1.23.09 The Shudder, Proverbs 23

"Dear child, if you become wise, I'll be one happy parent. My heart will dance and sing to the tuneful truth you'll speak."

Proverbs 23:15-16

"The Zulu Dolls" (Jamming to Life)

Are you a nervous parent? I am. I mean I love being a dad and I hope I am preparing my children well for the future. You never really know how they will turn out. The training we give them is something we hope they keep (we should pray over our children daily). Sadly, I do know of parents who have lost their children early and it breaks my heart to think about those instances.

We almost lost our oldest due to choking. My wife was changing our new born Kayla on the changing table, Kayla was under a year old then. My wife did not realize that Kayla was chewing on a rice chex and as she laid back, it fell into the back of her throat and blocked her air way. My wife came to my home office screaming for me to help her. I thought it was something minor and it was something I could fix with a few pats on the back. What I tried didn't work.

I had to run down to my neighbor's house who was a trained EMT. He was hardly ever home (he worked two jubs to support his family). As I ran to his house, my daughter Kayla went limp on me several times and was turning blue. As I tried to help her, all I could do was say "Jesus help me." Fortunately, my neighbor was home and the door to his home was wide open. I rushed into his house without knocking and he knew exactly what to do and saved her life. I shudder thinking about it now, but God intervened on our behalf. Now, you know why I am still a nervous parent. God is good.


"Angel's Singing" by Kayla Valadez (a song she wrote)

Proverbs 23:22-25 - "Listen with respect to the father who raised you, and when your mother grows old, don't neglect her. Buy truth—don't sell it for love or money; buy wisdom, buy education, buy insight. Parents rejoice when their children turn out well; wise children become proud parents. So make your father happy! Make your mother proud!"

Are you a good parent? I bet you are. Our children are a blessing and if they turn out good, we have a lot of celebrating to do. God bless you and your family!

On Mission, On Assignment, and in the ZONE!

Andy Valadez
e-mail: andy@marketingdynamics.org

Misfortune, Proverbs 13

"Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous."

Proverbs 13:21

"Misfortune Cookie"

With the economy in criss, many are being humbled right about now. Layoffs, stock portfolio crashes, political turmoil, crazy weather and natural disasters, and institutional collapses seem to be the news of the day. In fact, you may feel like you are a target. Well you just might be.

The enemy has his sights on you and you are wide open. Ever felt that way? I have. Fortunately, I have the ultimate "OnStar" device, "GPS" locator, and "Blackberry" that reaches around the world and across the unknown universe. This resource gets my "Twitter" updates in nano-seconds. In fact, he already knows my plight before I do. He is my force field!

So, when you may be feeling like you aren't that important. It may be passed time to call on the almighty, creator of Heaven and Earth. The journey may be a little tough and you may have to do a little "relationship building", but he already knows your situation and knows what it is going to take to get you on the righteous path. It requires a little humility, but hey you aren't the only one being humbled in these times.


"Humility Linebacker"

Proverbs 13:14 - "The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death."

I need more wise advisors. I value the key relationships I have garnered over the years. I am building my network of trusted friends in business and in life that I can just let it all hang out. They inspire me and I hope I inspire them. Reached out to a guy to wish him a happy birthday and he replied that he was "glad to be alive." I could have missed something here.

I shared a story about my cousin Richard Valadez (43) who had just received a much waited heart transplant. This guy replied that he had just had 3 heart attacks himself and was bouncing back remarkably. Well, I have been fortunate to have caring family who have insisted on me having check ups and thankfully my docs have done a great job advising me on my family history and preventative measures. God is good and he will keep us from harm if we will just be sensitive to the clues that abound. I am very thankful that my buddy and my cousin have a new lease on life. God is gracious to extend our lives.

On Mission, On Assignment, and in the ZONE!

Andy Valadez
e-mail: andy@marketingdynamics.org

The Future, Proverbs 27

"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."

Proverbs 27:1

I am a dreamer. I can almost see the life I want to build for my family and that really motivates me today, to do the things that may not make sense to others. Most of the people I know are hopeful about their future. However, it is easy to be so pre-ocuppied with tomorrow that we get "boastful" about our future exploits. That is a danger warned about in this verse. Plans change and people change over time. Doors open and doors close.

Yes, I have fallen in the trap of being boastful about the future. When I look back, I see all of that wasted effort, energy, and trust in that particular future (fortunately God saves me from myself).

We are never promised one more day. Let the Lord guide your future. Enjoy the day today, work hard for your future, but stay grounded. Your future in reality, may not be so bright as you think. Life happens.


Part 1: "The Future"


Part 2: "The Future"


Final: "The Future

Proverbs 27:25 - "When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in, the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. You will have plenty of goats milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls."

This verse reminds us that we should plan for our future, but to be grounded in today. We should handle the details of the day with a realization that it does impact our choices for the future. Sometimes it looks like life is menial, but one thing leads to another. I enjoy "vison casting" or visualizing a perfect future and dreaming big dreams, but realize that today is a gift, that there may not be a tomorrow. I have family or friends ask me about things 3-months out and I just tell them "I don't know, I am just trying to get through today." We to often are consumed about future events (some of the bad things that may never happen).

Matthew 6:34 - "Each day has enough trouble of its own."

On Mission, On Assignment, and in the ZONE!

Andy Valadez
e-mail: andy@marketingdynamics.org