Run to Jesus: Don't Stop at Any Time

I love running, thanks to Coach Bob Paulson at Pacific Union College. Some days, I don't have someone to play flag football, or soccer, or basketball, or baseball with. No problem. I just lace up my running shoes and hit the track. I am forever indebted to Coach Paulson and the Pacific Union College Cross Country Team for instilling in me a passion for running.

I love running. Running with friends, or running on my own. Running in the blazing heat, or running in the torrential downpour of rain. I even once ran in the snow. LOL! Running may not be for everybody though, but if you have good knees and a decent back, put in a few miles a week, and you will see great benefits in your life.

If you run, or have run before, you know that with conditioning comes resistance. Run for 5 minutes today, and tomorrow for 10. The more you do it, the better and faster you become at it. The trick is not to stop for any reason, but to keep your stride as long as you can. 20 minutes, 30 minutes, or more if you can. I don't run with music, I just enjoy the scenery and pray as I run. So you will find it as no surprise to discover that a street sign posted on the side of a running course caught my attention today: "Tow Away. No Stopping at Any Time". No Stopping Any Time? What about a water break, or a bathroom break, or an emergency stop? I knew that sign was placed there to discourage drivers from parking their cars in the area that is meant for walking or running, but how appropriate for us this week who are beginning another week of hustle and bustle, of grinding and fighting, of surviving and thriving. I got the message.

This is a new week full of unlimited possibilities. The sky is the limit. God is with us both on the mountain tops and in the valleys. He is both God when we are above and when we are below. He is with us both when everything is going great and our spiritual life is burning with God's fire, and also when we are at rock-bottom and sense that our spiritual life has crashed and burned out. How appropriate: "Tow Away. No Stopping at Any Time". As for drivers who are tempted to stop and park where they shouldn't, so for Christians who are on the road called life. We are headed home to Heaven. We are homeward bound. It is tempting sometimes, to stop and enjoy the pleasures of this world. The entertainment, the food, the music. Yet, let us not be deceived. We are fellow travelers who need to keep running and moving every day. We can't stop. "Tow Away. No Stopping at Any Time". We may slow down because of age or health or responsibilities, but we must not stop. Keep doing good, keep giving God glory by loving Him and your neighbors more each day. Even if you have to do it slower, keep doing it in the name of Jesus. Don't stop. If you do, there is the risk of being towed away by the driver of this world (Satan), who is happy at towing those who are standing or sitting, into a dark vortex from which it is difficult to escape. But don't despair. If you have slowed down or been towed by that Dark Fallen Angel, there is one called Jesus the Christ who can, in the words of Martin Luther's famous hymn, "fell him with just one word." There is hope. There is a rescue plan in place by God to save those who have stopped living a God life.

So what are you waiting for? Get moving. If you can't run yet, walk. Walk to Jesus. Move quickly. If you do, you will soon discover that you are running towards Him and your heart will beat faster, healthier, and happier every day. Soon you will run into His arms, and Together You will help to make your world a better place to live in.

Blessings!

Pastor Sal Garcia

God opens prison gates and parking gates too

I was scavenging for enough change to complete the $6.00 parking fee at the hospital stay while visiting a sick patient who solicited prayer for healing and strength. I was leaving the hospital having just witnessed God heal this dear brother from a life threatening condition. Praise God! Lightning sometimes strikes once, almost never twice. Right? ...

As I came up to try and pay the parking fee, the man in the parallel lane was fighting with the parking validation machine. He used some explicit language which is not worth repeating. I drove up the the parking meter directly next to it to pay my $6.00 when all of a sudden the gate just opened. I blinked twice to make sure I wasn't dreaming. The gate stayed open in time for me to drive out, and just as soon as I did, it closed again.

I had heard of God opening prison doors and doors of opportunity for others, but never a parking gate for His children. I know, some of you may be saying. Pastor, you didn't pay for the service you received. Trust me, I made sure someone else also received the the same blessing I had. On the way home, I came to a stop light and saw a man without a hand who was offering to clean car windows. I put out my hand and said, "God bless you sir." He smiled and said, "Thank you, you don't know how much I needed this money!" ... I told him, "You don't now how much I need to give you this money", for greater is the blessing in giving that in receiving.

So I guess, we can faithfully and confidently change the Words to the Gospel song, "I Got a River of Life" to the following.

Instead of:

I got a river of life flowing out of me,
Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see,
Opens prison gates sets the captives free,
I got a river of life flowing out of me.

Let us sing:

I got a river of life flowing out of me,

Gives miracles and blessings to share with others indeed, 

Opens Parking Gates and the Hungry Feeds,

I got a river of life flowing out of me.

Amen!

Remember, God is not limited by time, space, or natural laws. If he needs to reach us, even by making a parking-gate open accidently, He will. God uses any means to convince us that He exists and will do "Exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or imagine!"

God still answers prayers for the sick

I have to be honest. I believe in miracles, but I don't witness them first-hand too often. When I pray for miracles, it is usually for others instead of for myself. Sometimes,  God who has a great sense of humor, will allow me to experience one, sometimes two miracles back to back. It's his way of reminding me that I need to stay on my knees and stay humble.

Recently, I spent an entire night visiting a church member and friend who went to Urgent Care Center and was told to go "Quickly to the ER. This is serious. Go now!" By the time I arrived, he was already in the ER and had undergone blood tests, a CT Scan, and other tests to determine what his sickness was. I prayed with him and told him, "Your church and family is praying for you. Here is the promise we are claiming for you tonight: "So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you." Exodus 23:25

We prayed for his sickness to be removed by God if that was His will. Otherwise, for God to give him strength and trust to know that "in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28). Ten hours later, the doctors at the ER said to him, "Sir, all tests and exams are negative. You are not sick. You appear to be healthy. You might just have a virus. That's all. You are not in danger. You may leave the hospital. You are ok!" ... 

Praise God for answers to prayers. As Mark Batterson says in the Circle Maker, "Bold prayers honor God. God honors bold prayers." This dear brother was getting ready to go into surgery, but instead he will be giving a powerful testimony at his church and workplace about the mercy of God in healing him.