Reflections for Today
Reflections for Pastors, leaders, and Christian families in general
-Psychologist Ester Martínez Vera-
In these days, so hard for everyone and from the feeling of responsibility for what is happening in this “global village” in which we live, I am going to “give” us some advice; (I say it well, “give ourselves”, because the reflections that I am going to leave you are also for me and my family).
Therefore, for you, for me, for your family, for mine, for the members of the church, remember every day when you wake up that:
Day 40: How will they believe?
We reach the end of this period. I don't know what stage we will be in when you read this reflection, but life has started and even if we are “disguised” we have to start walking in a different way.
As I told you at the beginning of the week, do everything you can to be an example in the care you have to take of yourself and others.
And to finish my forty reflections I want to leave you a few things so that you don't forget them even though everything starts to move and perhaps we will return to the stress of before. Hopefully not!
First of all, I want to remind you that God exists, (even if one day in the past you have started to wonder where he was). He is the designer of the Universe (Rom. 1:18-20), he is the “lawgiver” regarding right and wrong (Rom. 2:14-15), Christ is the humanized God (Hebr. 1:1- 4), who came to this earth to seek you and me (John 3:16), died on the cross for your sins and mine (Rom. 5:8), rose again and ascended to heaven (1 Tim. 3:16) and one day he will return (Rev. 22:20).
What I have just summarized has to remain in your mind even though things return to normal and we start to work, watch football or travel, but what is most worrying is that we also have the duty to explain it to those who around us. How will they believe if there is no one to preach to them?
Do you think you should start praying and explaining the gospel to those around you like never before? If so, it starts soon. You will receive power from above to be able to do it. There are many people who are longing to have hope that gives them a reason to live. They are very close to you, waiting for someone to give them the good news that their life can have meaning.
How are you going to do it? How are you going to tell your friends that only Christ saves? Be brave, do not be ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God for salvation!
Look around you and pray to the Lord that you can be a faithful witness for Him wherever you are.
I wish you the best, keep reflecting....!!!!!!!
As I told you at the beginning of the week, do everything you can to be an example in the care you have to take of yourself and others.
And to finish my forty reflections I want to leave you a few things so that you don't forget them even though everything starts to move and perhaps we will return to the stress of before. Hopefully not!
First of all, I want to remind you that God exists, (even if one day in the past you have started to wonder where he was). He is the designer of the Universe (Rom. 1:18-20), he is the “lawgiver” regarding right and wrong (Rom. 2:14-15), Christ is the humanized God (Hebr. 1:1- 4), who came to this earth to seek you and me (John 3:16), died on the cross for your sins and mine (Rom. 5:8), rose again and ascended to heaven (1 Tim. 3:16) and one day he will return (Rev. 22:20).
What I have just summarized has to remain in your mind even though things return to normal and we start to work, watch football or travel, but what is most worrying is that we also have the duty to explain it to those who around us. How will they believe if there is no one to preach to them?
Do you think you should start praying and explaining the gospel to those around you like never before? If so, it starts soon. You will receive power from above to be able to do it. There are many people who are longing to have hope that gives them a reason to live. They are very close to you, waiting for someone to give them the good news that their life can have meaning.
How are you going to do it? How are you going to tell your friends that only Christ saves? Be brave, do not be ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God for salvation!
Look around you and pray to the Lord that you can be a faithful witness for Him wherever you are.
I wish you the best, keep reflecting....!!!!!!!
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 39: Absent from the body, present with the Lord
I have to be honest with you and tell you that these days I have resisted talking about those who have lost their lives during the pandemic and I have only done so sideways. It was as if writing about this topic had some fear that my emotions would break as well. You can understand it, right?
Unfortunately, during these months, in the consultation, I have had to hear the very sad story of many deaths, explained by family members and, especially, by nurses who have needed psychological help to be able to overcome the trauma of seeing people die at their side with helplessness because they cannot being able to save the lives of many patients under their care.
What I am going to write is a mystery and I do not pretend to understand it completely nor do I pretend that you understand it either. I am referring to the verse that tells us: “Dear is the death of his saints in the sight of the Lord” (Ps. 116:15). Another translation says it like this: “The death of his faithful ones is of great value in the eyes of the Lord” (NIV).
Seeing it from an earthly perspective, it is very difficult for us to accept the reality of the death of a loved one if we do not see it from a heavenly plane. Only by imagining the joy of a father upon seeing his son arrive home can I glimpse something of what the aforementioned text implies.
My brother died a year ago and accepting that unexpected fact was a very hard experience, but in the worst moments I thought about what his arrival in heaven would have been like, seeing Jesus face to face! See my/your parents, your grandparents, friends who came before you. I had already arrived home! the heavenly Father who had loved and cared for him all his life, here on earth, was welcoming him. Can you imagine any more sublime experience? Enter, forever, the Father's house where there will be no more death, no more pain, no more anything negative.
How can that absence of the body, and presence before the Lord, not have much value for our Creator, Savior and Caretaker of our lives?
Therefore, although the separation from loved ones who have left to be with Christ has been and continues to be terrible, let us remember that we do not cry for them, we cry for ourselves, for the time of separation that may remain before us to reunite again. already in “the Father's house” but we do not cry like those who have no hope! TRUE?
Unfortunately, during these months, in the consultation, I have had to hear the very sad story of many deaths, explained by family members and, especially, by nurses who have needed psychological help to be able to overcome the trauma of seeing people die at their side with helplessness because they cannot being able to save the lives of many patients under their care.
What I am going to write is a mystery and I do not pretend to understand it completely nor do I pretend that you understand it either. I am referring to the verse that tells us: “Dear is the death of his saints in the sight of the Lord” (Ps. 116:15). Another translation says it like this: “The death of his faithful ones is of great value in the eyes of the Lord” (NIV).
Seeing it from an earthly perspective, it is very difficult for us to accept the reality of the death of a loved one if we do not see it from a heavenly plane. Only by imagining the joy of a father upon seeing his son arrive home can I glimpse something of what the aforementioned text implies.
My brother died a year ago and accepting that unexpected fact was a very hard experience, but in the worst moments I thought about what his arrival in heaven would have been like, seeing Jesus face to face! See my/your parents, your grandparents, friends who came before you. I had already arrived home! the heavenly Father who had loved and cared for him all his life, here on earth, was welcoming him. Can you imagine any more sublime experience? Enter, forever, the Father's house where there will be no more death, no more pain, no more anything negative.
How can that absence of the body, and presence before the Lord, not have much value for our Creator, Savior and Caretaker of our lives?
Therefore, although the separation from loved ones who have left to be with Christ has been and continues to be terrible, let us remember that we do not cry for them, we cry for ourselves, for the time of separation that may remain before us to reunite again. already in “the Father's house” but we do not cry like those who have no hope! TRUE?
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 38: Don't be discouraged!
Despite what I said yesterday that we should not repeat, to the adults, over and over again, that all this “is going to be a long time”; The truth is that it is true and difficult to digest.
Therefore we are in danger of becoming discouraged, but I was reading this morning some verses that I want to reflect on a little today:
He tells us in Hebrews 12:1-4: “Therefore, since we also have such a great number of witnesses around us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so besieges us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, setting the standards. “Eyes on Jesus, who suffered so much, so that your spirit does not become tired until you faint.”
Certainly, throughout our lives and, especially, in the last stages, we have people around us who observe us: Our children, our grandchildren, our neighbors... and it would be very convenient for all of them to see that we are capable of getting rid of any weight that accumulates on our backs over the years. Weight of worry, anguish, even despair...
Not anymore! Don't carry any more weight on you! Remember that stripping means taking something off; as if it were a heavy backpack that you can leave on the ground or, much better, at the foot of the Cross! What a relief!
Furthermore, we must “run with patience.” It's almost a contradiction in terms. Run patiently? Well, it's strange but we have no other choice, especially when we add years to our birthdays.
But whatever our age, we can count on the fact that, by putting our eyes on Jesus, we will be able to see his faithfulness because the same writer of the letter to the Hebrews also tells us that “The Lord is our helper, therefore we do not have to fear.” ” (Heb. 13:5-6).
Remember then that the only way not to tire ourselves out until we faint is to set our eyes on Christ, so full of grace and love and the worthless earthly things will be in the light of the glorious Lord.
Do you believe it?
Therefore we are in danger of becoming discouraged, but I was reading this morning some verses that I want to reflect on a little today:
He tells us in Hebrews 12:1-4: “Therefore, since we also have such a great number of witnesses around us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so besieges us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, setting the standards. “Eyes on Jesus, who suffered so much, so that your spirit does not become tired until you faint.”
Certainly, throughout our lives and, especially, in the last stages, we have people around us who observe us: Our children, our grandchildren, our neighbors... and it would be very convenient for all of them to see that we are capable of getting rid of any weight that accumulates on our backs over the years. Weight of worry, anguish, even despair...
Not anymore! Don't carry any more weight on you! Remember that stripping means taking something off; as if it were a heavy backpack that you can leave on the ground or, much better, at the foot of the Cross! What a relief!
Furthermore, we must “run with patience.” It's almost a contradiction in terms. Run patiently? Well, it's strange but we have no other choice, especially when we add years to our birthdays.
But whatever our age, we can count on the fact that, by putting our eyes on Jesus, we will be able to see his faithfulness because the same writer of the letter to the Hebrews also tells us that “The Lord is our helper, therefore we do not have to fear.” ” (Heb. 13:5-6).
Remember then that the only way not to tire ourselves out until we faint is to set our eyes on Christ, so full of grace and love and the worthless earthly things will be in the light of the glorious Lord.
Do you believe it?
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 37: “Is it long?”
I want to dedicate this reflection especially to the people who, after these days of confinement, feel much older than they did three months ago. It is as if instead of weeks hundreds of years had passed and as if the survivors had aged inside and, many of them, they are afraid that there is no future for their lives because, at any moment, what we have left behind , in part, may reappear.
No one can doubt, at this point, that the situation has been terrible for the elderly. We have seen, since the beginning of the pandemic, that the very old (or simply old) have been feeling almost stigmatized for being so prone to falling ill and being in danger of dying in a terrible way, alone and suffering greatly from the dangers of contagion that were occurring every day in that group.
It will take a while for people over 65 to regain their personal security and be able to live without fear because when they hear the news and what their friends and family tell them...what resonates most non-stop is that "This is going to take a long time". This phrase is terrible for a person who has only a few years to live. What does it mean that it's going to be long? Will I be able to be with my children and grandchildren again and hug them again? Will I be able to go on a trip with my friends again? Will I no longer have time to live? What does this mean that “it's going to be a long time”?
It seems contradictory that this phrase is used at the same time that we are given permission to get together ten at a time (well, the older ones don't) or we can go to... (well, the older ones don't)... or "well the older ones don't." no older ones...
That's fine as a way of prevention and care for grandparents, but please, at least, let's stop telling them that "it's going to be a long time."
After my anger, I want to propose that if you are still alive, thank the Lord for having preserved you. Take care of yourself! Because maybe your life will also “go long” and you will be able to have your grandchildren again, and go back out and back in and do the things that you liked to do so much….
It's going to be long!
No one can doubt, at this point, that the situation has been terrible for the elderly. We have seen, since the beginning of the pandemic, that the very old (or simply old) have been feeling almost stigmatized for being so prone to falling ill and being in danger of dying in a terrible way, alone and suffering greatly from the dangers of contagion that were occurring every day in that group.
It will take a while for people over 65 to regain their personal security and be able to live without fear because when they hear the news and what their friends and family tell them...what resonates most non-stop is that "This is going to take a long time". This phrase is terrible for a person who has only a few years to live. What does it mean that it's going to be long? Will I be able to be with my children and grandchildren again and hug them again? Will I be able to go on a trip with my friends again? Will I no longer have time to live? What does this mean that “it's going to be a long time”?
It seems contradictory that this phrase is used at the same time that we are given permission to get together ten at a time (well, the older ones don't) or we can go to... (well, the older ones don't)... or "well the older ones don't." no older ones...
That's fine as a way of prevention and care for grandparents, but please, at least, let's stop telling them that "it's going to be a long time."
After my anger, I want to propose that if you are still alive, thank the Lord for having preserved you. Take care of yourself! Because maybe your life will also “go long” and you will be able to have your grandchildren again, and go back out and back in and do the things that you liked to do so much….
It's going to be long!
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 36: The virus is still present
This week, God willing, until Friday, I will write the last reflections that were started to accompany you during the days of confinement. Fortunately, the de-escalation is taking place and we can enter a “new way of living” but returning, little by little, to our customs.
But I leave you a short story that I found in a meditation on “Our Daily Bread” from 2015. It goes like this:
In June 2012, a fire in Waldo Canyon destroyed 346 houses in Colorado (USA) and burned more than 70 km2 of forest. The fire was declared fully controlled when perimeter lines were constructed throughout the area. The fire was reduced to a defined area until it could be completely extinguished. A firefighter warned residents about the possibility of continuing to see smoke because, although the fire was contained, it was not controlled or completely out.
This is actually what the experts are telling us regarding Covid19. Unfortunately the virus, although contained for the moment, is still there...Therefore we must be wise and careful and not let our guard down. If we all take care of ourselves using protective measures, we not only take care of others, we also take care of ourselves and those we love.
It is very sad to see that some people do everything they should: Masks, sanitizing gel, appropriate distances, going out in the time slots that are marked by age... and, on the other hand, others go through everything and seem to care very little the impact your behavior may have on the health of others.
I think that as believers we should also take note of what it means to submit to authorities and laws. The apostle Paul will say: “Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, and to be ready for every good work” (Titus 3:1) and “Let everyone submit to higher authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God” (Rom. 13:1). Therefore, give a good testimony with your conduct, do not break any rules! Don't let anyone call you out for acting with little care or civility!
How about?
But I leave you a short story that I found in a meditation on “Our Daily Bread” from 2015. It goes like this:
In June 2012, a fire in Waldo Canyon destroyed 346 houses in Colorado (USA) and burned more than 70 km2 of forest. The fire was declared fully controlled when perimeter lines were constructed throughout the area. The fire was reduced to a defined area until it could be completely extinguished. A firefighter warned residents about the possibility of continuing to see smoke because, although the fire was contained, it was not controlled or completely out.
This is actually what the experts are telling us regarding Covid19. Unfortunately the virus, although contained for the moment, is still there...Therefore we must be wise and careful and not let our guard down. If we all take care of ourselves using protective measures, we not only take care of others, we also take care of ourselves and those we love.
It is very sad to see that some people do everything they should: Masks, sanitizing gel, appropriate distances, going out in the time slots that are marked by age... and, on the other hand, others go through everything and seem to care very little the impact your behavior may have on the health of others.
I think that as believers we should also take note of what it means to submit to authorities and laws. The apostle Paul will say: “Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, and to be ready for every good work” (Titus 3:1) and “Let everyone submit to higher authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God” (Rom. 13:1). Therefore, give a good testimony with your conduct, do not break any rules! Don't let anyone call you out for acting with little care or civility!
How about?
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 35: Psalm 4
This psalm ends with the last idea that we wrote yesterday: “I will lie down in peace and sleep because only your Lord makes me live confidently” (v. 8).
We do not know if David was going through the same circumstances as those he was experiencing in Psalm 3 (Absalom's rebellion). It could be. That is why these two psalms are taken as a unit. It is possible that number 3 was the morning prayer and number 4 was the evening prayer.
David begins by urgently praying that God hears him. And although he asks for attention and mercy, he knows, from previous experiences, that when he had gone through anguish moments ago, God had listened to him (v. 1b).
The Bible tells us that we must remember our past to be able to know that in times of difficulty He has always come to our aid. Therefore we can live with the hope that it will do so again for the rest of our lives. Isn't it true that looking back you can see how the Lord has always been by your side? Sometimes you wanted to do something and you couldn't and now you think: Thank goodness I couldn't! Or have you gone through times when you couldn't feel God in your life and then you see him carrying you in his arms. Remember again that “not a hair of your head has fallen without his consent” (Luke 12:7). You know that, right?
But David, in this psalm, not only prays, he also teaches. In the following verses (v. 2-6) we see that he rebukes those who love vanity and seek lies, warning that the Lord listens to the pious when he does not sin, meditates in his heart and trusts in him.
I like the combination of the verbs in verse 4 of “meditate” and “be silent.” One of the best things we can do when we are in difficulties is to meditate (think) and remain silent because we will get out of the quagmire and, in the end, we will find, like David, joy and peace (v. 7 and 8).
How much we need to learn to be silent before the Lord! Normally we speak impulsively and too much, without remembering that in many words there is a danger of making many mistakes.
And at the end of the psalm David addresses the Lord directly to say: “You gave joy to my heart” (v. 7). David understands that this joy comes from God regardless of circumstances. Hopefully we can experience the same!
Let us remember that we are in a passage from the Old Testament but that will be confirmed by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans 15:13: “And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope for the power of the Holy Spirit.”
It seems that believing, trusting in the Lord and hope are closely linked to joy and being able to “lie down and sleep in peace” (Ps. 3: 8), even if there are a thousand dangers lurking outside!
We do not know if David was going through the same circumstances as those he was experiencing in Psalm 3 (Absalom's rebellion). It could be. That is why these two psalms are taken as a unit. It is possible that number 3 was the morning prayer and number 4 was the evening prayer.
David begins by urgently praying that God hears him. And although he asks for attention and mercy, he knows, from previous experiences, that when he had gone through anguish moments ago, God had listened to him (v. 1b).
The Bible tells us that we must remember our past to be able to know that in times of difficulty He has always come to our aid. Therefore we can live with the hope that it will do so again for the rest of our lives. Isn't it true that looking back you can see how the Lord has always been by your side? Sometimes you wanted to do something and you couldn't and now you think: Thank goodness I couldn't! Or have you gone through times when you couldn't feel God in your life and then you see him carrying you in his arms. Remember again that “not a hair of your head has fallen without his consent” (Luke 12:7). You know that, right?
But David, in this psalm, not only prays, he also teaches. In the following verses (v. 2-6) we see that he rebukes those who love vanity and seek lies, warning that the Lord listens to the pious when he does not sin, meditates in his heart and trusts in him.
I like the combination of the verbs in verse 4 of “meditate” and “be silent.” One of the best things we can do when we are in difficulties is to meditate (think) and remain silent because we will get out of the quagmire and, in the end, we will find, like David, joy and peace (v. 7 and 8).
How much we need to learn to be silent before the Lord! Normally we speak impulsively and too much, without remembering that in many words there is a danger of making many mistakes.
And at the end of the psalm David addresses the Lord directly to say: “You gave joy to my heart” (v. 7). David understands that this joy comes from God regardless of circumstances. Hopefully we can experience the same!
Let us remember that we are in a passage from the Old Testament but that will be confirmed by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans 15:13: “And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope for the power of the Holy Spirit.”
It seems that believing, trusting in the Lord and hope are closely linked to joy and being able to “lie down and sleep in peace” (Ps. 3: 8), even if there are a thousand dangers lurking outside!
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 34: Psalm 3
In our lives we will always have enemies to face; many, many!...And, the majority, will tell us things that will hurt us. David, the writer of Psalm 3 exclaims: “My adversaries have multiplied…They rise up against me…They speak evil of me…” (v. 1-2).
Before, during and after confinement, we have to encounter this reality and this fact can make us despair, but what did the psalmist do? He went to the Lord to explain it. What do you do when you are offended, belittled or criticized?
In verses 3 and 4 there is a change of third and David begins to look up instead of looking around. He makes a tremendous confession: “But you, Lord, are a shield around me.” It's exactly what he needed considering Absalom was chasing him
(2 Sam. 15-18). A shield around the body! Normally shields protect from the front, but he sees God protecting him completely. Interesting detail, right?
He goes on to say, “My glory and the one who lifts up my head.” Unfortunately, King David's glory was being eclipsed and his kingdom was taken away from him, but now he sees that his glory is not in an earthly throne but in God who protects and restores him. He was sure that this was so because he tells us: “I called to the Lord and he answered me from his holy mountain.” This phrase implies that God is accessible to his people. Do you know the Lord like this? If your answer is affirmative, you can exclaim with the psalmist: “I lay down and slept because the Lord sustained me” (v. 5). David was going through terrible times, therefore this phrase is tremendous and we must make it ours, too.
These days of confinement, many people have consulted psychologists about not being able to sleep. I understood them perfectly. The situation has been so strange and almost surreal that it was normal not to be able to fall asleep. What a lesson in trust David gives us! He had to have a lot of hope in his God to say what was mentioned and continue saying: “I will not fear ten thousands of people who lay siege against me” (v. 6). How could I not fear? The only answer is found in the final verses of the text: “You smote my enemies...Salvation is from the Lord” (v. 7) and ends: “Your blessing be upon your people” (v. 8).
We should always end our devotional times like this by asking the Lord's blessing on us and on his people; We need it more than ever, in this new and dangerous beginning of another way of living, in which there are many unknowns and very few certainties. Having that blessing of a God who protects us, is our glory and lifts our head, we can lie down and sleep because He sustains us!
Before, during and after confinement, we have to encounter this reality and this fact can make us despair, but what did the psalmist do? He went to the Lord to explain it. What do you do when you are offended, belittled or criticized?
In verses 3 and 4 there is a change of third and David begins to look up instead of looking around. He makes a tremendous confession: “But you, Lord, are a shield around me.” It's exactly what he needed considering Absalom was chasing him
(2 Sam. 15-18). A shield around the body! Normally shields protect from the front, but he sees God protecting him completely. Interesting detail, right?
He goes on to say, “My glory and the one who lifts up my head.” Unfortunately, King David's glory was being eclipsed and his kingdom was taken away from him, but now he sees that his glory is not in an earthly throne but in God who protects and restores him. He was sure that this was so because he tells us: “I called to the Lord and he answered me from his holy mountain.” This phrase implies that God is accessible to his people. Do you know the Lord like this? If your answer is affirmative, you can exclaim with the psalmist: “I lay down and slept because the Lord sustained me” (v. 5). David was going through terrible times, therefore this phrase is tremendous and we must make it ours, too.
These days of confinement, many people have consulted psychologists about not being able to sleep. I understood them perfectly. The situation has been so strange and almost surreal that it was normal not to be able to fall asleep. What a lesson in trust David gives us! He had to have a lot of hope in his God to say what was mentioned and continue saying: “I will not fear ten thousands of people who lay siege against me” (v. 6). How could I not fear? The only answer is found in the final verses of the text: “You smote my enemies...Salvation is from the Lord” (v. 7) and ends: “Your blessing be upon your people” (v. 8).
We should always end our devotional times like this by asking the Lord's blessing on us and on his people; We need it more than ever, in this new and dangerous beginning of another way of living, in which there are many unknowns and very few certainties. Having that blessing of a God who protects us, is our glory and lifts our head, we can lie down and sleep because He sustains us!
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 33: Psalm 2
Psalm 1, studied yesterday, led us to question ourselves, personally, whether or not we belong to the “congregation of the righteous.” Psalm 2 takes us to another setting; to think about where universal history is going.
First of all we see a hostile world: “Why do the nations riot and the people think vain things?…”Kings will rise up…against the Lord and against his Anointed…” (v. 1) . In the New Testament we see a corroboration of this text when we see that the people did not want a king like Jesus (Lk. 19:14).
This rejection also occurs towards the followers of Christ. We see it today and throughout history, from the first years of the Christian Church.
But let's go in parts:
The first words of the psalm catch our attention: Why do they riot.....? The answer is that neither the Lord Jesus nor we “are of this world” (John 15:18-19).
But there is hope! There is a throne in heaven! (v. 4-6). And “the Lord will laugh” (v. 4). This phrase makes us redirect our gaze and our emotions, entering a state of trust when seeing the one who is sitting on that throne (Is. 6).
On the other hand we see divine action in contrast to human decisions. God places the king on Zion, his holy mountain, and one day he will fill the entire earth.
We live in a totally secular world that fights and rejects everything that comes from God but, fortunately, we can lift our eyes and see Someone sitting on that throne, who consoles and comforts us. It is the same idea that the apostle John presents to us in
Revelation 4.
But even more, much more!: The Lord decrees: “You are MY son” (v. 7-9). Tremendous! No? It is God Himself speaking and telling us: “Today I have begotten you” and “has given you an inheritance…that goes to the ends of the earth” (v. 8). These phrases apply, in addition to you and me, first of all to Christ, in his glorification and which had its complete fulfillment in the Ascension when He was received, with all honors, in glory.
In the V. 9 shows the strength of his power with which Christ will prevail in the history of humanity. Therefore Christians do know what the future is going to bring us. There is hope!: Christ ruling paradise restored!
And the end of the psalm is not wasted: “Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling” (v.11).
Share today, with those around you, that there is also a clear hope for those who want to return to God, serving Him and rejoicing in Him always (Phil. 4:4).
First of all we see a hostile world: “Why do the nations riot and the people think vain things?…”Kings will rise up…against the Lord and against his Anointed…” (v. 1) . In the New Testament we see a corroboration of this text when we see that the people did not want a king like Jesus (Lk. 19:14).
This rejection also occurs towards the followers of Christ. We see it today and throughout history, from the first years of the Christian Church.
But let's go in parts:
The first words of the psalm catch our attention: Why do they riot.....? The answer is that neither the Lord Jesus nor we “are of this world” (John 15:18-19).
But there is hope! There is a throne in heaven! (v. 4-6). And “the Lord will laugh” (v. 4). This phrase makes us redirect our gaze and our emotions, entering a state of trust when seeing the one who is sitting on that throne (Is. 6).
On the other hand we see divine action in contrast to human decisions. God places the king on Zion, his holy mountain, and one day he will fill the entire earth.
We live in a totally secular world that fights and rejects everything that comes from God but, fortunately, we can lift our eyes and see Someone sitting on that throne, who consoles and comforts us. It is the same idea that the apostle John presents to us in
Revelation 4.
But even more, much more!: The Lord decrees: “You are MY son” (v. 7-9). Tremendous! No? It is God Himself speaking and telling us: “Today I have begotten you” and “has given you an inheritance…that goes to the ends of the earth” (v. 8). These phrases apply, in addition to you and me, first of all to Christ, in his glorification and which had its complete fulfillment in the Ascension when He was received, with all honors, in glory.
In the V. 9 shows the strength of his power with which Christ will prevail in the history of humanity. Therefore Christians do know what the future is going to bring us. There is hope!: Christ ruling paradise restored!
And the end of the psalm is not wasted: “Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling” (v.11).
Share today, with those around you, that there is also a clear hope for those who want to return to God, serving Him and rejoicing in Him always (Phil. 4:4).
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 32: Psalm 1
I once read a book in which the author wondered why Psalm 1 was the first. It seems like a tongue twister: It's number 1 because it's the first. But the author answered himself by saying that this psalm contains questions of supreme importance that are prior to the issues discussed in the rest of the book and that Jesus summarizes in Matt. 7:13-14 (read the Psalm and these verses and you will see that Jesus talks about those who enter through the wide gate and those who pass through the narrow gate).
Certainly the psalmist contrasts the difference between those who choose a wrong path and those who choose, even if it is very difficult, to enter through the narrow door.
It is curious to note that the psalmist begins to speak of the believer with negative phrases, which imply being against and not accepting what is bad. The believer must reject evil in all its forms:
“The advice of evil people” has to do with the way of thinking of those who will end up doing harm
“The path of sinners” suggests a way of acting, of walking through life in the wrong way.
“In the chair of scorners” has to do with “belonging” or “remaining” comfortably in a group that does not take into account the will of God at all.
Therefore, how happy (blessed) is the human being who knows how to say “no” to any pressure that comes from evil or seeks to do evil.
Saying “no” is not always easy. It cost Joseph his cloak (which he left behind when he fled) and it cost Daniel the lions' den. Surely you and I are not going to be less. It's going to cost us! But “Blessed” is to say “very happy” is the one who achieves it and does not follow “the current” of this world. That person “will be like a tree planted by streams of water that bears its fruit in its season and its leaf does not fall.” .
Such a tree has stability, vitality (because it is next to water), bears fruit, and endures (because its leaf does not fall)... But although the picture is beautiful in this psalm 1, we cannot remain before that wonder without recognizing that Rains, winds and storms also reach these trees. But they are planted in the law of the Lord that gives them strong roots and abundant life!
“Not so with the wicked” (v.4). Here comes the contrast. These have no roots and their life is a ruin. “They are like chaff that the wind snatches away.” They have no justification (“The wicked will not stand up in judgment” (v. 5). And “the path of the wicked will perish” (v. 6).
But the question that comes to mind is: “Who are the bad guys?” Although we know that there are evil people everywhere on earth, it seems that the psalms are written for the people of God and in this group there are also people who do not delight in the Lord and do not meditate on his law day and night. Jesus himself said that there may be false believers, who at the end of their days say: “Lord, Lord,” and who cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven, because they do not truly know the Savior.
Therefore, there is hope! Don't stop sharing it. Explain to those around you the “ancient story of Christ and his love!” And delight yourself, too, in it. It is not just about calling yourself a Christian, you must have truly known and accepted Christ. That will mean: “entering through a narrow door”, but it will be worth it!
Certainly the psalmist contrasts the difference between those who choose a wrong path and those who choose, even if it is very difficult, to enter through the narrow door.
It is curious to note that the psalmist begins to speak of the believer with negative phrases, which imply being against and not accepting what is bad. The believer must reject evil in all its forms:
“The advice of evil people” has to do with the way of thinking of those who will end up doing harm
“The path of sinners” suggests a way of acting, of walking through life in the wrong way.
“In the chair of scorners” has to do with “belonging” or “remaining” comfortably in a group that does not take into account the will of God at all.
Therefore, how happy (blessed) is the human being who knows how to say “no” to any pressure that comes from evil or seeks to do evil.
Saying “no” is not always easy. It cost Joseph his cloak (which he left behind when he fled) and it cost Daniel the lions' den. Surely you and I are not going to be less. It's going to cost us! But “Blessed” is to say “very happy” is the one who achieves it and does not follow “the current” of this world. That person “will be like a tree planted by streams of water that bears its fruit in its season and its leaf does not fall.” .
Such a tree has stability, vitality (because it is next to water), bears fruit, and endures (because its leaf does not fall)... But although the picture is beautiful in this psalm 1, we cannot remain before that wonder without recognizing that Rains, winds and storms also reach these trees. But they are planted in the law of the Lord that gives them strong roots and abundant life!
“Not so with the wicked” (v.4). Here comes the contrast. These have no roots and their life is a ruin. “They are like chaff that the wind snatches away.” They have no justification (“The wicked will not stand up in judgment” (v. 5). And “the path of the wicked will perish” (v. 6).
But the question that comes to mind is: “Who are the bad guys?” Although we know that there are evil people everywhere on earth, it seems that the psalms are written for the people of God and in this group there are also people who do not delight in the Lord and do not meditate on his law day and night. Jesus himself said that there may be false believers, who at the end of their days say: “Lord, Lord,” and who cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven, because they do not truly know the Savior.
Therefore, there is hope! Don't stop sharing it. Explain to those around you the “ancient story of Christ and his love!” And delight yourself, too, in it. It is not just about calling yourself a Christian, you must have truly known and accepted Christ. That will mean: “entering through a narrow door”, but it will be worth it!
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 31: Hope!
We are beginning the de-escalation and a play by Sartre titled “Behind Closed Doors” has come to mind. It was staged before the liberation of Paris in May 1944, during World War II.
The scene takes place in a room that is easily classified as “hell.” There were no mirrors or windows, just a door through which the butler (one of the characters) entered and exited and with no hope of being able to get out because they had been locked.
That room became something horrible, it was torture to be with the others. They expected to be tortured but discovered that they were there to torture each other. Hence Sartre's famous phrase: “Hell is others.”
But in short, the biggest problem was thinking that there was no hope of a way out. There, between those four walls, old issues, quarrels, stories began to arise that resulted in a true hell with the conclusion that when the door was opened they couldn't leave either because they couldn't live without the torturers.
The result is that the “quarantined” or “free” human being has no hope of being able to truly live.
Today we must remember this like never before, because the vast majority of people around us are living without God and, therefore, without hope. Being confined this reality has become very evident.
But now we will be entertained again, to have fun, to go out, but deep in the heart of the man and woman of the 21st century, there is a lot of fear of remaining silent and seeing that the much noise, the much fun, the material goods , being able to leave...does not produce hope!
And there we are, as a church, in the place where God has placed us to be: “Gospel” (good news).
What do you think you are here for? Just to survive, enjoy, suffer, it's not like that!
You are here to bring hope to those around you. Christians have been dispersed throughout the world to bring the light of the gospel of Jesus to those who live with us. We are strangers and pilgrims on this earth, going towards eternity, towards the place that Jesus went to prepare for us but in the meantime there are hundreds of people around you who live looking for something to live for. And you are “church” where you are every day and you must shine with your hope so that others ask you the reason for your faith.
I believe that to “shine” in the place where we are we must start from an indisputable premise: Fulfill the first and second commandments of the law of God's law: “Love God above all things and your neighbor as yourself" ().
Maybe you agree that, as believers, we have to fulfill and practice the first part and, although it costs us a lot, we try with our hearts, but the second half I don't know if it seems easy to you but for me it is very difficult: “ Loving others as myself” that is really complicated!
Therefore, now that we are going to return to a “new way of living”, you need and I need to know that I am hope for the world, for my family and, also, for the family of faith and if I truly love I will try to carry, by all possible methods, some hope to their lives.
I suppose I have a few days left (because I hope the pandemic time is ending) to continue writing these reflections but, in the remaining days, I will try to do a study of some psalms that can fill our lives with hope and also those of others. . Share it!
The scene takes place in a room that is easily classified as “hell.” There were no mirrors or windows, just a door through which the butler (one of the characters) entered and exited and with no hope of being able to get out because they had been locked.
That room became something horrible, it was torture to be with the others. They expected to be tortured but discovered that they were there to torture each other. Hence Sartre's famous phrase: “Hell is others.”
But in short, the biggest problem was thinking that there was no hope of a way out. There, between those four walls, old issues, quarrels, stories began to arise that resulted in a true hell with the conclusion that when the door was opened they couldn't leave either because they couldn't live without the torturers.
The result is that the “quarantined” or “free” human being has no hope of being able to truly live.
Today we must remember this like never before, because the vast majority of people around us are living without God and, therefore, without hope. Being confined this reality has become very evident.
But now we will be entertained again, to have fun, to go out, but deep in the heart of the man and woman of the 21st century, there is a lot of fear of remaining silent and seeing that the much noise, the much fun, the material goods , being able to leave...does not produce hope!
And there we are, as a church, in the place where God has placed us to be: “Gospel” (good news).
What do you think you are here for? Just to survive, enjoy, suffer, it's not like that!
You are here to bring hope to those around you. Christians have been dispersed throughout the world to bring the light of the gospel of Jesus to those who live with us. We are strangers and pilgrims on this earth, going towards eternity, towards the place that Jesus went to prepare for us but in the meantime there are hundreds of people around you who live looking for something to live for. And you are “church” where you are every day and you must shine with your hope so that others ask you the reason for your faith.
I believe that to “shine” in the place where we are we must start from an indisputable premise: Fulfill the first and second commandments of the law of God's law: “Love God above all things and your neighbor as yourself" ().
Maybe you agree that, as believers, we have to fulfill and practice the first part and, although it costs us a lot, we try with our hearts, but the second half I don't know if it seems easy to you but for me it is very difficult: “ Loving others as myself” that is really complicated!
Therefore, now that we are going to return to a “new way of living”, you need and I need to know that I am hope for the world, for my family and, also, for the family of faith and if I truly love I will try to carry, by all possible methods, some hope to their lives.
I suppose I have a few days left (because I hope the pandemic time is ending) to continue writing these reflections but, in the remaining days, I will try to do a study of some psalms that can fill our lives with hope and also those of others. . Share it!
Ester Martinez Vera
Day 30: Omega 3 and water
Today I want to write very briefly about two important things for health: Omega 3 and water
The famous Omega 3 (EPA and DHA)
It is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that the body needs but cannot produce itself. It provides many benefits for the heart and blood circulation. The heart benefits the most from the contribution of this oil because it has anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant properties. It also helps reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
It also produces benefits in the nervous system (mood), in the immune system, in the formation of cells, affects vision and the maintenance of brain function.
Some pediatricians believe that it also favors brain formation in the fetus.
Since the 70s it has been the subject of research by nutritionists and is quite fashionable.
It can be found in oily fish (tuna, salmon, mackerel...), seafood (prawns, oysters, mussels), green leafy vegetables (spinach, lettuce, cucumber, broccoli, thistle), in nuts, and in vegetable oils (linseed, walnut, olive, sesame...).
It is best to consume these essential fatty acids through your normal diet. Supplements must be left to be prescribed by doctors and, we must say, are quite expensive.
The recommended amount to maintain normal health is 200-250 mg per day and with normal consumption of fish and the foods mentioned we can easily reach 2,700 mg in adults and 1,700 mg in children, therefore a supplement is almost never necessary if we eat well
Water
Our body loses a lot of water, with any activity we do, at the end of the day (about ten glasses); It is lost through sweat, urine and breathing.
The body is made up of more than 65% water, therefore it is very important to survive and it needs to be stored in large quantities and, therefore, we must replace it by drinking.
The importance of this liquid is because it carries nutrients to the cells, regulates body temperature, helps digestion, eliminates waste, keeps the kidneys healthy and provides hydration to the skin, eyes, mouth and nose.
Some nutritionists tell us to divide the body's weight, in kilos, by 7 and the result is the number of glasses of water the person should drink.
In addition to the fact that hydration is essential for the entire body, it is also very important for the proper functioning of the brain. We must remember that the brain is 80% water, and its lack affects, above all, the cognitive aspects (memory, motor coordination and perception). This is because water allows the blood, which goes to the brain, to be loaded with oxygen.
But, the most important thing at this time is that water also increases defenses since it reduces the possibility of getting sick and helps you recover sooner from pathologies such as the flu.
The famous Omega 3 (EPA and DHA)
It is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that the body needs but cannot produce itself. It provides many benefits for the heart and blood circulation. The heart benefits the most from the contribution of this oil because it has anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant properties. It also helps reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
It also produces benefits in the nervous system (mood), in the immune system, in the formation of cells, affects vision and the maintenance of brain function.
Some pediatricians believe that it also favors brain formation in the fetus.
Since the 70s it has been the subject of research by nutritionists and is quite fashionable.
It can be found in oily fish (tuna, salmon, mackerel...), seafood (prawns, oysters, mussels), green leafy vegetables (spinach, lettuce, cucumber, broccoli, thistle), in nuts, and in vegetable oils (linseed, walnut, olive, sesame...).
It is best to consume these essential fatty acids through your normal diet. Supplements must be left to be prescribed by doctors and, we must say, are quite expensive.
The recommended amount to maintain normal health is 200-250 mg per day and with normal consumption of fish and the foods mentioned we can easily reach 2,700 mg in adults and 1,700 mg in children, therefore a supplement is almost never necessary if we eat well
Water
Our body loses a lot of water, with any activity we do, at the end of the day (about ten glasses); It is lost through sweat, urine and breathing.
The body is made up of more than 65% water, therefore it is very important to survive and it needs to be stored in large quantities and, therefore, we must replace it by drinking.
The importance of this liquid is because it carries nutrients to the cells, regulates body temperature, helps digestion, eliminates waste, keeps the kidneys healthy and provides hydration to the skin, eyes, mouth and nose.
Some nutritionists tell us to divide the body's weight, in kilos, by 7 and the result is the number of glasses of water the person should drink.
In addition to the fact that hydration is essential for the entire body, it is also very important for the proper functioning of the brain. We must remember that the brain is 80% water, and its lack affects, above all, the cognitive aspects (memory, motor coordination and perception). This is because water allows the blood, which goes to the brain, to be loaded with oxygen.
But, the most important thing at this time is that water also increases defenses since it reduces the possibility of getting sick and helps you recover sooner from pathologies such as the flu.
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 29: Vitamins A and D
Today I will write very briefly about vitamin A and vitamin D because both have an important effect on our immune system that we need to have strong during these days.
Vitamin A (retinol, retinoic acid)
Vitamin A is a nutrient of animal origin. It is found in its complete form in oils of animal origin, in butter, egg yolk, milk and meat (especially in the liver of animals) and in some fish.
This vitamin also strengthens the immune system (that is why today I want to write about it), it also keeps the skin healthy and promotes eye health. It also helps the proper functioning of the heart, lungs, kidneys and other organs. It has antioxidant properties (protects cells against free radicals that could influence aging and other diseases).
It is the vitamin that most promotes skin health: It helps with natural tanning, it also keeps the skin smooth, preventing it from drying out excessively and promoting the healing of any wound.
Also carotenes and beta-carotenes (precursors of vitamin A) are found in dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce and cabbage and also in vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin, cantaloupe melon. The body transforms beta-carotenes into vitamin A.
It is important to know that a balanced diet, in healthy people, provides sufficient amounts of vitamin A. Supplements of this vitamin must be prescribed by doctors since excessive intake can be harmful. And you should know that it also interacts with other medications. Therefore, never self-medicate even if it involves vitamins.
Vitamin D
It is a nutrient present in some foods. It is a very necessary vitamin for health because it strengthens the immune system and, above all, to keep bones strong and prevent osteoporosis because it helps the body absorb calcium. Its deficiency is also related to autoimmune, metabolic, cardiovascular diseases...
In addition, insufficiency can cause fatigue, a more depressed mood, muscle weakness, excitability, nervousness, insomnia, the need to eat sweets, and cavities. Whether or not there is a deficiency can be measured with an analysis.
The main source of vitamin D (90%) is the sun but here are some foods that contain it:
Fatty fish such as blue fish (mackerel, tuna, salmon...), cod liver oil tops the list of foods with the most vitamin D (one tablespoon of this oil covers the daily vitamin D needs and also provides vitamin A and Omega 3 Seafood, beef liver, egg yolk, mushrooms, avocado and whole dairy products also contain this vitamin; of these, the ones that have the greatest amount are butter, fatty cheeses because, being fat-soluble, they found in fat.
But it is curious that being one of the countries with the most hours of sunshine in the world, it is one of the scarcest vitamins in our body. This is directly related to our lifestyle: the consumption of many drugs, a diet poor in vitamins, pollution, the need to use many sunscreens...
Therefore, with the desire we have to sunbathe, do it well to avoid skin cancer: Expose yourself in the early hours of the morning (before 11), reduce the exposure time (especially between 12 and 16 hours ), wear a hat and sunglasses and photo protectors.
Vitamin A (retinol, retinoic acid)
Vitamin A is a nutrient of animal origin. It is found in its complete form in oils of animal origin, in butter, egg yolk, milk and meat (especially in the liver of animals) and in some fish.
This vitamin also strengthens the immune system (that is why today I want to write about it), it also keeps the skin healthy and promotes eye health. It also helps the proper functioning of the heart, lungs, kidneys and other organs. It has antioxidant properties (protects cells against free radicals that could influence aging and other diseases).
It is the vitamin that most promotes skin health: It helps with natural tanning, it also keeps the skin smooth, preventing it from drying out excessively and promoting the healing of any wound.
Also carotenes and beta-carotenes (precursors of vitamin A) are found in dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce and cabbage and also in vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin, cantaloupe melon. The body transforms beta-carotenes into vitamin A.
It is important to know that a balanced diet, in healthy people, provides sufficient amounts of vitamin A. Supplements of this vitamin must be prescribed by doctors since excessive intake can be harmful. And you should know that it also interacts with other medications. Therefore, never self-medicate even if it involves vitamins.
Vitamin D
It is a nutrient present in some foods. It is a very necessary vitamin for health because it strengthens the immune system and, above all, to keep bones strong and prevent osteoporosis because it helps the body absorb calcium. Its deficiency is also related to autoimmune, metabolic, cardiovascular diseases...
In addition, insufficiency can cause fatigue, a more depressed mood, muscle weakness, excitability, nervousness, insomnia, the need to eat sweets, and cavities. Whether or not there is a deficiency can be measured with an analysis.
The main source of vitamin D (90%) is the sun but here are some foods that contain it:
Fatty fish such as blue fish (mackerel, tuna, salmon...), cod liver oil tops the list of foods with the most vitamin D (one tablespoon of this oil covers the daily vitamin D needs and also provides vitamin A and Omega 3 Seafood, beef liver, egg yolk, mushrooms, avocado and whole dairy products also contain this vitamin; of these, the ones that have the greatest amount are butter, fatty cheeses because, being fat-soluble, they found in fat.
But it is curious that being one of the countries with the most hours of sunshine in the world, it is one of the scarcest vitamins in our body. This is directly related to our lifestyle: the consumption of many drugs, a diet poor in vitamins, pollution, the need to use many sunscreens...
Therefore, with the desire we have to sunbathe, do it well to avoid skin cancer: Expose yourself in the early hours of the morning (before 11), reduce the exposure time (especially between 12 and 16 hours ), wear a hat and sunglasses and photo protectors.
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 28: Foods to increase your defenses: Vitamin C
As I mentioned on the 26th, during this week I will try to give you a few tips so that your body and that of your family function as well as possible in this time of de-escalation in which we may be a little more exposed to any danger of contagion. But don't forget that everything the health authorities order has to be followed as the best prevention! What I leave you is just an idea of small healthy helps!
You may think that this topic is unspiritual, but it is not! Our body is “a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 6:19) and we are also stewards of this magnificent gift. We have to take care of it carefully because, on this earth, we will not have another (for the believer there is no possibility of reincarnation, remember?: “It is appointed for men to die once and then the judgment” (Heb. 9:27 ) In heaven we will indeed have a new body! (1Cor. 15 and Job 19:25-27). In that new body there will no longer be crying, nor pain, nor clamor, because what is on this earth will have passed away! ( Rev. 21:4) And, in the meantime, what? Well in the meantime: Take good care of yourselves!
Today I want to start with something very basic that refers to the need to boost your immune system, as much as possible, through food.
What I am going to tell you does not replace, in any way, the medicines you are taking or what the doctor recommends. Nor can I know if what I propose you can ingest or not depending on your pathologies or general state of health. Therefore, take them only as recommendations that you can try to implement in your diet (or not if you don't think it is necessary).
I will tell you, as a general rule, that to strengthen your defenses (which can help prevent some diseases or cure them a little faster), it will be advisable for you to eat foods that contain vitamins and minerals:
I leave you a list of foods rich in one of the most important vitamins, C, which will also support your immune system:
Remember that vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is very important because it is one of the 13 essential vitamins for health. Helps the absorption of iron and calcium. Being soluble in water, the body can release the excess through urine, but you should know that it needs to be taken continuously in the daily diet, because it is necessary for the growth and repair of tissues. It also repairs cartilage, bones, teeth. It is a great antioxidant. It is essential when healing wounds and forming tissues. It does not cure them but it makes the cold processes shorter. It increases the blood volume of cytokines that help counteract immune system failures. It prevents some diseases but medical guidelines must always be followed!
According to the WHO, the necessary amount of this daily vitamin is 90 mg. for men and 75 mg. for women. In general, for adults, it is okay to take about 80 mg daily.
For children:
From 1 to 3 years 15 mg
from 4 to 8 years 25 mg
From 9 to 13 years 45 mg
Older adolescents like adults.
Foods that contain it are: Orange, tangerine, pineapple, lemon, strawberries, papaya, melon, mango, kiwi, broccoli, tomato, watermelon, cabbage, potatoes with the skin, parsley...
The fruits and vegetables mentioned have different concentrations of vitamin C; For example, red pepper has 139 mg per 100 grams, kiwi 100 mg per 100 grams, strawberries 70 mg per 100 grams, papaya 60 mg per 100 grams... What a pharmacy our Creator has left us! very good! Without hesitation!n (Gen.1:31).
More tomorrow! We will discover things about vitamin A
You may think that this topic is unspiritual, but it is not! Our body is “a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 6:19) and we are also stewards of this magnificent gift. We have to take care of it carefully because, on this earth, we will not have another (for the believer there is no possibility of reincarnation, remember?: “It is appointed for men to die once and then the judgment” (Heb. 9:27 ) In heaven we will indeed have a new body! (1Cor. 15 and Job 19:25-27). In that new body there will no longer be crying, nor pain, nor clamor, because what is on this earth will have passed away! ( Rev. 21:4) And, in the meantime, what? Well in the meantime: Take good care of yourselves!
Today I want to start with something very basic that refers to the need to boost your immune system, as much as possible, through food.
What I am going to tell you does not replace, in any way, the medicines you are taking or what the doctor recommends. Nor can I know if what I propose you can ingest or not depending on your pathologies or general state of health. Therefore, take them only as recommendations that you can try to implement in your diet (or not if you don't think it is necessary).
I will tell you, as a general rule, that to strengthen your defenses (which can help prevent some diseases or cure them a little faster), it will be advisable for you to eat foods that contain vitamins and minerals:
I leave you a list of foods rich in one of the most important vitamins, C, which will also support your immune system:
Remember that vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is very important because it is one of the 13 essential vitamins for health. Helps the absorption of iron and calcium. Being soluble in water, the body can release the excess through urine, but you should know that it needs to be taken continuously in the daily diet, because it is necessary for the growth and repair of tissues. It also repairs cartilage, bones, teeth. It is a great antioxidant. It is essential when healing wounds and forming tissues. It does not cure them but it makes the cold processes shorter. It increases the blood volume of cytokines that help counteract immune system failures. It prevents some diseases but medical guidelines must always be followed!
According to the WHO, the necessary amount of this daily vitamin is 90 mg. for men and 75 mg. for women. In general, for adults, it is okay to take about 80 mg daily.
For children:
From 1 to 3 years 15 mg
from 4 to 8 years 25 mg
From 9 to 13 years 45 mg
Older adolescents like adults.
Foods that contain it are: Orange, tangerine, pineapple, lemon, strawberries, papaya, melon, mango, kiwi, broccoli, tomato, watermelon, cabbage, potatoes with the skin, parsley...
The fruits and vegetables mentioned have different concentrations of vitamin C; For example, red pepper has 139 mg per 100 grams, kiwi 100 mg per 100 grams, strawberries 70 mg per 100 grams, papaya 60 mg per 100 grams... What a pharmacy our Creator has left us! very good! Without hesitation!n (Gen.1:31).
More tomorrow! We will discover things about vitamin A
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 27: Will everything be okay???
During these days, at the beginning of confinement, posters appeared everywhere with the slogan “Everything will be fine”, accompanied by a drawing of a rainbow.
But is it true that everything will turn out well? We are in some difficult days and I do not think this phrase is the most correct, since it creates false hope for adults, but especially for children.
It is true that we must encourage each other and launch phrases or songs that help us during these days, but I am going to give my opinion regarding this poster-motto.
As we have been seeing in the news, since this pandemic began, many people are dying and it must be very difficult for the families of those who have died to hear over and over again that: Everything will be fine! Don't you think?
How can you look at a child who has lost his/her grandfather, uncle, father or mother and say the phrase we are talking about? No, everything won't work out! There will be much suffering and pain in thousands of homes! And this is where the believer can say that his trust is in God even though things are not going well.
The Lord never promised that things would be easy for us. He did not tell us that life would go well for us but he did tell us that all the things that happen to us will work out for good (Rom. 8:28). How can it be like this? Because when circumstances are very difficult, our way of being and living necessarily changes to become more like Jesus. He never sends us evil, but allows it in order to perfect us, like clay vessels (Jer.18). And if, every “bad thing” that happens to us serves to bring us closer to Him, then we can say that “everything will be fine” but only “under His wings” (Ps. 57:1, 91:4).
So I would change the phrase on those posters to: “Everything will pass” because this is true. Everything has its time (Eccl. 3:1). It will take more or less, we will have our relatives with us or not, but everything will pass! And those who have left for the presence of the Lord and are no longer here, we know where they are and we have confidence that we will see them again.
The drawing of the rainbow, which accompanies the phrase, is very graphic of a new beginning; The sun will rise again after the rain, but let us remember that this goes back to the story of Noah (Genesis 9:13) and, in that story, the rainbow was the seal of the pact that God made with Noah to remind him that every time He should not fear that it would rain because God would not send a flood again to destroy the earth. Obviously it was more of a reminder for us than for God, but we often forget.
For the believer, the rainbow has an overwhelming message: Our life is in His hands, and it should remind us that there will not be another flood, the days will have their clouds and storms, but the sun will also rise and, we know that God will be with us in the storm and on the days shining with sunshine.
The other day I saw an image that shocked me and it said like this:
But is it true that everything will turn out well? We are in some difficult days and I do not think this phrase is the most correct, since it creates false hope for adults, but especially for children.
It is true that we must encourage each other and launch phrases or songs that help us during these days, but I am going to give my opinion regarding this poster-motto.
As we have been seeing in the news, since this pandemic began, many people are dying and it must be very difficult for the families of those who have died to hear over and over again that: Everything will be fine! Don't you think?
How can you look at a child who has lost his/her grandfather, uncle, father or mother and say the phrase we are talking about? No, everything won't work out! There will be much suffering and pain in thousands of homes! And this is where the believer can say that his trust is in God even though things are not going well.
The Lord never promised that things would be easy for us. He did not tell us that life would go well for us but he did tell us that all the things that happen to us will work out for good (Rom. 8:28). How can it be like this? Because when circumstances are very difficult, our way of being and living necessarily changes to become more like Jesus. He never sends us evil, but allows it in order to perfect us, like clay vessels (Jer.18). And if, every “bad thing” that happens to us serves to bring us closer to Him, then we can say that “everything will be fine” but only “under His wings” (Ps. 57:1, 91:4).
So I would change the phrase on those posters to: “Everything will pass” because this is true. Everything has its time (Eccl. 3:1). It will take more or less, we will have our relatives with us or not, but everything will pass! And those who have left for the presence of the Lord and are no longer here, we know where they are and we have confidence that we will see them again.
The drawing of the rainbow, which accompanies the phrase, is very graphic of a new beginning; The sun will rise again after the rain, but let us remember that this goes back to the story of Noah (Genesis 9:13) and, in that story, the rainbow was the seal of the pact that God made with Noah to remind him that every time He should not fear that it would rain because God would not send a flood again to destroy the earth. Obviously it was more of a reminder for us than for God, but we often forget.
For the believer, the rainbow has an overwhelming message: Our life is in His hands, and it should remind us that there will not be another flood, the days will have their clouds and storms, but the sun will also rise and, we know that God will be with us in the storm and on the days shining with sunshine.
The other day I saw an image that shocked me and it said like this:
The world sings: “I will endure” but Christians can sing: “He will sustain us!”
Carlos Brazier
Day 26: Don't forget!
A couple of days ago, commenting on the current situation with my son Carlos, he told me: “Mom, I am not sure that the motto “Everything will be fine” or “Tot anirà bé” is very correct. He explained to me: “It won't go well” for those who have lost a family member. For these, life will never be the same again in any way. It will also not go well for those who do not have a job or income for months or perhaps years. “It won't go well”…, and he continued with a series of reasons that were undoubtedly true. It left me a little thoughtful and I went looking for another phrase that could replace the one mentioned. I could think of several but perhaps I'll stick with: “Everything will start again.” Each one, from where they can, and depending on the burden that the pandemic has left in their life, will have to walk again, like never before, with the need for help from God and others. I have asked Carlos to do the reflection on this topic of “everything will be fine” tomorrow.
But yes, everything will start again. In fact, with the de-escalation, a process of starting something different from what we had has already begun, but we are so eager for it to be consolidated! Every time it seems that the curve of deaths and infections encourages us to think that we can return to life. The question is how we are going to do it.
In these reflections I have tried to consider, with you, the importance of taking care of the three communicating vessels that form the unity of our life and that, now, we will have to take care of like never before.
I remember you:
I have insisted a lot that the spiritual glass had to be very full. It is going to be the most important basis for everything else. “May the Word of Christ dwell in us abundantly! (Col. 3:16).” May continuous prayers and supplications continue to occur to our God in the “upper room” and that as we enter into daily life we carry “praying without ceasing” (Col. 5:17) as the breath of our existence.
We have also talked about emotions and the words we say and how they affect us. We have thought someday about how to manage well what we feel and how to take care of what we talk so that our interpersonal relationships do not suffer and, now, we have to be very careful because it is not going to be easy to return to such an abnormal normality:
It will be difficult to see each other and not hug each other. I can't even imagine how to see my grandchildren and not kiss them. We will have to go, for days, with gloves, with masks...Keeping distance...Washing our hands and face and clothes, very often, when we return home. It's not going to be easy to stop talking to those of us who grew up on the street, not even stopping to say hello, (we'll have to do it when passing by)... How difficult all that is going to be! But we have to do it for ourselves but also for everyone else (children, adults, family members, health personnel, police...).
Above all, do not be irresponsible. Do not do anything that the health authorities do not allow. I think that will also be a good testimony for those who can observe us and also for the little ones in the house. It is important that children see that we submit, as Christians, to the authorities (Titus 3:1). Don't you think?
Now at this point I will want to dedicate this week to “giving” us (and you) some recommendations regarding the body and its care in times like the current one.
But yes, everything will start again. In fact, with the de-escalation, a process of starting something different from what we had has already begun, but we are so eager for it to be consolidated! Every time it seems that the curve of deaths and infections encourages us to think that we can return to life. The question is how we are going to do it.
In these reflections I have tried to consider, with you, the importance of taking care of the three communicating vessels that form the unity of our life and that, now, we will have to take care of like never before.
I remember you:
I have insisted a lot that the spiritual glass had to be very full. It is going to be the most important basis for everything else. “May the Word of Christ dwell in us abundantly! (Col. 3:16).” May continuous prayers and supplications continue to occur to our God in the “upper room” and that as we enter into daily life we carry “praying without ceasing” (Col. 5:17) as the breath of our existence.
We have also talked about emotions and the words we say and how they affect us. We have thought someday about how to manage well what we feel and how to take care of what we talk so that our interpersonal relationships do not suffer and, now, we have to be very careful because it is not going to be easy to return to such an abnormal normality:
It will be difficult to see each other and not hug each other. I can't even imagine how to see my grandchildren and not kiss them. We will have to go, for days, with gloves, with masks...Keeping distance...Washing our hands and face and clothes, very often, when we return home. It's not going to be easy to stop talking to those of us who grew up on the street, not even stopping to say hello, (we'll have to do it when passing by)... How difficult all that is going to be! But we have to do it for ourselves but also for everyone else (children, adults, family members, health personnel, police...).
Above all, do not be irresponsible. Do not do anything that the health authorities do not allow. I think that will also be a good testimony for those who can observe us and also for the little ones in the house. It is important that children see that we submit, as Christians, to the authorities (Titus 3:1). Don't you think?
Now at this point I will want to dedicate this week to “giving” us (and you) some recommendations regarding the body and its care in times like the current one.
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 25: All roads do not lead to Rome
I finish this week's reflections with something that I have been thinking about in these days of confinement.
We are hearing, in many evangelical forums, that the Church of Christ is going to have to change after these months in which many adjustments have had to be made in our churches...
But I thought that, whatever the way we transmit our beliefs, we cannot, in any way, escape from 1 Corinthians 15. I transcribe some paragraphs that we can never, nor should we, ignore: “That Christ died for our sins, according to to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he rose again on the third day, that he appeared to many..."
Therefore, it is very important to repeat to our fellow citizens that: “Only Christ saves” and although we want to make us believe that “all roads lead to Rome”, or that all religions lead to God, it is important to continue explaining, to those around us, that Jesus was the only one who said: “I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.” We must pay attention to the detail that He did not say that He was “a way”, but “the way”.
In Jesus of Nazareth all the prophecies of the Old Testament were fulfilled. He was the promised Messiah. The apostles, who saw the resurrected Jesus, are the ones who wrote the gospel texts that have total authority, due to the sources that were used to write them. Men who had seen Jesus live among them, perform miracles, and most importantly: They saw the resurrected Jesus! These men were tortured to death for preaching what they had seen and heard and no one dies for a lie!
That is why the Church, with its doors open or closed, with meetings in premises, or in homes, will have to continue defending “sound” doctrine and not allowing even a “j, not a comma” to be removed from the biblical text.
In our culture, and with the changes that are going to occur, it will be necessary to remain firm in the essential doctrines of the gospel and continue to fulfill the commandment to proclaim Jesus Christ, as true God and as Savior of humanity, to all those around us. .
Don't be ashamed to say you are a Christian. The very football fans proudly wear their players' jerseys as if they were idols and us? Do we enter into a crisis of anguish when we have to confess that we are followers of Jesus?
Think about it! One day you will have to see him face to face. With what face?
We are hearing, in many evangelical forums, that the Church of Christ is going to have to change after these months in which many adjustments have had to be made in our churches...
But I thought that, whatever the way we transmit our beliefs, we cannot, in any way, escape from 1 Corinthians 15. I transcribe some paragraphs that we can never, nor should we, ignore: “That Christ died for our sins, according to to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he rose again on the third day, that he appeared to many..."
Therefore, it is very important to repeat to our fellow citizens that: “Only Christ saves” and although we want to make us believe that “all roads lead to Rome”, or that all religions lead to God, it is important to continue explaining, to those around us, that Jesus was the only one who said: “I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.” We must pay attention to the detail that He did not say that He was “a way”, but “the way”.
In Jesus of Nazareth all the prophecies of the Old Testament were fulfilled. He was the promised Messiah. The apostles, who saw the resurrected Jesus, are the ones who wrote the gospel texts that have total authority, due to the sources that were used to write them. Men who had seen Jesus live among them, perform miracles, and most importantly: They saw the resurrected Jesus! These men were tortured to death for preaching what they had seen and heard and no one dies for a lie!
That is why the Church, with its doors open or closed, with meetings in premises, or in homes, will have to continue defending “sound” doctrine and not allowing even a “j, not a comma” to be removed from the biblical text.
In our culture, and with the changes that are going to occur, it will be necessary to remain firm in the essential doctrines of the gospel and continue to fulfill the commandment to proclaim Jesus Christ, as true God and as Savior of humanity, to all those around us. .
Don't be ashamed to say you are a Christian. The very football fans proudly wear their players' jerseys as if they were idols and us? Do we enter into a crisis of anguish when we have to confess that we are followers of Jesus?
Think about it! One day you will have to see him face to face. With what face?
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 24: “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”
This phrase of Jesus was not only mentioned in the terrible suffering in the garden of Gethsemane, it was a constant prayer and attitude in the years he lived on this earth with human beings. He was very clear: He came, being God, to fulfill the will of his Father (Jn. 5:30).
These words were also taught by Him to His followers when He told them how to pray, leaving them, as a model, the Lord's Prayer.
Every true prayer that comes from the heart of a believer must humbly submit to the will of the Heavenly Father and we will be in error if we think that we can bend his will to ours. True prayer has to be directed to God with the attitude and willingness to adjust to his will (pardon the redundancy).
The phrase: “Your will be done here on earth” is interesting in our daily lives: In our home, in our work, in our church, in our relationships...And, many times, we know what that perfect will is, But we look the other way, and we do what we want, without taking into account, at all, what He wants from us. Each member of the church to which we belong should have this idea very present, abiding by his will, even if, at times, it is very hard and incomprehensible for those of us who are still in this world.
How good it is to know that in heaven, “His will” is done perfectly and that this will affects us, here on earth, until He sees fit to fulfill the words of Saint Paul to Titus: “ “Looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who became God for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:13,14) .
And to “purify” us, he often takes us to the “potter's house,” where he breaks us again like a vessel, to make us a “new vessel.” And, in those circumstances, we do not understand anything of his will but, we must follow the example of Paul, when we hear: “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 12:9) and, paraphrasing the apostle, we have to respond: “I will boast in everything that happens to me, because when I am weak then I am strong because the power of Christ is manifested in me.”
Never doubt that His will is the best that can happen to us (Rom. 12:1,2)
These words were also taught by Him to His followers when He told them how to pray, leaving them, as a model, the Lord's Prayer.
Every true prayer that comes from the heart of a believer must humbly submit to the will of the Heavenly Father and we will be in error if we think that we can bend his will to ours. True prayer has to be directed to God with the attitude and willingness to adjust to his will (pardon the redundancy).
The phrase: “Your will be done here on earth” is interesting in our daily lives: In our home, in our work, in our church, in our relationships...And, many times, we know what that perfect will is, But we look the other way, and we do what we want, without taking into account, at all, what He wants from us. Each member of the church to which we belong should have this idea very present, abiding by his will, even if, at times, it is very hard and incomprehensible for those of us who are still in this world.
How good it is to know that in heaven, “His will” is done perfectly and that this will affects us, here on earth, until He sees fit to fulfill the words of Saint Paul to Titus: “ “Looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who became God for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:13,14) .
And to “purify” us, he often takes us to the “potter's house,” where he breaks us again like a vessel, to make us a “new vessel.” And, in those circumstances, we do not understand anything of his will but, we must follow the example of Paul, when we hear: “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 12:9) and, paraphrasing the apostle, we have to respond: “I will boast in everything that happens to me, because when I am weak then I am strong because the power of Christ is manifested in me.”
Never doubt that His will is the best that can happen to us (Rom. 12:1,2)
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 23: Arise church
Do you believe
That once this time of pandemic has passed, we will return to “resting on our laurels”?
Let's look today at what 1 Thess says. 5:7: “Let us not sleep like others, but let us be awake and sober.”
Here the apostle Paul asks us to be “watchful.” You know that staying awake means not sleeping.
Do you remember the hymn?:
“Stand up church,
Shake off the drowsiness
What comes in the clouds
Your husband and Lord”
This stanza, in addition to dating me, takes me to verses 16 to 18, of this chapter, in which we see that while we are watching we have to:
-Always be joyful
-Pray without ceasing
-Give thanks in everything
They are commandments to a Church that must be vigilant because: "It comes in the clouds...".
Maranatha (“Christ is coming”)! And yours must have the joy of the Lord as their strength since He is our friend, our comfort and our help, in any circumstance. How can we not rejoice in Him? Decide today to see the most positive part of your life and stay joyful and awake!
Pray without ceasing. This seems very complicated, doesn't it? We can't be on our knees all the time; There are many other things in our daily lives that require our attention and work, but prayer is like breathing. You can do everything and keep breathing. Is the same. Prayer is to our spiritual life as breath is to our physical life. Talk to God all the time. He has promised to be by your side always, therefore the exercise of talking to Him continuously is not difficult.
Be grateful. I summarize this point with the chorus of another ancient hymn:
See how much the Lord gives you
Blessings are from our God
See the blessings that the Lord gives you
......And count them, they are all from Jehovah
Don't go back to spiritual torpor!
Let's look today at what 1 Thess says. 5:7: “Let us not sleep like others, but let us be awake and sober.”
Here the apostle Paul asks us to be “watchful.” You know that staying awake means not sleeping.
Do you remember the hymn?:
“Stand up church,
Shake off the drowsiness
What comes in the clouds
Your husband and Lord”
This stanza, in addition to dating me, takes me to verses 16 to 18, of this chapter, in which we see that while we are watching we have to:
-Always be joyful
-Pray without ceasing
-Give thanks in everything
They are commandments to a Church that must be vigilant because: "It comes in the clouds...".
Maranatha (“Christ is coming”)! And yours must have the joy of the Lord as their strength since He is our friend, our comfort and our help, in any circumstance. How can we not rejoice in Him? Decide today to see the most positive part of your life and stay joyful and awake!
Pray without ceasing. This seems very complicated, doesn't it? We can't be on our knees all the time; There are many other things in our daily lives that require our attention and work, but prayer is like breathing. You can do everything and keep breathing. Is the same. Prayer is to our spiritual life as breath is to our physical life. Talk to God all the time. He has promised to be by your side always, therefore the exercise of talking to Him continuously is not difficult.
Be grateful. I summarize this point with the chorus of another ancient hymn:
See how much the Lord gives you
Blessings are from our God
See the blessings that the Lord gives you
......And count them, they are all from Jehovah
Don't go back to spiritual torpor!
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 22: believe to live
Yesterday we were talking about the need to totally trust in the Lord, right? Today I would like to take you to the text that says: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” (John 20:29).
If you read the entire gospel of John carefully you will see that there are two words that come up very often: “Life” and “believe” and sometimes they are even in the same verse. Do you remember John 3:36? “He who believes in the Son has eternal life.”
That verse would go hand in hand with John 3:16. Both speak to us about eternal life and salvation, but it is also true that when we believe what God has declared, in other promises for everyday life, we can truly live and not just survive!
Do you have the feeling that you have been surviving for a long time? And I'm not talking to you about these moments when we are having a hard time having an “abundant life”; I'm talking to you about the past months and years. Maybe you look back and see that you've run so hard not to get very far, or you've filled your closet with so many clothes that you can't even put them on now, or you've had little rest in your magnificent bed, or maybe, even worse, you've barely seen anyone. yours and you have not dedicated time to them and what can we say about the time dedicated to your spiritual life...
But the text continues to hammer us. “Blessed are those who believe.” You have had time to know, believe and memorize the promises of the Lord and make them yours. Maybe now is a good time. Don't you think?
These days I propose an extra job in your time with the Lord. Before sitting down, take some colored pencils and as you read, you underline the different promises. For example, those that are about hope in one color, those that refer to your strength in another....
There are so many and so wonderful! If we truly made them ours, we could live despite how difficult it is to do so in this fallen world, and in seasons as difficult as the current one!
Let us begin today with the fundamental promise of God's love and its consequences in our lives. There are many verses that give us the certainty of that love. We know it by heart, but do we really believe it? Shouldn't believing that God is love and that that love caused him to send his Son to the cross take away from us all the burden of worrying about our future and our needs?
Saint Paul himself tells us: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also give us with him all things?” (Rom. 8:32). Of course, here he is not talking about riches on this earth, but he is talking about taking care of us and giving us everything we need, according to his will, and never abandoning us. Do you really believe it? Can you stop worrying and get busy when the times come when you have to?
If you read the entire gospel of John carefully you will see that there are two words that come up very often: “Life” and “believe” and sometimes they are even in the same verse. Do you remember John 3:36? “He who believes in the Son has eternal life.”
That verse would go hand in hand with John 3:16. Both speak to us about eternal life and salvation, but it is also true that when we believe what God has declared, in other promises for everyday life, we can truly live and not just survive!
Do you have the feeling that you have been surviving for a long time? And I'm not talking to you about these moments when we are having a hard time having an “abundant life”; I'm talking to you about the past months and years. Maybe you look back and see that you've run so hard not to get very far, or you've filled your closet with so many clothes that you can't even put them on now, or you've had little rest in your magnificent bed, or maybe, even worse, you've barely seen anyone. yours and you have not dedicated time to them and what can we say about the time dedicated to your spiritual life...
But the text continues to hammer us. “Blessed are those who believe.” You have had time to know, believe and memorize the promises of the Lord and make them yours. Maybe now is a good time. Don't you think?
These days I propose an extra job in your time with the Lord. Before sitting down, take some colored pencils and as you read, you underline the different promises. For example, those that are about hope in one color, those that refer to your strength in another....
There are so many and so wonderful! If we truly made them ours, we could live despite how difficult it is to do so in this fallen world, and in seasons as difficult as the current one!
Let us begin today with the fundamental promise of God's love and its consequences in our lives. There are many verses that give us the certainty of that love. We know it by heart, but do we really believe it? Shouldn't believing that God is love and that that love caused him to send his Son to the cross take away from us all the burden of worrying about our future and our needs?
Saint Paul himself tells us: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also give us with him all things?” (Rom. 8:32). Of course, here he is not talking about riches on this earth, but he is talking about taking care of us and giving us everything we need, according to his will, and never abandoning us. Do you really believe it? Can you stop worrying and get busy when the times come when you have to?
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 21: Don't be troubled
“Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor be afraid; If you believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1).
In these days of so much fatigue due to the abnormality of the life that we are all leading, the words of Jesus must be a kind of balm for us, but also a warning.
We know that the Enemy, in this time, will benefit greatly if he manages to steal our peace, joy, spiritual strength and hope.
But we cannot afford it and we have our own responsibility in that task. With an act of iron will we must listen again to Jesus who commands us: “Do not be troubled!” And although sometimes we lack strength, and it seems to us that our bodies are weakening and we feel on the edge, close to the precipice, into which we can fall, we must once again take the reins of our mind and continue believing in the One who He issued that command.
“Turbanse” is not a verb that we use very often. Its meaning is: “To alter a person's mood until they are confused, not knowing what to say or what to do.” In its biblical sense it has to do with disturbing, disturbing, disturbing...
Jesus knew, in advance, the situations that human beings were going to go through and those that were going to deeply disturb them. Today, after two thousand years, he tells us again: “Do not be troubled!” “Don't be confused”, “Don't worry”.
But for that you have to connect your mind with your heart (this has to do with emotions, but also with the will) and God wants peace to fill your being in a very deep way and that, despite what is happening to you, around you; Although the storm of these moments is on the surface, do not let it invade “your boat.”
Remember that being troubled has a main cause: Lack of trust in the Lord; That is why Jesus connects the beginning of the verse with the phrase: “You believe in God, believe also in Me!”
Therefore, even if it is difficult for us to completely let ourselves fall into His arms (Det. 33:27), we cannot do anything else! And now we know it better than ever, in our current history.
And by letting ourselves fall on Him, we must also leave all anguish and fear there because we have proven, a thousand times, that “He cares for us” (1 Pet. 5:7).
I would like our prayer today to be full of trust in the Lord and that we could say to Him: “Today I am not going to worry about anything because I believe, completely, in You.”
In these days of so much fatigue due to the abnormality of the life that we are all leading, the words of Jesus must be a kind of balm for us, but also a warning.
We know that the Enemy, in this time, will benefit greatly if he manages to steal our peace, joy, spiritual strength and hope.
But we cannot afford it and we have our own responsibility in that task. With an act of iron will we must listen again to Jesus who commands us: “Do not be troubled!” And although sometimes we lack strength, and it seems to us that our bodies are weakening and we feel on the edge, close to the precipice, into which we can fall, we must once again take the reins of our mind and continue believing in the One who He issued that command.
“Turbanse” is not a verb that we use very often. Its meaning is: “To alter a person's mood until they are confused, not knowing what to say or what to do.” In its biblical sense it has to do with disturbing, disturbing, disturbing...
Jesus knew, in advance, the situations that human beings were going to go through and those that were going to deeply disturb them. Today, after two thousand years, he tells us again: “Do not be troubled!” “Don't be confused”, “Don't worry”.
But for that you have to connect your mind with your heart (this has to do with emotions, but also with the will) and God wants peace to fill your being in a very deep way and that, despite what is happening to you, around you; Although the storm of these moments is on the surface, do not let it invade “your boat.”
Remember that being troubled has a main cause: Lack of trust in the Lord; That is why Jesus connects the beginning of the verse with the phrase: “You believe in God, believe also in Me!”
Therefore, even if it is difficult for us to completely let ourselves fall into His arms (Det. 33:27), we cannot do anything else! And now we know it better than ever, in our current history.
And by letting ourselves fall on Him, we must also leave all anguish and fear there because we have proven, a thousand times, that “He cares for us” (1 Pet. 5:7).
I would like our prayer today to be full of trust in the Lord and that we could say to Him: “Today I am not going to worry about anything because I believe, completely, in You.”
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 20: Our children and screens (4)
We are already finishing the week, how has it been for you?
We hope that you have implemented some screen control measures regarding children.
But, I return to the theme of the week: “Love Christ with all your mind.” Don't fill it with garbage! Remember that if the Word of Christ dwells in abundance in us we will become “the aroma of life” (2 Corinthians 15:16) what a beautiful phrase from the apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians.
This week, speaking with a patient, I told him how important it is to read the Bible every day because in addition to being the sword against the Enemy and the bread that feeds us so as not to fall into “spiritual anorexia”, its word is also “soap” ( John 15:3). Have you taken into account that profound text?: His Word washes us every time we read it, how wonderful!
Are you stuck on any unclean pages? These days of confinement, pornography themes have proliferated exponentially. And you, take care of yourself! The apostle Paul will tell Timothy (1 Timothy 4:16). Flee from falling into that addiction as from fire. It is incredible to see that the person who has become addicted to pornography finds it difficult to admit it and thinks that he can leave whenever he wants. It is not like this! On excursions to the “kingdom of darkness” you can get trapped because whoever is out there is more powerful than you. He is an angel (although fallen) but you and I are a little lower than the angels, (Psalm 8:5) do you remember?
Don't play with fire, that addiction will become a ring around your neck that will be very difficult to get out of. You will need God's help and also, perhaps, a long therapy.
And what about your teenager?
We leave you some recommendations:
1. Try to keep all the screens in the house visible. Preferably in common places.
2. Talk very directly about the issue of danger on social networks with him or her.
3. Explain to your older children that they must, like Job, “make a pact with their eyes” () to not look at anything that may be far from the will of God.
4. Explain to them that an addiction, such as pornography, acts on their brain like a drug and that if they enter that world it will be very difficult to get out and, furthermore, that the momentary pleasure that can be obtained will turn into bitterness and pain when they do not. I can abandon it.
5. It is also convenient for them to know that the bodies they see are not real ones, that they are suffering people (although it may seem otherwise), most of the time subjected to humiliation and trafficking in human beings.
6. That, therefore, they should never collaborate with that black world, even if they paint it pink.
7. Also, do not share photographs with anyone, which may make you blush. Once something has been posted on the network, it is impossible to go back and anything can go very far without knowing how to stop it and put an end to it.
8. Nor give address information or personal data. This data can fall into the hands of undesirables who can use it to extort or blackmail you.
9. Make them reconsider that, now, many companies have access to social networks and knowledge of what appears on them can determine whether or not they get a job in the future.
10. May family life lead you to remember your Creator in the days of your youth. That's going to change your lives!
We hope that you have implemented some screen control measures regarding children.
But, I return to the theme of the week: “Love Christ with all your mind.” Don't fill it with garbage! Remember that if the Word of Christ dwells in abundance in us we will become “the aroma of life” (2 Corinthians 15:16) what a beautiful phrase from the apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians.
This week, speaking with a patient, I told him how important it is to read the Bible every day because in addition to being the sword against the Enemy and the bread that feeds us so as not to fall into “spiritual anorexia”, its word is also “soap” ( John 15:3). Have you taken into account that profound text?: His Word washes us every time we read it, how wonderful!
Are you stuck on any unclean pages? These days of confinement, pornography themes have proliferated exponentially. And you, take care of yourself! The apostle Paul will tell Timothy (1 Timothy 4:16). Flee from falling into that addiction as from fire. It is incredible to see that the person who has become addicted to pornography finds it difficult to admit it and thinks that he can leave whenever he wants. It is not like this! On excursions to the “kingdom of darkness” you can get trapped because whoever is out there is more powerful than you. He is an angel (although fallen) but you and I are a little lower than the angels, (Psalm 8:5) do you remember?
Don't play with fire, that addiction will become a ring around your neck that will be very difficult to get out of. You will need God's help and also, perhaps, a long therapy.
And what about your teenager?
We leave you some recommendations:
1. Try to keep all the screens in the house visible. Preferably in common places.
2. Talk very directly about the issue of danger on social networks with him or her.
3. Explain to your older children that they must, like Job, “make a pact with their eyes” () to not look at anything that may be far from the will of God.
4. Explain to them that an addiction, such as pornography, acts on their brain like a drug and that if they enter that world it will be very difficult to get out and, furthermore, that the momentary pleasure that can be obtained will turn into bitterness and pain when they do not. I can abandon it.
5. It is also convenient for them to know that the bodies they see are not real ones, that they are suffering people (although it may seem otherwise), most of the time subjected to humiliation and trafficking in human beings.
6. That, therefore, they should never collaborate with that black world, even if they paint it pink.
7. Also, do not share photographs with anyone, which may make you blush. Once something has been posted on the network, it is impossible to go back and anything can go very far without knowing how to stop it and put an end to it.
8. Nor give address information or personal data. This data can fall into the hands of undesirables who can use it to extort or blackmail you.
9. Make them reconsider that, now, many companies have access to social networks and knowledge of what appears on them can determine whether or not they get a job in the future.
10. May family life lead you to remember your Creator in the days of your youth. That's going to change your lives!
Ester Martínez and Carlos Brazier
Day 19: Our children and screens (3)
So that our children can love God with all their minds, we have to understand that it is not just about thinking about Christian topics but about teaching them that Christ has to be the Lord of their lives. How do we do that? The answer is not easy but it also has to do with modeling: “Children, ultimately, do not do what we tell them, they do what we do.” How do we both, father and mother, handle being an example in the spiritual disciplines? How good it is when your children see you read the Bible and pray together and separately.
But not only that, can they see that your opinions and decisions conform to God's will written in His Word? It would be terrible if they detected that we do what is good for us without consulting the Lord at all. If things are like this, it won't be long before they do the same!
But as for the topic at hand, do they see you constantly hanging on the internet? Do you watch many more episodes of series or are you constantly “Whatsapping” compared to the time you spend reading the Bible?
We once again leave you other recommendations for older children:
1. We watch television much less than before, right? But, in any case, keep a close eye on your children when, if they are a little older and get up early, they turn on the TV and flip through all the channels looking for what they want to watch. Be vigilant, there are many very violent or/and sexualized programs.
2. Remember that on the Internet there is also a multitude of content that is not the most appropriate for us, not even to watch with you.
3. Ask yourself when you see what you see: What can my child benefit from or learn from this program? Is there anything we can talk about later to improve their attitudes? Does what we are seeing agree with the values we want to convey to you?
4. After answering these questions, ask yourself how you can introduce the concept that even if something seems normal to us, it may be inappropriate for a Christian!
5. Also teach them everything they miss by being perpetually hooked on screens (playing together, reading, creativity...).
6. Do not think, due to their reaction when you take away their cell phone or tablet, that it is impossible, in the years we live in, to rescue them from addiction to new technologies.
7. Any addictive behavior will diminish when “the drug” is eliminated. In this case it is impossible to eliminate it completely because they also use screens to work in school, they are part of their social life, and there is a lot of good about them, but...
8. According to Shane Hipps: “If we are not alert, the information age can stunt growth and create permanent mental puberty.
9. We should not turn them over to screens to avoid the work of teaching them to persist in a task and overcome obstacles. If we help them, they will progress properly!
10. These days we must have time for everything, our children are currently doing their schooling remotely, that is, with computers, and that must be a priority, therefore they must spend some time studying with screens. Another priority is church services, meetings of adolescents and young people or prayer meetings these days are all being carried out with new technologies so we must give them time for that too. Finally, there is your free time, which is where we advise you to do different things with your children, try to play family games, read books, build Legos, play music... try to do everything that motivates them outside of a screen and at some point “go to the cinema at home” close all the lights make popcorn or whatever you have find a movie and enjoy it as a family.
But not only that, can they see that your opinions and decisions conform to God's will written in His Word? It would be terrible if they detected that we do what is good for us without consulting the Lord at all. If things are like this, it won't be long before they do the same!
But as for the topic at hand, do they see you constantly hanging on the internet? Do you watch many more episodes of series or are you constantly “Whatsapping” compared to the time you spend reading the Bible?
We once again leave you other recommendations for older children:
1. We watch television much less than before, right? But, in any case, keep a close eye on your children when, if they are a little older and get up early, they turn on the TV and flip through all the channels looking for what they want to watch. Be vigilant, there are many very violent or/and sexualized programs.
2. Remember that on the Internet there is also a multitude of content that is not the most appropriate for us, not even to watch with you.
3. Ask yourself when you see what you see: What can my child benefit from or learn from this program? Is there anything we can talk about later to improve their attitudes? Does what we are seeing agree with the values we want to convey to you?
4. After answering these questions, ask yourself how you can introduce the concept that even if something seems normal to us, it may be inappropriate for a Christian!
5. Also teach them everything they miss by being perpetually hooked on screens (playing together, reading, creativity...).
6. Do not think, due to their reaction when you take away their cell phone or tablet, that it is impossible, in the years we live in, to rescue them from addiction to new technologies.
7. Any addictive behavior will diminish when “the drug” is eliminated. In this case it is impossible to eliminate it completely because they also use screens to work in school, they are part of their social life, and there is a lot of good about them, but...
8. According to Shane Hipps: “If we are not alert, the information age can stunt growth and create permanent mental puberty.
9. We should not turn them over to screens to avoid the work of teaching them to persist in a task and overcome obstacles. If we help them, they will progress properly!
10. These days we must have time for everything, our children are currently doing their schooling remotely, that is, with computers, and that must be a priority, therefore they must spend some time studying with screens. Another priority is church services, meetings of adolescents and young people or prayer meetings these days are all being carried out with new technologies so we must give them time for that too. Finally, there is your free time, which is where we advise you to do different things with your children, try to play family games, read books, build Legos, play music... try to do everything that motivates them outside of a screen and at some point “go to the cinema at home” close all the lights make popcorn or whatever you have find a movie and enjoy it as a family.
Ester Martínez and Carlos Brazier
Day 18: Our children and screens (2)
Thinking about this issue of addiction to social networks and the internet, the need to “love God with all our mind” has come to mind (Matthew 22:37). Our mind! It is so full of so many things (most of them introduced by social networks) that there is no place to find the Lord in it and truly love Him. Has the world shaped us much more than we imagine? Should we repent because there is no room in our minds for God and his Word? Have we taught our children to save a corner in their brains so that they know God and love Him? Have we thought it was enough to take them to church and Sunday school?
If so we have been very wrong. We are told in Deuteronomy that “we must speak the Word of God to our children actively, passively and periphrastically. That is to say, “being at home, along the way, we must write it on the walls, on the doors” (Deuteronomy 6:7) How far have we been from doing it well!
Well, at this moment, having extra time, we are going to rescue hours from screens to dedicate to the instruction of our little ones, in Bible study and prayer, so that they can learn to think like Christians.
We now leave you some recommendations for the little ones:
1. Do not think that it is impossible to achieve “disengagement”.
2. Don't throw in the towel because your spouse doesn't think like you. It is very important to agree and present a common front regarding the time and material that your children will access through social networks.
3. Don't get carried away by the tantrums that can occur when limiting their access to networks.
4. Children need to learn by playing with toys and with their siblings or friends (when possible). Interactive symbolic play is part of their basic education.
5. Therefore, play with them, use games that correspond to their chronological age. Remember that the hours you spend with your children playing will never be a waste of time.
6. Do not expose the very little ones to screens. It hurts us to see children in the stroller with their mother's iPad or in restaurants having the babies in front of mobile phones or tablets so that the adults can be calm. You have wondered what we did before. Surely play with them or let them paint or... The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends not exposing children under two years of age to any screen.
7. Don't trust educational videos either. There is no study that confirms that they are beneficial for the development of the little ones.
8. Remember that, from very early in life, the primary need is to explore: See, touch, smell, hear, move, walk, run.
9. It is also important to know that little ones will learn to speak by imitating the adult, not through screens. The ability to learn language is directly related to the hours they spend interacting with their parents.
10. The best alternative, for preschool age, is to take the child in your arms and introduce them to the fantastic world of stories and play as much as you can with them.
If so we have been very wrong. We are told in Deuteronomy that “we must speak the Word of God to our children actively, passively and periphrastically. That is to say, “being at home, along the way, we must write it on the walls, on the doors” (Deuteronomy 6:7) How far have we been from doing it well!
Well, at this moment, having extra time, we are going to rescue hours from screens to dedicate to the instruction of our little ones, in Bible study and prayer, so that they can learn to think like Christians.
We now leave you some recommendations for the little ones:
1. Do not think that it is impossible to achieve “disengagement”.
2. Don't throw in the towel because your spouse doesn't think like you. It is very important to agree and present a common front regarding the time and material that your children will access through social networks.
3. Don't get carried away by the tantrums that can occur when limiting their access to networks.
4. Children need to learn by playing with toys and with their siblings or friends (when possible). Interactive symbolic play is part of their basic education.
5. Therefore, play with them, use games that correspond to their chronological age. Remember that the hours you spend with your children playing will never be a waste of time.
6. Do not expose the very little ones to screens. It hurts us to see children in the stroller with their mother's iPad or in restaurants having the babies in front of mobile phones or tablets so that the adults can be calm. You have wondered what we did before. Surely play with them or let them paint or... The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends not exposing children under two years of age to any screen.
7. Don't trust educational videos either. There is no study that confirms that they are beneficial for the development of the little ones.
8. Remember that, from very early in life, the primary need is to explore: See, touch, smell, hear, move, walk, run.
9. It is also important to know that little ones will learn to speak by imitating the adult, not through screens. The ability to learn language is directly related to the hours they spend interacting with their parents.
10. The best alternative, for preschool age, is to take the child in your arms and introduce them to the fantastic world of stories and play as much as you can with them.
Ester Martínez and Carlos Brazier
Day 17: Our children and screens (1)
In these special days, when we depend so much on the Internet and social networks, it is difficult to stop the youngest members of the house from becoming addicted to the screens we have.
Children and adolescents have become “game boys” and for them, being connected is the most desirable way of their existence. The world of fantasy and roles have the danger of becoming something so “real” that they disconnect from the reality of life, which may become totally irrelevant to them.
That is why we find ourselves at a crossroads: Thank goodness that today social networks are within our reach, but a certain pessimism also appears in the homes, as we realize the effects of these connections and see that our little ones cannot let go of them! without anger or a tantrum involved!
The same thing happened with television in the 50s and 60s. It seemed like it was going to put an end to interpersonal relationships. But what happens today is that we have added "gadgets", very powerful, to that "box" with a black and white screen, which brought the family together in those years with neighbors and friends, in order to have leisure time for themselves. the nights.
Now things are different, although during the pandemic we have been playing and talking in groups, because we have new inventions that allow it (Zoom, Skype, Teams...), the use of new technologies is much more private and has the danger of isolating ourselves and having materials of violence, sex and things reach our terminals (and what is worse, our children's), which we would never allow them to see live within a Christian scale of values, hooking them, too, because the offer cultural, artistic and educational has nothing to do with what is offered by television channels. And, furthermore, we cannot forget the danger of the great immersion that can be carried out in a medium that confuses reality with fiction. That is why it has been called “virtual reality”.
Furthermore, new technologies bring us to immediacy, everything is instantaneous! To the point of constituting a real threat, especially for the youngest, in terms of not
learn to wait for rewards and not tolerate the frustration of waiting. For all this, and much more, that we will see during this week, Christians have to be very alert. Saint Paul will tell us: “Prove everything and hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and “everything is lawful for me, but not everything is convenient for me” (1 Corinthians 10:23).
Note:
We have received requests from parents and pastors to write some reflections so that parents can monitor and guide their children regarding the dangers on the Internet. For this, I have asked for the collaboration of Carlos Brazier, as he knows, better than me, new technologies and their risks. Therefore, God willing, during this week the reflections will be on this very complicated topic and it is not only for children and young people, it is also for you and for us.
Children and adolescents have become “game boys” and for them, being connected is the most desirable way of their existence. The world of fantasy and roles have the danger of becoming something so “real” that they disconnect from the reality of life, which may become totally irrelevant to them.
That is why we find ourselves at a crossroads: Thank goodness that today social networks are within our reach, but a certain pessimism also appears in the homes, as we realize the effects of these connections and see that our little ones cannot let go of them! without anger or a tantrum involved!
The same thing happened with television in the 50s and 60s. It seemed like it was going to put an end to interpersonal relationships. But what happens today is that we have added "gadgets", very powerful, to that "box" with a black and white screen, which brought the family together in those years with neighbors and friends, in order to have leisure time for themselves. the nights.
Now things are different, although during the pandemic we have been playing and talking in groups, because we have new inventions that allow it (Zoom, Skype, Teams...), the use of new technologies is much more private and has the danger of isolating ourselves and having materials of violence, sex and things reach our terminals (and what is worse, our children's), which we would never allow them to see live within a Christian scale of values, hooking them, too, because the offer cultural, artistic and educational has nothing to do with what is offered by television channels. And, furthermore, we cannot forget the danger of the great immersion that can be carried out in a medium that confuses reality with fiction. That is why it has been called “virtual reality”.
Furthermore, new technologies bring us to immediacy, everything is instantaneous! To the point of constituting a real threat, especially for the youngest, in terms of not
learn to wait for rewards and not tolerate the frustration of waiting. For all this, and much more, that we will see during this week, Christians have to be very alert. Saint Paul will tell us: “Prove everything and hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and “everything is lawful for me, but not everything is convenient for me” (1 Corinthians 10:23).
Note:
We have received requests from parents and pastors to write some reflections so that parents can monitor and guide their children regarding the dangers on the Internet. For this, I have asked for the collaboration of Carlos Brazier, as he knows, better than me, new technologies and their risks. Therefore, God willing, during this week the reflections will be on this very complicated topic and it is not only for children and young people, it is also for you and for us.
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 16: A life with meaning
In this time of pandemic, perhaps you are beginning to wonder what the meaning of all this is and where this exceptional circumstance comes from, appearing suddenly and without prior notice in our lives.
Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, wrote a book titled: “Man's Search for Meaning,” in which he recounts his experiences in the concentration camp. This man was a psychiatrist and neurologist and was arrested along with his family (his wife and parents). At the same time, most of his family died, including his wife, but he survived.
The most notable thing about his book was searching for meaning in life in a very difficult circumstance in which he, and many others, were in concentration camps, in unprecedented suffering in cultured and powerful Europe.
We have learned, after those terrible years, that some others, like him, also managed to survive the terrible circumstances of World War II. Who were those “heroes”? Well, they were the ones who were able to “fly higher” and maintain hope, finding meaning in life, even in the most horrible confinement in recent history.
Our circumstances, thank God, are very different but, as we saw in the video that was shown to us on Sunday in the online worship, life is very short and, for the moment, when we still have life, even though we are in abnormal conditions and, Also very difficult, we must change the trajectory we have been on until now and decide to love God and those around us and serve them, like never before. That is, being clear about the purpose of our life. Because as Nietzsche said: “Those who have a “because” in their existence can handle any “how.”
Frankl writes that prisoners who had a reason to live and thought about a better future, with “something” hopeful in store for them, survived! And they could do it despite mistreatment, starvation, unmedicated illnesses, contempt from caregivers, loneliness, grief for loved ones in the same conditions...
You and I have something very clear to live for, right? But also, as Eduardo mentioned on Sunday, a glorious future awaits us, not only here on earth (where we can worship Him and serve Him every day that the Lord continues to give us) but also and, very especially, when we see, face to face , to Jesus on his “high and sublime throne.” But for now, while you are here, start by helping those you can, where you can and, above all, bring hope to those around you, with your words and your attitudes.
Now, we can also have the vision of our Redeemer by reading the Bible and approaching that “throne”, in prayer every day, knowing that, whatever the circumstances that surround us, “His glory continues to fill the earth.” ”, therefore do not fear! Remember that there is a universal solution in the One who is on the throne, who is the King of our lives and that we can approach Him, perhaps with tears in our eyes, but grateful that no one, nor any circumstance, holds our hands. lives in this strange present and in the future.
Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, wrote a book titled: “Man's Search for Meaning,” in which he recounts his experiences in the concentration camp. This man was a psychiatrist and neurologist and was arrested along with his family (his wife and parents). At the same time, most of his family died, including his wife, but he survived.
The most notable thing about his book was searching for meaning in life in a very difficult circumstance in which he, and many others, were in concentration camps, in unprecedented suffering in cultured and powerful Europe.
We have learned, after those terrible years, that some others, like him, also managed to survive the terrible circumstances of World War II. Who were those “heroes”? Well, they were the ones who were able to “fly higher” and maintain hope, finding meaning in life, even in the most horrible confinement in recent history.
Our circumstances, thank God, are very different but, as we saw in the video that was shown to us on Sunday in the online worship, life is very short and, for the moment, when we still have life, even though we are in abnormal conditions and, Also very difficult, we must change the trajectory we have been on until now and decide to love God and those around us and serve them, like never before. That is, being clear about the purpose of our life. Because as Nietzsche said: “Those who have a “because” in their existence can handle any “how.”
Frankl writes that prisoners who had a reason to live and thought about a better future, with “something” hopeful in store for them, survived! And they could do it despite mistreatment, starvation, unmedicated illnesses, contempt from caregivers, loneliness, grief for loved ones in the same conditions...
You and I have something very clear to live for, right? But also, as Eduardo mentioned on Sunday, a glorious future awaits us, not only here on earth (where we can worship Him and serve Him every day that the Lord continues to give us) but also and, very especially, when we see, face to face , to Jesus on his “high and sublime throne.” But for now, while you are here, start by helping those you can, where you can and, above all, bring hope to those around you, with your words and your attitudes.
Now, we can also have the vision of our Redeemer by reading the Bible and approaching that “throne”, in prayer every day, knowing that, whatever the circumstances that surround us, “His glory continues to fill the earth.” ”, therefore do not fear! Remember that there is a universal solution in the One who is on the throne, who is the King of our lives and that we can approach Him, perhaps with tears in our eyes, but grateful that no one, nor any circumstance, holds our hands. lives in this strange present and in the future.
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 15: “The Lord said to me: Do not be afraid!” (Rev. 1:17)
After a month without being able to meet, in our home group, last Tuesday we decided to do it again through “zoom” (!).
Even though it wasn't the same and we couldn't share tea and cookies, how good it was to be together again through those little “little windows”! It seemed to me that we had even dressed up and put on a little makeup for the occasion.
Thank goodness that Carlos helped us prepare the technical issue because, now, I am more aware than ever that we adults are very far from mastering new technologies; but, well, we are entering, little by little, and winning technical battles! Above all, in this long period, in which we have no choice but to learn to relate, buy, see our loved ones and, in some way, live up to it!
The topic chosen for that meeting was: “God manifests himself in confinement.” We read the experience of the apostle John, confined to the island of Patmos (Rev. 1), around the year 95 AD
Juan's confinement was not at all like ours, however difficult it may be! He was imprisoned on that island, having been exiled due to his faith in Christ. He himself expresses it in v. 9 saying, “I was on the island because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
The purpose of the book is to reveal to John (the disciple loved by Jesus), in those very difficult circumstances of his life, that the Redeemer of the world, Jesus Christ, with whom he had shared years and sufferings, is and will be, the Conqueror and the Judge. end on this earth.
I say that they were difficult circumstances for the apostle because he was already old, he was confined, separated from his people, living as a prisoner, on an island that was like a prison, where people were sent to do forced labor in the salt mines.
He begins his writing with an impressive vision of the resurrected Christ, saying: “He is the faithful witness of all things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world… To Him be the glory and all! power forever!” (Rev. 1:5,6). Then, in chapter 2, the letters addressed by the Lord to the early Christian churches will follow. The model of those congregations has been repeated, for better and for worse, over the years, by successive local Christian churches.
The final conclusion of this exciting book is a call from God to the devotion and perseverance of his people who are warned that the Lord is returning! And that, therefore, we must be very careful not to fall into lukewarmness (Rev. 3:15,16), nor lose “the first love” towards Him who died, rose again and now, whatever the circumstance may be, historic, reign forever!
If we live always keeping in mind his “Second Coming” we will be able to make the last words of the elderly John our own: “Yes, come Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20) and, we can even add: “Come quickly!”
Note: If you do not belong to any “home group” talk to the pastor or the church technicians and they will inform you how you can be part of one, entering a link that they will give you, depending on the day and time most convenient for you. you.
Even though it wasn't the same and we couldn't share tea and cookies, how good it was to be together again through those little “little windows”! It seemed to me that we had even dressed up and put on a little makeup for the occasion.
Thank goodness that Carlos helped us prepare the technical issue because, now, I am more aware than ever that we adults are very far from mastering new technologies; but, well, we are entering, little by little, and winning technical battles! Above all, in this long period, in which we have no choice but to learn to relate, buy, see our loved ones and, in some way, live up to it!
The topic chosen for that meeting was: “God manifests himself in confinement.” We read the experience of the apostle John, confined to the island of Patmos (Rev. 1), around the year 95 AD
Juan's confinement was not at all like ours, however difficult it may be! He was imprisoned on that island, having been exiled due to his faith in Christ. He himself expresses it in v. 9 saying, “I was on the island because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
The purpose of the book is to reveal to John (the disciple loved by Jesus), in those very difficult circumstances of his life, that the Redeemer of the world, Jesus Christ, with whom he had shared years and sufferings, is and will be, the Conqueror and the Judge. end on this earth.
I say that they were difficult circumstances for the apostle because he was already old, he was confined, separated from his people, living as a prisoner, on an island that was like a prison, where people were sent to do forced labor in the salt mines.
He begins his writing with an impressive vision of the resurrected Christ, saying: “He is the faithful witness of all things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world… To Him be the glory and all! power forever!” (Rev. 1:5,6). Then, in chapter 2, the letters addressed by the Lord to the early Christian churches will follow. The model of those congregations has been repeated, for better and for worse, over the years, by successive local Christian churches.
The final conclusion of this exciting book is a call from God to the devotion and perseverance of his people who are warned that the Lord is returning! And that, therefore, we must be very careful not to fall into lukewarmness (Rev. 3:15,16), nor lose “the first love” towards Him who died, rose again and now, whatever the circumstance may be, historic, reign forever!
If we live always keeping in mind his “Second Coming” we will be able to make the last words of the elderly John our own: “Yes, come Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20) and, we can even add: “Come quickly!”
Note: If you do not belong to any “home group” talk to the pastor or the church technicians and they will inform you how you can be part of one, entering a link that they will give you, depending on the day and time most convenient for you. you.
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 14: Remember your Creator today!
April 13th was my mother's birthday. She already left with the Lord many years ago, but on this earth, she always lived to serve Him and was an example in wanting to be close to Him. She never enjoyed good health and, very early in her life, the symptoms of Parkinson's made their appearance in a sibylline but constant way, leaving his body absolutely devastated. Even so, he never stopped saying with Job: “I know that my Redeemer lives and even if my skin is discarded, with my eyes I will see God” (Job 19:25-27). Now you see him! No pain, no sores and no tremors. What great hope for those of us who loved her so much and continue to love her! My father followed her after a few years and now they are both, with my dear grandmother, and other loved ones, with their Lord, enjoying His presence and eternal peace forever.
You may wonder why I begin my reflection today like this. I have been reading, in my devotional time, Ecclesiastes chapter 12 and I want to make a very special call to the young readers of these “Reflections”.
The first verse of this chapter is a tremendous command for those who have not yet reached old age. Read it with me. “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come..., when you say: Life is no longer pleasant.”
Bad days? No, the following. I transcribe you the description that the sacred writer makes of those days. I will copy it from the New Living Translation:
“Do not forget your Creator. Honor Him while you are young before the light of the sun, moon and stars grows dim in your old eyes, and black clouds forever darken your sky. Remember Him before your legs - the guardians of your house - begin to tremble and your shoulders - the strong warriors - stoop, before your teeth - those few servants you have left - stop grinding and your pupils - those who They look out the window - they no longer see clearly..."
What a panorama, right? It is not very far from the one described in the first paragraph of this text. That is why I write today for you, so that before old age comes, you will think of your Creator and live for Him.
I am happy when I hear young people say that nothing is going to happen to them during this pandemic. Luckily, in most cases they are right. The disease is cruelly attacking the elderly. However, that does not change anything that the text read says. You are young now. Marvelous! No? But remember that the day will come when you will no longer be.
Live now with the joy of the Lord on. Serve him like never before. Love him more than before. May this confinement help you see that, if you were not very close to Him, you must return, as soon as possible, if you want to one day enjoy His presence, in heaven, forever. God doesn't have grandchildren, he only has children, and he wants you to be one of them. Perhaps you have been, for a time, in “the remote province,” just like the prodigal son. Have you thought about getting up now and returning to the Father? Well, think about it!
But, also, and returning to the suffering of old age, are you remembering a lot, these days, of your parents or your older grandparents? Maybe you can't go see them or hug them. But you know how much you mean to their lives. Don't stop calling them, kissing them from a distance, sending them virtual hugs. You young people know a lot about that. Practice it with them!
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 13: Think about what is true
I go back again to Philippians 4. Verse 8 tells us: “Whatever is true, whatever is honest, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any virtue, if something worthy of praise, think about this!”
It is an interesting text and most of us know it by heart, but we tend to forget the word with which Saint Paul begins. We recite it, normally, starting with what is “good”, but it doesn't start like that, it starts with what is “true”. It is an important nuance, as we will see in a moment.
Furthermore, we must note that the apostle does not urge us, in this text, to do these things he mentions, but rather he commands us to think about them.
At this time, with so many dangers, so many hoaxes and false news, it is necessary to comply with the commandment to think about everything that is true. And I emphasize the verb “think” because our actions, in the final analysis, are always governed by our thoughts.
Someone has said: “Sow a thought and you will reap an action; sow actions and you will reap habits, sow habits and you will reap a character; sow a character and you will reap a destiny.”
Oswald Chambers, in his book “Little Book of Prayers,” writes this prayer: “Lord, I look to you to renew the spirit of my mind. “Poisoned” thoughts deceive me and lie to me. I need, from you, constant life, love and grace, to keep them away from me.”
Ask yourself how you think. Do fearful thoughts trouble you until you become terrified? They're true? Are you worried about the danger of catching the “coronavirus”, the future, your children, your grandchildren, your health, the economy…? Can you redirect all of that by analyzing whether those thoughts are, at this moment, true?
We have to remember that the “future”, by definition, is not true. If, for example, you are afraid of getting sick or anything else that could happen to you in the future, right now you cannot describe it as true. We don't know if it will be or not, but at least, at this moment, we must reject that thought as not true.
I always tell my patients that “they will pass the bridges when they arrive.” When whatever it is that you fear so much comes, you will have to worry, but worrying is different. Worrying is crossing bridges before they arrive and that is impossible. “Do not worry about anything” Saint Paul will tell us (Phil. 4:6) and, for his part, Saint Peter will write: “Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7) . And Jesus himself will say: “Today your anxiety is enough, tomorrow will bring its own evil” (Matt. 6:34).
Do the exercise today of discarding from your mind everything that is a lie. The mentioned text takes us to the next verse that tells us: “And the God of peace will be with you.” We cannot enjoy the peace of God if we do not pass all our thoughts through the sieve of Phil. 4:8.
Read it again in its entirety and learn it by heart, if you don't already know it!
It is an interesting text and most of us know it by heart, but we tend to forget the word with which Saint Paul begins. We recite it, normally, starting with what is “good”, but it doesn't start like that, it starts with what is “true”. It is an important nuance, as we will see in a moment.
Furthermore, we must note that the apostle does not urge us, in this text, to do these things he mentions, but rather he commands us to think about them.
At this time, with so many dangers, so many hoaxes and false news, it is necessary to comply with the commandment to think about everything that is true. And I emphasize the verb “think” because our actions, in the final analysis, are always governed by our thoughts.
Someone has said: “Sow a thought and you will reap an action; sow actions and you will reap habits, sow habits and you will reap a character; sow a character and you will reap a destiny.”
Oswald Chambers, in his book “Little Book of Prayers,” writes this prayer: “Lord, I look to you to renew the spirit of my mind. “Poisoned” thoughts deceive me and lie to me. I need, from you, constant life, love and grace, to keep them away from me.”
Ask yourself how you think. Do fearful thoughts trouble you until you become terrified? They're true? Are you worried about the danger of catching the “coronavirus”, the future, your children, your grandchildren, your health, the economy…? Can you redirect all of that by analyzing whether those thoughts are, at this moment, true?
We have to remember that the “future”, by definition, is not true. If, for example, you are afraid of getting sick or anything else that could happen to you in the future, right now you cannot describe it as true. We don't know if it will be or not, but at least, at this moment, we must reject that thought as not true.
I always tell my patients that “they will pass the bridges when they arrive.” When whatever it is that you fear so much comes, you will have to worry, but worrying is different. Worrying is crossing bridges before they arrive and that is impossible. “Do not worry about anything” Saint Paul will tell us (Phil. 4:6) and, for his part, Saint Peter will write: “Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7) . And Jesus himself will say: “Today your anxiety is enough, tomorrow will bring its own evil” (Matt. 6:34).
Do the exercise today of discarding from your mind everything that is a lie. The mentioned text takes us to the next verse that tells us: “And the God of peace will be with you.” We cannot enjoy the peace of God if we do not pass all our thoughts through the sieve of Phil. 4:8.
Read it again in its entirety and learn it by heart, if you don't already know it!
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 12: Be like Christ
At the beginning of all these days of confinement we had a kind of shock. It was as if it couldn't be true. It seemed like a movie and we were just the spectators of something unprecedented. Now I don't know how you feel. Surely most of us feel misplaced and also resigned. We have once again begun another long period in which we will have to gain new strength every day and continue rejoicing in the Lord.
But in a sense I fear that, at home, our patience and tolerance will run out and that the neighbors will begin to hear how we talk to each other and how we treat each other.
Do you think that those who are close to us (including our children) should continue to notice that you and I “have been, and continue to be with Jesus”, despite the fatigue and despair that the situation we are going through produces in us? ?
I like the text of Acts 4:13. It tells us that those who did not believe in Christ, in those historical moments of the beginning of the early church, saw how the apostles Peter and John acted and recognized that they had "been with the Master." Another translation puts it this way: “...they identified that they had been with Jesus” (New Living Translation).
.
How fantastic! How I wish that those who see me, hear me or read my communications on social networks could say the same!
Pedro and Juan were not people with university degrees, nor exceptionally wealthy; They were simple men, like us, but they had achieved something wonderful. Something of Christ's way of being had “ rubbed off ” on them.
.
Look in your personal mirror, how do you see yourself? How do they see you?
The famous preacher and writer, Spurgeon, in one of his writings tells us: “The Christian must be a clear and impressive image of Jesus Christ.” What a challenge for these days and, also, for the future!
It would be good if, taking advantage of the extra hours we have these days, we would dedicate time to reading the biography of Jesus, again. It was written with his words and actions but, in addition, it would be fantastic if we were not only readers but, above all, imitators; in such a way that those around us, even in these strange circumstances, could say that we can tell that we have been with Jesus because they see that we want to imitate him in our way of behaving.
.
Before doing something, ask yourself: Would our Lord do it this way? And before you speak (or shout), think about whether He would express Himself in that way or with the swear words that, at times, have stuck to us from the world. By the way, remember that these days (no matter how grumpy you are), the commandment that: “Let no corrupt word come out of your mouth,” is still in effect!
Let us not shame our blessed Redeemer with what we do or what we say.
The kindness of Christ must always be seen in the way we speak and conduct ourselves.
The truth is that before the pandemic we all had the feeling of being in a ruthless and terrible world. We couldn't stop at a traffic light for even a moment longer than what seemed right to the person behind us, without receiving all kinds of insults and humiliation. We would see each other in the elevators and we would lower our heads so as not to even say “good morning.” Kindness had become far removed from the human beings of the 21st century.
And now that? Will we go back to that? Or have we already had enough warning to have learned that, even if the whole world returns to the way it was before, you and I, from now on, must be a reflection, as similar as possible, of Jesus? Don't you think so?
But in a sense I fear that, at home, our patience and tolerance will run out and that the neighbors will begin to hear how we talk to each other and how we treat each other.
Do you think that those who are close to us (including our children) should continue to notice that you and I “have been, and continue to be with Jesus”, despite the fatigue and despair that the situation we are going through produces in us? ?
I like the text of Acts 4:13. It tells us that those who did not believe in Christ, in those historical moments of the beginning of the early church, saw how the apostles Peter and John acted and recognized that they had "been with the Master." Another translation puts it this way: “...they identified that they had been with Jesus” (New Living Translation).
.
How fantastic! How I wish that those who see me, hear me or read my communications on social networks could say the same!
Pedro and Juan were not people with university degrees, nor exceptionally wealthy; They were simple men, like us, but they had achieved something wonderful. Something of Christ's way of being had “ rubbed off ” on them.
.
Look in your personal mirror, how do you see yourself? How do they see you?
The famous preacher and writer, Spurgeon, in one of his writings tells us: “The Christian must be a clear and impressive image of Jesus Christ.” What a challenge for these days and, also, for the future!
It would be good if, taking advantage of the extra hours we have these days, we would dedicate time to reading the biography of Jesus, again. It was written with his words and actions but, in addition, it would be fantastic if we were not only readers but, above all, imitators; in such a way that those around us, even in these strange circumstances, could say that we can tell that we have been with Jesus because they see that we want to imitate him in our way of behaving.
.
Before doing something, ask yourself: Would our Lord do it this way? And before you speak (or shout), think about whether He would express Himself in that way or with the swear words that, at times, have stuck to us from the world. By the way, remember that these days (no matter how grumpy you are), the commandment that: “Let no corrupt word come out of your mouth,” is still in effect!
Let us not shame our blessed Redeemer with what we do or what we say.
The kindness of Christ must always be seen in the way we speak and conduct ourselves.
The truth is that before the pandemic we all had the feeling of being in a ruthless and terrible world. We couldn't stop at a traffic light for even a moment longer than what seemed right to the person behind us, without receiving all kinds of insults and humiliation. We would see each other in the elevators and we would lower our heads so as not to even say “good morning.” Kindness had become far removed from the human beings of the 21st century.
And now that? Will we go back to that? Or have we already had enough warning to have learned that, even if the whole world returns to the way it was before, you and I, from now on, must be a reflection, as similar as possible, of Jesus? Don't you think so?
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 11: In longing, rejoice in the Lord!
We resume our short and simple reflections to continue being by your side during these two new weeks.
I have meditated again, during these days, on Paul's letter to the Philippians in chapter 4 (my favorite). Verse 4 tells us: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say to you, Rejoice! (By the way, this is the verse that I chose, when I was thirteen years old, for my baptism and I have learned, over the years, why I chose it or, rather, why the verse chose me. The translation "Living Bible" puts it in a more modern way: "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I repeat: Rejoice!"
Many times the apostle Paul repeats things to give greater emphasis to what he is trying to tell us. In this case I believe the repetition comes because he knew that: “The joy of the Lord is our strength” (Neh. 8:10).
How have you been after the past three weeks? Do you sometimes feel like your strength is failing?
If I'm honest, some days have been, for me, harder than some others. Can I open my heart to you? Sunday, April 5, was the wedding anniversary of my son and his wife Raquel. That day fell again, just like that day, on Palm Sunday, but this time, it was a different day for me. It was an occasion to remember and the moments of their beautiful wedding came to mind. Some of those who were at the party also reminded me of what it was like. Everything wonderful! His father and I (and everyone else), much younger! It was a beautiful day. The sun shone in all its splendor (so did the bride and groom). We were next to the sea, in these lands of Tarragona. The memory moved me, above all, thinking about those who are already truly enjoying the Lord forever!
But the "low" came to me, above all, for not being able to be with our children and grandchildren on such an important day. I would have liked, as always, to hug them, to kiss our grandchildren (although now they have to bend down so that I can can reach their faces…).
We saw each other at lunch (they there, we here). Good luck with new technologies! I think I'm changing my opinion a little about them...(!).
Afterwards, Eduardo and I returned to thinking about rejoicing in the Lord, always!!! This involves easy times and very difficult circumstances. As we rejoice in Him, a small window opens in the dark clouds and everything changes! We may not be able to rejoice in our circumstances, but we can rejoice in the Lord!
An old woman, when difficult times came to her, always said: Oh, we must not sink, it is one of the “things” that Romans 8:28 tells us about! May I remind you of the verse? I repeat it to you: “TO those who love God ALL THINGS help them well.” But you can exclaim with me to the Lord: “All of them?” It seems that if!
Happy Easter Monday
I have meditated again, during these days, on Paul's letter to the Philippians in chapter 4 (my favorite). Verse 4 tells us: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say to you, Rejoice! (By the way, this is the verse that I chose, when I was thirteen years old, for my baptism and I have learned, over the years, why I chose it or, rather, why the verse chose me. The translation "Living Bible" puts it in a more modern way: "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I repeat: Rejoice!"
Many times the apostle Paul repeats things to give greater emphasis to what he is trying to tell us. In this case I believe the repetition comes because he knew that: “The joy of the Lord is our strength” (Neh. 8:10).
How have you been after the past three weeks? Do you sometimes feel like your strength is failing?
If I'm honest, some days have been, for me, harder than some others. Can I open my heart to you? Sunday, April 5, was the wedding anniversary of my son and his wife Raquel. That day fell again, just like that day, on Palm Sunday, but this time, it was a different day for me. It was an occasion to remember and the moments of their beautiful wedding came to mind. Some of those who were at the party also reminded me of what it was like. Everything wonderful! His father and I (and everyone else), much younger! It was a beautiful day. The sun shone in all its splendor (so did the bride and groom). We were next to the sea, in these lands of Tarragona. The memory moved me, above all, thinking about those who are already truly enjoying the Lord forever!
But the "low" came to me, above all, for not being able to be with our children and grandchildren on such an important day. I would have liked, as always, to hug them, to kiss our grandchildren (although now they have to bend down so that I can can reach their faces…).
We saw each other at lunch (they there, we here). Good luck with new technologies! I think I'm changing my opinion a little about them...(!).
Afterwards, Eduardo and I returned to thinking about rejoicing in the Lord, always!!! This involves easy times and very difficult circumstances. As we rejoice in Him, a small window opens in the dark clouds and everything changes! We may not be able to rejoice in our circumstances, but we can rejoice in the Lord!
An old woman, when difficult times came to her, always said: Oh, we must not sink, it is one of the “things” that Romans 8:28 tells us about! May I remind you of the verse? I repeat it to you: “TO those who love God ALL THINGS help them well.” But you can exclaim with me to the Lord: “All of them?” It seems that if!
Happy Easter Monday
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 10: I return to the beginning of these short writings: Fear not!
We said we could move from fear to faith. I hope that is true in all the lives of the readers of these reflections during these days.
I would like to finish with a small allusion to Psalm 121. I am sure that during these past days you have been reading it over and over again. Very good! Do you already know it by heart? Try it until you master it!
This psalm exhorts us to raise our eyes to God right now and affirm, like the psalmist, that “our help can only come from him who made the heavens and the earth” (Ps. 121:1-2)
All the beauty, in heaven and earth, that we have been valuing much more these days because we have been prohibited from going out (although, most of us have been able to continue seeing the stars, some trees and, perhaps the luckiest ones, have even been able to see the sea ..., Everything has been created by God, so that men and women, rich and poor, children and adults, could enjoy it.
How wonderful it will be to set foot on earth again, without a mask or gloves! It will be incredibly nice to once again embrace the most beautiful thing in Creation: Our beloved human beings, made in the image of God Himself! See each other again, without screens in between! Bring our hands closer without fear! Even cough with the freedom of before. It's going to be fantastic!
But those who have fallen by the wayside will never leave our memory. Thank goodness Christians have a hope that is priceless (or if it is: the blood of Christ!).
We know we will see you again! And, as my husband says: We haven't lost them, we know where they are! They are already in the presence of Him who died for them and went, ascending into heaven, to prepare a place for all who have believed in Him. And now He reigns in glory because He lives forever and has welcomed those who They have left!
And those of us who are still here, how good it is to continue thinking that we can remain under the shadow of the Almighty and that we can say with the psalmist: “My hope and my castle, my God in whom I will trust, He will continue to deliver us, in his mercy, from everything that is outside of His will, until that day when we will see Him as He is (Ps 91:2). “He will not sleep because he keeps you, he will be your shadow at your right hand, he will keep you from all evil” (Ps. 121, read it in its entirety)
I want to finish with some phrases from a very old hymn that summarizes everything said up to this point and was the motto during the Protestant Reformation:
“A strong castle is our God, defense and a good shield.”
With his power he will free us in this acute trance....
Do you know who Jesus is? The one who won on the cross
...And then He alone is God
“He triumphs in battle…He fights at our side.”
He is in the present continuous in history, the universal and the particular, and he continues telling us:
"Do not worry!"
I would like to finish with a small allusion to Psalm 121. I am sure that during these past days you have been reading it over and over again. Very good! Do you already know it by heart? Try it until you master it!
This psalm exhorts us to raise our eyes to God right now and affirm, like the psalmist, that “our help can only come from him who made the heavens and the earth” (Ps. 121:1-2)
All the beauty, in heaven and earth, that we have been valuing much more these days because we have been prohibited from going out (although, most of us have been able to continue seeing the stars, some trees and, perhaps the luckiest ones, have even been able to see the sea ..., Everything has been created by God, so that men and women, rich and poor, children and adults, could enjoy it.
How wonderful it will be to set foot on earth again, without a mask or gloves! It will be incredibly nice to once again embrace the most beautiful thing in Creation: Our beloved human beings, made in the image of God Himself! See each other again, without screens in between! Bring our hands closer without fear! Even cough with the freedom of before. It's going to be fantastic!
But those who have fallen by the wayside will never leave our memory. Thank goodness Christians have a hope that is priceless (or if it is: the blood of Christ!).
We know we will see you again! And, as my husband says: We haven't lost them, we know where they are! They are already in the presence of Him who died for them and went, ascending into heaven, to prepare a place for all who have believed in Him. And now He reigns in glory because He lives forever and has welcomed those who They have left!
And those of us who are still here, how good it is to continue thinking that we can remain under the shadow of the Almighty and that we can say with the psalmist: “My hope and my castle, my God in whom I will trust, He will continue to deliver us, in his mercy, from everything that is outside of His will, until that day when we will see Him as He is (Ps 91:2). “He will not sleep because he keeps you, he will be your shadow at your right hand, he will keep you from all evil” (Ps. 121, read it in its entirety)
I want to finish with some phrases from a very old hymn that summarizes everything said up to this point and was the motto during the Protestant Reformation:
“A strong castle is our God, defense and a good shield.”
With his power he will free us in this acute trance....
Do you know who Jesus is? The one who won on the cross
...And then He alone is God
“He triumphs in battle…He fights at our side.”
He is in the present continuous in history, the universal and the particular, and he continues telling us:
"Do not worry!"
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 9: How is your brain at this point?
We are reaching the end of the second two weeks of confinement and our brains may already be very tired. I want to talk to you today a little, very little, about him.
Unfortunately, we do not know much about this important organ of our body. I always think that it must be very difficult to be an atheist when looking at the human brain, because it seems essential to me that there is, behind this great wonder, an intelligent creator who designed it.
Today is Thursday, April 9. When I write this text I don't know how things will be, but I want to propose that we do what is necessary to continue programming our minds and not let ourselves fall, whatever the circumstances are.
Today we know that the brain changes as we live, it is not a machine or a computer. It is a plastic organ and we can work on it. Therefore, if these days have been especially difficult for us, we must regenerate new neurons and establish new connections. But how?
Well, I leave you some ideas and if we can start living a normal life, more or less soon, put them into practice anyway!:
Lower stress. Perhaps some of us, having to remain confined, have seen that our physical part has improved a little by reducing the long hours of work. Therefore, do what is necessary to avoid leading an absolutely crazy life again. Continued stress intoxicates us as it produces a chemical, which when excessively elevated, chronically, leaves its mark on the body and also on the brain cells that can die and this neuronal loss will imply loss in the control of emotions and will also affect to cognitive abilities (attention, memory, concentration...).
When the brain is seriously affected by the stress hormones mentioned above, we feel totally exhausted, with a feeling of not being able to take it anymore, with the desire to flee, depersonalization, irritability... If you feel like this right now, remember what we have been through. saying during the past days:
Meditate on the Word of God
Take all your worries to the Lord in prayer (but when you finish praying, don't pick them up again)
do exercise
Eat healthy
Sleep well
And, above all, think well!
What we think can change our lives. That is why the Lord, having created our brains, commands us to take careful care of what we think and, through Saint Paul, tells us that we must think about what is true, what is good, what is noble...We know by heart the text of the letter to the Philippians 4:8 but we rarely recite it well. Let's notice that the first condition is to think about what is true. So many times we are distressed by lies! It shouldn't be like this! How many times are we hyper-worried about the future? But, by definition, the “future” is not true and we also think of many other lies about the future, past and present.
We have a problem here and it is that we confuse being responsible with caring. No! We would be irresponsible if we didn't take care of things. But the “pre” is unnecessary. If we are continually worried, stress will rise and anxiety will be served.
The Bible urges us not to worry, because the Lord knows how our brains work in relation to our bodies. He knows that this worry can become a chemical that will lower the defenses in our bodies, making them sick. “For nothing, the Lord will tell us, be worried, let your requests be made known in prayer, with thanksgiving, and then peace will be filled with God in your hearts” (Phil. 4:6). The apostle Peter, for his part, will urge us to “cast all our anxiety on our Heavenly Father, for He cares for us” (1 Pet. 5:7).
So take care of your brain, think well, reject lies, and may the Word of Christ dwell abundantly in your mind to protect it!
Unfortunately, we do not know much about this important organ of our body. I always think that it must be very difficult to be an atheist when looking at the human brain, because it seems essential to me that there is, behind this great wonder, an intelligent creator who designed it.
Today is Thursday, April 9. When I write this text I don't know how things will be, but I want to propose that we do what is necessary to continue programming our minds and not let ourselves fall, whatever the circumstances are.
Today we know that the brain changes as we live, it is not a machine or a computer. It is a plastic organ and we can work on it. Therefore, if these days have been especially difficult for us, we must regenerate new neurons and establish new connections. But how?
Well, I leave you some ideas and if we can start living a normal life, more or less soon, put them into practice anyway!:
Lower stress. Perhaps some of us, having to remain confined, have seen that our physical part has improved a little by reducing the long hours of work. Therefore, do what is necessary to avoid leading an absolutely crazy life again. Continued stress intoxicates us as it produces a chemical, which when excessively elevated, chronically, leaves its mark on the body and also on the brain cells that can die and this neuronal loss will imply loss in the control of emotions and will also affect to cognitive abilities (attention, memory, concentration...).
When the brain is seriously affected by the stress hormones mentioned above, we feel totally exhausted, with a feeling of not being able to take it anymore, with the desire to flee, depersonalization, irritability... If you feel like this right now, remember what we have been through. saying during the past days:
Meditate on the Word of God
Take all your worries to the Lord in prayer (but when you finish praying, don't pick them up again)
do exercise
Eat healthy
Sleep well
And, above all, think well!
What we think can change our lives. That is why the Lord, having created our brains, commands us to take careful care of what we think and, through Saint Paul, tells us that we must think about what is true, what is good, what is noble...We know by heart the text of the letter to the Philippians 4:8 but we rarely recite it well. Let's notice that the first condition is to think about what is true. So many times we are distressed by lies! It shouldn't be like this! How many times are we hyper-worried about the future? But, by definition, the “future” is not true and we also think of many other lies about the future, past and present.
We have a problem here and it is that we confuse being responsible with caring. No! We would be irresponsible if we didn't take care of things. But the “pre” is unnecessary. If we are continually worried, stress will rise and anxiety will be served.
The Bible urges us not to worry, because the Lord knows how our brains work in relation to our bodies. He knows that this worry can become a chemical that will lower the defenses in our bodies, making them sick. “For nothing, the Lord will tell us, be worried, let your requests be made known in prayer, with thanksgiving, and then peace will be filled with God in your hearts” (Phil. 4:6). The apostle Peter, for his part, will urge us to “cast all our anxiety on our Heavenly Father, for He cares for us” (1 Pet. 5:7).
So take care of your brain, think well, reject lies, and may the Word of Christ dwell abundantly in your mind to protect it!
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 8: Watch your words! Do you know that they are very powerful?
I know it will seem out of place, but even with tears, it would be convenient for, in this difficult period, some healthy humor to emerge, not in terms of the corona virus, but in relation to the things of everyday life.
Living together with the entire family for so many days and hours without being able to go out can become uncomfortable and even distressing. We are almost continuously manufacturing a parallel reality in which the house is a kind of castle where daily routines of schedules, studies, times of interpersonal relationships through the network, etc. are followed, but in a strange and very anomalous way.
We have to generate, therefore, in some way, a feeling of freedom within the four walls so that houses do not become prisons and overwhelm us excessively.
Open windows, go out to the terraces, applaud at 8 in the afternoon, from your windows or balconies, the health workers and employees who serve us every day, without fainting or fainting but continuing with their tasks.
Smile, laugh together at silly things, at movies, documentaries or books with a certain humor...
Let's avoid character clashes. Do not allow the acid rain of offense to invade you. May the words we say, during these days, be kind and do not harm any member of the family.
The atmosphere in the castle is a sum of attitudes, words and actions of each of us, at every moment.
Do your part! Speak well! “In what depends on you, make peace” (Rom. 12:18) “Let no root of bitterness (poisonous) hinder you, for it will defile you and your surroundings” (Heb. 121:15). “Let your word always be with grace, seasoned with salt so that you know how you should respond to each one!” Another translation says: “Let your conversations be cordial and pleasant, so that you may have the right answer for each person” (Col. 4:6).
Take advantage to be very kind. The apostle Paul tells us: “Our kindness should be known to all” (Phil. 4:5). We must note, carefully, that this everyone that normally seems to refer to those outside, is also referred to those inside. That is to say, our kindness must be seen by our closest relatives, who are those who are living in an exceptional way with us these days. But the verse continues. “The Lord is near and do not worry about anything.” The term “near” can mean two things: That He is at your side watching how you behave or that His coming is near. Both things have to make us behave as children of light, being kind to everyone and an example to those around us.
It is correct and appropriate to treat outsiders well, but abuse (in any of its forms) should never take place in the homes of believers since it would be a terrible shame if a child, due to living in an unhealthy environment, leaves of the home without the desired spiritual values because the parents have not carefully cared for “their vineyard that was theirs” (Song. 1:6).
Take care of yourself and your family!
Living together with the entire family for so many days and hours without being able to go out can become uncomfortable and even distressing. We are almost continuously manufacturing a parallel reality in which the house is a kind of castle where daily routines of schedules, studies, times of interpersonal relationships through the network, etc. are followed, but in a strange and very anomalous way.
We have to generate, therefore, in some way, a feeling of freedom within the four walls so that houses do not become prisons and overwhelm us excessively.
Open windows, go out to the terraces, applaud at 8 in the afternoon, from your windows or balconies, the health workers and employees who serve us every day, without fainting or fainting but continuing with their tasks.
Smile, laugh together at silly things, at movies, documentaries or books with a certain humor...
Let's avoid character clashes. Do not allow the acid rain of offense to invade you. May the words we say, during these days, be kind and do not harm any member of the family.
The atmosphere in the castle is a sum of attitudes, words and actions of each of us, at every moment.
Do your part! Speak well! “In what depends on you, make peace” (Rom. 12:18) “Let no root of bitterness (poisonous) hinder you, for it will defile you and your surroundings” (Heb. 121:15). “Let your word always be with grace, seasoned with salt so that you know how you should respond to each one!” Another translation says: “Let your conversations be cordial and pleasant, so that you may have the right answer for each person” (Col. 4:6).
Take advantage to be very kind. The apostle Paul tells us: “Our kindness should be known to all” (Phil. 4:5). We must note, carefully, that this everyone that normally seems to refer to those outside, is also referred to those inside. That is to say, our kindness must be seen by our closest relatives, who are those who are living in an exceptional way with us these days. But the verse continues. “The Lord is near and do not worry about anything.” The term “near” can mean two things: That He is at your side watching how you behave or that His coming is near. Both things have to make us behave as children of light, being kind to everyone and an example to those around us.
It is correct and appropriate to treat outsiders well, but abuse (in any of its forms) should never take place in the homes of believers since it would be a terrible shame if a child, due to living in an unhealthy environment, leaves of the home without the desired spiritual values because the parents have not carefully cared for “their vineyard that was theirs” (Song. 1:6).
Take care of yourself and your family!
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 7: Are you handy? Take advantage of the time!
Try to search within yourself for some trace of creativity.
Any artistic activity (painting, drawing, sewing, crafts, cooking...) will help you get through these days of confinement better. We know that art helps:
- Resolve some internal and external conflicts
- Increase interpersonal activity (if done as a family),
- Reduce stress because it allows feelings and emotions to find outlets through artistic expression; even that form sometimes works better than words.
Invent games to play with your children. The screens must be replaced, from time to time. We have spent little quality time together as families in recent years. Take advantage of every minute now! “Redeeming the time because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16). I really like the Catalan version: “Try to take advantage of the present moment because the times we live in are bad” and the Living Bible version tells us: “Make the most of every opportunity in these bad days.”
What if in that use of time we resumed the old family cult? Those of you who are my age will remember how family members would gather to read the Bible together and pray. Also, in that beautiful meeting there was room for creativity: We children sang, we played an instrument (even if it was a pot that served as a drum with a wooden spoon...), then we painted something related to what we had read. Good 'ol times! Don't you think it's a good time for our children and grandchildren to hear about the Lord not only in Sunday School? Remember the command: “And you shall speak of this law and repeat it while you are in your house…” (Deut. 6:7).
Our house What two words! How much meaning they contain! Stay in it! Do not go out! Today more than ever, it must be our castle!
Maybe we should also learn something from knowing how to be at home. People today, young and not so young, do not know how to be confined, they get overwhelmed easily and the street is their most comfortable place. But, to the right extent, it is also important to stay still. We are all excessively tired because we don't stop going from here to there. It would be important to learn not to engage in multitasking. Do one thing at a time and do it with all five senses. Enjoy reading, sewing, cooking, talking... Now we realize how little we do those things that are so good for our physical, mental and emotional health.
Let's stay home! Let's be creative!
Any artistic activity (painting, drawing, sewing, crafts, cooking...) will help you get through these days of confinement better. We know that art helps:
- Resolve some internal and external conflicts
- Increase interpersonal activity (if done as a family),
- Reduce stress because it allows feelings and emotions to find outlets through artistic expression; even that form sometimes works better than words.
Invent games to play with your children. The screens must be replaced, from time to time. We have spent little quality time together as families in recent years. Take advantage of every minute now! “Redeeming the time because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16). I really like the Catalan version: “Try to take advantage of the present moment because the times we live in are bad” and the Living Bible version tells us: “Make the most of every opportunity in these bad days.”
What if in that use of time we resumed the old family cult? Those of you who are my age will remember how family members would gather to read the Bible together and pray. Also, in that beautiful meeting there was room for creativity: We children sang, we played an instrument (even if it was a pot that served as a drum with a wooden spoon...), then we painted something related to what we had read. Good 'ol times! Don't you think it's a good time for our children and grandchildren to hear about the Lord not only in Sunday School? Remember the command: “And you shall speak of this law and repeat it while you are in your house…” (Deut. 6:7).
Our house What two words! How much meaning they contain! Stay in it! Do not go out! Today more than ever, it must be our castle!
Maybe we should also learn something from knowing how to be at home. People today, young and not so young, do not know how to be confined, they get overwhelmed easily and the street is their most comfortable place. But, to the right extent, it is also important to stay still. We are all excessively tired because we don't stop going from here to there. It would be important to learn not to engage in multitasking. Do one thing at a time and do it with all five senses. Enjoy reading, sewing, cooking, talking... Now we realize how little we do those things that are so good for our physical, mental and emotional health.
Let's stay home! Let's be creative!
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 6: And our altruism? How's it going?
Has it had to be necessary to experience a planetary catastrophe to move the hearts of human beings in the 21st century? Have we had to come all this way to ask if our neighbors need anything? Do grandchildren remember their grandparents more now? Do we call each other more often?
What were we doing until now? Just run!!! Without stopping for even a minute to think that interpersonal relationships can only be deep, lasting and meaningful when we give them time, empathy and affection.
Will there be anything left in the collective memory after the pandemic, of what we do now for others? I hope so!!! I hope this world will never be as hedonistic and individualistic as it has been until now!!!
We must decide, therefore, from now and forever, to practice altruism.
Helping others requires perceiving other people's moods. Let's develop sensitivity to what is happening to them, being empathetic, that is, putting ourselves in the place of those who are suffering or worried.
At this time we must finally make better use of new technologies. Let's get in touch with people who are alone, sick or elderly (or all of that together)
But use your cell phone without risks. Health authorities offer some recommendations to reduce the risks: Turn it off at night and put it in “airplane” mode whenever you can. Use headphones or “hands-free”, do not have it in too much contact with your body, call only when you have a good signal and use written messages more than calls.
But, above all, put your heart to work. Let's connect and tune our hearts with those around us (even if we can't get close to all of them). Those who have relatives in the hospital and cannot go to see them must necessarily do the exercise of praying for them, in total confidence that the Lord is at their side (Ps. 23:4) and, even if they cannot be there, with the sick in the hospital room, He will indeed stay with the loved ones, all the time!
Therefore, admitted believers know that God is with them, “we should not grieve like those who have no hope” (1 Thes. 4:13). “The peace that passes all understanding will fill our hearts and theirs too. (Phil. 4:7). THEY ARE NOT ALONE! And they certainly don't feel alone either!!! Under the wings of the Most High they feel safe (Deut. 33:27). And, they will bear witness to this truth when they are able to leave or arrive at the heavenly city!
There is a biblical example that helps me a lot:
Elisha's servant had to have his eyes opened so that he could see that an army of angels was around him and protected him against the invading armies (2 Kings 6:16,17).
I am sure that this reality presides over every room today, where there is a sick child of God!!!
What were we doing until now? Just run!!! Without stopping for even a minute to think that interpersonal relationships can only be deep, lasting and meaningful when we give them time, empathy and affection.
Will there be anything left in the collective memory after the pandemic, of what we do now for others? I hope so!!! I hope this world will never be as hedonistic and individualistic as it has been until now!!!
We must decide, therefore, from now and forever, to practice altruism.
Helping others requires perceiving other people's moods. Let's develop sensitivity to what is happening to them, being empathetic, that is, putting ourselves in the place of those who are suffering or worried.
At this time we must finally make better use of new technologies. Let's get in touch with people who are alone, sick or elderly (or all of that together)
But use your cell phone without risks. Health authorities offer some recommendations to reduce the risks: Turn it off at night and put it in “airplane” mode whenever you can. Use headphones or “hands-free”, do not have it in too much contact with your body, call only when you have a good signal and use written messages more than calls.
But, above all, put your heart to work. Let's connect and tune our hearts with those around us (even if we can't get close to all of them). Those who have relatives in the hospital and cannot go to see them must necessarily do the exercise of praying for them, in total confidence that the Lord is at their side (Ps. 23:4) and, even if they cannot be there, with the sick in the hospital room, He will indeed stay with the loved ones, all the time!
Therefore, admitted believers know that God is with them, “we should not grieve like those who have no hope” (1 Thes. 4:13). “The peace that passes all understanding will fill our hearts and theirs too. (Phil. 4:7). THEY ARE NOT ALONE! And they certainly don't feel alone either!!! Under the wings of the Most High they feel safe (Deut. 33:27). And, they will bear witness to this truth when they are able to leave or arrive at the heavenly city!
There is a biblical example that helps me a lot:
Elisha's servant had to have his eyes opened so that he could see that an army of angels was around him and protected him against the invading armies (2 Kings 6:16,17).
I am sure that this reality presides over every room today, where there is a sick child of God!!!
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 5: Take care of your body too!!!
After all the recommendations given so far, we are going to look at some very practical issues, which have more to do with our body, because we cannot forget that we have to take care of it as best as possible, in all circumstances, because it is the “temple or the Holy Spirit and therefore it is also a spiritual issue:
Let's activate our defenses as much as we can. And even though we are confined and taking advantage of the extra time we are having, we must take care of what we eat at each meal.
Eating well does not mean obsessing over calories, vitamins, minerals, combinations, incompatibilities or equations to follow a balanced diet, much less these days when we cannot, nor should we, go shopping often.
The most important thing is to eat natural products, few pre-cooked ones and avoid processed foods. Let's think that, if possible, we have to eat five meals a day, three main and two less abundant (mid-morning and mid-afternoon). In the five meals there must be some unrefined carbohydrates (remember that vegetables and fruits are also considered carbohydrates), some protein and fat (olive oil or nuts).
It is preferable to prioritize quality over quantity, and even more so these days, when many of us exercise very little.
I leave you a list of the best foods that regenerate your cells that reinforce health: Vegetables, legumes and fruits (we have to choose those with bright and intense colors, it is important to also mention lemon, which contains flavonones that multiplies the activity of the cell by 200. vitamin C and increases defenses), raw nuts (very rich in Omega-3 essential oils), whole grains, mushrooms (contain immunity stimulants), garlic (the zinc in garlic counteracts viruses because it increases interferon production) , virgin olive oil (contains polyphenols and antioxidants), condiments (turmeric, ginger (rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory), probiotics (beneficial bacteria for the intestines, very important for maintaining health, the lactobacilli in yogurt stimulate immunity and if you buy a supplement in the pharmacy that contains more than one billion live bacteria), herbal teas (for example, thyme is very essential against viruses and bacteria. Mint and elderberry combine well in infusions with thyme. Also green tea that has theoflavin with antiviral effect).
We must try to eliminate sugars, white flour, excess salt from our diet,
the appetizers.....sweets...tobacco, alcohol....Ah!!! And exercise every day!
The recommendations that I have just left you will never replace medical advice. They will just be easy help to make.
Perhaps it is a good time to also consider how we have been eating in recent years and rectify.
Remember, with gratitude, to thank God for food. I don't think I have ever been as aware as I am these days of what I have on my plate. I want my prayers at the table to stop being, from now on and forever, routine.
When you are eating, take advantage of the time, without screens, to talk as a family and to give an example to your children of gratitude for God's provision.
“Continue and continue to be grateful and thus the peace of Christ will reign in your hearts”! (Col. 3:15).
Let's activate our defenses as much as we can. And even though we are confined and taking advantage of the extra time we are having, we must take care of what we eat at each meal.
Eating well does not mean obsessing over calories, vitamins, minerals, combinations, incompatibilities or equations to follow a balanced diet, much less these days when we cannot, nor should we, go shopping often.
The most important thing is to eat natural products, few pre-cooked ones and avoid processed foods. Let's think that, if possible, we have to eat five meals a day, three main and two less abundant (mid-morning and mid-afternoon). In the five meals there must be some unrefined carbohydrates (remember that vegetables and fruits are also considered carbohydrates), some protein and fat (olive oil or nuts).
It is preferable to prioritize quality over quantity, and even more so these days, when many of us exercise very little.
I leave you a list of the best foods that regenerate your cells that reinforce health: Vegetables, legumes and fruits (we have to choose those with bright and intense colors, it is important to also mention lemon, which contains flavonones that multiplies the activity of the cell by 200. vitamin C and increases defenses), raw nuts (very rich in Omega-3 essential oils), whole grains, mushrooms (contain immunity stimulants), garlic (the zinc in garlic counteracts viruses because it increases interferon production) , virgin olive oil (contains polyphenols and antioxidants), condiments (turmeric, ginger (rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory), probiotics (beneficial bacteria for the intestines, very important for maintaining health, the lactobacilli in yogurt stimulate immunity and if you buy a supplement in the pharmacy that contains more than one billion live bacteria), herbal teas (for example, thyme is very essential against viruses and bacteria. Mint and elderberry combine well in infusions with thyme. Also green tea that has theoflavin with antiviral effect).
We must try to eliminate sugars, white flour, excess salt from our diet,
the appetizers.....sweets...tobacco, alcohol....Ah!!! And exercise every day!
The recommendations that I have just left you will never replace medical advice. They will just be easy help to make.
Perhaps it is a good time to also consider how we have been eating in recent years and rectify.
Remember, with gratitude, to thank God for food. I don't think I have ever been as aware as I am these days of what I have on my plate. I want my prayers at the table to stop being, from now on and forever, routine.
When you are eating, take advantage of the time, without screens, to talk as a family and to give an example to your children of gratitude for God's provision.
“Continue and continue to be grateful and thus the peace of Christ will reign in your hearts”! (Col. 3:15).
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 4: Our destiny in His hands
We must also recognize, in these weeks, an incredibly wonderful fact: God is with us when we go through turbulent and dangerous waters! Let us remember the text: “In all their suffering He is afflicted” (Is. 63:9).
What God is there like ours, who comes down to suffer at our side?!!! He promises, “I will be with you in trouble” (Ps. 91:15).
The book of Habakkuk makes us put ourselves on a “sentinel plan” with the certainty that when the Lord wants, we will have news and, in the meantime, it asks us to live in peace. Read Isaiah 30:15 again: “Stop worrying, you will find strength in calm and confidence” (Catalan version). Therefore, we can affirm that nothing good will come to us through anxiety and excessive worry.
Hold on, like never before, to the promises of the Lord! Faith in them will not prevent suffering, as we have mentioned in previous days, but we can experience everything differently. In the midst of the terrible things that are happening, we will have to fulfill the text that commands us: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col. 3:16). If we read and meditate on the Bible, we can even listen to the news without becoming excessively distressed.
I give you some advice: We should all be well informed, but we don't have to be trapped 24 hours a day in front of multiple screens. Listening to them once a day is enough! If we listen to the news constantly, through the twenty-one thousand channels that we currently have, we will activate the limbic system excessively, producing excessive stress and releasing high doses of cortisol, which will increase nervousness and lower our defenses and, now, our defense system has to be in optimal conditions!!!
Therefore be well informed but filter everything through the promises of God. “Not a hair of our head falls without his consent” (Luke 12:7, Matt. 10:30). How can our times not also be in their hands? (Ps. 31:15)
It is very important to know that, as my husband says, “we are immortal until God wants to take us into his presence.”
Therefore, it is absurd to live in fear of death. Our fears are not going to change, at all, the designs of our Creator and in addition to not solving the problems of the present, they make us bitter today and do not have the power to change anything about tomorrow.
“But I trusted only in You, you have my destiny in Your hands” (Ps. 31:15)
What God is there like ours, who comes down to suffer at our side?!!! He promises, “I will be with you in trouble” (Ps. 91:15).
The book of Habakkuk makes us put ourselves on a “sentinel plan” with the certainty that when the Lord wants, we will have news and, in the meantime, it asks us to live in peace. Read Isaiah 30:15 again: “Stop worrying, you will find strength in calm and confidence” (Catalan version). Therefore, we can affirm that nothing good will come to us through anxiety and excessive worry.
Hold on, like never before, to the promises of the Lord! Faith in them will not prevent suffering, as we have mentioned in previous days, but we can experience everything differently. In the midst of the terrible things that are happening, we will have to fulfill the text that commands us: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col. 3:16). If we read and meditate on the Bible, we can even listen to the news without becoming excessively distressed.
I give you some advice: We should all be well informed, but we don't have to be trapped 24 hours a day in front of multiple screens. Listening to them once a day is enough! If we listen to the news constantly, through the twenty-one thousand channels that we currently have, we will activate the limbic system excessively, producing excessive stress and releasing high doses of cortisol, which will increase nervousness and lower our defenses and, now, our defense system has to be in optimal conditions!!!
Therefore be well informed but filter everything through the promises of God. “Not a hair of our head falls without his consent” (Luke 12:7, Matt. 10:30). How can our times not also be in their hands? (Ps. 31:15)
It is very important to know that, as my husband says, “we are immortal until God wants to take us into his presence.”
Therefore, it is absurd to live in fear of death. Our fears are not going to change, at all, the designs of our Creator and in addition to not solving the problems of the present, they make us bitter today and do not have the power to change anything about tomorrow.
“But I trusted only in You, you have my destiny in Your hands” (Ps. 31:15)
Ester Martínez vera
Day 3: Happy in the Lord
Psalm 91 is a good antidote to fear, but let's read it carefully. In verses 5 and 6 it seems that God is redundant: “you will not fear terror.” How much anguish there is in the fear of fear!
These days, I am visiting via Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp... And there are so many people who call me to ask me for a solution for the fear of terror they feel. This is because, in a state of terror, anguish grips people until they block and paralyze them. And, in a very deep sense, I understand them because human beings want to be very self-sufficient and when we realize that we cannot get out of some danger with our own strength, we panic.
So how do we get rid of the panic? Accepting the reality of our littleness and seeing that greatness and the possibility of protection are outside of us and that all we have to do is accept, calmly and “in stillness and confidence” (Isa. 26:3,4), the care of our God. That attitude of humility will undoubtedly be of great help to us. The aforementioned verses lead us to: “You will not fear the terror by night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the destruction that destroys at noonday, because you have made the Lord your hope and the Most High your habitation!” Therefore, it does not consist only in what you say or can do, the secret is only in His power and in His love for us.
But in addition to not fearing, we have to follow other recommendations that will give more meaning to life, in these days of so much danger, on our tiny planet:
The Lord also commands us, in the words of the apostle Paul, the following: “Always rejoice, never stop praying and be thankful” (1Thes. 5:16). Today I allow you to tell me: “Ester, what are you talking to me about?” “We can pray, but how can I do it, in these circumstances, with joy and gratitude? Well remembering, especially, in the context of confinement, that no matter what happens we must continue to rejoice in what the Lord is for us: Our Savior, our friend and our caregiver, our refuge, in every circumstance.
Do you remember Job? Despite everything that man went through, he left pearls written in his ancient book: “I know that my Redeemer lives and even if my skin is destroyed, with my eyes I will see God” (Job 19:25-27) .
Therefore, no matter what happens, we know that our Savior lives and reigns and that one day we will see Him in all His glory. But it was also Job himself who said: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
Only with that certainty can we continue to live with joy in the midst of trial. I know it's difficult, but can we decide today to be joyful despite everything? Look how many blessings you have in your house! Have you had food today? Hot water? Heating? Maybe we complain too much, don't you think? Many brothers in other parts of the world, in the same circumstances as us, have much less. Would we be ashamed to see that they teach us lessons, in their precariousness, while remaining joyful?
Therefore, “Let us always live content in the Lord” (Phil. 4:4).
These days, I am visiting via Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp... And there are so many people who call me to ask me for a solution for the fear of terror they feel. This is because, in a state of terror, anguish grips people until they block and paralyze them. And, in a very deep sense, I understand them because human beings want to be very self-sufficient and when we realize that we cannot get out of some danger with our own strength, we panic.
So how do we get rid of the panic? Accepting the reality of our littleness and seeing that greatness and the possibility of protection are outside of us and that all we have to do is accept, calmly and “in stillness and confidence” (Isa. 26:3,4), the care of our God. That attitude of humility will undoubtedly be of great help to us. The aforementioned verses lead us to: “You will not fear the terror by night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the destruction that destroys at noonday, because you have made the Lord your hope and the Most High your habitation!” Therefore, it does not consist only in what you say or can do, the secret is only in His power and in His love for us.
But in addition to not fearing, we have to follow other recommendations that will give more meaning to life, in these days of so much danger, on our tiny planet:
The Lord also commands us, in the words of the apostle Paul, the following: “Always rejoice, never stop praying and be thankful” (1Thes. 5:16). Today I allow you to tell me: “Ester, what are you talking to me about?” “We can pray, but how can I do it, in these circumstances, with joy and gratitude? Well remembering, especially, in the context of confinement, that no matter what happens we must continue to rejoice in what the Lord is for us: Our Savior, our friend and our caregiver, our refuge, in every circumstance.
Do you remember Job? Despite everything that man went through, he left pearls written in his ancient book: “I know that my Redeemer lives and even if my skin is destroyed, with my eyes I will see God” (Job 19:25-27) .
Therefore, no matter what happens, we know that our Savior lives and reigns and that one day we will see Him in all His glory. But it was also Job himself who said: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
Only with that certainty can we continue to live with joy in the midst of trial. I know it's difficult, but can we decide today to be joyful despite everything? Look how many blessings you have in your house! Have you had food today? Hot water? Heating? Maybe we complain too much, don't you think? Many brothers in other parts of the world, in the same circumstances as us, have much less. Would we be ashamed to see that they teach us lessons, in their precariousness, while remaining joyful?
Therefore, “Let us always live content in the Lord” (Phil. 4:4).
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 2: Set your eyes on the throne, not the “corona virus!”
Continuing with the theme of the previous day, let's think today about how we can stop fearing.
The answer is that we must be very aware that we cannot fix our eyes on events and remain paralyzed and afraid for many hours.
In no way can we deny that we are in a fallen world, where affliction is the general tone and today in our short life history, unfortunately, like never before.
But the story of David before the giant Goliath comes to mind. If the young man, the future king, had noticed the enormousness of the Philistine giant, he would have fled without trying to defeat him. Therefore, we in these moments, more than ever, must look at the world with the eyes of faith.
This does not mean closing our eyes to reality. It is not that we deny the dangers that we face every day and especially in these long weeks, but that our faith in Him and in His words should help us to trust in His greatness, which is never comparable to that of any other. giant, however enormous it may be.
Our eyes can see the “giants”, but our faith has to see the greatness of God. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). Today I ask you to do this exercise together: When we receive the terrible news and statistics that, once again, will make our hearts shrink, let us bring it all to Christ in prayer! Let us remember that “He is on his throne, surrounded by glory” (Is. 6:1) and that throne, “high and lifted up,” is greater than all the thrones on earth.
Chapter 6 of Isaiah takes us to a very difficult moment for him and for the nation; King Uzziah had died, who was a good king, and very complicated times would follow, in which Assyria and Babylon would become a terrible danger for the people of God. It is in that context that Isaiah utters some words that always move me: “I saw the Lord!” What a wonderful sight!
Are you close to Him, today, in these desolate days? Can you behold his glory?
Let's remember that now it also fills the earth, despite the pandemic!
The answer is that we must be very aware that we cannot fix our eyes on events and remain paralyzed and afraid for many hours.
In no way can we deny that we are in a fallen world, where affliction is the general tone and today in our short life history, unfortunately, like never before.
But the story of David before the giant Goliath comes to mind. If the young man, the future king, had noticed the enormousness of the Philistine giant, he would have fled without trying to defeat him. Therefore, we in these moments, more than ever, must look at the world with the eyes of faith.
This does not mean closing our eyes to reality. It is not that we deny the dangers that we face every day and especially in these long weeks, but that our faith in Him and in His words should help us to trust in His greatness, which is never comparable to that of any other. giant, however enormous it may be.
Our eyes can see the “giants”, but our faith has to see the greatness of God. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). Today I ask you to do this exercise together: When we receive the terrible news and statistics that, once again, will make our hearts shrink, let us bring it all to Christ in prayer! Let us remember that “He is on his throne, surrounded by glory” (Is. 6:1) and that throne, “high and lifted up,” is greater than all the thrones on earth.
Chapter 6 of Isaiah takes us to a very difficult moment for him and for the nation; King Uzziah had died, who was a good king, and very complicated times would follow, in which Assyria and Babylon would become a terrible danger for the people of God. It is in that context that Isaiah utters some words that always move me: “I saw the Lord!” What a wonderful sight!
Are you close to Him, today, in these desolate days? Can you behold his glory?
Let's remember that now it also fills the earth, despite the pandemic!
Ester Martínez Vera
Day 1: Don't be a “lukewarm” Christian
The Lord tells us, again: “Do not be afraid!”
But in order not to be terrified at what is falling, we need to hold on, like never before, to the Word of God and his promises. My recommendation for today and for the rest of the days that God allows us to live on this earth is that we begin the day in the “upper room.”
We have to choose a place and a time, each day, where we meet with our Lord to read his Word and pray. The rest can wait! See if other things can wait, in these days of confinement! We couldn't even imagine, just a month ago, the sudden halt that our lives were going to take! How good it would be to be able to say with the psalmist: “In the morning I will seek you”! (Ps. 63:1).
It is curious that in times of danger and tribulation is when we again have the feeling that we need God. What a shame that, when things are going well for us, we do like the people of Israel and begin to worship other “gods,” as they did! “We left the fountain of living water to dig wells for ourselves that cannot hold water” (Jer. 2:13). Terrible, right? Does the Lord have to “raise up the “Chaldeans” (Hab. 1:6) so that we decide to be close to Him?
Throughout history we see that God's people have a tendency to distance themselves from their Lord when things are going fantastically well for them and, then, we are in danger of becoming "lukewarm" Christians (Rev.3 14-22). .
It would be important that, these days, we ask ourselves what our spiritual life has been like in recent years. Now, with a terrible enemy at our doors, against which we see no way to easily win the battle, we are aware of our true condition: We are nothing, our strength is null and so is our knowledge to fight against something of unknown dimensions and universal.
And today, perhaps, like never before, we are realizing that only God is very big and we are very small and now we cry out to Him, in agony, asking for mercy to free the world from this scourge but, when all this happens, will we? Will we go back to our old ways? Will we again be Christians who will cry out to God like the firefighters, when we are burning?
May the Lord, in his mercy, very soon “heal our land” (2 Chr. 7:14) and that after saying: “Even if the fig tree does not blossom, yet we will rejoice in the Lord! ” (Hab.3:17).
I hope that, today, you reflect and meditate on the fact that our God reigns and that every day we are closer to this pandemic stopping, but I encourage you to begin, from now on, to have a sacred time with the Lord. And, if you already have it, do not abandon it, even if you pass through the shadow of dangers! He promises to be with us always! (Ps. 23).
But in order not to be terrified at what is falling, we need to hold on, like never before, to the Word of God and his promises. My recommendation for today and for the rest of the days that God allows us to live on this earth is that we begin the day in the “upper room.”
We have to choose a place and a time, each day, where we meet with our Lord to read his Word and pray. The rest can wait! See if other things can wait, in these days of confinement! We couldn't even imagine, just a month ago, the sudden halt that our lives were going to take! How good it would be to be able to say with the psalmist: “In the morning I will seek you”! (Ps. 63:1).
It is curious that in times of danger and tribulation is when we again have the feeling that we need God. What a shame that, when things are going well for us, we do like the people of Israel and begin to worship other “gods,” as they did! “We left the fountain of living water to dig wells for ourselves that cannot hold water” (Jer. 2:13). Terrible, right? Does the Lord have to “raise up the “Chaldeans” (Hab. 1:6) so that we decide to be close to Him?
Throughout history we see that God's people have a tendency to distance themselves from their Lord when things are going fantastically well for them and, then, we are in danger of becoming "lukewarm" Christians (Rev.3 14-22). .
It would be important that, these days, we ask ourselves what our spiritual life has been like in recent years. Now, with a terrible enemy at our doors, against which we see no way to easily win the battle, we are aware of our true condition: We are nothing, our strength is null and so is our knowledge to fight against something of unknown dimensions and universal.
And today, perhaps, like never before, we are realizing that only God is very big and we are very small and now we cry out to Him, in agony, asking for mercy to free the world from this scourge but, when all this happens, will we? Will we go back to our old ways? Will we again be Christians who will cry out to God like the firefighters, when we are burning?
May the Lord, in his mercy, very soon “heal our land” (2 Chr. 7:14) and that after saying: “Even if the fig tree does not blossom, yet we will rejoice in the Lord! ” (Hab.3:17).
I hope that, today, you reflect and meditate on the fact that our God reigns and that every day we are closer to this pandemic stopping, but I encourage you to begin, from now on, to have a sacred time with the Lord. And, if you already have it, do not abandon it, even if you pass through the shadow of dangers! He promises to be with us always! (Ps. 23).
Ester Martínez Vera
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