Latest / HAVE FAITH LET IT BEGIN® / Finding God in a World That Never Stops ten part series Ep1: You're Missing the Miracle
Transcript
- 0:00Welcome to Have Faith, Let It Begin. This is Ariel Santana.
- 0:04Can you believe I'm seven years old already? I'm old enough now to introduce my dad.
- 0:10Ladies and gentlemen, your host, my dad, Angel Santana.
- 0:15Two thousand came and a spark was lit. A testimony raw, it wouldn't quit.
- 0:20His mother's voice, a guiding thread. The angels are with you, she gently said.
- 0:26Have faith, let it begin.
- 0:46Hello, everyone, and welcome to Have Faith, Let It Begin, and welcome all the
- 0:50new users from SoundCloud. Welcome back home.
- 0:53If you're just joining us and you're probably about to embark on a new series
- 0:58because, yes, we are back on SoundCloud and all of different platforms,
- 1:03but I want to welcome the SoundCloud family.
- 1:06For those of you joining us, this is Have Faith, Let It Begin.
- 1:08My name is Angel Santana, and I want to thank you for joining me.
- 1:11You know, over the next two weeks, I'm going to invite you on a journey.
- 1:15Not a journey that requires packing a suitcase. No. Not one that requires taking
- 1:19time off of work, although that would be really cool.
- 1:22But a journey of the heart. Yes, that's what we're going to do today.
- 1:26So, where do we begin this journey? Our new 10-part series is called Slow Down,
- 1:32Finding God in a World That Never Stops, which ironically is the same title
- 1:38of my sermon coming up on August 9th.
- 1:41So, with that being said, let's get started.
- 1:44Because every day, we're told to hurry. Move faster. Do more.
- 1:50Answer another email. Check another notification.
- 1:54Finish one task so you can start the next.
- 1:58The world celebrates speed.
- 2:01When you read the gospel, something becomes very clear.
- 2:06Jesus was never in a hurry. You see, he walked. He listened.
- 2:12He stopped for people. He noticed the ones everyone else overlooked.
- 2:18And somehow, he fulfilled everything his father asked him to do.
- 2:23So maybe the answer isn't doing more. Maybe it's learning to walk at the pace of Jesus.
- 2:31Hmm. Let's talk about this. Have you ever driven somewhere, arrived and realized,
- 2:37you don't remember the drive?
- 2:40You are physically present, but mentally you are somewhere else,
- 2:45thinking about work, bills, tomorrow, the next episode, the next appointment, the next problem.
- 2:52Wait a minute, am I talking about me? Of course I am. I have to be.
- 2:56Life has become so fast that we can become and we can be somewhere without ever truly being there.
- 3:05I wonder how many miracles we've missed because we're too distracted to notice them.
- 3:11Maybe you've prayed for God to speak, but you've been so busy that you've never
- 3:18actually slowed down enough to hear him.
- 3:21Maybe you've asked God for peace while filling every moment of your life with noise.
- 3:27Let's look at Psalms 46. 10. It says, be still and know that I am God.
- 3:35Notice what God didn't say. He doesn't say, run faster and you'll find me.
- 3:41No. He says, be still.
- 3:44Jesus noticed people, others ignored. A blind man on the roadside.
- 3:50A woman reaching for his garment.
- 3:53Children everyone wanted him to avoid.
- 3:58A tax collector sitting in a tree. Everyone else was rushing. But Jesus wasn't.
- 4:04Because love rarely happens in a hurry.
- 4:09Think about your own life. When was the last time you sat on your porch?
- 4:13When was the last time you sat on your porch without reaching for your phone?
- 4:17When was the last time you prayed? When was the last time you prayed without checking the time?
- 4:22When was the last time you listened to someone? And when was the last time you
- 4:26listened to someone not waiting for you or your turn to speak? Yeah.
- 4:33But simply because they mattered. You know, the miracles of God aren't always dramatic.
- 4:39No. Sometimes the miracle is hearing your child laugh.
- 4:43Watching the sunrise, holding someone's hand during a difficult time,
- 4:48receiving unexpected encouragement, maybe feeling God's peace in the middle of an ordinary Tuesday.
- 4:55Those moments are easy to miss, not because God isn't working,
- 4:58but because we're moving too fast.
- 5:01What if today, instead of asking God to do something spectacular,
- 5:06you simply ask Him, Lord, help me notice what you're already doing. that prayer.
- 5:14That prayer just might change your life. Before we finish today,
- 5:17I want to leave you with one simple challenge. Slow down.
- 5:22Slow down for just five minutes today. No phone, no television, no distractions.
- 5:29Just you and God.
- 5:32You might be surprised by what you'd be missing. Let's pray.
- 5:36Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding us that your presence is never rushed.
- 5:41Forgive us for fulfilling our lives. with so much noise that we sometimes fail
- 5:47to notice you working all around us.
- 5:50Teach us to slow down. Teach us to slow our hearts, quiet our minds,
- 5:55and open our eyes to the miracles you place before us every day.
- 5:59Help us walk at the pace of Jesus, showing love, compassion,
- 6:05patience, and grace to everyone we meet.
- 6:09May we become people who are fully present.
- 6:13Fully present with you and with one another. We ask this in the precious name
- 6:19of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
- 6:21Amen. Before I let you go, I'd like to personally invite you to join me this
- 6:25Sunday, August 9th, First Reformed Church.
- 6:28That's our church, my church, where I'll be sharing a message entitled,
- 6:33Finding Peace in the World That Never Stops. Slow down.
- 6:38Don't rush and follow God. So have you been encouraged today by today's episode?
- 6:44I believe this message will continue that journey as we explore what God's words
- 6:49teach us about slowing down, choosing peace and walking closely with Christ.
- 6:54If you are in the area and would love to come and hang out with us, you're welcome.
- 7:01Until next time, remember, Jesus never asked us to hurry. He simply said, follow me.
- 7:07Thank you for listening. and never forget. Have faith, let it begin. God bless.
- 7:13Have faith, let it begin. Please come back.
- 7:17God be with y'all. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ.