Forgiven to Forgive Part 1 - by Jose Flores

Have you ever had a hard time forgiving others? I always have. It's difficult because our hearts are broken. We are prideful when it comes to forgiveness. Satan uses this to kill and destroy us (John 10:10).

Unforgiveness will destroy you from the inside and take your peace and joy. But love forgives. Isn't that a core belief of our Christianity? God so loved the world… (John 3:16)

I was born in Colombia. When I was five, my brother and I we're playing in the front yard when we noticed men coming out of their limousine with guns! We ran, screaming for help, hoping to make it inside before they caught us. Once we were inside one of the men grabbed my brother, picked him up and put a gun to his head. The man told mom that they were looking for my dad. They said if Dad didn’t show his face within two days they would return and kill us.

I remember when these men took my little sister, never to see her again. My dad was with the Colombian cartel.

We had to flee and come to New York. Because of my experiences in Colombia, I was unable to concentrate in school. I had a lot of bitterness and hatred, and I didn't care about anyone. I didn't know Jesus at that time, but what I do know is that he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

I remember getting involved with the wrong crowd and doing crazy things. I didn't know if I would die in a shootout or end up in jail. I tried to commit suicide twice. At age 13, I put a gun to my head, but I just couldn't do it. During my second attempt at suicide, I took pills, but nothing happened. Praise God

My turning point came 16 years ago when I became a Christian and confessed with my mouth that I am a Sinner. (1John 1:9).

Despite my past Jesus forgave all my sins! The great news is Jesus was working in my life, causing people to see me as a different person. I began helping others and loving them. God's words are true. I am a new creation (2nd Corinthians 5:17).

As a Christian, I always wanted to hear from God. I wanted God's peace. I had a burning desire inside of me to speak to others about God. Although I was forgiven, my past would not allow me to move forward with Jesus because I was unable to forgive. But there’s more to this story. Stay tuned for Part II of Forgiven to Forgive!

You Got This!

Wars and rumors of war, a global pandemic or is it an endemic, an increase in violence, this political mayhem, that agenda, your truth, this lie. It’s enough to make your head spin.

But when I think of the word of God, I’m reminded that countless times the word assures us that through the Lord, we got this!

Think about it. Many people have gone on. But we are still here for such a time as this. We were meant to be here during this time and this season. The Lord ensured that the right ambassadors were in place in 2022. Those ambassadors include you and I – through Him we got this!

We are the New Testament church. The word specifically tells us that God has not given us a spirit of fear. We’ve got power, love, and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

We are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might when we put on the whole armor of God, so we can stand against our real enemy, the devil. Knowing this, we are alert and praying for the Body of Christ to make sure we all got this. (Ephesians 6:10-20)

And to put it all together, God’s divine power has given us everything, yes EVERYTHING we need for life and godliness. We are equipped. How do we possess everything we need? Through KNOWING HIM who called us by name and invited us to him through a glorious manifestation of His goodness. (2Peter1:3-10TPT)

How can we express what we’ve received so that others get this, get to live in the manifestation of God’s goodness during these dark days? Simply by being salt and light. Seasoning situations and lighting up the world with truth, so that others get this, get God and God gets all the glory! (2Peter 1:3, Matthew 5:13-14)

“The Fresh Breath of Life” by Johan Alarcon

Let’s go back to a specific night when I was living in the middle of my sin. Desperate about “The fresh breath of Life”. Desperate for money, I found myself involved with these interesting people who were known as scammers.

I remember going to the vehicle of the main guy running the show and taking off with one of the items we picked up along the way. I ran, cause not only did I take something from them, I knew a few of them would be chasing me.

One of the individuals was so close he almost caught me, but after running a few Manhattan blocks I got away. I had an asthma attack and ran and hid under a parked truck. During the asthma attack, all I remember was hearing my mom's voice, reminding me to pray to God when I found myself in trouble.

I was filled with anxiety after running, and unable to breathe. I honestly felt like I was going to die. As I leaned on the truck’s tire, in the dark and freezing cold I remember hearing Pastor say, “When you pray, pray with expectations that whatever you're praying for is already yours, even if it seems impossible to attain.”

I closed my eyes, and said, “God please, I need you to provide an asthma pump!” While envisioning and praying specifically for an asthma pump, sure enough, I heard a lady who happened to be a security guard working nearby, yell to me from a distance”. “Hey sir, are you okay?”! The asthma attack was so severe I could not respond. She yelled and said, “hold on”, and went inside a booth, and then ran to me. She proceeded to reach in her pocket, and there it was, an answered prayer. It was an asthma pump.

This asthma pump looked identical to the one I left home. All I can remember was seeing this answered prayer, an angel that was sent by God to hand me an asthma pump. I automatically felt this undeserved favor that forced me to tremble and cry, I was filled with this overwhelming assurance from God that He is with me, and that He was listening and honestly by the time I was able to come to my senses from being so overwhelmed, I no longer needed the asthma pump. Romans 5:8 “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

This experience taught me that it's never too late, and you're never too far gone. Keep seeking Him, for He came to rescue us, and like that asthma pump, He wants to give you a fresh breath of life!

Ezekiel 37:5-6

Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord. Mark 9:23 “If You can?” echoed Jesús. “All things are possible to him who believes!”.