The Homeschool Blessing

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him." - Psalm 127:3

I love that I can count on you all for some great memes. Social media keeps me in stitches most days, but since social distancing has become the norm, you all have stepped up your game. I truly thank you.

As our kids and us have been forced into homeschooling, you all have not disappointed:

"And just like that corporal punishment and prayer are back in school"

"I am getting really tired of watching my parents' grandkids."

"Do you go to the refrigerator at school? Umm, No! Use your school stomach."

"Homeschooling is going well. 2 suspended for fighting and 1 teacher fired for drinking on the job."

All joking aside, instead of focusing on the negative aspects and inconveniences of the pandemic, we should focus on our blessings. We get to choose how we respond to extra family time. We get to be together as families. We have been forced to slow our crazy lives down. 

I remember being a brand new dad almost 18 years ago and having the generation before me tell me how fast time with our children passes. Now as my princess is a senior in high school, I tell young fathers the same thing. Cherish every moment with your loved ones. Embrace forced family time. Cook, play, laugh, binge watch, sing, workout, create, and dream together! Enjoy the noise. Truly make memories. It won't be long before they're grown and gone. The Good Lord tells us that they are a blessing. It's time we start believing and living it. 

-Be Blessed, 

Senior Captain Bobby Delgado

HFD Chaplain

Sharing is Caring

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

These are interesting times. For the first time in our lives we have seen the world come to a stand still with no end in site. COVID-19 has caused a lot of inner turmoil as we face the uncertainty of tomorrow. It's in these hardest of times that we see what people truly believe and what they are made of. 

One of the first lessons we were taught as toddlers was to share. We were told incessantly to share our toys, food, and mommies. We are taught this because we are born selfish. We want to keep everything and everyone important to us to ourselves. It's human nature. A lesson that many adults should have learned decades ago has seemingly been lost. People are buying more food, soap, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper than they could ever possibly use because they are only thinking of themselves. Then there are the truly wretched who are only buying with the intent of making a profit. 

If you are a Christian, you are called to "do good" and "share with others." In these trying times we do both by thinking of others. It should be common sense. Now is the time for us to share God's love, our time, and resources with our neighbors. Now is the time for love to shine. Here are a few suggestions:

1. If you are sick, stay home. Don't go to work, church, the store, or anywhere  else where you can potentially infect someone else. Disease is something that should not be shared. 
2. If your symptoms are mild, treat them with over the counter remedies until you are better. This will free up our health care professionals to treat those who are critically ill.
3. When you are out shopping and the shelves are fully stocked, only buy what you need, and save some for the next person. 
4. Show compassion and patience to your store clerks as they are working harder than most, and tell them, "Thank you."
5. Check on the elderly who are the most susceptible and on fixed incomes. Share what you have with them or ask them what they need and get it for them.
6. Many parents don't have the luxury of working from home, so as school is cancelled and if you are able, offer to help take care their students while they work.
7. If your faith in the Lord is strong and you have a peace during this storm, share the reason for the hope you have. Pray for and with those who are struggling. 

I could go on and on, but I think we all get the point. Let's do the right thing. Let's be decent human beings, and in doing so, God is pleased. Be blessed!

-Senior Captain Bobby Delgado

HFD Chaplain

Photo Credit: Sonia Escobedo

Draw Near

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." -James 4:8

Most of us in the Houston area love this time of year. The weather can offer us some of the most picture perfect days of the year. With the arrival Mardi Gras comes a season of celebration. It also means it's crawfish season! Which also means the Rodeo is upon us, which means the world's best barbecue and fried Oreos are with us. All this fun, excitement, and good food is jam packed into 3-4 weeks of southeast Texas awesomeness!

With all the great food, music, and time spent with good people, it is easy to forget that we are now in the season of Lent. It started this past Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, by placing ashes on our foreheads. In Old Testament times men and women would put on sackcloth and ashes to represent mourning. On Ash Wednesday we mourn over our sins because we realize and admit that it is our sins that separate us from a Holy God, and it is our sins that nailed Jesus to the Cross. 

During the season of Lent we repent, turn away from our sins, and turn towards God. It is a time to draw closer to the God who created us and knit us together in our mother's womb(Psalm 139:13) and loved us so much that He died for us. For 40 days Christians around the world are fasting from meat, social media, coffee, chocolate, etc...And they are taking up prayer, scripture reading, volunteering, and random acts of kindness. 

Jesus' brother, James, promises us that as we forsake the things of the world, and draw near to God, He will draw near to us. That verse always makes me picture the father from the prodigal son, who sees his son returning home in the distance and takes off running towards towards him. God is calling all of us to Him for the first time, back to Him, or closer to Him. Would you join us in drawing near to God this Lent by reading this Bible reading plan from YouVersion? As you do, I pray that God will become more real and relevant than ever before. 

Be blessed, 

Senior Captain Bobby Delgado

HFD Chaplain