What Did You Pick Up?

Original image - Copyright: (c) Thisisdon | Dreamstime.com

Dear Reader, 

It has been a month since I last wrote. There has been a lot of different things going on taking up a lot of my time. Needless to say, here I am taking some time to write and share. I have had something in my heart for some time and it's been a bit of a journey. 

This journey has caused me to self-reflect and ask myself the same question I am about to impose on you. 

WHAT DID YOU PICK UP?

How did I come up with such a forthright question? Well, that is what I am going to get into.  So let us dive right in...

To begin we need to reference 2 Kings 2:13-14 

"He picked up the mantle of Elijah that fell off him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he too had struck the waters, they divided this way and that, and Elisha crossed over."

Here we see that Elijah drops his mantle (coat) and Elisha PICKED IT UP. Not only did he pick it up, but he used it, he wore it (I'm adding my own thought here), and he claimed it as his own. For so long I was sitting on how Elijah never gave Elisha the mantle.

Here is where I started to begin my self-reflection and ask myself "What did I pick up?". In my journey, meaning my life, I have picked up a lot of things that I'm not proud of. I picked up such things: pride, labels, false identity, and a slew of other things that had it not been for Jesus, I would not be here writing this blog.

Now after an amazing day in December of 2017, I picked up something that changed my whole life...

Digging deeper into this story I discovered something, something amazing. Let's go back a book to

1 Kings 19:19 

"So Elijah departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his mantle (coat) on him."

Did you catch it? Just like that hidden in plain sight, Elijah gave Elisha his mantle. 

Now I pose this question to you: 

WHAT DID YOU PICK UP? 

What was it that was given to you that you have claimed to be your truth? What habit do you have that you think you can't stop or let go of? What false identity are you living in? 

In this referenced story Elijah asks Elisha what can he give to him before being taken up to heaven. Elisha's reply was he wanted a double portion of what Elijah had. 

Let me encourage you right now!  God has placed something on you that is great. You have a purpose placed on you that is always under attack by the enemy. Allow God to give you a double portion. Allow God to show you, who you are in Him. Allow Him to show you how he sees you. 

PICK UP YOUR PURPOSE!

  Osbert Maldonado

Though You Looking Your Not Seeing

Dear Reader, 

It has been a busy few weeks. I want to share with you a poem that I had to write in High School. I don't remember the actual assignment per se, however, this poem was the result. The interesting thing about this poem is not the power of the words, but instead, hmmm well why don't you tell me? 

Though You Looking Your Not Seeing

A LOOK AT ME...

You stood there and asked me to write a page and let it come out of me.

Then you said that it will be true. 

But how true can I be? Who is me, really? 

Let's see how I can bring me to a reality,

For you to see me as I see myself at this point in time. 

So many changes have occurred that my mind is all blurred. 

But attempt do I, to clear this from mine eye. 

Insecure and afraid, mute by choice, 

Though at times I wish I was more invisible to their demeaning eye. 

Held back, not able to move forward, not even able to grow! 

A young boy slammed into himself, sheltered and confused. 

Dare he, no, I come out, rub my, his eye and see that reality, that I, us, and we are free? 

How free am I really that years passed and still feel the pain from when I was only in grade three? 

Having trusted and believed in a Man I can't see, I opened up my most deep inner part of me.

But to then after so long believing I was free, he came and captured me. Who is He you ask? 

Well, quite simply that same one that had me, him, us, in a box. 

Such a plan to keep me from knowing me, can this really be me, insecure, afraid, lost, and lonely? 

NO! 

By no means! 

I am not he and he truly isn't me. 

I am strong, secure, assured!

A product of time itself revealing true self. 

Through the abuse, hurt and pain I was able to rise and bloom! 

I stand here a new creation, a new form of self! 

A transformation, only capable of being made through His hands, His ways! 

Nonetheless, I am FREE!

Open your eyes and notice that I am not what you initially see, 

In order to really see me through mine eyes, come over to my side. 

I am more than just a product of your eyes!

  Osbert Maldonado

 

P.S.  I have my own MMCL apparel line, campaign ending soon, don't wait they will be sold out soon.

Be Still...Don't Stay Still

Dear Reader, 

Since my last post, I obviously had a lot of time on my hands. Time, that I could have used to be super productive or super lazy.  Having "free" time can be a good thing but also can turn out to be a bad thing. When you have free time, this is when the enemy likes to mess with you the most. This is where you have the opportunity to make a choice. 

Do I work on this or that? Do I not work and just lay around relaxing, I mean, I do deserve it right? I normally don't have "me" time. These are just some of the things that have crossed my mind since I have been on my involuntary vacation. 

Psalm 46:10 states: "Be still and know that I am God..." What does that even mean? Do I just do nothing all? NO definitely not. This verse has been with me for some time. 

Be still, but God how am I supposed to take care of my family? BE STILL!  How am I going to get out of this situation? BE STILL!  The deadline is coming up and I have no way of...BE STILL, BE STILL, BE STILL!!!

You see being still doesn't mean to stay still. Being still means to trust in God.  To know that whatever it is you are going through, you trust that He will see you through it. Being still means to not panic, to trust that God has the solution. 

Being still is about TRUST! 

We still should go and do what we can.  You need an income, apply for work.  You have a serious situation that needs solutions, ask for help.  All while being at peace with your knowing that He is God and you will be alright.

I want to encourage you today. Be still...Be at peace...know that you know...He is God.  He was with you for it, He will be with you during it, and He is there waiting for you after it. 

Food for thought: 

Proverbs 3:1-35 

My son, do not forget my teaching but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

I shared on Psalm 46:10 at a men's group. The video is uploaded to my youtube account.

 Osbert Maldonado

WELFARE

 

Dear Reader, 

I recently read this passage and it caused me to think about our current mindset. 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

As you can see I bolded "Welfare". What did I think about when I saw that one word?  Well first I thought about how if you are ON welfare, most of the time it is backed by a series of negative thoughts. Thoughts that are defeating.  

Allow me for one moment to change this thought. You see I looked up the word in the dictionary on my trusty phone. Take a look: 

Welfare: The health, happiness, and fortunes of a person or group

You see, I was hit so strongly with how our society has changed this word. When you're on welfare it means that you are getting assistance from taxpayer's hard-earned money, which the government facilitates. 

However when you are trusting in God...He has "plans for welfare". Does this mean we should be on welfare?  😬  NO, obviously! It means that He cares for our well-being. 

Yes, now this sounds about right. How often are words taken out of context? Think about that last text argument you had. How did you feel when you read it? Was it taken to a whole different level? Did you read and re-read the text? (I've done that so many times) 

However, if we can just take a step back and think about it for a second. Welfare was intended to mean you care for someone other than yourself. You care for that person's well-being. You want the best for them. You want to see them happy. You want to see them achieve their full potential, to realize their dreams. 

God wants the same for us. He wants to see us free and to trust in Him. Why? Well, that's easy, He loves us. He can see the end of the road, while we can only see what is before us, and sadly what is behind us. 

Keep your focus on God. Just as Jeremiah 29:11 suggests, He has good things planned out for us, we just need to choose, if we are going to trust in His word and have faith or just take the easy way out and choose to stay with our negative welfare mindset. 

Food for thought: 

"So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest—the promised land] because of unbelief and an unwillingness to trust in God." Hebrews 3:19 (AMP) 

 Osbert Maldonado

 

In Who Do We Trust?

Dear Reader, 

How often do we put our trust in the wrong thing or wrong person? Then when we do, we get hurt, we get burned, or we get angry, at the thing/person, or at ourselves. 

Well, this last week, I lost my job, due to the company downsizing. This news came out of nowhere and I was immediately struck with sadness, fear, anxiety, and a thing called a panic attack. 

Thankfully my wife was there when this all happened, and she helped me get out of the panic attack. This is a real thing. I also had 2 of my best friends who stepped up to the plate and immediately prayed for me. 

Panic attack: Sudden episode of intense fear or anxiety and physical symptoms, based on a perceived threat rather than imminent danger.

After I was able to hear things clearly, I began to pray. Sometimes we need to clear out the clutter, the noise, the distractions around us before we can actually hear from God. The goal for us is to be able to hear from God in any situation. We can develop that communication by spending time with Him and spending time in His word. 

So back to my story. As I began to pray and just pour out all my fears and emotions, I heard deep in my spirit: "Are you not worth more than the birds of the air?" 

"HUH?" Wait this is true! Suddenly, this unexplainable joy came over me and I began to laugh. I was laughing so much that I forgot about my fear. I quickly realized that I do not put my trust in this world to supply my needs. 

Psalm 73:28 (AMP) states: "But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God; I have made the Lord God my refuge and placed my trust in Him, That I may tell of all Your works".

I can honestly say that since that moment, I have no fear. I am thankful and I trust that all will fall into place.  

I hope that this lesson I learned can be of inspiration to you. Don't give up! 

Food for thought: 

“Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:26 Amp

 Osbert Maldonado