The Ballestero Blog

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Posts Tagged ‘Family

The Heartache Caused By Your Own Family

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The Heartache Caused By Your Own Family
The Apostle James made this powerful statement:

3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

If this knowledge brings the greatest joy… then the opposite is also true. There is no greater pain, when your family does not walk in truth.

Jesus looked at the people around Him in the Synagogue. Their curiosity had caused them to leave their homes and their daily duties to come and listen Him. He searched the crowd seeing many familiar faces, but not the ones He had hoped to see. None of His brothers were present.

Some of these people He had known from His youth. The Synagogue of Nazareth was full. His skeptical hearers wrinkled their brows as He spoke. In their minds they disqualified most of what He taught.

They had known Him all of His life. He was the carpenter’s son. He had not been taught at the feet of any learned scholars. Who did he think He was expounding these deep spiritual sayings? He was just an ordinary carpenter.

This was Nazareth. The four hundred or so inhabitants here knew each other well. There weren’t many secrets in this small town. Their personal opinions of His upbringing caused them to disqualify what He said. The sound of His voice echoed meaninglessly in their ears. There would be no hero’s welcome here today for Him.

Pain filled the heart of the Lord, as He perceived their unbelief. Yet, He felt even more pain when He realized who wasn’t there. His own family wasn’t there. It wasn’t an accident. His own brothers were boycotting Him.

John 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.

More pain than we can ever know hid behind the next words of the Lord. Jesus focused His attention back toward those in the Synagogue as He said:

(Matt. 13:57-58)… “A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

It was bad enough that the neighbors and friends He had known all of His life, rejected Him. But to not have the support of one’s own family cut very deep. The lack of faith in the village that day placed a limit on His ability to help any of them. He grieved.

Not much is known about the residents of Nazareth, except that nothing spectacular had ever came from their town before. They seemed to be known only for their skepticism and unbelief.

But some from Nazareth finally did believe and it is almost hidden from the casual reader. It’s mentioned concerning those who gathered in the upper room after Jesus was resurrected.

Acts 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

His brethren actually came to the upper room! Everyone in the upper room was filled with the Holy Ghost! The brothers of Jesus finally found enough faith to believe and receive the glorious Gift of the Holy Ghost! That was a miracle!

Most believers have some family members who are not in church. Remember that even some of the family of Jesus didn’t believe … for a while. But the Last chapter of their story finds them right smack in the middle of the upper room experience.

Do you have family that doesn’t live for God? Never stop praying for your family! Never stop believing for your family! What happened in the family of Jesus can happen in your family too!

Believe God for a Miracle for your Family!

 

 

Written by Martyn Ballestero

September 30, 2016 at 9:56 am

Posted in Believe, Family

Tagged with , ,

A Private Company

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A Private Company

There exists a Private Company that specializes in secrecy, but is daily impacting lives and changing the world.

  1. This Company specializes in intense Membership training.
  2. Almost everyone in the Company eventually goes into some area of management.
  3. No unions are wanted or needed.
  4. Each local Company is autonomous. There is no Corporate Office.

 

At first, it is mandatory for every member of the Company to report in daily.

After tenure has been established, Members are encouraged to report in daily, but it is not mandatory.

From the first day in the Company, each Member’s position becomes secure.

Members might be ignored, laughed at, hated, loved, despised, or tolerated by other Team Members, but their position is locked in.

 

  • Each Member is encouraged to recruit a new Member into the Company.
  • Random cash bonuses may become available to all.
  • Each Team Member has the authority and ability to solve any Company problem of their choosing.
  • However, most Team Members create more problems than they ever solve.

 

Each One In The Company Chooses At What Level They Wish To Participate.

  • Yet, if they remain uninvolved, or uncommunicative, they still remain a part of the team.
  • Each Member has knowledge of a secret key to build up the Company or destroy it.

 

The Company is not allowed to go ‘public’ on Wall Street.

The Company never advertises on a billboard, radio, television or newspaper… Yet the growth rate is phenomenal.

Each Member, among their other duties, acts as an official Press Agent for the Company.

The public willingly believes whatever you, as the Company Press Agent, divulge.

 

  • Removal of a Member that has been recruited may take a court order, and is always traumatic.
  • Other Team Members may or may not help you on any given project. It’s their call.
  • Bankruptcy can’t even put the Company out of business.
  • There are never any dues

 

Occasionally there will be unannounced Staff Meetings, and it is important that all Members be there.

Seldom are these Meetings ever occasions for awards or commendations. They are always dreaded.

Any Member may call for a Staff Meeting.

Everyone knows who the Boss is.

 

  1. When the Boss dies, another takes that position without a vote or appointment. No election is ever held.
  2. Hurt feelings are a serious and common work hazard.
  3. Bitterness and Anger are the most common enemies of the Company’s existence and almost always brings disaster.
  4. Every Member has been known to support others on the Team in good times and bad.

 

Each Company Is Different. Some Are Involved In Activities Like:

  • Sports,
  • Politics,
  • Fitness,
  • Religion,
  • Food Preparation and Fine Dinning,
  • Money Management,
  • Travel,
  • Recreation,
  • Education,
  • Decorating,
  • Boating,
  • Big Game Hunting,
  • Child Care

 

Some welcome visitors, and provide a tour that almost always includes a free luncheon.

Others welcome the public by invitation only.

Security is highly prized in the Company.

Each local Company determines what benefits are desired, and when they should be dispersed.

 

  • The Company can survive and even thrive in capitalism or communism.
  • It matters not if it is in a country ruled by a King, a President, or a Dictator.
  • It matters not if it is located in an urban setting, rural or even in the ghetto.
  • It survives in spite of zoning laws, no parking signs, economic down turns, or holidays.

 

All Members retain their position for life.

There is no ‘30 and out’ requirement.

There is constant gossip at the water cooler.

Invasive Background Checks are not uncommon.

 

  1. Private calls are not frowned on, but rather encouraged.
  2. While dress codes differ, there are no uniforms or name tags.
  3. The Company will thrive without advertisement. Its name will never be seen on a billboard, in a commercial or a newspaper.
  4. The Company’s only means of public awareness is by word of mouth.

 

What Is This Company?

Where Can I Find One In My Area?

You’re Too Late.

You’ve Found It Already.

 

 

You Have Been A Working Member Of A Private Company For Years Already!

Thanks Right!

  • I’m talking about your Family.
  • Your Family!
  • Your Family is what you make it!
  • What are you making out of your Family?

Written by Martyn Ballestero

August 7, 2012 at 10:30 am

Posted in Anger, Bitterness, Family, Gossip, Life, Unity

Tagged with

The Unwanted Girls

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The Unwanted Girls

The news story told of 285 young Indian girls that had chosen new names.

“Nakusa” or “Nakushi” (two variations of the Hindu word meaning “unwanted”) were among the names abandoned in an effort to promote their self-worth.

“Now in school, my classmates and friends will be calling me this new name, and that makes me very happy,” a 15-year-old girl told the AP after the ceremony. The teenager was formerly named Nakusa by her disappointed grandfather, but chose to be called “Ashmita,” which translates to “very tough” in Hindi.”

Girls hold certificates stating their new official names during a renaming ceremony in Satara, India, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011. Almost 300 Indian girls known officially as "Unwanted" have traded their birth names for a fresh start in life

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/10/24/unwanted-indian-girls-get-new-start-in-naming-ceremony/

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Reading this story made me very sad. Their culture devalues women. An unborn baby girl might well be aborted if the parents knew its gender. It’s heart breaking to me. The very thought, is unthinkable in my family.

I have been blessed more than most men to have been surrounded all my life by loving and amazing women.  Their lives are blessed of God. My life has been blessed to the highest level because of them.

In my family, the women and girls are cherished, and loved. They are also respected, listened to, and honored. I always want them to know that!

Each of the married women love and honor their husbands and treat them like kings. No wonder each husband finds it easy to treat his wife like a queen and cherish her.

The daughters love and honor their fathers. They treat him with great respect. They in turn are loved and doted on. They have never felt unwanted, but rather are treated as if they were a princess.

The same is true for all the grand daughters.

It would be a near impossibility to find a family that loves it’s women more than the Ballestero family loves theirs.

With all of the above in mind, today I wish to stop and honor the women in my world.

I want to tell all of you that I love you, I honor you, and I cherish you, and I am proud of you. You all have me forever wrapped around your little fingers. I have you wrapped around my heart.

You are so gifted and talented. You are:

  • Singers
  • Song Writers
  • Musicians
  • Music Teachers
  • Choir Leader
  • Speakers
  • Writers
  • Authors
  • School Teachers
  • Recording Artists
  • Artistic
  • Designers
  • Business Owners
  • Leaders
  • Beautiful
  • Loving
  • Nurturing
  • Tender
  • intelligent
  • The Best Cooks In The World.
  • The Best Mothers In The World.
  • The Best Wives In The World.
  • And… You really love the Lord.
  • (This list could go on awhile…)

You might often be embarrassed by me, but you will never be unwanted! I love you and pray God richest blessings on you in all you do! There will never be such a thing as an unwanted girl in my family!

Let me show my readers a picture or two of why I am such a blessed man!

My Mom, Mother-in-law, Wife, Daughter, Daughters-in-law, Grand Daughters, Sisters, Sisters-in-law and Nieces are shown below. Besides all these, there are my wonderful cousins, close friends  and “adopted” family members.

Every One Of These Ladies Are Wanted!!

It don’t get any better than this. I, my friend, am a blessed man!

Written by Martyn Ballestero

October 28, 2011 at 1:10 am