IT WAS SO NICE, HE SAID IT TWICE

By Irving Serrano

The Apostle Paul, spent some time in a Roman Jail House. His sin, or wrong doing was serving God. In every place, and in every moment. His goal was to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. During this time in jail, He could have spent his time complaining, or being rebellious and cold hearted. All the while yelling out to God, " this is how you repay me? After I have been faithful? But on the contrary. Paul always new how to be humble, how to accept the things He could not control. He sat back and meditated. He prayed, and chose to write letters, to all His Christian brothers and sisters, on the out side. In the "free world". A letter that the words and meaning still impact our lives today! A message to keep a continuing attitude of rejoicing in Our Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 4:4) " Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, Rejoice". It`s possible that this letter I write today may find you in a prison? And though you may physically be in the free world, you may find yourself chained down, by other circumstances. Let me ask you? How`s your health? Is your marriage in trouble? Are your children breaking your heart? Paul, understood these situations. His mind-set was to always keep an active relation with God. Learning to always be content, no matter what the circumstances. No matter what type of conflict He faced. This worked for Him, and it will work for you. Like Paul, the most important thing is our relation with God. Our faith in God. Not in our jobs, spouse`s, children, car`s or homes. Not even in our I-phones. (smile) In today's world, it seems we rely so much on our I-phones or I-pads, that we feel lost with out them. The reality is; Your lost with out God! Technology is good. But it is all more so important to be grateful, to the person who made it possible for you to have it. We some times get caught in the cyber world, that we forget what is real. God! He is as real as it gets. I thank God , I don`t need an I-phone or I-pad to communicate with Him. A call to Him is free. When you call Him, He is always there. And He always answers. As we approach the end of this year of 2012. Take a moment, call your Parents. Call your Children. Let them know how much you love them. Tell them how grateful you are for having them in your life. But most importantly! Call God. Speak to Him, and say the same thing to Him. Open your heart to the God, that gives you the breath of life every morning. Love always, Irving Serrano Sr.

STEPHEN SALANITRI WINS GALA AWARD 2012

Tampa,FL- Stephen Salanitri  received the Gala Award for 2012. Stephen is a dedicated Laborer in the Lord and  is currently preparing for full ministry. He loves the Lord with an intensity  and  a passion that has enabled him to win many souls for the Kingdom. Stephen has a very moving testimony of how God saved him from a lost path. He is a faithful husband, married to his wife Destiny and a proud Father. Stephen is not afraid to witness for Christ. He has often prayed for people right after having a short conversation with someone. as soon as he finds out that a person has an illness or a petition, he will quickly turn to God in prayer. Stephen is a Minister of deep faith and conviction. His humility sets the stage to win over the confidence of his friends and all his sphere of influence and this allows him to plant the seed of the Gospel to those lives that are in dire need of salvation. In a recent Gala Dinner, Stephen was presented the Gala Award by Noel Serrano, Director of the Gala Foundation. Tears swelled up in Stephen's eyes as Noel declared: "We  know that Stephen is deserving of this Award because of what he already accomplished for the Glory of God and also for what God has in store for his future ministry." Stephen has been  a great supporter of the Foundation, lending his technical support as well as some written articles to our publications.Stephen Salanitri declared, when he recieved the Gala Award:
"It is a Privilege to serve the Lord and I am grateful for God in my life. I am also thankful for the sense of purpose that He has placed in my life. he has given His Spirit to fill us and move us and to help us to move forward and do the things that God has enabled us to do. I am also grateful to Him because I feel like I am on the right track! It is a good feeling to know that deep inside, I am actually doing something constructive in my life and I am fullfilling the plan of God. I thank the Gala Foundation for this honor and award. Thank you!"  We want to congratulate Stephen and may God continue to bless him and his family. 

A GALA AWARD WINNER FOR 2012

IT IS TIME TO CHOOSE!

By Irving Serrano Sr

I recently traveled to Florida, to attend my Sisters funeral. Once again it was one of those days where you have mixed emotions. On the one side, your saddened by the lost of a loved one. On the other hand, you get to meet up with friends, and family. In my case, I had not seen any of them in a few years. Often times at funerals. We all get to see, or hear some people say how they reflect on their own lives. I guess for some, it becomes an eye opener. a moment to consider their choices in life. and the consequences that follow. For christian folk; those that are born again. Grieve for their loved ones, and are saddened just like any one else. However; they celebrate the life of the deceased with a comfort knowing that their loved one is now in Gods loving arms. They are no longer suffering. They are in no pain. That they have won, " the good fight of faith". In our Bibles we read of how Jesus performed miracles. Healing the sick, and making the blind see. We also read about how He raised Lazarus from the dead. After His Crucifixion, Jesus himself rose from the dead. All of these things had to happen, because there was a purpose for those healed. No differently from the way we today are healed. In ways, we too could say " we once were blind, but now we can see"! Thank God! For His love and mercy, for I know that many of us have been liberated from certain death. Liberated from the bonds of sin. Completely set free from any and all addictions. The difference is not to just live like Christians, but strive to be born again Christians. Knowing and yielding to the reality, that when God comes into your life as Lord and Savior. He makes the adjustments in and around your life. He makes it possible so that you may serve him. He will remove the obstacles from your path of salvation. People, places and things. God will remove or place in your path to help you. God does not half step! People do. He doesnt half way heal you. He heals you. He does a complete renovation. All things are new. Living what may appear to you, or others what a christian life is, with out seeking His Divine will, with out being born again. Is the same as standing on line at a bus stop with out a ticket! Yes the bus will eventually arrive, and guess what? You won`t be on it! Salvation through Jesus Christ, and being born again is your ticket. Surrendering to God 100 % is the validation, the  ticket to heaven. The end days are near. It is so important that we all take the time to reflect on our lives, and choose where is God, in our life. Jesus will be returning. He is coming for His people. No one knows when or what time. The obvious thing is to be prepared. We have heard it, all our lives. " God will come like a thief in the night". ( Mathew 24: 40) " Two men will be working in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left". (Mathew 24: 41) Two woman will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken, and the other left". Could you imagine yourself on a flight....be it business or pleasure. Suddenly you blink your eye, and half the people on the flight with you are no longer there? Could you imagine riding on a bus.......then suddenly, the driver disappears? What words would come out your mouth? "Oh God" or some thing else? Hey, this is not me judge-ing you. This is you, reading my thoughts. God is the judge and God alone. He ask that we love one another. There is an old Gospel song; [ Oh when the saints, oh when the saints, oh when the saints go marching in.....oh how I want, to be, in that number....oh when the saints come marching in.] One would say; that would be a glorious thing to see. I agree, but I would rather be in that number, looking down. As a saint, as a child of God. (1st Thessalonians 4:7 & 8 ) For God did not call us to beimpure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. May God bless you. Love always, Irving Serrano Sr.