Family Style

“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, 

proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him." - Luke 8:39

The stay at home orders during COVID-19 have given us an amazing opportunity to slow our lives down, and quite frankly, I am enjoying the slower pace of life. We aren't rushing around as much anymore. Since all practices and games have been cancelled, we have time to be together as a family. Hopefully you are spending that time around a dinner table. 

The dinner table at home is even more important than the dinner table at the station. It is the place where our relationships are forged and our worth is found. It is a place to both hear and to be heard. It is a place of love, acceptance, and truth. Kids who eat dinner regularly with their families develop verbal skills earlier, do better in school and have less incidents of depression and drug use. I believe that families who eat and pray together, stay together. 

My family has enjoyed lots of laughter and conversation over the past month and a half. We aren't scarfing down our food to get to the next thing. We are actually enjoying each other's company. With more time for meaningful conversation, now is the perfect time to share your faith with your children. It is an excellent time to pray together and count your blessings. It is a time where you can share how God has come through for you, how He has changed your life, and how you can't imagine life without Him, especially during this pandemic.  Seize this opportunity to share your life and faith with your family. Let us declare just how much He has done and is doing for us. 

May the Lord Bless You and Keep You!

Senior Captain Bobby Delgado

HFD Chaplain

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

Adopted by God

"...the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, Abba, Father." -Romans 

Adoption holds a special place in my heart. I always knew I wanted to adopt. I believe the Good Lord in His infinite wisdom and purpose was preparing me to be married to an adoptee who had several first cousins who are also adopted. Their family refers to them as "the chosen ones." I love that title, it says so much. The vast majority of us don't get to choose our families. To be chosen is to be wanted. The chosen have been found to have inherent worth and value that they don't have to earn. Once adoptions are legally finalized, all the rights of children are immediately granted to the adopted.

Being the father to two adopted boys, I understand the beauty of God's plan of salvation a little better these days. Believing in Jesus grants us adoption into the family of God. The God of the Universe made a way for us to be part of His family by dying on the cross for us. Take some time to let that marinate and sink in. We are so loved and valued to be chosen by God. It is a huge blessing to be part of His family. Our inheritance is eternal life with Him. He allows us to have a personal relationship with Him where we can call Him Father. As father, He is always there for us. What is His is ours. He is always guiding, protecting, and providing. As sinners, we did nothing to earn it, and we can't do anything to change it. Thank you Father that your heart for us leads to adoption into Your family. 

Be blessed,

Senior Captain Bobby Delgado

HFD Chaplain

Stay Connected

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5

I often have to remind myself what life was like before cell phones. It's hard to believe we actually used phones to talk to people. We had to keep loose change in our pockets and cars to use at the payphones. It took giving good directions and landmarks to navigate friends to your place. Email wasn't really a thing and social media didn't exist.

A lot has changed in a little over 20 years. Now we feel lost, alone, and even naked when we don't have our phones with us. Taking away a phone from a teenager is now the go to punishment for bad behavior.  The first things we look for in airports, hotels, restaurants, and grandma's house is an outlet and the WiFi password.

When Jesus was giving His vine and branches analogy, I believe that He was telling His disciples to stay connected to Him. He was about to physically leave this earth and they would need to stay connected to continue His work. Just like we feel the need to stay connected to our cell phones, we need even more to stay connected to Him.

When we are connected to Him, our lives are full of: love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Is your life full of all of that? I've noticed that when my life looks opposite of that, it is because I have disconnected myself from Christ. The life He calls us to live is not attainable on our own, but when we stay connected to Him, it comes naturally. He asks us to stay connected, and He does the rest. So read your Bible, pray continually, go to church, be involved in a small group, listen to worship music, and watch what God will do in your life. Be blessed.

-Sr Captain Bobby Delgado

HFD Chaplain

The Rat Race

"For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." 1 Timothy 6:7-8

Can't take it with you. Most of us have spoken those words at some point in our lives. Yet, we willfully place ourselves on that dang running wheel on a regular basis. We chase after more stuff as if it will satisfy us. We like new stuff, nicer stuff, bigger stuff. Many of us work extra jobs and overtime to pay the notes on stuff we don't need or that can wait. 

I'm not saying that having nice things is bad. I'm not saying that some of us aren't legitimately busting our humps just to make ends meet on things we actually need. What I am saying is that most of us have not mastered the art of contentment, myself included. Being content is being happy with what you have. It is being grateful for everything and everyone God has placed in your life. It is being okay with not having the bigger house, newer car, latest phone, toy, etc... Simply put, it is wanting what you already have.  

When are we going to get off the wheel and live for what matters? When are we going to stop being absent from our friends and families just so we can have one more thing? Time is our most valuable asset and the clock is always ticking. We can never get back lost time. Life is short. Relationships are what matter- God and Family above all else. Let's live a life a of contentment and spend our time with the people who matter. Start by making a list of all your reasons to be thankful.

-Captain Bobby Delgado, HFD Chaplain