David Dorantes

“Count your blessings.”The hymn was written by Johnson Oatman Jr. in 1897 (with music composed by Edwin O. Excell). 1. When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, count your many blessings, name them one by one, and...

Ephesians 5:15-17 So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise, making the best use of your time because the times are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is (NASB) How long would you be willing to wait for your...

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things...

Psalm 94:19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy (NIV) Are you feeling down from all the bad news? How do we find joy in gloomy days? We read verses like Psalm 28:7 where it tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Also Psalm...

2 Corinthians 12: 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in...

Isaiah 43:18 “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past” (NASB) As a football fan, sometimes we don’t focus on the kickers until they miss a field goal or an extra point. The best kickers have an average of 85% success in the NFL. Back in...

Luke 7:13-15 And when the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, "Do not weep." And he came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise!" And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And...

John 8:7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time,...

Proverbs 17: 17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity (NIV) What is the difference between coaching and ministry? Back in 1999, I went through the NSCAA coaching certification. So, since then, I’m able to coach soccer, a sport I’m...

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (NIV) How do you make someone feel welcome? Most of us we understand the importance of needing to be welcomed properly....

1 Chronicles 12: 32 Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command. (NASB) The sons of Issachar were men who came to declare their alliance to...

Hebrews 11:39-40 Name your favorite hero of the Bible. Would Samson be in that list? When we think of heroes of the Bible, Samson is not one we think of first. Samson actually may not make it to our list. But he made it to God’s list of heroes of faith. Samson was...

Judges 16:28-30 “Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” A life of bad decisions can lead to bad consequences. Samson is a good...

Jeremiah 17: 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” (NIV) We did an experiment...

Isaiah 59:1-20 (NIV) Isaiah 59:1 Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. 3 For your hands are stained...

One More Thing About Baja Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. If...

Jonah 1:1-4 The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to...

There were signs in our neighborhood for a lost puppy. When we saw it we felt bad because we have 3 dogs and a cat. My kids were looking  as we drove through the neighborhood. It had already been lost for 2 days. We knew the chances of us finding it were small.  We’ve...

2 Peter 1:2-4 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) May grace and shalom be yours in full measure, as you come to a full knowledge of God and Yeshua our Lord. God’s power has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through our knowing the One who called us to his...

2 Samuel 23:15 David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!” 16 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by...