Echoes of the Father in Motion
The Lord has been blessing the ministry of Ecos del Padre, Echoes of the Father, in remarkable ways. Each day, I write and share a devotional reflection with pastors and leaders across Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Brazil, and the United States. Once a week, I deliver the devotional message through YouTube and Spotify, available in both video and audio formats.
It’s been exciting to witness how God is using this ministry. Just today, a pastor in Cuba asked me to resend the devotional reflection because he accidentally deleted it, and he didn’t want to miss it. Other leaders have expressed gratitude, saying how much the reflections bless their lives and how encouraged they are by my dedication and consistency. Pastor Dunesky from the Big Island mentioned that the reflections moved him to tears, because they arrived just at the right moment. Yaima shared, “These powerful reflections we receive are like manna from heaven.”
We give thanks for all that the Lord is doing. Today, I want to share one of my reflections with you.
Faith That Moves the Heart of God
In the encounter that Jesus had with the paralyzed man and his friends (Matthew 9:1-11), we can learn a lot. First, we see the faith of the paralyzed man’s friends. They wouldn’t let anything stop them, and they brought him to Jesus, believing that He could help. It’s good and important to bring our friends and family to Christ with their needs. Jesus saw their faith. He not only healed the man, but also forgave their sins.
It’s sad that the religious leaders, the teachers of the law, were so upset. Instead of giving thanks and recognizing God’s grace and work, they began to complain and said what Jesus was doing was blasphemy.
More Than Healing: Jesus Forgives
Jesus responded by asking them a question. Which is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or “Stand up and walk”? Then He showed them that He had the authority to forgive sins. While not just anyone can forgive sins, it’s easier said than to prove it with a visible miracle. That’s why Jesus demonstrated His authority by healing the paralyzed man, saying, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” Instantly, the paralyzed man was healed, and he got up and began to walk. The crowd was filled with awe, and they praised God, recognizing His power.
We can learn about the importance of faith, both for our own lives and for our friends. Christ is always ready to listen and respond. We need to be careful not to be like the religious leaders who thought they understood everything and that everything had to be done their way. We want to have a moldable heart and be sensitive to the things of God. I believe there is a danger for all of us, and perhaps even more so for those who serve in ministry, of developing a hardened heart. Let us pray to remain humble before our Heavenly Father and to always maintain a willingness to learn, because there is still so much to learn.
Matthew 9:1-11
“Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?” Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up and went home! Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for giving humans such authority. As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?””
Join us in Prayer
Please join us in praying that the Lord continues to encourage pastors and leaders through the Ecos del Padre ministry in Mexico and on the Big Island. While our primary focus has been on Spanish-speaking audiences, we’ve recently begun sharing some reflections in English as well.
Pray that God will continue to guide this ministry and that each message will strengthen the faith of our familia and bring hope to all who hear it. Our desire is for these messages to reach more people and serve as a source of genuine encouragement and spiritual growth.
Please join us in prayer for our familia. Ask the Lord to encourage them through Echoes of the Father as the gospel goes forth. Pray for the Lord to care for and provide for them. We invite you to extend your hands and help meet their needs.
Dawn and I encourage you to prayerfully consider extending a helping hand. By sending a gift today, you can support a needy family and advance the gospel on the Big Island. TOGETHER, we can make a difference!
- $10 – a toy
- $25 – to support a family for one month
- School Clothing and Supplies:
- $17 – a backpack for one child
- $17 – a pair of shoes
- $30 – socks for 27 children
Whether you choose to support a family with a backpack, provide shoes, or bless a child with a $10 toy through Hannah’s Toys of Hope, your generosity will make a lasting impact.
Click to donate today.
Video: Hannah’s Toys of Hope
In this video, created with the help of my colleague Jim DeWitt, we show how God is using toys to reach families.
Thank you for joining us in prayer, and for considering making a gift to help our precious familia.
In His Grip, Dave
P.S. Help take the gospel to the Border, the Baja, and Beyond
