Romans 12:3-8

In today’s study Paul the apostle encourages us to have a sober view of ourselves. Not to think too highly, but at the same time, not to think too “low”. Whatever gifts we have, as Christians, should be exercised for God’s glory and the good of the rest of the body. I always tell people to discover their gifts, to develop those gifts and to deploy those gifts. If you want to check out the study notes, click here.

Rosarito, Mexico – Outreach/Orphanage

This last Saturday we were blessed to go down to Rosarito, Mexico for a couple of reasons.
First off, we're praying about starting an orphanage. Some of the guys worked on the house and mapped out a plan.
The rest of the group served in an outreach at the park. We gave away food, clothing, toys and most important of all…the gospel. It was so cool to see the people respond and make professions of faith.
Please continue to keep all this in prayer!Rosarito, Mexico - Outreach/Orphanage

From My Daily Readings ~ July 29, 2009

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From my reading in Job 36:7-38:19: 
"He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous…" – Job 36:7 
 
"If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they do not obey, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge ." – Job 36:11-12 
 
"He does great things which we cannot comprehend." – Job 37:5 
 
From my reading in Matthew 13:24-52 
These are the parable of the tares, the mustard seed, the leaven, the hidden treasure, the pearl, and the dragnet. 
 
At the end of the age, the true and total separation will take place between the saints and the aints, the sheep and the goats, true believers and false believers. In the current age there are tares among the wheat, there are bad birds in the branches, there is leaven in the loaf, there are even wolves among the sheep. 
 
I can't read too much into it, but I often wonder if the reason for the tares being planted among the wheat is due to the sleeping of men (25). 
 
Scholars are divided, but I'm inclined to believe that the man and the merchant (44-46), is none other than Jesus who bought the world with His life (all that He had), in order to obtain the treasure and the pearl (that's the church). Wow! 
 
From my reading in Acts 2:38-3:21 
As the church continued stedfastly in it's priorities (2:42), it thrived and grew. 
 
"And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." – Acts 2:47 
 
As Peter and John went to the temple with a heart to pray. God opened the door to minister and preach. They didn't have gold but they had God, they didn't have money, but they had the Messiah. 
 
I love what they say in 3:12, "…why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made the man walk." "And faith in His name (Jesus), through faith in His name, has made this man strong…" 
 
I have jury duty today, please pray for my family, God's flock, and this fellow…for God's will and wisdom as I serve (if I serve) in jury duty.

 
YbiC, 
 
Manny 

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Prayer Requests & Praise Reports

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So much has been going on, so much is coming up…how I need to pray!  If you would join me in seeking the will and "well" of the Father, I would be blessed! 

1. Tomorrow (July 4th) there is an outreach going on at Cornell Corrections Center, in the city of El Monte. May many lives be touched and transformed, may God rain down salvation.

2. We are praying about starting up an orphanage in Rosarito, Mexico.  Can you imagine that?  "Starting up" an orphanage in Mexico – the only possible way is through Him, and His power on high – we just need to know His will.

3. We are praying about doing 4 outreaches in the city parks of El Monte, geared primarily towards the kids.  This would be an awesome way to enter into our Vacation Bible School.

4. I also want to praise God and thank you for your prayers for my mom and me.  My mom has finished her chemotherapy and we are awaiting the final results as to determine whether she needs radiation.  Up to this point – the tumors are gone!  As for my high blood-pressure, the doctor was absolutely blown away, at my last appointment my blood pressure was a bit BELOW average.  Once again, more decisions will be made at my next doctor's appointment…but no matter what, I will praise Him.

Father, I thank You so much for allowing us to cry out to You, to look up to You, to fall down and pray only for Your will.  Lord, You are the Savior…may You save souls, on the 4th, at the 4 outreaches, at VBS, and every opportunity You might make.  Lord, I know You love the orphans…if it's Your will, may we be a part of You starting up this Orphanage?  Lord, show us Your will.  And Father, I thank You so much for touching my mom, for the shrinkage of the tumors, for You loving and drawing my mom closer to You.  Father I pray that she would be healed, and totally cancer free.  I love You, and thank You, in Jesus' Name I pray.

2009 Senior Pastor’s Conference

I’m blessed to be here at the conference. The Lord is teaching me so much. Pray that I would listen, learn and live out loud all the things that He’s showing me.

I’m always so blown away to see the absolutely amazing work that God has done through the Calvary Chapel movement! Effective work is being done all around the world.

This year’s theme is “Hold Fast the Word” – from the book of 2 Timothy. 2009 Senior Pastor's Conference

Resurrection Celebration – 2009

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What a blessing our Easter/Resurrection Celebration was!  We met at the El Monte Community Center and the Lord brought and touched so many lives.  He showed up, and blessed; the choir, the skit, our guest musicians – Shachah, and the simplicity of His Word. It was truly a glorious day.  I am so grateful to God and for the beautiful people He has allowed me to serve with here at Calvary Chapel El Monte.

Lord I just want to thank You and give You all the glory for the wonderful work You are doing. And Lord, I pray for each and every person that attended…may You "rise" in every life. I pray especially for those who went forward, to recommit or receive You as the Lord of their life – may You strengthen them providing resurrection Pardon, Power…and Paradise one day. In Jesus' name.  Amen.

A Day in the Snow


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I was super blessed this last Tuesday to be able to go skiing with my son Aaron.  It was his first time skiing; and for me, it was the first time in about 20 years.  We decided to take a lesson and then venture out in faith.  

As you might expect, there was a lot of falling going on, (I can't tell you how many times I picked Aaron up) as a matter of fact, Aaron took a terrible spill that left him with a bloody abrasion on the right side of his face.  But, in spite of all the painful spills, when all was said and done, we both had had an awesome time, enjoying each other and the beauty of God's creation.   

I am so grateful to God for giving me this time with my son…and I just hope and pray that Aaron knows, he has a heavenly Father who will always be there to lift him up whenever he experiences the "falls" in life.  It's sometimes hard to comprehend, but his heavenly Father loves him with a love, infinitely more than I do (and I love him soooo much).  

Lord, thank You so much for being our Father, for loving us the way that You do, and for Your gracious willingness to lift us up when we experience the setbacks in life.  

"You pushed me violently, that I might fall, but the Lord helped me.  The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation."  - Psalm 118:13-14  

"He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap." – Psalm 113:7
 

Prayer Request ~ For My Mom

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When I took this photo with my mom, I was 20 pounds heavier (I had to tell you that) and everything seemed "fine" (little did I know).  

Approximately 1 month ago my mom (Lupe) was diagnosed with Lyphoma Cancer.  At first I was in denial, "it can't be"…but it is.

The doctor says that "it's treatable and there is a good chance for recovery"…and so, she began chemotherapy.  It's really taken it's toll.  She's in a lot of pain and she's lost her appetite.  She has sores throughout her mouth, and that makes it even more difficult to eat. Her last blood test was so bad that she's back in the hospital (as of last night).  Since my mom has taken medication for the past 40 years (she was in a terrible car accident when I was 1), she's not your typical patient…she acutally is in many ways, a medical mystery.  

But thankfully, not for the Lord.  The good thing though all this is that she's trusting the Lord and has yielded herself to whatever His will is.  I just thought I would post this as a prayer request, in times like this we're so vividly reminded – the Lord is our only hope.  So "…I give myself to prayer…" 

The Responsibility of Leaders

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This evening I continue the study of the book of Leviticus.  One of the truths that really hits home is the 4th chapter…the sin offering, and especially the fact that when those in "prominent positions" (High Priest, Leader) sinned, God saw it differently then He did the rest of the congregation.  As a matter of fact, when the High Priest sinned, there was a different offering (a young bull), and the blood was taken to a different place, into the Holy Place, sprinkled 7 times before the veil, and placed on the horns of the altar of incense (symbolic of restored prayer).  


I think we all as "leaders" need to take heed…to see how God sees sin, especially from those to whom He has given so much!  We have the honor and privilege of serving God.  We are leading His people…where are we leading them?  Billy Sunday said, "One reason sin flourishes is that it is treated like a cream puff instead of a rattlesnake."  I'm afraid we far too frequently see sin as trivial, rather than deadly.  Don't get me wrong…I am sooo grateful for the Lord Jesus who was my sin offering, but God help us to have a heart to hate sin, and to love our Savior!



Family Vacation in Newport

Recently we we’re blessed by the Goin family (my sister/brother in-law) with a vacation in Newport Beach. The Coronilla Clan had such a wonderful time together.  It’s good to do this once in a while (if you are able)…take some time to be together as a family; laugh, relax, explore…and most of all, seek the Lord.  Life can get soooo busy; too busy at times, and we can easily forget the priorities in life (Wife, Daughter and Son).  “And He said to them, ‘Come aside by yourself to a deserted place and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31)

I took this photo of the sunset – what a wonderful artist our Lord is!
 

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I want to know Christ more, and make Him known…