May 4, 2010
GOOD MEMORIES by Robert Soto
I Thessalonians 3:6 "But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you."
Memories are a gift from God the Creator. They help us reflect on the things that have happened in times past. Memories teach us a lesson and remind us of how God the Creator has blessed us in spite of all that has happened. Memories are like a written record in our hearts and minds that God the Creator is still alive and working in our lives. Sometimes memories might be sad because they remind us of a time when we hurt; other times they might make us smile because they remind us of happy times. But regardless of the good times and regardless of the bad times, if we stop and reflect carefully on them we will always see God the Creator at work in our lives.
Paul was given some good memories of a people who stayed true to the instructions of God the Creator. He wrote, "...Timothy...has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you." So while Paul could not go to them, his heart brought good memories of times past when he spent some time with them. But in return they received the good memories that were given to them by Paul's life as he affected their lives. Memories, whether good or bad, will always bring the knowledge that God is working in your life and in the lives of others. I think I will stop now and reflect on some good memories. You never know, I might write about them tomorrow.
Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:
McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
HE IS WAITING FOR YOU by Robert Soto
May 3, 2010
HE IS WAITING FOR YOU by Robert Soto
Deuteronomy 3:22 "Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you."
How many times have you felt in your life that God was far away from you; or if He was anywhere close to you, He did not really care or desire to help? I'm sure this has been the feeling of many in this present age that presents the image of a God that is obsolete or uncaring. The funny thing is that this is when we need God the most. This is the time we need to draw near to God and not slide away from Him. These are the times that we should be going before His presence and seeking His guidance. But we allow our humanity to get in the way of our faith. Our humanity demands that we see physical proof of the presence of God. Our faith though, tells us to keep on going and keep on taking that step of faith even though we know not where it will take us.
I remember one day in my life, I had to make a choice. The choice was to trust the promises of man and keep going, or stop and see God work in a way I could not see. I looked at both and I weighed the cost for both but in the end I chose the path of faith, not knowing where the path would take me but knowing who controlled each step of my new journey of life. I was criticized by many for my choice. Many told me I was a fool and was not trusting God for what was best for me. It was a few years later that I discovered the dead-end bridge that lay before the path taken by the one who chose to follow the promises of man rather than God. It is then that faith becomes our path. It is then that our faith comes in to play. We fear not the things we do not see, but we trust in Him who we do not see, God. Moses wrote, "Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you." He is willing and waiting to do it for you if you only will trust Him.
Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:
McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church
HE IS WAITING FOR YOU by Robert Soto
Deuteronomy 3:22 "Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you."
How many times have you felt in your life that God was far away from you; or if He was anywhere close to you, He did not really care or desire to help? I'm sure this has been the feeling of many in this present age that presents the image of a God that is obsolete or uncaring. The funny thing is that this is when we need God the most. This is the time we need to draw near to God and not slide away from Him. These are the times that we should be going before His presence and seeking His guidance. But we allow our humanity to get in the way of our faith. Our humanity demands that we see physical proof of the presence of God. Our faith though, tells us to keep on going and keep on taking that step of faith even though we know not where it will take us.
I remember one day in my life, I had to make a choice. The choice was to trust the promises of man and keep going, or stop and see God work in a way I could not see. I looked at both and I weighed the cost for both but in the end I chose the path of faith, not knowing where the path would take me but knowing who controlled each step of my new journey of life. I was criticized by many for my choice. Many told me I was a fool and was not trusting God for what was best for me. It was a few years later that I discovered the dead-end bridge that lay before the path taken by the one who chose to follow the promises of man rather than God. It is then that faith becomes our path. It is then that our faith comes in to play. We fear not the things we do not see, but we trust in Him who we do not see, God. Moses wrote, "Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you." He is willing and waiting to do it for you if you only will trust Him.
Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:
McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church
THE PRICE OF RESPECT by Robert Soto
May 2, 2010
THE PRICE OF RESPECT by Robert Soto
Genesis 45:13 "Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly."
Many years ago a warrior was known by his accomplishments. He did not demand respect; he earned the right to be a leader in the community and the tribe. His status as a warrior gave him the right to be who he was and the people recognized who he was as a warrior, who he was as one who had earned the right to be respected. He did not demand respect nor did he ask people to serve him. He understood that his status or rank among the people had come, not by force but by choice. He chose to serve the people. He chose to honor the tribe. He chose to give his life for the rights of all his people; not just for himself or a chosen few. He lived for the people and the people lived for him.
Things have changed today. Today we have people whose desire in life is to demand respect and not wait for it to come through servanthood. They look at our instant world and say, "I want it now." But they fail to realize that leaders are not born overnight. They fail to realize that the warrior status does not come instantly. They fail to realize that respect comes through time and by being a servant to all. Joseph became a mighty warrior among the Egyptians, second in command to Pharaoh. But his warrior spirit did not come by demand; it came by sacrifice and pain. So that at the end of his life he could stand with pride and say, "Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly." He paid the price and he earned the right to be a leader, a warrior among his people. Are you willing to pay the price? Are you willing to be a servant? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to be great among those you live with each day of your life?
Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:
McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church
THE PRICE OF RESPECT by Robert Soto
Genesis 45:13 "Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly."
Many years ago a warrior was known by his accomplishments. He did not demand respect; he earned the right to be a leader in the community and the tribe. His status as a warrior gave him the right to be who he was and the people recognized who he was as a warrior, who he was as one who had earned the right to be respected. He did not demand respect nor did he ask people to serve him. He understood that his status or rank among the people had come, not by force but by choice. He chose to serve the people. He chose to honor the tribe. He chose to give his life for the rights of all his people; not just for himself or a chosen few. He lived for the people and the people lived for him.
Things have changed today. Today we have people whose desire in life is to demand respect and not wait for it to come through servanthood. They look at our instant world and say, "I want it now." But they fail to realize that leaders are not born overnight. They fail to realize that the warrior status does not come instantly. They fail to realize that respect comes through time and by being a servant to all. Joseph became a mighty warrior among the Egyptians, second in command to Pharaoh. But his warrior spirit did not come by demand; it came by sacrifice and pain. So that at the end of his life he could stand with pride and say, "Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly." He paid the price and he earned the right to be a leader, a warrior among his people. Are you willing to pay the price? Are you willing to be a servant? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to be great among those you live with each day of your life?
Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:
McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church
PROVIDER OF THE FEAST by Robert Soto
May 1, 2010
PROVIDER OF THE FEAST by Robert Soto
Deuteronomy 11:14-15 "...then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied."
For most people in the United States, cutting grass at this time of the year is just beginning. But for us from the land of Eternal Summer, we have been cutting the grass all year long. Winter means nothing more than just a little less warmer weather down here. But as I arrived home the other day after being gone for almost two weeks, I noticed that the front yard grass had grown a little taller than I wanted it to. So I went and dug out my lawn mower and started to cut the grass. In some places I had to go over the grass twice to get a clean cut. But as I started to cut the taller grass I noticed bugs like grasshoppers and others jumping in and out of the grass. They kept bouncing from one blade of grass to another. Then before I knew it, birds like the grackles and sparrows started to land in my front yard. They were there to eat the bugs that were jumping around. They seemed to be having a good old feast eating the bugs that were coming in and out.
It was at this time that it hit me. The birds were being supplied with supper. The bugs that I was scaring out of the grass were dinner for the birds that lived around my house. So the more I thought the more I realized that God the Creator is our provider and supplier of every good thing. God the Creator knows our needs and He is always with us and finds ways to take care of us. He looks at the everyday affairs of mankind and makes sure the sustenance we need each day of our lives is taken care of and provided for as we walk day by day. As Moses said, "...then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied." Just as God the Creator is the provider of the feast for the birds of the air, He will take care of you.
Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:
McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church
PROVIDER OF THE FEAST by Robert Soto
Deuteronomy 11:14-15 "...then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied."
For most people in the United States, cutting grass at this time of the year is just beginning. But for us from the land of Eternal Summer, we have been cutting the grass all year long. Winter means nothing more than just a little less warmer weather down here. But as I arrived home the other day after being gone for almost two weeks, I noticed that the front yard grass had grown a little taller than I wanted it to. So I went and dug out my lawn mower and started to cut the grass. In some places I had to go over the grass twice to get a clean cut. But as I started to cut the taller grass I noticed bugs like grasshoppers and others jumping in and out of the grass. They kept bouncing from one blade of grass to another. Then before I knew it, birds like the grackles and sparrows started to land in my front yard. They were there to eat the bugs that were jumping around. They seemed to be having a good old feast eating the bugs that were coming in and out.
It was at this time that it hit me. The birds were being supplied with supper. The bugs that I was scaring out of the grass were dinner for the birds that lived around my house. So the more I thought the more I realized that God the Creator is our provider and supplier of every good thing. God the Creator knows our needs and He is always with us and finds ways to take care of us. He looks at the everyday affairs of mankind and makes sure the sustenance we need each day of our lives is taken care of and provided for as we walk day by day. As Moses said, "...then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied." Just as God the Creator is the provider of the feast for the birds of the air, He will take care of you.
Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:
McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church
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