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Category Archives: Inspiration
God Removes Kings and Appoints Kings!
The situation in Ecuador, and in fact in several countries around the world, is critical. In recent weeks, one of the presidential candidates in Ecuador was assassinated; but this event wasn’t isolated. In fact, for a couple of months now, politicians have been targeted with life-threatening attacks, and sadly, a few have been killed.
Shock and anguish grip the people of Ecuador just hours away from choosing a new President for the nation on August 20th. We are convinced that only God’s intervention can save this country and so many others that are experiencing terror, confusion, and disorder within their territories. But it requires an entire nation, a whole community, to come to repentance from their wrongful ways.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
With humble hearts before our Creator and Savior – Christ Jesus, let us unite in prayer for Ecuador!
Attack on Innocence!
“99% of victims trafficked for sexual exploitation are women and girls…”
It is truly impossible to imagine that even the smallest, most vulnerable ones can be and indeed are subject to attack.
Yes, sadly, the world lives in ignorance and ignores what is happening around them. As stated on the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) website, “Human trafficking is a global, multi-billion-dollar with no country immune. Every year, millions across the world fall victim to traffickers for the purpose of exploitation.”[1]
And not only that, “More than 1 million children, according to the International Labour Organization, are exploited each year in the commercial sex trade.[2]
World’s Children, on the other hand, states, “99% of victims trafficked for sexual exploitation are women and girls (IBLA, 2019). Traffickers use threats, lies, violence, debt bondage, and coercion to force victims to engage in commercial sex acts against their will.[3]
Chilling statistics, aren’t they? However, this dark side of human trafficking, especially involving children, is even more complex and putrefying, which would require much more time and space to analyze.
For now, it is more than enough because the purpose of this article is to raise awareness among parents, teachers, authorities, and the community in general, so that we keep our eyes wide open and a willing heart to become true defenders of children and adolescents. The world is becoming increasingly perverted, where personal interests prevail, including the dirty movement of money and low passions, at the cost of attacking and destroying innocent lives.
Yes, let’s keep our eyes wide open because unfortunately, individuals disguised as tenderness and innocence may be lurking in the surroundings of schools, health centers, neighborhoods, and even in our own homes, whose fundamental purpose is to “precisely destroy the tenderness and innocence of our little ones.”
Wess Stafford, President Emeritus of Compassion International, wisely stated in one of his books: “The spirit of a little child is a lot
like wet cement. When a child is young, it takes little effort to make an impression that can last a lifetime.”[4] What a great truth!
This July 30th marks World Day against Trafficking in Persons. Let us be alert not only on this day but every day, minute by minute, and be the guardians of our children and adolescents worldwide. Let’s confront anyone and anything to defend the life and integrity of each child. As adults, it is our responsibility!
God states it in His Word: “How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 82:2-4)
May our Creator find us always doing what is right!
To conclude, Hacia la Excelencia highly recommends the film “Sound of Freedom” Official Trailer currently available in English and being screened in the United States. It will soon be available in Latin America and other continents. It’s a movie we cannot miss, based on true events, that will inspire us to act even more as true defenders of children and adolescents.
[1] https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/endht/index.html
[2] https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/nation-now/2018/01/30/sex-trafficking-column/1073459001/
[3] https://www.worldschildren.org/child-trafficking-statistics/
[4] https://kidminandculture.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/excerpt_toosmall1.pdf
New Year – New Life!
“The life of the human being is so fleeting.”
2023 – is not just another number, it represents a new opportunity! Certainly, many around the world have started working on their “New Year’s resolutions”, resolutions that unfortunately will fade as the days go by and perhaps in a couple of months. Few are those who keep hope alive and their eyes set on reaching the goal.
But we should all go beyond poetically writing a couple of “New Year’s resolutions”; and we should take a prudential time to meditate in our hearts and evaluate our life in the light of our “life manual”. What is that “life manual”, some may ask? Well, the only “life manual” that every human being has and should have is the Bible.
For some, the Bible is unfortunately already an obsolete book, of yesteryear, worthless in the era in which we live. For others, the Bible is almost an “amulet”, they enjoy having it as a wonderful ornament and sign of “good luck” in one of their rooms. But happily, for many others, the Bible is truly the Word of God, it is the “life manual” that the Creator has given to His Creation and even more so to those who are His sons and daughters.
And the Word of God tells us “ yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (James 4:14 – ESV)
And yes, the life of the human being is so fleeting. It’s almost a dream as parents raise their little ones, watch them crawl, walk, run, and almost disappear into adulthood – their studies, their businesses, their commitments, their new families. “Time flies” say some; and in truth it is so. What is 70 – 80 years old? In some cases, perhaps much less or perhaps a few more years. But what are a few decades compared to eternity? Time flies, earthly life is really fleeting.
The Psalmist David wisely tells us: “Teach us to understand the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 – NLT). And it is that no one has a guaranteed tomorrow; however, while the grace of our Creator allows us to be on this planet, we must yearn to live a life full of wisdom, love, grace and service to others.
And perhaps everyone who reads this article can say, I live that life! But I must be very clear, no one lives, nor will they live, a truly wise life, without having personally met the Giver of life and the Source of wisdom, Christ Jesus.
For this reason, at this beginning of the New Year 2023, I invite you to evaluate your life and refocus it if necessary, so that the Creator of Heaven and Earth, of the entire universe, may not be only Your Creator, but you may also allow Him to enter into your life and embrace you as only a Father knows how to do it.
And for this, you only need to recognize 3 simple but profound things at the same time:
- We are all sinners – None is righteous, no, not one, the Bible tells us (Romans 3:10).
- I can’t do anything on my own to cleanse myself of my sins. There is no human effort that can erase the evil that is in the heart of man (Jeremiah 17:9).
- I recognize that only the perfect sacrifice of Christ on the cross is the only thing that cleanses me from all sin and that by accepting Jesus as my only Savior, it is the only thing that brings me from death to life, from darkness to light. It is the only way to go from “creature” to “son or daughter of God” (John 1:12).
As 2023 begins, I encourage you to make the biggest decision of your life, if you haven’t already. God, your Creator is waiting for you with open arms – accept His invitation, don’t put it off until tomorrow, because tomorrow may already be too late.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. (John 3:16-17)
New Year – new life in Christ Jesus!
NOTE: If you would like to learn more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, please contact us.
Light beyond Christmas!
“The incandescent Christmas lights will soon go out… Jesus, the Light of the world, will never be extinguished.”
Cecy Yépez
There is almost no place in the world, in which during this time the cities are lit and illuminated. And in the largest metropolises, this is tremendously evident. Intense and colorful lights adorn parks, shopping malls, large buildings, and certainly residential neighborhoods. Throughout the month of December, this is the most common experience around the world.
And yes, this custom probably brings joy, enthusiasm and lifts the spirits of many; forgetting for a moment the tremendous challenges, difficulties and obstacles faced throughout the year. But how long will your enthusiasm last? The lights will eventually go out probably at the start of the new year.
However, there is a light that will never go out – Christ Jesus, the real reason for Christmas who did not come to illuminate a certain time of the year. More than 2000 years ago, Jesus, God Himself, came to this world with a special purpose, to give His life as a ransom for many, for you and for me; so, that recognizing that we are sinners, that we are not righteous in ourselves, we would realize the great need for a Savior. Let us then recognize the great need to be brought out of the darkness into His marvelous light.
Don’t we live in a world awash in darkness? A world full of evil – violence and abuse in all forms, corruption on a grand scale, deception on all levels, depression, and self-destruction; and this just to name a few elements of this vast world of evil.
The incandescent Christmas lights will soon go out and just hold out for a few more weeks. Jesus, the Light of the world, will never be extinguished. He desires with all His heart to come and dwell in your life and illuminate it from today and forever. He longs to bring you from death to life, from darkness to His marvelous light.
Please, decide today to leave behind the world of darkness that has surrounded you until now; and open your heart to Jesus Christ, who tells you: “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12)
If you do so, you can genuinely celebrate your first and true Christmas!
Cecilia (Cecy) Yépez was born in Ecuador, South America.
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