Stepping Stones For Survival

Numbers 12:13: “So Moses cried out the LORD, ‘O God, please heal her!’”

Miriam, Moses’ sister and Aaron, his brother, were supposed to help Moses lead the Israelites out of slavery.

However, while Moses talked with God, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses and caused the people to turn against him.

In verse 8, God asked Miriam and Aaron, “Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” In verse 10, God disciplined Miriam, and she became leprous.

Moses could have said that’s what she deserved for talking about her own brother and causing division among the people. He could have stood back and laughed. He did neither.

Moses forgave Miriam and asked God to heal her. God did but told Moses to confine her outside the camp for seven days.

In a fallen world with imperfect people, they will hurt us. For our own physical, emotional and spiritual health, we need to forgive as Moses did.

Dear God, help me forgive those who hurt me. Amen.

Application: Whom do you need to forgive this week?

Copyright © by Yvonne Ortega January 24, 2012

If you would like to have me speak for your organization or church, please contact me through my website at www.yvonneortega.com.

Números 12:13: “Moisés le rogó al Señor: ‘¡Oh Dios, te ruego que la sanes!’”

Miriam, la hermana de Moisés y Aarón, su hermano, deberían ayudar a Moisés a llevar a los israelitas de la esclavitud.

Sin embargo, mientras Moisés habló con Dios, Miriam y Aarón criticaron a Moisés y causaron que la gente se predispuso en contra de él.

En versículo 8, Dios les preguntó a Miriam y a Aarón, “¿Cómo se atreven a murmurar contra mi siervo Moisés?” En versículo 10, Dios disciplinó a Miriam, y ella se puso leprosa.

Moisés habría dicho que era lo que merecía por hablar de su propio hermano y por causar conflicto entre la gente. Habría respaldado y habría reído. No hizo ninguno de los dos.

Moisés perdonó a Miriam y le rogó a Dios que la sanara. Dios lo hizo pero le dijo a Moisés que la confinara siete días fuera del campamento.

En un mundo caído con personas imperfectas, nos lastimarán. Por nuestra propia salud física, emocional y espiritual, tenemos que perdonar como Moisés lo hizo.

Amado Dios, ayúdame a perdonar a los que me lastimen. Amén.

Aplicación: ¿A quién necesita usted perdonar esta semana?

Derecho de propiedad literaria © por Yvonne Ortega el 24 de enero de 2012

Si usted quisiera que yo hablara para su organización o su iglesia, favor de ponerse en contacto conmigo por mi sitio web, www.yvonneortega.com.

Grabación Más Reciente: Escuchen a Yvonne Ortega enseñar como orar la Escritura por su familia y sus amigos en la Entrevista #68 en inglés en www.blogtalkradio.com/hope-for-the-journey

Mi CD: “Esperanza durante el Camino del Dolor” se compra de mí.

Judges 6:14: “The LORD turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?’”

I froze when I went up north for a week. On the flight home, my right ear made crackling sounds three times. I got sick and lost my voice.

For several days I prayed God would heal me. I reminded him about my speaking engagements the following week. I would need a voice.

Then I read this passage from the Bible. I sensed God say, “Go in the strength you have, Yvonne. Am I not sending you?”

In faith, I packed my suitcase and practiced my presentation silently. My voice finally returned.

We all face challenges and disappointments. However, God still wants us to accomplish his mission for us on earth.

God doesn’t expect us to work miracles. That’s his job. He simply tells us to go in the strength we have. He sends us, and he will do the rest.

Dear God, help me go in the strength I have. Amen.

Application: Where is God sending you this week?

Copyright © by Yvonne Ortega January 14, 2012

If you would like to have me speak for your organization or church, please contact me through my website at www.yvonneortega.com.

Jueces 6:14: “Ve con la fuerza que tienes, y salvarás a Israel del poder de Madián. Yo soy quien te envía.”

Me helé cuando fui al norte por una semana. En el vuelo de regreso a casa, el oîdo derecho hizo unos sonidos ronzados tres veces. Me enfermé y perdí la voz.

Por unos días oré que Dios me sanara. Le acordé de mis contratos de hablar la siguiente semana. Necesitaría una voz.

Entonces leí este versículo. Sentí que Dios me dijo, “Ve con la fuerza que tienes, Yvonne. Yo soy quien te envía.”

En fé, hice la maleta y practiqué mi presentación silenciosamente. La voz volvió por fin.

Todos nos encaramos con desafíos y desilusiones. Sin embargo, Dios todavía quiere que acabemos su misión para nosotros en la tierra.

Dios no espera que hagamos milagros. Son el trabajo de él. Él simplemente nos dice que vayamos con la fuerza que tenemos. Él nos envía, y él hace lo demás.

Amado Dios, ayúdame a ir con la fuerza que tengo. Amén.

Aplicación: ¿Adónde le envía Dios a usted esta semana?

Derecho de propiedad literaria © por Yvonne Ortega el 14 de enero de 2012

Si usted quisiera que yo hablara para su organización o su iglesia, favor de ponerse en contacto conmigo por mi sitio web, www.yvonneortega.com.

Grabación Más Reciente: Escuchen a Yvonne Ortega enseñar como orar la Escritura por su familia y sus amigos en la Entrevista #68 en inglés en www.blogtalkradio.com/hope-for-the-journey

Mi CD: “Esperanza durante el Camino del Dolor” se compra de mí.

Most moms make many sacrifices to help their children, to encourage and support them. Moms with breast cancer struggle to continue to parent their children.

Rhonda Lassiter is a single –parent mom with two sons in high school who play football. When she told her sons she had stage 3 breast cancer, one of them said he didn’t want it to change her.

Imagine the courage and determination it took for Rhonda to ask the nurse at her first chemotherapy treatment to hurry up. She had a game to attend and her own regular seat there.

How many breast cancer moms would finish chemotherapy at 3:15 pm and be on the road to their sons’ football game by 4:00 pm? Rhonda did it.

That breast cancer mom endured four surgeries and still didn’t miss a single game. What a cheerleader.

Imagine a breast cancer patient going from the recovery room to her sons’ football game. Rhonda wouldn’t think of missing a game. The team players wore pink socks in her honor. Arrangements were made for her to watch the game from her car, but she insisted on sitting in her regular place. That way her sons could see her.

Rhonda Lassiter suffers from nerve damage to her legs, which prevented her from returning to her job. She dreams of returning to work and getting her life back. With her fighting spirit, she will probably succeed.

Copyright © by Yvonne Ortega January 11, 2012

Luke 2:12: “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

I remember the excitement of being pregnant. Friends and coworkers gave me a baby shower. My mom sent money to buy a new crib. I bought other items to decorate the baby’s room.

When my mother visited to see her first grandson, she brought two suitcases full of clothes and things for the baby.

She had only the clothes she was wearing. We had to go to the mall to buy her clothes.

Yet the King of kings and Lord of lords did not have a beautiful new crib and lovely new clothes.

Verse seven tells us there was no room in the inn for Mary and Joseph. When Jesus was born, Mary placed him in a manger.

Do we make room in our hearts for Jesus Christ? Do we make room for him in our daily schedule? Do we give the Lord our best or our leftovers?

Dear God, help me make room for Jesus in my life. Amen.

Application: What will you do this week to make room for Jesus in your schedule?

Copyright © by Yvonne Ortega December 13, 2011

Merry Christmas. I won’t send a devotion next week. I will spend more time with Jesus.

My blog on addiction and domestic violence: http://www.yvonneortega.blogspot.com

Latest Recording: Listen to Yvonne Ortega teach how to pray God’s Word for our loved ones. Interview #68 October 25, 2011 at www.blogtalkradio.com/hope-for-the-journey

Lucas 2:12: “Encontrarán a un niño envuelto en pañales y acostado en un pesebre.”

Me acuerdo del entusiasmo de estar embarazada. Mis amigas y compañeras del trabajo me dieron un “baby shower.” Mi mamá me mandó dinero para comprar un pesebre nuevo. Yo compré otras cosas para decorar el cuarto del bebé.

Cuando mi mamá visitó a su primer nieto, trajo dos maletas llenas de ropa y otras cosas para el bebé.

Ella tenía solamente la ropa que llevaba. Teníamos que ir de compras para comprarla ropa.

Aún el Rey de los reyes y el Señor de los señores no tuvo un pesebre bello y nuevo ni ropa hermosa.

El versículo siete nos dice que no había lugar en la posada para María y José. Cuando Jesús nació, María lo puso en el pesebre.

¿Hacemos lugar en nuestros corazones para Jesucristo? ¿Hacemos lugar para él en nuestro horario diario? Le damos lo mejor o las sobras?

Amado Dios, ayúdame a hacer lugar para Jesús en mi vida. Amén.

Aplicación: ¿Qué hará usted esta semana para hacer lugar para Jesús en su horario?

Derecho de propiedad literaria © por Yvonne Ortega el 13 de diciembre de 2011

¡Feliz Navidad! No mandaré un devocional la semana que viene. Pasaré más tiempo con Jesús.

Grabación Más Reciente: Escuchen a Yvonne Ortega enseñar como orar la Escritura por su familia y sus amigos en la Entrevista #68 en inglés en www.blogtalkradio.com/hope-for-the-journey

Mi CD: “Esperanza durante el Camino del Dolor” se compra de mí.

The Spirit of Christmas is a collection of forty-two stories compiled and edited by Cecil “Cec” Murphey and Marley Gibson. The following is an interview with Cecil “Cec” Murphey.

1. Why did you compile and edit this book?
There are so many Christmas stories out there. People love stories, especially about Christmas. My earlier book called Christmas Miracles did so well my editor wanted another book on Christmas. This book was already in its third printing before it went on sale. That means, the store chains such as Barnes & Noble or Sam’s anticipated higher sales than the publishers.

2. Why do people like Christmas stories so much?

It’s the one time in the year that most people seem to pause long enough to reflect on life and think about others. Christmas also pulls many of us back to the best moments of our childhood.

3. What’s your favorite “best moment” of the past?

Instead of going back to my childhood, I reflect on the Christmas when I was in the Navy, had met and fallen in love with Shirley (and married her the following year). Months earlier I had become a Christian.

A group of us had a special Christmas dinner. Afterward, the others sat around the piano and sang. I stared out the window and thought about my life. “This is my first Christian Christmas,” I said to myself. I felt such a calmness and a quiet joy that I had finally understood the reason for the special date in December.
Just then, my friend John, who had a beautiful tenor voice, sang “O Holy Night.”
And for me, it was a holy night—and a memory that grows richer through the years.

4. What do you look for when you select the stories?
I want true stories with heart—stories that touch my emotions. For example, in the book, there’s a funny story about cats knocking over a Christmas tree. Another takes place in a post office when people were upset over long lines. One act of kindness changed the attitude of everyone there. A third story is about an American living alone in Korea at Christmas who felt alone until others opened themselves to her.

1. Since researching/writing A Christmas Journey Home, how have your thoughts/opinions regarding the immigration situation changed?
Telling this volatile yet touching story from both sides of the fence and putting faces on the people involved softened my stance considerably. My dad was an immigrant, though he came legally and worked hard to bring the rest of his family here legally as well. As a result, I thought the issue was pretty straightforward. Though I still feel strongly about protecting our borders and stopping the obvious crimes of drug and human smuggling, as well as terrorists who might come across to harm us, I now realize there is an individual, “human” side that must be considered as well
2. In the early portions of the book, Isabella finds she is expecting her first child. Most of us think of that as a joyous time, yet many of us have found ourselves in difficult situations that marred that joy. How were you able to relate to Isabella’s mixed emotions at discovering she was pregnant?
I was very young and far from home and family (except my new husband) when expecting my first child. My joy was tampered with apprehension, not to mention financial challenges, as we were very young and starting with nothing. Joseph and Mary had an incredibly difficult time as they awaited the birth of Jesus on that first Christmas, so the connection comes full circle—which I suppose is why many critics are calling A Christmas Journey Home a “modern-day Nativity story.”

3. Considering the vital part Isabella’s abuelo (grandfather) played in this story, is there someone in your own life who prayed for you in much the same way?
My German grandmother, Omi, was the only Christian in our family, and she prayed for all of us. She died at 90, having seen me, my brothers, and my mom come to accept Jesus, but not seeing my dad/her son do the same. But a loved one’s prayers are not constrained by time. Her son/my father came to Christ in the last week of his life, just after his 88th birthday. I rejoice to know they are reunited now around the throne of God! Also, my praying mother has now joined them, leaving us just after her 90th birthday this past August. What a legacy!

4. Miriam was a brokenhearted widow in a difficult situation. Were you able to relate to her in a personal way?
Having lost my parents isn’t the same as losing a husband, and yet it is still a painful time. I know so many who have lost loved ones recently, and each of us must make the same choice as Miriam: will we allow our pain to drive us away or toward the Father’s heart? It is a decision each of us must make many times during our earthly journey.

5. Francisco was not only devoted to his wife and unborn child, but to God as well. How do you think he reconciled such devotion with his willingness to defy the law and cross the border illegally?
This is, no doubt, the crux of the story. As Christians, where we do we stand when it comes to breaking the law in order to save a life? Does this illegal immigration issue compare to Christians who broke the law in Nazi Germany to save Jewish lives? I don’t know that I answered this question in A Christmas Journey Home, but I hope I left the readers with some new considerations to pray about after closing the last page of the book.

Luke 2:11: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

At age 3, my son memorized this verse and knew Christian Christmas carols.

In contrast, a child visited my home. I played and sang Christian Christmas carols. She didn’t know any of them.

I offered to help her make a Christmas card. She wanted to make one for Santa. She said, “I love Santa.”

As we talked, I realized she had no understanding of the reason for the season.

As Christians, we have the privilege of telling others why we celebrate Christmas.

When others talk about Christmas lights, Christmas cards and Christmas presents, let’s talk about the birth of the Savior.

Let’s have a Nativity set in our home. Let’s get ready to celebrate the birthday of our Savior, Christ the Lord.

Dear God, help me get ready for the birthday of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Application: What will you do this week to teach your children or other people why we celebrate Christmas?

Copyright © by Yvonne Ortega December 6, 2011

My blog on addiction and domestic violence: http://www.yvonneortega.blogspot.com

Latest Recording: Listen to Yvonne Ortega teach how to pray God’s Word for our loved ones. Interview #68 October 25, 2011 at www.blogtalkradio.com/hope-for-the-journey