“Authenticity” by: Belen Escamilla

Authenticity is difficult to find today. How far does one go to find a truly authentic person? Authentic relationships are harder to find because of  how close you can be and how real you can be. Many of us tend to be careful who we are open with. Whether it’s dealing with personal issues we have, struggles, relationships and the most important our spiritual walk with God.  

This falls under the same categories for young men and ladies, to be vulnerable and exposed…Scary…because everything is known of you…fears, dreams, flaws…we can go on and on.  

How many people know you…the real you…what about God?… 

God expects us to be vulnerable and fully exposed to him. He would never reject us. A relationship with God allows every single one of us a chance at authenticity. 

Naked: Bare, nude, defenseless, uncovered, or plainly revealed 

Moses who wrote the book of Genesis refers to Adam and Eve’s physical nakedness. He described the time before sin occurred and what destroyed the union Adam and Eve had with God. Moses refers to more then just Adam and Eve’s nakedness. As much as implying on their vulnerability, authenticity and their safety. There was no need for Adam and Eve to hide. There were no secrets, no feelings of shame, or rejection. Their relationship was the safest and purest relationship in the world representing what God wants from every single one of us.  

Authenticity: 

• brings true intimacy with our creator
• allows us to experience God’s love
• enables us to be fully known by Him

 

Authentic people don’t have to lie nor pretend. All they have to do is live in truth.

Many young people fear to be honest about who they really are because of being judged, others thinking less of them, and worst of all REJECTION. God wants every single one of us to be authentic with Him. Most of all He wants us to be REAL. Authenticity is the door to being fully loved and known by God. Of course we have the choice to be open with anyone. But God gives us the chance to be open with Him. 

So what’s the secret to true authenticity…think about it for a moment… 

Why was nakedness so easy for Adam and Eve? How were they able to be authentic and not fear rejection? Why was it so easy? First of all the environment they lived in was sinless. There were no barriers of sin getting in the way of their relationship with God. This enabled them to be genuine; safe in their own spiritual relationship. But once sin occurred both came to the realization that they were exposed and unprotected. 

How sad? 

The fall of Adam and Eve gives us a prime example of what can happen when are hearts aren’t in the right place approvable to God. If were not open with God how can we truly be exposed to him. True authenticity requires us to be right with God. 

Jesus is the best example of true authenticity.  

Do you feel totally free and secure before God? How is your relationship with God? Examine your relationship with God for it reflects who you really are. Be the truly authentic person God wants.

“The Cave of Adullam” by: Joshua Barboza

A long time ago a prophet came to the house of Jesse and anointed David as the next king of Isreal. It was unusual because Saul was still the king of Isreal. Years later David found himself in the cave of Adullam, alone and running for his life. In his time of solitude, David is confronted with a timeless challenger…doubt. David is challenged by doubt for a moment in his ministry and maybe David begins to question whether God really called him to be king. Maybe many people told David that the prophet was crazy and that he would never be king over Isreal. In that cave of Adullam, all David had to combat doubt with was a promise. It was a long time ago and he was just a boy when a promise was made to him. But that promised was what sustained David and encouraged him to keep on going.  

 

Young person there are times in our walk with God that we fill alone. We begin to doubt our ministry and we begin to question whether or not God really called us. But the only way to overcome doubt is by believing in our promise. Our promise is the antidote for doubt. The only way that we are going to “know that we know that we know” that God called us with a purpose…is by believing in our promise. The bible says in Hebrews that the heroes of the faith “…subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions” (Hebrews 11:33). They judged him faithful who had promised. It is necessary that we believe God is faithful and will keep his promises.

 

David was in the cave of Adullam for a purpose. It was in that cave that David learned to be hungry and passionate for God. It was in that cave that David learned to depend and trust in God. I believe it was because of hardships that like those that David learned to worship God and seek God’s counsel in every situation. This question might be asked, “…what would have happen if David did not pass through hardship?” I believe that David would not have been as thankful with God. David might not have been as passionate for worship. It is possible that David probably would not have written half of the Psalms. David’s stay in the cave was necessary. 

 

Superintendent Sandra Paseiro-Davis once said, “…achievement is always in ahead of us.” Young person, the cave has its purpose. It is to teach us to be hungry and passionate for God. It is birth within us a burning desire to succeed and take our ministry into the next level. It teaches us not to be satisfied and that there is always something greater to accomplish. We must not be conformed in the level in which we find ourselves. But rather we must have an unbridled desire to conquer new giants and reach our full potential. It is said that a lot of people do not reach there full potential because they lack the need to reach their goals. 

 

The cave of Adullam gives us a need to succeed. It is not a comfortable stay. It gives us the attitude that achievement is still in front of us and that there must be something better than this. The cave was not meant for us to live in forever, but it was made to teach us that greater things are always ahead of us. The greatest and most successful men in history have been those of less privileged status. They have been those that have had a great and unquenchable hunger to be successful. Likewise the cave gives us the unrelenting and unbending desire to triumph.  David had no choice but to succeed. Failure is no longer an option when you find yourself in a cave.

 

The cave of Adullam is five hundred feet in elevation and about two miles away from the Valley of Elah. It was in the Valley of Elah that David killed Goliath and routed the Philistine army. In the previous chapter David is given the sword of Goliath by the priest Ahimelech. Many years had passed since David killed Goliath and now he found himself two miles away from where it all took place. Let us use our imaginations for a while and picture this. David is at the mouth of the cave, he is able to see the Valley of Elah, and his has Goliath’s sword in his hand. God shows David that the problem is not as big as he thought is was. It was at that moment that David remembers the greatness of God and how God was able to use him. At that moment David knew without a doubt that God had called him with a purpose. 

 

Young person, the cave has its purpose. It is to introduce hunger and passion, but it also serves to remind us of the greatness of God. God will show us that there is nothing to big for Him. God had to show David the problem from His view. The cave is a reminder that the giant has already been defeated. In that cave David was reminded that God was faithful to his promises. Doubt was defeated and David realized that he had been called with a purpose. The cave will rebirth a passion within us and it will also serve to remind us that there is nothing to big for God.

“Set Aside Everything” by: Belen Escamilla

If you can allow yourself to picture being face to face with God..would you be prepared for questions he would ask… 

Would you be ashamed in answering them? Or to be content knowing if it was the right thing you had acted upon? I believe at times we don’t look at our own actions but can look easily at others and find every flaw. It is easily to look at some ones downfalls just to feel better about yourself. When you alone know your own imperfections. 

I remember a reading about a dream that an author named Joshua Harris had where he found himself in a room with small index card files that stretched for miles. Many of the headings of course caught his attention. It was funny how as he was flipping through the cards, in shock to recognize that it was an entire catalog system of his very own life. 

Imagine every moment, every action, and every thought recorded wether big or small of your whole entire life. Who wouldn’t feel sense of horror and curiosity like Joshua as he was exploring every card. At the same time some brought him joy. While others a sense of shame so intense that he looked over his shoulder to see if anyone was watching. 

He noticed the titles ranging from “Comfort I have given” to “Jokes I have laughed at”. He was in disbelief of how millions of cards could even be written in just the 20 years of his life. But each card was signed with his signature. 

As he approached another heading titled “lustful thoughts” he pulled out one of the cards and began to read it. He felt so sick to his stomach to know that a moment such as that was recorded. He wanted to destroy every card. He tried and tried but it was as if each card was hard as steel. 

Leaning against the wall defeated and helpless. He noticed another heading which read “People I have shared the Gospel With”. When he opened the box no more then 3 inches fell into his hands. A hurt so intense, with a shame so overwhelming shook through his whole body. But as he pushed away his tears….he saw HIM. 

Joshua couldn’t bear to watch His response. He then pulled himself together to look at His face and saw a sorrow so deeper then his very own. Joshua watched Him as he walked to the worst boxes. 

He then looked at Joshua with a pity that didn’t anger him but caused him to cry. Instead of rejecting Joshua he walked over and cried with him. He then got up and walked back to the files and began to sign all of them. Joshua wanted to stop him. But there it was every card signed with JESUS over his name. 

WOW..to only believe how a God regardless of anything would have the audacity to still have compassion and love toward every single one of us. Of course we will have our problems, struggles, and days where we just want to be alone. Hey were human..God did give us feelings and emotions…were not robots. Like Joshua we all have a “room”…where everything is recorded. 

But to bring upon yourself the love God has for his people and see others the way he seen Joshua. Regardless of what you know about that person or what they may have done. Yes, it is quick to judge but remember where God has brought you from. I encourage you, young person to set aside the pride, how you may feel, and to help one another. It’s amazing how even a phone call could make a difference in someone’s life. 

“Intimate With God?” by: Vanessa Cardenas

Relationships…. interesting topic right? For some of you, it’s all you talk about, for others… you dread the subject! You get young people talking about relationships and it can go on for hours, whether you like or not. But what is it about relationships that makes us shiver a bit and get excited? What comes into our mind? 

 

Lets face it; as young people … as human beings we need relationship. It’s the way God has created us. He has made us intimate beings! What does it mean to be intimate? 

 

WEBSTER:

Intimacy; 1) Feeling of being intimate and belonging together (and all the girls go ‘awww!’) 

2) Something of a personal or private nature

 

Intimate; 1) Showing a profound and detailed knowledge and understanding as from long study

2) Indicating knowledge of personal details that only a close confidant could have

 

Wow! It’s a little more deep than what we thought! Are you intimate with anyone like what is described above? 

 

It seems so easy to become intimate with someone. As young people we tend to give ourselves away so easily. When you meet someone that you find attractive, it’s so easy to get caught up in what you see and you find yourself drowning in the emotional pool that you can create. But have you ever stopped and asked yourself why is it so hard to become intimate with God?

 

What is it that holds us back from giving ourselves so freely and easily as we do to others… to God? 

 

Is it because we know the sacrifices that God requires of us? Is it because we are looking for fleshly satisfaction rather than spiritual and healthy satisfaction? 

 

Whatever it may be… God REQUIRES that we have close intimacy with Him!

 

How can we serve our God, give our lives over to Him and not know the deepest part of Him? Not know His heart, His mind? 

 

We have to understand the cause that we are fighting for and the only way to find that out is by having the same passion and heart as the one we are following. It’s amazing what will happen when we begin to ask God for his heart. He will begin to change the way we look at the world. When you drown yourself in God and are consumed by Him, you are no longer fighting for yourself, you are no longer “just a christian”, you no longer see church as “following the rules” or “going through the routine” but you begin to see people the way God see’s people. You see past their mistakes, you see past their faults and sin and you begin to see the person that God falls in love with and died for. 

 

When we become close to God, he will begin to show us things that we can only know when we are close to Him. He will open our eyes to much bigger things. 

 

How do we obtain this intimacy with God? What does it cost? 

 

 

John 3:30 He must become greater; I must become less.

 

WE BECOME LESS! The only way that we will ever reach the heart of God is to humble ourselves and realize that we are nothing without Him! We need to realize that it goes beyond our talents, our successes and even our failures! 

Without God, we can not survive! It’s not about what position we hold, what events we are involved in. All of that is temporary! Sooner or later our time will pass, all of that will go away and God will bring in fresh voices that He is raising up. But if we are so dependent on our talents and agenda’s what will happen when all of that is no longer valid? Will we still have a solid foundational relationship with the one we love? Or will you have been so blinded with your ‘15 min. of fame’ that you forgot the one who you fell in love with?

God forbid, we use God in that way. We must live our lives for the cause. It’s time that we go back and fall in love with Him all over again! 

When you are in love with someone, you put yourself aside. You don’t think about what you need or what you want, all you care about is that the other person is happy. You will do whatever is in your power to always have the best for them, to make them happy, even if it means sacrificing your own dreams and happiness. 

Are we truly in love with God? 

would we be willing to sacrifice our dreams and happiness to follow Him? 

I once heard a preaching with the title “What will You do when the party is over?” 

When we are done enjoying the opportunities that God has given us, when it’s all said and done… will we still be truly in love with Him…will we be able to recognize our lover? 

God forbid, we would be so lost in ourselves that we forget what the touch of God feels like, what His sweet voice sounds like….

John 3:30 He must become greater; I must become less.

“The Reason For Brokeness” By: Joshua Barboza

   When people hear the word brokenness thoughts of negativity often come to mind. Hushed whispers are heard in the background and an eternal gasp is expelled when this word is said. Sadly, I am reminded of a particular scene in Disney’s the Lion King. The scene involves the Hyenas sitting in some hellish place and trembling at the saying of the name Mufasa. It was a subject they did not wish to visit. Likewise, brokenness is often ignored, rejected, and all together avoided. People simply do not desire to be broken. However, there is a reason for brokenness. Hence, we must make ourselves encounter it and embrace it in its totality. 

 

        Brokenness is our avenue to greatness. Every great and legendary man in the Bible went through the road of brokenness. Namely, King David lived a life of profound and immense brokenness. Before King David was king. He lived the rough life of a common runaway and fugitive. He did not always live in the comforts of a royal palace. Before that he made his dwelling place in rugged caves of the wilderness. He ate, drank, and slept with brokenness. It was a school he needed to graduate from. It was the avenue that would take his life and ministry to a whole new dimension. Before there can be greatness…there must be brokenness. Young person are you ready for brokenness? Brokenness is what will lead you into the miraculous with God. The road of brokenness will take you to greatness. You may be small and insignificant now, but God has big plans for your life.

 

            Young person do not be afraid of brokenness. Don’t be afraid because there is a rule to brokenness. The rule is that if God BREAKS us. God must MAKE us. God will never leave us broken in a million pieces. It is against God’s nature to forsake us in our time of need. God told the people of Israel “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” God is always there even when it seems that the world has abandoned us. A great example of this is the Prodigal Son. The day came when he found himself alone and with no friends. It was a time of loneliness; a time of should have and could have, and a time of complete regret. In short it was a time of utter and pure brokenness. But in his brokenness he made a very interesting request. He says, “I will go to my father and ask him to MAKE me as one of his hired servants.” It is only in brokenness that we truly desire our Heavenly Father to MAKE us. To make us and mold us into what He wants us to become. Rest assured that God will not leave us broken. He is our MAKER.

 

            One of the great patriarchs during the American revolutionary period was Thomas Paine. He once was said, “If there is trouble, let it be in my day that my child may have peace.”  In other words today may be bitter, but tomorrow will be better. Brokenness makes a pact with whoever is brave enough to encounter it. It says, “If you get through the hardships of today. You will see the blessings of tomorrow.” The Bible says that Jacob wrestled till daybreak for a blessing. He wrestled an angle and refused to let go until he received his blessing. It is necessary that we wrestle till daybreak and not let go. Jacob knew that if he could just hang on till morning his situation would become better. We must not give up in the midst of brokenness because our blessing is just around the corner. Brokenness is not forever and your situation will get better.

 

            There is a reason for your brokenness. Remember, if you are being broken right now it’s because God is preparing you for something great in the future. He is equipping you for greatness. You will never find someone who has been successful in life without having the markings of brokenness. They serve as seals of approval that that person is worthy of greatness. A lot of us desire greatness, but few of us desire to pay the price with brokenness. Nonetheless, God’s School of Brokenness is open to whoever chooses to enter. To whomever is brave enough to make a pact with brokenness, and to whoever is willing to encounter the hardships of today in order to see the blessings of tomorrow. God’s invitation is this. He says, “I have an awesome and amazing job lined up for you. But you must first get your diploma from My school. It is called the School of Brokenness .” The journey is intense and troublesome. But in the end you will be ready for greatness. I encourage you, young person, to take this road of brokenness. It is absolutely worth it!