Can you Walk the Walk?

I remember my coach saying when I was younger "Anybody can talk, but you need to Walk the Walk" This expression is known by everyone and there are many forms you can say it that mean the same thing. Like don't write a check that your butt can't cash. What this expression tells us is that anybody can say there millionaires but not everyone is. If you say you want to buy a new car, then you need to put the work in to get that new car. As Christians the expression also applies to our lives. God set the perfect example. God talked the talk...and then He send Jesus to Walk the Walk. Every time God said something He backed it up. That's why it's so great to serve Him because you know when He makes a promise. He intends on keeping it. It's one thing for us to say that were Christian but it's something different to lead a Christian life. If your talking to someone about Jesus but yet your actions are not Jesus like. Meaning you don't live or act like a Christian. Nobody is going to believe you and credibility is what makes you walk the walk. Jesus said to follow me...imagine if Jesus would hang out at a bar or lie about things. Nobody would want to follow Him. But, Jesus lived a perfect life He was able to walk the walk. Now I'm not saying live a perfect life but I am saying Live like Jesus. There was an expression that helps rather nicely here. What would Jesus do? Live your life always asking that question at every crossroad and I believe you'll be fine.

There is a Bible verse that scares me a little though. Jesus says not everyone that says Lord Lord will enter the Kingdom. Jesus, Himself is saying you can't just talk the talk, you have to Walk the Walk. See I can go up to someone and say God loves you but if I don't really believe it or model my life after that...then it's all for nothing. You see you have to know that God love you and that God loves everyone. You have to see what God has done in your life and the blessings you have received. So then you can show everyone else what God can do in there lives and the rewards they can receive. Everyone can I say I love you, but the real work is proving to them that you love them. Showing them how much you really care. Jesus said you have to confess with you mouth that He is Lord. Everyone can do that right! Jesus knew this and that is why He also said and believe in your Heart that I am Lord and you will be saved. It's very easy to say Jesus is Lord...I can walk up to any random person and ask them to say Jesus is Lord and they have no problem saying it. But to stop them from looking at porn, getting drunk, doing drugs, lying, sleeping around, and things like that is something else. See people need a reason to continue to live the way they do. Without any guilt or shame. If God isn't real, they have no reason to stop living that way. Jesus said if you want to follow me then take up your cross daily!! God doesn't expect you to go out and save the world like Jesus. But He does expect you to live like Jesus. Everyone can talk the talk...BUT CAN YOU WALK THE WALK?

Yesus Gitano,

Carlos

Stand Out

Back when I was in High School there was a word that was used to describe people who excelled at academics or sports. In a class that had 30 students if 1 person was able to do really well on a certain subject they were a Stand out! Same thing in sports if one person was faster, stronger, or more agile then that person was a Stand Out! Colleges love people who stand out because then that means the school will stand out. It's the reason athletes make so much. Because they are able to excel at the sport better than most people. Same word applies to God's children. We as Christians are chosen because we have the potential to Stand Out! Now your thinking but how do I have the power to excel at being Christian? The key word is found in the word Christian. Christ gives you the power to excel. There are a lot of people that need healing not just there bodies but there spirits also. Christ came to heal the world...We as Christians have that same power. We are able to heal and bless but some of us lack the faith or the courage to do that. How many of us have seen a homeless man that looks down on is luck and instead of praying with him. We just give him some money and walk away. I know because I have done that. By doing that am I not doing what everybody else does. To Stand Out is to really try to impact this persons life. Tell them about God, pray for them, and give them encouragement.

In the movie Troy with Brad Pitt. A young boy tells Brad Pitts character I wouldn't want to fight the man they want you to face. Brad Pitt looks at the boy and says that's why nobody will remember your name. Two things jump out at me from this one line. One is Fight for God! With all this talk about Darwin and evolution. Fight for God, Fight for what you believe in, Fight the devil and all his ways, but especially Fight for the people that don't know God. Fight for there salvation. The more we can Stand Out the more people we can save. Number 2 is do something so God remembers your name. It's great to get recognition here on Earth but it's so much better to know that God loves you to Stand Out for Him. Jesus Stood Out but yet people rather believe in evolution then the one living God. Now I don't want anybody thinking that they have to stand on street corners and preach in order to Stand Out. Not at all! One of my favorite quotes is Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words. What does that mean is just LOVE. Love God, Love yourself, Love your neighbor, and Love people. Love is showing not saying. Stand Out today by doing something nice for someone you don't know. The world is not getting any easier for Christians so if you can STAND UP for God then you'll definitely STAND OUT!

Yesus Gitano,

Carlos

Sow My Lips!

Yesterday I started thinking how awesome our God is. When God created us, He did it with a purpose. We were created so perfectly or were we? I heard a story yesterday about someone using something God gave them in a wrong way and I started thinking. I stood in front of a mirror and I was looking at God's creation and I said wait a minute. Something seems out of place. Something doesn't seem right and I wondered why God would do that. As I looked, I saw everything I had came in pairs. I had two ears, two eyes, one nose but with two nostrils, two arms, two hands, two legs, and many more. I then realized why then do I only have one mouth. Did my super powerful God...The one that gives light to the world make a mistake. Did He just get so tired from creating that He was like oh well the people look fine with just one mouth? From my walk with the Lord everything that I've come to know is that God doesn't make mistakes. He gave us one mouth on purpose. As I looked in the mirror some more and saw all the pairs...I wondered why God gave us one mouth on purpose.

God knows what He is doing. He leaves nothing left to doubt. In His word there are many verses letting us know why we have only one mouth like in Psalms and Proverbs. I'm going to break it down why God did this. It's actually pretty simple. I have never met anyone who always said the right things. Everyone at some point in time or another has hurt someone using their mouth or has hurt themselves. With one mouth it's so easy to lie, imagine if we had two. Lies would be everywhere. With our mouths we have the power to destroy with words of discouragement, criticism, and gossip. But God knew this and in so He gave you one mouth. God knows everything, so He also gave you something else that does not come in a pair. Your heart! If you put your heart and your mouth together you can create beauty. God knew that one heart meant one love and one mouth meant one voice. Use your love and your voice to help others. We have two ears so we can hear heartache. We have two eyes so we can see right and wrong. We have two arms so we can embrace unity. We have two legs to stomp on injustice. Yet, we have but one heart to love the world and one voice to try and save it. There are times where I need God to Sow My Lips but I know that God gave me one mouth for a reason. To anybody reading this, LET GOD USE YOUR VOICE TO SAVE THE WORLD!

Yesus Gitano,

Carlos

To Clean or not to Clean

Every day in America people clean there houses. Usually Monday through Thursday you'll find me cleaning my house. Since my wife goes to school at night during this time It's my duty to keep our house clean. There are times where I just get really exhausted and I don't feel like cleaning. There are times where I clean really good but the kids make a mess all over again. But my favorite is there are times were I just don't want to clean and my house looks like it was hit by a hurricane. The reason I am bringing up cleaning is because that is essentially what we must do as Christians. In order to stay on the path of righteousness we have to be constantly cleaning our mind, body, and spirit. There are times in our lives we should be praying more or reading the Bible more and we don't. You see if I don't pick up my house daily, My kids will make a mess not purposely but it will get messy. In our lives if we don't ask God to cleanse us daily, the devil will start to come in and make a mess...but he does do it purposely. Just like cleaning our house, it's a duty that needs to get done. So we as Christians cleaning our lives daily is something that needs to be done. I remember when I accepted Jesus, I thought to myself cool I don't have to worry about my life anymore. Meaning I thought I was completely healed of my addiction. I thought because I accepted I would be transformed never to worry about it again. How wrong I was. You see when you accept Jesus, He does transform you BUT you have to do your part. You have to be dedicated and make a commitment to clean every day.

Sometimes I look at my house and be like not again when is the cleaning part ever going to end. I look at myself and I say the same thing. When am I going to be sin free? The truth is our flesh is weak. It will always need to be cleaned and there are times were we will get exhausted and not want to clean today. Remember everyday that you don't clean your heart and spirit. Is a day the devil has the chance to attack. Everyday you get tired and worn out to be in prayer, spend time with God and cleanse your spirit. Your inviting the devil into your life. The devil has been around since the very beginning. He knows everything about humans. He knows our weakness better than we do. He knows how to get us dirty and keep us dirty. He knows how to put dirt in our lives and he also knows that sometimes we will falter in cleaning it up. This is what I love though and what gives me strength and hope. When I clean my house I love the feeling of everything being clean. I take pride in knowing that my house looks nice. I can relaxing knowing that everything is taken care of. The same works with God. When you spend time with Him and He is able to help you clean. You will love the feeling of being free. You love the feeling of not being ashamed. You can relax knowing that God is in control and the devil with all his tricks will never dirty you. God promises that with the blood of Jesus you will be clean! Everyday I get faced with the decsion to Clean or not to Clean? The answer is simple give me my God, His Word, the broom, and the vacuum and I will always choose to stay clean and righteous.

Yesus Gitano,

Carlos

People Mover

I remember when I was a kid a ride at Disneyland called the People Mover. It was simple all it did was move people around. In a sense that is what God requires of us to be, people movers. Every one of us has the ability to change somebody's path. God wants us to change people from self to God, if He didn't then we would all be isolated. Like my Pastor said we all have divine appointments. I had one yesterday that I honestly didn't meet. I went to get food last night and the guy taking my order had a disability. It seemed that he had trouble walking and I felt a tug on my heart to tell this guy Jesus can heal his disability. I felt that if I just put hands on him and pray that God would fix him. But I didn't! My heart was ready to just do it...but the more I thought about it...the more my mind came into play. I started telling myself do I have that much faith that I can heal this person with God's help. What if the guy really believed and nothing happens...he's going to get mad at me. Also there were a lot of people around. I missed it. I missed my chance to be a good Samaritan. When I was leaving and got in my car I felt so guilty that I had the chance to be a People Mover and yet I didn't even move. Imagine if this guy was completley healed and could now walk properly or better yet run. His life would've have been changed and I believe he would've been a great witness.

My heart felt so sad because I didn't do anything but when I got home the Lord spoke to me through my 9 year old son. I explained what had happened to my wife and my son. Then my son said something that 9 year old don't usually say. He said maybe God was showing you how blessed you are. I said what do you mean, my son said well there is that story about the guy who always complained about his shoes until he met a man that had no feet. My son said maybe God wanted you to see how blessed you are. It was so great to know that even if you miss a divine appointment God still shows you how blessed you are. Yes I didn't help that man at that moment but that doesn't mean I can't pray for him. It doesn't mean that I will never see him again or have another chance to help someone else. With this story I want to make 3 points. Number 1 is that don't be afraid when you have divine appointment. Don't lack the faith or strength to help you do what is right. Remember the Bible says the Holy Spirit will always direct in what to say and what to do. Just have trust. Number 2 if you do miss an appointment don't feel guilty or put your head down. God still loves you and He knows your heart. Everyone falters just don't give up and know that you are blessed. Number 3 is let God make you a People Mover...Let God move in your life and then you'll be able to move in others. Remember it's okay to miss an appointment but don't miss your chance to make up for it. Be a People Mover not a Slow Poke!!

Yeus Gitano,

Carlos

Artificial

In a world where everything seems to be more and more fake. Where you can visit a surgeon and alter your appearance. A world where men can alter animals, plants and food. God is the most realest thing around. God who is an invisible God but yet you can feel. People deny God because they don't believe He exists. Since they can't see him they chose to believe He is not there. Which really confuses me because there are people that lie about who they are and what they do. But yet people believe them right. I mean I can tell people about God and they would be like well where is He? I don't see him. But yet I can tell the same people that I graduated from this college and they would believe me. Even though I never even been or seen that college. These people have never seen me go to college so what is the difference of them believing that, then believing in God. Not that I've ever told anyone that I graduated from college but still God shows proof of His existence. He performs miracles daily...He shows you He was there in the beginning and He'll be there in the end.

One thing that I really dislike is when people say Thank God without really thanking God from there hearts. They say it like an expression they heard when they were younger. An expression that there parents or grandparents used to say. An example of this is someone who is on the phone for a long time and just wants to end the call and finally when they hang up they say Thank God. It bothers me because it has nothing to do with God and they believe in God but they don't believe in Jesus. It seems fake to me because instead of thanking God for what you have in your life...your thanking Him because a phone call ended. It's frustrating to me because people just don't understand. They don't get it! In an Artificial world we live in. People need to realize how important having God in your life really is. We as Christians need to let everyone know how real God and Jesus are. Especially since we are coming close to the end of days it's imperative that we spread the gospel. Artificial also means man made which has me thinking people praise Artificial things especially if they benefit man kind...which is okay but people really need to praise the Creator of Man!! I thank God everyday not for a phone call that ended but because I have life. I get to wake up today and see the beauty of His creations. I get to spend time with His people. I get the chance to praise Him and Worship Him and there is nothing ARTIFICIAL ABOUT THAT!!

Yesus Gitano

Carlos

Crossroads

There are times where we end up at a Crossroad in our life and a decision needs to be made. Sometimes the decisions are easy and other times they are very hard which brings along stress. This morning God spoke to me about this and He told that even if I'm wrong He'll be with me. These past couple of months I have been wrong a lot. I have been making the wrong decisions. I have been standing at the Crossroad and not letting God help me decide which way to go. The dictionary defines Crossroad as a crucial point where a decision needs to be made. As for me missing Church, not praying enough, not reading enough, not spending enough time with my kids. These are all crucial things that I have missed because I made the wrong decision. God told me this morning that even if I'm wrong, He'll stand by me. It was a song on the radio but it spoke true to my heart. I have been wrong and missing my daily meetings with my Heavenly Father but yet, He loves me still and if you listen closely He still says I'm here! What a great God we have. To everybody reading this I want to encourage you when you are stuck at a Crossroad...and believe me I know every single person has them. Let God be God. Trust Him to do His thing. There is a word that I have learned over the years that applies nicely to when your stuck at a Crossroad. The word is Wishy Washy!! Well it's two words...and they might not be words after all...Oh and yes it took me years to learn these words. Lol! So these words mean that you can't have doubt. If you come to a crossroad and God tells you to go down this path. Even though at that time the path doesn't look right. You can't have doubt. You need to trust the Lord with all your heart.

There is a story of a lady who became the head of a non profit organization to help the homeless. She is also the CEO of two other organizations one to help feed the homeless and the other to help get there lives back on track. Before she had all these titles she herself was homeless. At that moment she could of cursed God for becoming homeless. Here is a person that is now living on the streets not knowing what's going to happen...but she came to a Crossroad where she decided to trust God. You see the path you take might not look enticing or right but in God's eyes everything He does is with purpose. God opened doors for her and because she wasn't Wishy Washy her life was turned around and now she is able to help others that are homeless. I just want people to know whether your at the top or the bottom life will give you difficult decisions to make. Make sure that God is involved...Make sure that not only is God involved let Him lead. Remember life is not a sprint it's a marathon. So while your running you may not see the finish line but believe me when I say that when you reach it. It will be worth it. Crossroads are put in our lives because that is what life is, Choice!! We all have the chance to chose which path to take. Remember it's okay if you chose the wrong way...God is always with you to help you find your way back. Don't be afraid to ask for His help if you get lost. God will always STAND BY YOU!

Yesus Gitano

Carlos