A LESSON IN GRACE

The boy stood with back arched, head cocked 
back and hands clenched defiantly.

"Go ahead, give it to me."
The principal looked down at the young rebel.  
"How many times have you been here?"
The child sneered rebelliously, "Apparently not enough."
The principal gave the boy a strange look.
 "And you have been punished each time have you not?"
 "Yeah, I had been punished, if that's what you want to call it."
 He threw out his small chest, "Go ahead I can take whatever you dish out.
I always have."  
"And no thought of your punishment enters your head the next time you decide to break the rules does it?"

"Nope, I do whatever I want to do. 
Am not nothing you people going to do to stop me either."

The principal looked over at the teacher who stood nearby.
"What did he do this time?"
"Fighting. He took little Tommy and shoved his face into the sandbox."
The principal turned to look at the boy, "Why? What did little Tommy do to you?"

"Nothing, I didn't like the way he was looking at me, 
just like I don't like the way your looking at me! 
And if I thought I could do it, I'd shove your face into something."
The teacher stiffened and started to rise but a quick look from the principal stopped him.

He contemplated the child for a moment and then quietly said,
"Today my young student is the day you learn about grace."  
"Grace? Isn't that what you old people do before you sit down to eat? 
I don't need any of your stinking grace."

"Oh but you do." The principal studied the young mans face and whispered.
"Oh yes, you truly do..."
The boy continued to glare as the principal continued,
"Grace, in its short definition is unmerited favor. 
You cannot earn it, it is a gift and is always freely given.
It means that you will not be getting what you so richly deserve."
The boy looked puzzled. "Your not going to whoop me? You just going to let me walk?"
The principal looked down at the unyielding child. "Yes, I am going to let you walk."

The boy studied the face of the principal,
"No punishment at all? Even though I socked Tommy and shoved his face into the sandbox?" "Oh, there has to be punishment.
What you did was wrong and there are always consequences to our actions. 
There will be punishment. Grace is not an excuse for doing wrong." "I knew it,"
 Sneered the boy as he held out his hands. "Let’s get on with it."
The principal nodded toward the teacher. "Bring me the belt."
The teacher presented the belt to the principal.
He carefully folded it in two and then handed it back to the teacher. He looked at the child and said.
 "I want you to count the blows."
 He slid out from behind his desk and walked over to stand directly in front of the young man. 

He gently reached out and folded the child's outstretched, expectant hands together and then turned to face the teacher with his own hands outstretched.

One quiet word came forth from his mouth. "Begin." The belt whipped down on the outstretched hands of the principal. Crack! The young man jumped ten feet in the air. Shock registered across his face, "One" he whispered. Crack! "Two." His voice raised an octave. Crack! "Three..." He couldn't believe this. Crack! "Four." Big tears welled up in the eyes of the rebel.
"OK stop! That's enough. Stop!" Crack! Came the belt down on the callused hands of the principal. Crack! The child flinched with each blow, tears beginning to stream down his face. Crack! Crack!
"No please," the former rebel begged, "stop, I did it, I'm the one who deserves it. Stop! Please. Stop..." Still the blows came, Crack! Crack! One after another. Finally it was over. 

The principal stood with sweat glistening across his forehead and beads trickling down his face. 

Slowly he knelt down. He studied the young man for a second and then his swollen hands reached out to cradle the face of the weeping child.
"Grace..."
Read
{ John 1:14 - 17 }
 

Father Tomas Del Valle-Reyes
Discovering 21 Century
P. O. BOX 1170New York, NY 10018
Radiosigloxxi@aol.com

THE GIFT

Here is a true story about a nine year old boy who lived in a rural town in Tennessee.
His house was in a poor area of the community. 
A church had a bus ministry that came knocking on his door one Saturday afternoon. The kid came to answer the door and greeted the bus pastor. 
The bus pastor asked if his parents were home, and the small boy told him that his parents take off every weekend and leave him at home to take care of his little brother. 
The bus pastor couldn't believe what the kid said and asked him to repeat it. 
The youngster gave the same answer, and the bus pastor asked to come in and talk with him. They went into the living room and sat down on an old couch with the foam and springs exposed.
The bus pastor asked the kid, "Where do you go to church?"  
The young boy surprised the visitor by replying, "I've never been to church in my whole life."
The bus pastor thought to himself about the fact that his church was less than three miles from the child's house.
"Are you sure you have never been to church?" he asked again.
"I sure haven't," came his answer. 
Then the bus pastor said, "Well, son, more important than going to church, have you ever heard the greatest love story ever told?", and then proceeded to share the Gospel with this little nine year old boy. 
The young lad's heart began to be tenderized, and at the end of the bus pastor's story, the bus pastor asked if the boy wanted to receive this free gift from God. 
The youngster exclaimed, "You bet!" The kid and the bus pastor got on their knees and the lad invited Jesus into his little heart and received the free gift of salvation. 
They both stood up and the bus pastor asked if he could pick the kid up for church the next morning. "Sure," the nine year old replied.
The bus pastor got to the house early the next morning and found the lights off. 
He let himself in, snaked his way through the house, and found the little boy asleep in his bed. 
He woke up the little boy and his brother and helped get them dressed. 
They got on the bus and ate a donut for breakfast on their way to church.
Keep in mind that this boy had never been to church before.
The church was a real big one. 
The little kid just sat there, clueless of what was going on.
A few minutes into the service, these tall unhappy guys walked down to the front and picked up some wooden plates.
One of the men prayed and the kid, with utter fascination, watched them walk up and down the aisles. He still didn't know what was going on. 
All of a sudden, like a bolt of lightning, it hit the kid what was taking place. 
These people must be giving money to Jesus.
He then reflected on the free gift of life he had received just twenty-four hours earlier. 
He immediately searched his pockets, front and back, and couldn't find a thing to give Jesus.
By this time the offering plate was being passed down his aisle and, with a broken heart, he just grabbed the plate and held on to it. 
He finally let go and watched it pass on down the aisle. 
He turned around to see it passed down the aisle behind him.
And then his eyes remained glued on the plate as it was passed back and forth, all the way to the rear of the sanctuary.
Then he had an idea. This little nine year old boy, in front of God and everybody, got up out of his seat. He walked about eight rows back, grabbed the usher by the coat and asked to hold the plate one more time. 
Then he did the most astounding thing I have ever heard of. 
He took the plate, sat it on the carpeted church floor and stepped into the center of it. 
As he stood there, he lifted his little head up and said, "Jesus, I don't have anything to give you today, but just me. I give you me!"-
AUTHOR UNKNOWN -

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

My Wish for You in 2023

May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts.

After serious and cautious consideration.....your contract of friendship has been renewed for the New Year 2023!

May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills.

May love stick to your face like Vaseline and May laughter assault your lips!
May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires and May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had forget your home address! In simple words ............

May 2023 be the best year of your life!!!..
God Bless you Always ! ! !

Father Tomas Del Valle-Reyes

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

57 CENTS

A little girl, Hattie May Wiatt, stood near a small church from which 
she had been turned away because it was "too crowded."
"I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by.
Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class.
The child was so happy that they found room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.
Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kindhearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements.
As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.
Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School."
For two years she had saved for this offering of love.
When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do.  
Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion.
He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.
But the story does not end there...
A newspaper learned of the story and published It.  
It was read by a wealthy Realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. 
When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents.
Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide.
Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00--a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). 
Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.

When you are in the city of Philadelphia , look up  
Temple Baptist Church , with a seating capacity of 3,300.
And be sure to visit Temple University, where thousands of students are educated.
Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of beautiful children, built so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time.
In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the
sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell, author of the book,
"Acres of Diamonds". 

This is a true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH 57 CENTS.

Descubriendo El Siglo 21
Padre Tomas Del Valle-Reyes
P.O. BOX 1170
New York, NY 10018
212-244-4778

A Spirit of Sharing

Heavenly Father, you have flooded my life with fullness as vast as a field of wheat stretching to the horizon. 
Because life comes at me fast, and sometimes with ferocity, it is easy for me to forget the blessings you give with such liberality. 
Then when I see someone else’s need, I am suddenly aware again of the abundance in my own life. 
When I have such a moment of recognition, O God, help me realize that I may be the blessing you have brought to that person’s life. Give me courage to respond to them with love.
 Amen.

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

"But God ...Has Raised us Up”

Ultimately, there's nothing that can fill the emptiness of the human heart - but God.
There's no solution to war, prejudice, and injustice - but God.
There's no satisfaction for the cravings of the flesh - but God.
There's no healing for the brokenhearted, lonely and desperate - but God. 
There's no turning point for human depravity - but God.
There's no deliverance from addiction and heartache - but God.
The 'But God' factor breaks every generational curse that reaches you through Adam's sin.

One Greek translation of the word ‘spirit’ is 'air'. 
When you were 'dead in trespasses and sins (' (Ephesians 2:1), 
God breathed divine air into you. 
Paul says, “and you, (He made alive, when you were dead by your trespasses and sins' (Ephesians 2:1 Amp).
 The truth is you never really lived until you met the Lord!
The 'But God' factor turns tragedy into triumph. It's the turning point in your story.
Hell would be partying today, 'but God' chose to lavish His mercy and grace on you.

Listen: '...though He was rich, yet for your sake 
He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich' (2 Corinthians 8:9).
 Rich in wisdom, Rich in achievements, Rich in relationships and Rich in 'all things'.
Despite satan’s efforts to destroy, diminish, defame and discourage you, God never once took His hand off your life.
He brought you to an understanding of Jesus as your Savior and Lord; now He's raising you up to fulfill His purposes.
No matter how bad things may look today, rise up and declare 'But God!'

Padre Tomas Del Valle-Reyes
Descubriendo El Siglo 21
P.O. BOX 1170
New York, NY 10018
212-244-4778
917-499-9715 WhatsApp only
Radiosigloxxi@aol.com
www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

HOUSE FOR SALE

ADDRESS: Heaven
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For more information, call your local agent or representative -
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-- Author Unknown - -

Father Tomas Del Valle-Reyes
Discovering 21 Century
P. O. BOX 1170New York, NY 10018
Radiosigloxxi@aol.com