lacks these qualities.

The good news is that if we posses these qualities and they are increasing in our lives, we will be effective, fruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and we will have a more clear sight of reality.

I can’t read what Peter is saying and not be prompted to evaluate my heart to see where I am in terms of these qualities. As we do an honest assessment we can then lean on the grace of God to meet us in our places of need. He already “cleansed us from our former sins” (v.9) to show us that He can do the rest of the work needed in us!

—Diego Cuartas

How Are You Doing Rallying Hope to Endure?

This week I would like to recommend a good, provocative read provided by Paul Tripp. In this article, Paul states that "your hope is not to be found in your willingness and ability to endure, but in God’s unshakable, enduring commitment to never turn from his work of grace.” Are you called to endure these days in the face of some particular situation, relationship, conflict, illness, financial need or a particular kind of loss? Consider reading this short article to rally hope from someone who never fails at giving exactly what we need. Click here to read more.

Pastor Diego

Are Your Words Improving Your Friendships?

Relationships require work and lots of grace. This week I want to share a blog authored by Paul Tripp. In his blog, Paul offers to us wise suggestions to improve our friendships with others. Friendships can be sometimes frustrating and other times they can be life-giving. So this week, let us consider how to improve the gift of friendships we may have in our lives. Click here to wisely improve your friendships.

—Diego Cuartas

Another Reason to Trust Him

For the most part I think we would agree that the reason we come to trust someone is because we have experienced that someone in a way that assures us that we can trust them with something of ourselves. But is knowing someone the only basis to trust?

As I took some time yesterday morning to pray and reflect on what I could share with a group of students at a chapel this week, God led me to Psalm 139. And as I was reading this chapter, it was pretty obvious that God wanted to speak to me first. I could not help but fix my attention on verse 16:

“Your eyes saw my unformed body;

    all the days ordained for me were written in your book

    before one of them came to be.”

The more I thought about these statements, the more I felt like the author of this chapter when he said, “How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!” (verse 17). 

What I understood is that before my life began taking any form or shape in my mother’s womb, God had a vision of me in mind. His vision reached into the future and with that vision in mind He began to work from nothing what would become one day my being. He gave form to a physical body with unique traits, and a personality was designed with that future in mind. No detail necessary to fulfill that vision was left out. Furthermore, the days themselves and their amount were set on the record before any of them would even come to pass. 

So, how about trusting someone on the basis that they know everything about our future? Why would I not trust that someone if after all they know e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g about my future. Not only that, but if that someone knows how my life fits into that future.

This is very sobering truth, and yet it is the very same truth I have struggled with most of my life. I can’t agree more with the author of this chapter that two essential responses on our part—toward someone who knows the future—are: search me and lead me. Search me, not because He does not know everything about me already, but search me so I can know myself as He knows me. And lead me, because my tendency is to choose my own version of life, but He can lead me in “life everlasting” (verses 23-24). 

Consider this God, Creator, your Designer, who knows your future, as the one you can trust!

—Diego Cuartas

Will 2019 Be What I Want?

It is not unusual to approach the new year asking ourselves what the new year will bring or would it bring what I want. Circumstances can change, but what if they don’t? What if they do? Is there something better than circumstances?

I have to admit that right after Christmas I started to feel like I was ready to move on or out of the holiday season. Have you ever felt this way? I am thankful for every opportunity I had to be with family and friends and to focus on beautiful truths behind Christmas. But something was feeling like..ok, I had enough! So I began searching for a place in God’s Word, the Bible, to help me think about the future and the New 2019 Year. The Holy Spirit led me to Psalm 16.

What can we find in Psalm 16 that could help us think more clearly about circumstances in the New Year? Glad you asked!

Here is my attempt to capture the significant thoughts I found:

1. A personal, honest prayer where we recognize that God is the one who can “preserve” us

2. The negative promise that sorrows will increase for those who look for life outside of God

3. A profound affirmation that the Lord can be our satisfying “portion”, our “cup of blessing” and that He is the one who “holds our future”

4. That the boundary lines have fallen in “pleasant places” and that in Him we have a “beautiful inheritance”

5. A personal promise from the Lord where He commits Himself to be our “counselor”

6. The firm assurance that we “will not be shaken” because “He is at our right side”

7. An unmistakable anchor-like promise that He will not “abandon” us

8. That He “will make us know the path of life”

9. That in His presence we will find “fulness of joy” and “pleasures” forever

10. And…that these realities in a sense are offered to us for eternity!

So, what if my circumstances do or do not change in 2019? You are guaranteed a person who in real locations and time will be with you. He will offer you all the realities listed above. In fact, He will be actively doing these things on your behalf. 

When King David, the author of this Psalm, said “Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure,” he was pointing to the experience of this personal God and Lord in his life—not to a change of or changeless circumstances. So as we consider the New 2019 Year let us consider what or who is going to be our hope, and let us be intentional to usher and acknowledge the one who is above, under and within our circumstances working out good things!

Have a hopeful New 2019 Year!

—Diego Cuartas