LESSONS FROM A MIGHTY MAN OF GOD

My great grandfather with my daughter Melody.

In Honor of Calet Cortes Sr.
My great grandfather passed away this weekend. I wanted to honor him by sharing some things I've learned from his life. Obviously I'm sad with his passing; but deep down I'm overwhelmed with joy because I know he is with our Lord and Savior.

     For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die,      we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or       whether we die, we are the Lord’s.  
                                                       {Romans 5:8}

My great grandfather loved talking about God and the Bible. He was forever singing the praises of Jesus. His faith was unshakable. Through even the most difficult of moments he would always give God the glory.

In fact, even when I went to visit him at the hospital the last few days of his life, in the middle of the pain he was feeling, he still lifted his arms in the air and prayed. 

Now don't be fooled. He wasn't always this way. My great grandfather did not grow up serving God. He was a raging alcoholic. My grandfather shares stories of bar fights, stabbings and waking up on the street many times. But praise be to God, he surrendered his life to Jesus at a crusade and never looked back.

In honor of his life, here's a few lessons I've learned. I pray it may be a blessing to you as well.

1: GOD CAN SAVE ANYONE

     Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to
     save, nor his ear too dull to hear. (Isaiah 59:1)

No one is out of God's reach. Even a drunk, abusive, sinful man. God's grace is made available to the worst of sinners through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Jesus bore the weight of our sins on his back. He died the death you and I deserved and conquered Satan, sin and death so that we may be called children of God.

2: LOVE GOD'S WORD

     Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my                path   (Psalm 119:105)

My great grandfather loved to read his Bible and was constantly talking with everyone about God's Word. The Bible really is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. A lamp does not light up a huge amount of area. But it does light up enough so that we can see our next step.

3: GOD HEALS FAMILIES

     Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great 
     delight in his commands. Their children will be 
     mighty in the land; the generation of the upright 
      will  be blessed. (Psalm 112:1-2)

Can you imagine how different my life could be if my great grandfather would have continued along the same trajectory he was heading? But because Jesus changed his life forever it affected my grandfather which in turn affect my mom and dad, which in turn directly affects me and my children. Praise God that he broke a bondage that could have had negative implications on generations to come. 

Because he surrendered his life to Jesus, my family can now have a godly legacy.

4: PERSEVERE EVEN WHEN IT'S TOUGH

    Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under       
    trial, for when he has stood the test he will          
    receive the crown of life, which God has 
    promised to those who love him   (James 1:12)

My great grandfather never gave up. Even when times got hard, he dug deep and remained rooted in God's Word. Many things will come up tempting you to give up. But remain steadfast.

Remember this, God hasn't given up on you!