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Mateo Velez

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You 🫵🏽 Yes, YOU! I’m talking to YOU! They let me off with a warning this time, but I’m not stopping 😆🔥 We’re back this weekend with our $60 WEEKEND SPECIAL! Don’t wait, BOOK NOW

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Stay toxic my friends 😆 Who actually would do this? 🤫

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We charging DOUBLE! We know you got it like that 😈

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Celebrating 34 Years of Marriage, with Eusebia, my lovely wife. Marriage is challenging but I try to keep telling my wife: None of us are getting out of this marriage alive 😂🤣😂 #weddinganniversary #jessevelez

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Did Jesus die for His oppressors? The phrase “Jesus wanted to save both His people and His oppressors” gave me pause. 🤔 It sounds gracious, even poetic—but is it biblically accurate? 📖

Let’s slow down and consider this. 🛑

Yes, Jesus came to save sinners. ✝️ “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). We were enemies of God, not friends of the cross. ❌ In that sense, every believer was once opposed to Christ. But does that make us His oppressors? Not quite.

Jesus’ death was not aimed at toppling Rome 🏛️ or winning over Pilate. He didn’t carry the cross to Golgotha to redeem Caesar. 👑 He came to defeat sin 💥, not to reform empires. And while His mercy is big enough for the worst of sinners—including, hypothetically, Pilate or Herod—the cross wasn’t a political outreach strategy. It was a divine rescue mission. 🚑

Jesus didn’t cry out, “Father, forgive Caesar,” but He did pray, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34) 🙏—referring to the soldiers and the crowd, some of whom would later believe (Acts 2). There’s grace in that moment, but it doesn’t erase the distinction between the oppressed and the oppressors, or between those who receive Christ and those who reject Him. ⚖️

Here’s the tension:

God loves the world 🌍 (John 3:16), yes—including enemies. 🕊️
But not all enemies are saved by that love. 💔
Grace is freely offered—but it is not cheap 💸

Jesus’ mission wasn’t to redeem the Roman system—it was to establish His Kingdom 👑. One that will, in time, crush all rebellion under His feet 🦶 (Psalm 110:1; 1 Corinthians 15:25). There will be no oppressors in the New Jerusalem 🕊️—only those who’ve been washed by the blood of the Lamb 🩸🐑.

Jesus died for sinners—not systems. He came to save souls, not empires. His grace is shockingly generous, but it’s not indiscriminate. The cross was not a gesture of tolerance toward evil—it was a declaration of war against it.

Want more thought-provoking truth like this?

Drop a “YES” in the comments if this stirred your spirit. 🙌

Tag someone who needs this clarity on grace and justice today. 🗣️⚖️

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Ever feel like your mind is under constant attack?

Between endless scrolling, comparison traps, and the pressure to keep up, it’s no wonder so many are overwhelmed. But what if the answer isn’t new? What if the ancient truth of the Bible has been pointing the way to mental and emotional wellness all along?

God’s Word has always spoken to the struggles of the human mind—offering real hope and healing for today’s mental battles:

1. Renew your mind — “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

Romans 12:2

🧠✨

2. Evaluate your habits — “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial… I will not be mastered by anything.”

1 Corinthians 6:12

🔍⛓️

3. Love deeply, laugh freely, and care for one another — “A cheerful heart is good medicine…”

Proverbs 17:22

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Mark 12:31

❤️‍🔥😂

And maybe most importantly, shift your focus:

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Colossians 3:2

⛅️⬆️

The world says “focus on yourself,” but the Bible says “fix your eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). This is more than good advice—it’s a path to peace.

If you’ve been feeling anxious, worn out, or emotionally drained…

If you’ve tried everything else and still feel empty inside…

If you’re ready to stop surviving and start living…

Then it’s time to return to what your soul has always needed—God’s Word.

Open your Bible. Renew your mind. Let Jesus make you whole.

You don’t have to do this alone.

Tag someone who needs this reminder. Share this post if it hit home. Let’s spread healing, truth, and hope together.

#MentalHealthMatters #BibleTruths #HealingInJesus #FaithOverFear #RenewYourMind #WholenessInChrist #LoveGodLovePeople

#JesseVelez #GrowCloserToGod #GrowCloserToGod186

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🎨 I love art. Always have. As a kid, I sketched Japanese Anime in my notebooks ✏️. As I got older and technology grew, so did I—diving into graphic design and creating (mostly cheesy) Christian art on my old clunky Mac 🖥️.

Today, I walked through the Perez Art Museum Miami and felt that old creative spark again. I saw the heart, struggle, and passion behind the pieces. Some made me smile. Some made me scratch my head. And honestly…some made me uncomfortable.

💡 Creativity is a gift from God—but what we do with that gift matters.

Some art glorified things that didn’t line up with my faith. It reminded me of two powerful scriptures in Isaiah:

“All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame.”

— Isaiah 44:9 ESV

When we use our creativity to glorify anything other than God, we risk turning our talents into idols—empty, powerless, and ultimately shameful. This verse hits hard in a culture that often celebrates self-expression without accountability. But there’s hope:

“I have formed this people for Myself; They will declare My praise.”

— Isaiah 43:21 NASB1995

God formed us for Himself—and our creativity is meant to echo His greatness. Our art becomes powerful when it reflects the One who made us.

Yes, art is expression.

But as Christians, it’s also mission.

Let’s use our gifts to build up, not tear down. To point upward, not inward.

Whatever your gift—music, design, writing, painting—don’t hide it. Use it. Shine with it. Create for the Creator. And let your art be a window to heaven, not a mirror of the world.

What inspires your creativity? Drop it in the comments!

And tag a creative friend who glorifies God with their gift!

#jessevelez #growclosertogod #growclosertogod186

#CreativeForChrist #FaithAndArt #PerezArtMuseumMiami #ChristianCreative #Isaiah43 #Isaiah44 #ArtThatHeals #MadeToCreate #JesusInspires #ChristiansWhoCreate #MiamiMoments #ChristianInfluencer #ArtWithPurpose #GloryToGod #MuseumTrip #ViralFaith #FaithOverFame #CreatedToWorship

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🎶 The Bible Just Got a Soundtrack! 📖✨

Introducing The Rhythmic Gospel — a soul-stirring collection of Bible-based songs inspired by devotionals I’ve written from the heart. These aren’t just songs… they’re musical journeys through Scripture that will uplift your spirit, deepen your faith, and bring Bible stories to life like never before. 🔥🎤

Featured now: The Gospel of Ruth — a 5-song EP following the powerful redemption story found in the 4 chapters of the book of Ruth. 🌾👣

It’s music for your quiet time, prayer walks, and that daily drive where you just need a reminder of God’s goodness. ❤️

With 10 singles and 1 EP, you’ve got the perfect soundtrack to pair with your Bible reading and devotional time. 🙏🎧

Available now on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and 100+ streaming platforms worldwide! 🌍💿

If you love Scripture, rhythms that move you, and messages that feed your soul — this is for YOU. 💥

Follow now. Stream today. Let the Gospel move you.

👉 Search your favorite streaming service for The Rhythmic Gospel, check the Link in Bio or go to https://growclosertogod.org

#jessevelez #GrowCloserToGod #GrowCloserToGod186

#TheRhythmicGospel #GospelOfRuth #BibleMusic #ChristianSongs #DevotionalSoundtrack #FaithInEveryBeat #WorshipInRhythm

#NewMusic

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456 Beach 40th Street, Far Rockaway, NY
This building (📸 pictured) is where I grew up.

For 25 years, these walls held my story.
It’s where I learned to survive (sometimes by running).

Where I discovered life, love, and loss.

This is where I met my wife—she lived on the 8th floor, and I was on the 13th. God clearly knew what He was doing, even if the elevator didn’t always work!

The 80s? 90s?

They weren’t all good.

Crack. Violence. Brokenness.

But they were formative.

They made me. Molded me. Refined me.

And now I can say this with confidence:
God never left me—even when I didn’t know He was there.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
— Romans 8:28 (NASB1995)

Your past doesn’t define you—God does.

Even the messiest chapters can be part of a masterpiece.

So if you’re walking through fire, just know:
He’s still writing your story.

What’s your story?

Drop a “Thank You, Lord” in the comments if He’s brought you through some things!

Never forget where you came from…
But always praise God for where He’s taking you.

Stay encouraged, fam. You’re not alone.
He’s not done with you yet.

Tag someone who needs this today.

—Feeling grateful. Feeling grounded. Feeling hopeful.

#jessevelez #growclosertogod186
#FarRockaway #MyTestimony #FaithOverFear #GodBroughtMeThrough #UrbanTestimony #GodCanUseItAll #ChristianMotivation #HopeDealer #FromTheStreetsToTheSanctuary #Romans828 #JesusChangedMyLife #ChristianInspiration #TestimonyTime #GrowCloserToGod

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Happy Birth—wait, no, I’m not 100 years old! But I am celebrating the completion of my 100-Day Challenge inspired by @hormozi Rule of 100: Do something for 100 days straight, and achieve something great.

So why did I take this on?

2024 started out… different. I rang in the New Year feeling awful—first with a lingering stomach issue that wrecked my sleep and health. Then came the anxiety. What started as a health scare spiraled into full-blown panic attacks. My world felt hijacked by things I couldn’t even name.

For most of 2024, I wasn’t working. I was just trying to recover.

Then I came across Alex Hormozi’s challenge and thought, What if I just started?

I committed to 100 days of focused work—both on myself and my goals. And let me tell you, it wasn’t easy. But here I am, 100 days later, celebrating the work, the progress, and the resilience it took to push through.

A huge shoutout to my family for their patience and support while I got up every day and grinded. And to everyone thinking about starting something hard—just take that first step.

I look forward to sharing about the things I accomplished (which are in the photo frames behind me).

#alexhormozi #100daychallenge

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This is what’s Ai was made for. Unfortunately, two people got merged into others. Of you’re gonna make eggs, you gotta break eggs. If you’re gonna make Ai videos from real life, some real life will be absorbed. 🤣😭🤣

I ❤️ Skynet

Video made from a still photo using @klingai_official

#artificialintelligence #skynet #aiart #aivideo #klingai

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@mateonow asked the following question: Solomon ordered the deaths of so many yet was allowed to build God’s temple. Why not David?

Well, Mateo, King David was a mighty warrior, known for fighting many battles and defeating a lot of enemies. While some of those battles were necessary, David also made some terrible choices—like having Uriah the Hittite killed so he could take Uriah’s wife. That was one of the worst things David ever did, and it was part of the reason God didn’t let him build the Temple. He had too much blood on his hands.

After David died, his son Solomon became king. Solomon carried out some of his father’s final orders, including dealing with a few traitors, but he didn’t fight nearly as many battles as David did. Solomon was the one who finally built the Temple for God, but later in life, he turned away from God and made bad choices.

Jesus, however, built a different kind of temple—not one made of stone, but one in our hearts. No matter what sins we’ve committed, if we believe in Jesus, He makes us clean and makes our life a place where God’s Spirit can live forever.

#bibleanswers #growclosertogod #growclosertogod186 #jessevelez #bible

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