IN THE FIRE

IN THE FIRE
Rosa Enid Cruz Roque
March 30, 2026

Yesterday, we were talking about these verses, and I want to share them with you. Daniel 3:17-18: Your Majesty will see that our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from that blazing furnace of fire, and He can also deliver us from Your Majesty's power. But even if He does not, let Your Majesty know that we will not serve your gods, nor will we worship the statue you have commanded to be erected. — These verses have helped me greatly throughout my entire life. With every difficult situation that has come into my life, I repeat the same thing: God can bring me through this, but even if He does not, I will love Him, worship Him, and serve Him just the same. He is the center of everything I do. My beloved Savior.

Faith Over Fear

• When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said, "But even if He does not..." (Daniel 3:18), they showed faith that was independent of the outcome. How can we develop a faith that trusts God even when we are not guaranteed deliverance?

• These three young men risked their lives rather than compromise their convictions. Are there areas in your life (at work, in school, or with friends) where you have felt pressured to compromise your beliefs?

• The men were asked to worship a single object (the golden image). How would you compare that to the multiple, subtle "gods" of money, status, and popularity that our culture encourages us to worship?

Presence in the Fire

• The king was shocked to see four men in the fire, and one appeared "like a son of the gods" (Daniel 3:25). How does this image change your view of God's presence during your own personal times of suffering or difficulty?

• Has there been a specific time in your life when you felt God's presence most strongly when you were going through a painful experience? How did that change your perspective on the trial?

The Witness and the Miracle

• The three men not only survived, but they were not singed, their cloaks were not damaged, and "no smell of fire had come upon them" (Daniel 3:27). How does the thoroughness of this deliverance encourage you when you face seemingly impossible situations?

• How can our faithful response to a major challenge act as a powerful witness to others, even affecting those who oppose our beliefs (just as Nebuchadnezzar's heart was changed)?

Final Thought/Challenge

• If you are going through a metaphorical "fiery furnace" right now, what is one tangible action you can take this week to actively trust God with the outcome and look for His presence with you in it?

THE POWER OF OUR WORDS

THE POWER OF OUR WORDS
Rosa Enid Cruz Roque

Written, September 2002
Changes, February 5, 2026

Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." The Bible teaches us that our words are extremely important. The words we say, will bring forth fruit. What we speak can bring destruction for us and for those around us or it can bring life.

Proverbs 12:18 states, "Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing" (NLT). Our words have the potential to be either harmful or therapeutic, like a medicine.

Every day we have to make decisions, from the moment we wake up until we finally go to sleep. It is my sincere hope that each one of us consciously chooses to speak in a manner that honors God and serves as a conduit of healing, comfort, and encouragement to those around us. This standard of speech is not one we can meet by sheer human willpower. With the constant presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are fully equipped and empowered to accomplish this. The Holy Spirit not only convicts us when we miss the mark but actively refines our hearts, shaping our tongue to align with God's loving purpose.

I used to hear people say that "words are gone with the wind," implying that once spoken, they dissipate without lasting effect. However, the Word of God teaches me something very different. It unequivocally teaches that there is a profound, tangible power in what we speak. Our words are not fleeting vapor; they are seeds planted in the soil of others' hearts, bearing fruit; life or death, encouragement or destruction, faith or fear.

Therefore, let us approach every conversation, every comment, and every communication-whether face-to-face or digitally, with intentionality and reverence to God. Let us consciously and consistently Speak Life. This means choosing blessing over cursing, hope over despair, truth in love over destructive gossip, and building up rather than tearing down. Our words are tools of creation and transformation, and by dedicating them to the service of God and humanity, we become instruments of His grace in a world desperately in need of healing.

Let us Speak Life.

GREEN LEAVES OR DRY LEAVES

GREEN LEAVES OR DRY LEAVES

Rosa Enid Cruz Roque

November 25, 2014

Today I've been thinking about the plants I have in my house. On Saturday when I saw them, they looked ugly. Some leaves were dry and the plants looked like they were dying. I removed the dried leaves, cut some leaves that did not look good and put some water.

Today, two days later, the plants are alive again and they look beautiful. The leaves are green.

As I was pulling the dry leaves and cutting what looked ugly, I was pondering what happens to us when we begin to stay away from God. If we don’t get close to God, If we stop praying (talking to Him and listening to Him), If we stop reading The Word (learning from Him and letting Him speak to us through His Word), spiritually speaking our lives start to wither also like those leaves. Our lives dry and we start dying spiritually. Plants need water to stay alive and beautiful and we need to stay glued to God to be alive spiritually and to be productive bearing fruit in this land.

John 15:5-6

5 “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. 6 If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

I pray to God to reveal to our hearts how important it is to stay close to Him, always in communication with Him. There is nothing better in this world.

FATHERS AND MOTHERS

FATHERS AND MOTHERS

Rosa Enid Cruz Roque

​June 17, 2021

Sometimes I like to write and today was one of those days. I wrote this devotional and 5 songs. Now I have to get the music for the songs.

In the last few months I have been thinking about the things that made me happy when I was a little girl. A highlight or, one of the most important things when I was growing up was my visits to my grandmother’s house in Guavate. My mom used to go to see her mom, if I remember correctly, every week. When we got there we went to see my grandma and we talked with her for a little while, then I visited my aunts and uncles and then I went to play with my cousins. I really enjoyed going to Guavate. I used to go to the river, I went to pick berries and fruits and run through my grandma’s land. This was one of the best parts of my life. Every time I went there I felt so happy.

Thinking about this reminded me about a Bible verse that says Honor your father and your mother. Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Matthew 15:4, Ephesians 6:2,3.

What honor means - to regard or treat someone with admiration and great respect. If your parents and grandparents are alive, call them, send them a text message, and visit them. Ask them how they are doing. Let them know you care about them. As people get older their minds start to change and they say things that maybe make you feel embarrassed, or they repeat themselves a lot, or they do other things you don’t like. Treat them always with respect, have patience with them, be kind with them and love them. Probably when you were a child you sometimes embarrassed them when you wanted something in the store and you started to scream. But they still were patient with you and loved you with all their hearts. I wish my Mom, Dad, Grandparents and all my family will still be here.

Mother’s day is over and Father’s day is in 3 days. Call them, make them feel special; let them know how important they are for you. Remember to call your dad this Sunday. If you have them close, visit them and hug them. Don’t wait until it is too late and then regret not spending time or talking on the phone with them. Time on this earth is short; life is like a flower, today is here and tomorrow is gone. Another thing, Father’s and Mother’s days are not about gifts, but about loving, honoring and respecting them like the Bible teaches us. Most important of all is to honor our Father God. Let GOD know how much you love Him.

​Note – As I was writing this, I mentioned Father’s Day and Mother’s Day because that was one of the things that made me think about this subject. It’s so sad to see sons and daughters treating their Fathers and mothers so disrespectfully. Honoring God, your Father, Mother, Grandmother and Grandfather is something you do everyday not only on Father’s and Mother’s Day. But Father’s day is a day honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds. Call your dad.

Love You All,

Rosa Enid Cruz Roque

DON'T BE AFRAID

DON'T BE AFRAID

Rosa Enid Cruz Roque

Matthew 10:29-31

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.

30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly tells us not to be afraid. This is not merely a suggestion, but a profound truth meant to anchor our hearts in times of uncertainty. While fear is a natural emotion, it can paralyze us and erode our faith when it becomes the dominant force in our lives. The assurance that we "don’t have to be afraid" is rooted in the unchanging nature of God. He is our refuge and strength. Because of His omnipotence and love, we can release our anxieties and stand firm, knowing He is in control.

He assures us of this safety by pointing to one of the smallest birds of His creations. Consider the sparrow—a tiny bird, often overlooked. Yet, God cares for every single one, providing for their needs and knowing when even one falls to the ground. If God expends such attentive care on the common sparrow, how much more intensely does He watch over us, His children? We are worth infinitely more than many sparrows. He does not merely tolerate our existence; He actively loves us. This love establishes our worth not on our achievements or status, but solely on the fact that we are His.

His divine care is meticulous. Not only does God know the broad strokes of our lives, but He is intimately familiar with the minuscule details, too. Jesus tells us that "even the very hairs of your head are all numbered." This illustrates a level of personalized attention that far surpasses human understanding.

This knowledge extends to everything that concerns us—our fears, needs, joys, and struggles. Because God possesses this perfect knowledge and infinite love, we are never out of His sight. Therefore, we do not have to be afraid. The worries of life lose their power when viewed through the lens of God's vigilant care. Trusting in our all-knowing, all-loving God frees us to face the future with confidence and peace.

ADORE HIM AND LOVE HIM

ADORE HIM AND LOVE HIM

Rosa Enid Cruz Roque

​August 5, 2011

God gave me these words over 2 weeks ago. They are still in my mind and I want to share them with you all. I was at a prayer meeting at church and I didn’t sleep well the night before, maybe about 4 hours. I was physically exhausted and I was very sleepy. I tried to concentrate but I couldn’t. I told my Father God that I was having a hard time talking to Him because I was very tired. His response was “don’t try so hard, just PRAISE AND LOVE ME.”

These words penetrated my heart so powerfully that every time I think about them I just start to cry (I am not a person that cries at all time). Every time I think about what God said to me I feel the Holy Spirit ministering to my life in a beautiful way, I feel His love as He is hugging me.

We Christians complicate our relationship with God so much. He wants you to ADORE HIM AND LOVE HIM. He will guide you and me when we speak to Him. Delight yourself in His presence, there is nothing more beautiful in this world than to be in His presence, feeling His love and knowing that He is with you. He will fill your heart with His love. Say thanks to Him, TELL HIM HOW MUCH YOU LOVE HIM. Be still in His arms of love, without hurry. That is your time with Him, God and you.

He said that He is with you till the end of the world. (Matthew 28:20 - and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.) You know that He is with you, like the verse says “ALWAYS”. Just Praise Him and Love Him.