July 17th :)

1 Samuel 16
King James Version (KJV)
1And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord.
3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
4 And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.
9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.
10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these.
11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.
15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him.
19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.


I know this is a long piece of scripture but I wanted ya'll to read it as a whole. Reading it this morning I noticed something completely new to me and then shared it with the girls during devotions.
 Samuel was sent to anoint David, basically announcing to David that he was the next king of Israel. And what did David do??? He went back to the sheep. David didn't move to the city, didn't enroll in law school (figuratively speaking).He didn't go knocking on the palace door, neither did he gather an army to challenge Saul. David was young, we don't know how young, but probably a teenager. Yet we don't see a youthful arrogance or a desire to rule the world. David returned to the sheep. He wasn't impatient, he didn't take matters into his own hands. David continued faithfully with what the Lord had given him to do. Verse 18 says, "Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him". God taught David everything he needed for the palace while tending to his father's sheep. God provided a way for David to get to the palace without David's help. While David was faithfully doing his 'little' job God prepared him to lead a nation. 
Every day is an opportunity for us to learn, grow, and become who the Lord has called us to be. We don't have to be on the fast-track. We don't have to pine and worry about how we are going to do great things for God. Do what He has given you to do TODAY. If you are willing He will gladly take care of the rest. If God used long days and nights in the fields with stinky sheep (sorry Cher) to prepare David for kingship then He can use stinky diapers, boring jobs, lonely nights, and dusty roads to prepare us for His purpose. 
So don't be discouraged if you feel like there is a mountain in between you and whatever it is that God has promised you. God makes ordinary extraordinary, the secret is the Holy Spirit. Verse 13, "And the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward". 

All is well here at Rancho Maranatha!! We have had some rain so everything has turned green!!! Unfortunately the grasshoppers and gnats have arrived as well :(
The bible studies in the many different villages continue. I just returned from the ladies study in Osobampo. This study always blesses me so much!!! The ladies are so hungry for the word and desire to grow :)
This afternoon we will be heading to Tesia, then tomorrow to Torocoba and San Antonio.
I don't like the heat...........I don't think it likes me very much either, haahahaha.

Blessings to all. Please keep us in your prayers (especially our vehicles)!!!

Mauricio!!!!!

Hello Everyone :) I went to see little Mauricio this Wednesday. You may remember me mentioning a young lady from Eubodia's family in Huazahuari named Ophelia. Ophelia's delivery of Mauricio turned into quite an emergency. It's a miracle that they are both alive and well today. Ophelia is doing very well! She has put weight back on and had a HUGE smile on her face. While I was in the states Rogelio stopped going to Huazahuari and started going to another small village about 1/2 mile down the road called Torocoba. The majority of the people that were coming to Huazahuari were from Torocoba so it made sense to move it. This Wednesday 3 generations sat and listened to God's word. Don Juan and his wife, their three sons, their wives, and their kids. It was SOOOO awesome. They have such a desire to hear the truth. Their eyes lit up when the saw my guitar! We sang some worship songs, I believe they really enjoyed it. While Rogelio shared out of John 1 I sat on the floor and colored with the kids :) The kids that live in Torocoba used to come to my class in Huazahuari. I hope that the rest of the kids from Huazahuari will start coming to the class in Torocoba now.

Earlier on Wednesday we went to Mocuzari for ladies biblestudy. Roshon had been teaching a study there but had stopped going because no one was coming. However, the ladies asked Roshon to return. So this Wednesday was our first time back and Roshon started a study on the book of Esther. It was AWESOME. The Lord definitely spoke through her. Since this was our first week she did a brief review of the book of Esther to familiarize the ladies with the story. However the Lord turned her heart towards the younger girls in the room and she began to exhort them to prepare themselves for the time and place that the Lord had for them. Using Esther as an example of course. At the end we found out that what she shared had to do directly  with something that several of the young girls had gone through the week before. So to make a long story short, it was awesome :) :) :) :) :) Please pray that the Lord would continue to bless this biblestudy and use Roshon.

I'v been back a week and a half and I feel like I just got here. The first several days I was here we didn't have any water. The pump had just been repaired/replaced the month before so it was very frustrating to be having problems again. Dan, Rogelio, and the army of girls worked to bring the pump up, install a new one, and put it back down again. After that was done it still wasn't working correctly. Thank God that by the next morning though everything appeared to be back in order!!!! We hope and pray that it stays that way!

It is really hot here... And dry. We are waiting rather impatiently for the rain to come so that everything will turn green once again.

Josie Ray has officially graduated from high school! She just sent her application in to the Calvary Chapel bible college in Ensenada, Lord willing she will be accepted. If she is she will be leaving us soon :(

Monce's graduation is coming up soon as well. Next semester she will be starting at a college in University.

Last but not least I am proud to officially announce that Hector and I are engaged!!!! He asked me during his graduation ceremony the day after my arrival :) :) :) :) : ) I'm one happy girl! The wedding will be November 3rd.

Blessings to All!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chels

Psalm 1

Disclaimer and warning!!!!!! For those of you who don't like sappy, romantic, 'awwww' producing comments this post is NOT for you.

 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

² But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

³ And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

⁴ The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

⁵ Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

⁶ For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish".    Psalm 1

So let's go back to the summer of 2006, I was 14 years old. The Stearns family had returned from Mexico a little over a year prior. My dad had been earnestly searching for the Lord's will as to where we were supposed to settle. He had just decided that we were to move to the state of Missouri where he felt lead to pastor a church. In July I was at a youth retreat with my best friend, both of us  mourning the upcoming move. One morning during my quiet time the Lord brought Psalm 1 to my attention. As I carefully read through I remember the Lord telling me, "This is a model for your future husband". He showed me different qualities that I was to look for. One of the major ones was that he would neither, walk, stand, or sit with the ungodly. As this Psalm describes, one thing leads to another. He(my man) was to desire holiness, not to conform to the world.From verse 2 the Lord impressed upon my heart that he needed to be firmly planted with his roots in the Word. That way good times or bad together we would bear fruit. 

I remember looking up and thinking,"God, I'm only 14. Am I supposed to start looking now?!?!?!" The answer was obviously a resounding, "no". But I was to tuck it away in my heart and pray that he, whoever he was, would grow into a psalm 1 man. 

Fast forward to 2011, now I am 19 and once again living in Mexico. Over the years I didn't think much about this word from the Lord. I just figured that when the right one came along the Lord would reaffirm through Psalm 1.

Well............... Someone caught my eye. He caught my eye and for a long time I didn't catch his. I will admit that hurt my pride a bit ;) Perhaps that's what impressed me about him the most...............

I was drawn by his drive, determination, and focus to get what he wanted, by his dedication. He began to gain my respect as I discovered his knowledge and reverence of the word of God. This may sound a bit arrogant but here goes it anyway, I didn't really expect to find somebody close to my age that knew as much about the word as I did. And a step further, I didn't expect someone with that much knowledge to be diligently applying the word to their lives, seeking God's will in every aspect of their lives. 

Over the years ( not that I've had many to go over, hehehe) I felt that most guys fit into one o two categories. (1) Driven by passion, being crazy in love with Jesus and having an adventurous spirit.

(2) Or held by principle, in which they were bound by a sense of legalism and intellectualism in which they had no freedom.

 But here's the thing, I wanted BOTH. I wanted a guy who was responsible, who wanted to work to provide for his family, and who was not afraid of commitment. But on the other hand, I was also looking for someone who wouldn't put a 'box' around God. A man who would follow and obey wherever, whenever, and however the Lord led......... Pretty much a christian superman, right?!?! Perhaps minus the tights and red boots?????? 

So, as I was saying, I kept finding that this guy had all those qualities. Problem is, he doesn't like me.... So I was home for three months last summer. I was hoping it would be a make it or break it time......Well, it was :) :)

Shortly after my return from summer break I had a visit from this wonderful young man. We talked about a zillion things,most have to do with issues in our generation of Christians and churchgoers. He started telling me about this inductive bible study they had just started at his church. Guess where they started it off???????? Any guesses??????

Psalm 1............... Yep, Psalm 1. I got to hear all the things the Lord was teaching him and impressing on his heart through psalm 1. Things like not even walking with, much less standing, or sitting with the wicked and unbelieving. Why? Because it's a progression, one leads to the next. Getting a sense of Deja Vu yet??? Ya........... I'm sure my jaw was on the table for the majority of the conversation. I sure know that the majority of it I was having an ongoing conversation with the Lord in my head.

Me: "Lord, NO WAY, no way, is this for real?".

God:"(chuckles) Yep".

It went on like that for quite a while. 

Hearts, thoughts, convictions, and priorities were laid on the table. The Lord blessed it, blessed us both tremendously. 

So that night it was decided that we needed to ask my parents permission to move forward with our relationship. My parents required that we both come to Missouri in order to do that. That was in August, the 6th of April we finally crossed the border and headed for MO. Six months of limbo, six months of wondering if we'd get approval. Six months of officially being not official, if you can say that. Anyway, it was a pretty incredible six months. The Lord showed us things, taught us, convicted, encouraged, beat the junk out of me.... The list goes on and on. 

To wait: (a verb)to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens (often followed by for, till,  or until )

1.(of things) to be available or in readiness

2.to remain neglected for a time: 

3.to postpone or delay something or to be postponed or delayed

4.to look forward to eagerly

The most impacting thing about this definition is that the first thing it states is that 'to wait' is a VERB. Verbs mean action. Waiting is an action, a decision, it takes determination and self control. 

Isaiah 30:18
And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

It was worth the wait, it was totally worth the wait. The Lord has blessed us both tremendously through the wait. He has given us so many opportunities to be examples through the wait.

So with all that said, may I proudly introduce my favorite geek in the whole wide world, Hectór Romero.

                         

To those of you that have been praying, thank you SOOOOO much :)

I ask all of you to continue to pray. Our desire is glorify God through everything we say and do. We want God's will and timing above everything else.

Time Flies

Time has been FLYING by!!!!!!!!!!!!
My mom will be here in 2 weeks, then the Ladies Day, then we head back to MO!!!!!!!!!!
I would say that I'm counting the days but honestly time is going by so quickly that I don't have TIME to count the TIME. It seems that the more days go by the longer my to-do list gets... I think it's supposed to be the other way around.
There is not a doubt in my mind that the Lord is coming soon. Every day seems darker than the one before. Every day our light needs to shine brighter. I'm remembering a kids song that we used to sing when I was little,
♪Give me oil in my lap, keep me burning, burning, burning. Give me oil in my lamp, I pray. Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning. Keep me burning til the break of day♫

In the perilous times we live in this needs to be our daily cry to the Lord. It seem the more necessary it becomes the more dificult it is to stay focused. The devil is just waiting for us to be lulled to sleep by the materialism and false security that surrounds us. He's begging us to conform. He's begging us to become one with the world. He wants to cheat us. Don't let him, don't let him get away with it. Don't allow him to be worshipped through your life, your family, or your job. Don't bow down to him. He wants your adoration and your worship and he DOES NOT deserve it. Give it to Him to whom it is due. Give the glory to God, FOREVER. Worship him in your every deed, your every step, your every word. Now, not tomorrow because we have no guarantee of tomorrow!!!!!!!! We are surrounded by such willful ignorance and apathy. People need to be woken up to the truth. But how can they if we ourselves are buying into the lie?

Would you believe someone who came up to you at a buffet and told you that the food was poisoned and then went and served themselves a heaping plate of that very food????? No....... If there's no urgency in our cry why should they listen?

Now I'm not saying that we should to go out to the nearest street corner and scream John 3:16. Neither am I saying that the Lord won't come if we are not busy knocking on doors. And I am defintely not saying that we should stop being mothers, fathers, teachers, wives, and employees in order to save the world. In fact, we can't save the world, don't even bother trying. However, let us, in everything we say and do, lift up the name of the God Most High. That is what will triumph. That is what will pursuade hearts. That is what sets us apart from the rest of the world.
Resurection Sunday is coming up soon. Remember, it's not about bunnies, eggs, or Easter dresses. It's a reminder that we serve a LIVING GOD and He is an ALL CONSUMING FIRE. He is also the redeemer of our souls, the creator of the universe. He holds us in His hand, nothing can move us.

one of those moments

I had one of those moments the other day, I was in the shower............... hahahahahaha. Of course I was in the shower, where else do I have my deepest thoughts :) Actually this wasn't really my thought, it was a thought that the Lord put in my heart. I was in a hurry since I hadn't gotten up as early as I should have. I was lamenting that because of my reluctance to get out of bed I had missed my quiet time. Shampooing my head rather vigorously I was mentally beating myself up for my laziness. Thinking," How could you trade that precious time with your Savior for a little more sleep? How could you miss out on the peace, joy, and wisdom that fill you as a result of your time with Him?"

All of the sudden, " When you don't spend time with me you are not the only one missing out. You desire the fellowship to strengthen yourself, be guided and to be encouraged. But, I desire simply to be with you because I delight in you. That's why I created you".

Wow....... When I don't spend time with the Lord it hurts Him. Not simply because He wants to instruct me, not simply because He wants to impart some wisdom to me, or to give me a word for someone else. He WANTS to spend time with me, for Him.....Not because it benefits Him, obviously I have nothing to give Him. But because He DELIGHTS in me. The creator of the universe delights in ME. He delights in spending time with ME........ And when I don't give Him that chance I sadden Him, I disappoint Him.

"But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight". Ps 16:3

He created us, in His image, for His pleasure.
Ps 147:11 -The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
Psa 149:4 -For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

What do CD players do????, Well...................The play cds. A 4 year old could tell you that.
What does a toaster do?????? Not the one in the cartoon...... Just the plain old toaster sitting on your counter. It toasts things, right???? What about a washing machine??? It washes things........ My point is, things generally do what they are made to do... Unless they weren't made well, then they don't work. I, you, we were made to have communion with God. We were made so that He could take pleasure in us. He takes pleasure in time with us.... SO, are we doing what we were made to do? Tell me, what is the use of a toaster that doesn't toast or a washer that doesn't wash? What is it worth? Not much. What do you do with that toaster? To the dump it goes. So, if we are not fulfilling our created purpose what are we doing? What are we accomplishing? Are we just gathering gathering dust and taking up room?
HOW IS IT THAT WE CANNOT FIND TIME TO DO WHAT WE WERE CREATED TO DO?
How upside down, backwards, and messed up is that????????????? Let me clarify. You were not created to be a doctor, a baker, a teacher, an artist. You were not even created to be a mother, husband, or pastor. Yes, those are callings.. Those are things that come as a result of us fulling our purpose. What's our purpose??? TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. Once again I repeat, you can't know someone you don't spend time with. What kind of relationship would that be? Neither are relationships formed through one-way conversations.

Anyway..............................
Life at Rancho Maranatha is good, a blessing as always.
Yesterday the group from Minnesota left. They were a huge blessing. They filled their days as mechanics and plumbers :)
We also had Lance, from Big Bear, visiting. Lance was a blessing and shared at many of the studies.
Oh yes, I HAVE A HUGE PRAISE REPORT. God has healed Levi Ray! Since this precious little boy was born 4 years ago we have been praying for a miracle. Praying that God would heal his airway so that he would be able to breathe the way he was created to. After many, many surgeries and sleepless nights Levi is officially trache free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a blessing! Thankyou God!
Yesterday we had Rebecca's "Just Arrived" party. On Tuesday Rebecca will be one month old. I am exactly 20 years older than her. I couldn't possibly have asked for a better birthday gift. The whole family is doing well. Noemi seems to really love her little sister. My camera died, so I 'm sorry to say that I don't have any photos :(
On Wednesday we celebrated Dan's 14th birthday :)
Karla Melissa gave her life to Jesus Christ last week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PRAISE GOD.
All the bible studies continue. Things in Huazahuari are progressing slowly. The ladies that Rogelio shares with seem to be hungering continually for the Word. The children continue to be challenging. They are filled with some many superstitions and are taught so many dark things. I pray that the Lord would give me wisdom and show me how to show them the truth. They have been enjoying new soccer balls, bats, and cones. Thanks James!!!!!!!
Today gives us exactly a month til the Ladies Day. We have soooooo much to do , as always :) All you ladies are invited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jo and Jerry will be leaving soon :( They will be sadly missed.....................
I will be heading to the states with my mom after the Ladies Day. I'm looking forward to seeing friends and family! Yes, I'm counting the days ;)
Please continue to pray for us and the many places we minister to. Here's the list for those of you who don't have it:
Monday-Dan goes to the jail in Obregon
Tuesday- Ladies's studies in Osobampo and Jus,ibampo in the AM, Mezquital Tesia in the evening.
Wednesday- San Antonio, Huazahuari, and Alamos
Thursday- Jusibampo and Mocuzari
Friday- Las Minitas
Saturday- home :)
Sunday- Navojoa in the AM and Osobampo in the evening

Thankyou all SOOOOO much for your financial and spiritual support. YOU ARE A HUGE BLESSING. Keep it up :)
Blessings from Rancho Maranatha!

Abiding

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the widom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness". James 3:13-18

Sister Jòse shared this portion of scripture during biblestudy this morning in Osobampo. My immediate reaction was "WOW", followed quickly by an "OUCH" accompanied with a wince. God definately designed scripture to be poignant, this is no exception.

So very often I consider myself wise, so often I think I have understanding. How FOOLISH I am.... If I only knew how little I truly know, hehehehe. Any understanding, knowledge, or experience that is not of God is of ABSOLUTELY no use. Wisdom that comes from God is not made known through great discourses or writings. God's wisdom translates into actions, motives, and lifestyle.

"For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice". vs. 16 If I were completely honest with myeslf about the motivation behind the things that I do I am sure I would be horrified. I easily do things when they will make me look good or make me feel good. How often do I really reach out to others for their benefit instead of my own? How often do I do the right thing simply because it's the right thing??? How often do I obey God's voice simply because I desire to worship and obey? Doing 'good' things is not hard. Doing good makes you feel good about yourself, and makes other think well of you. Many times my 'labors of love' are labors of selfishness............ So many times I reach out to others because it's benefits #1, me...................... God forgive me for the many times I have 'served' Him simply for self-gain. God forgive me for the many times I have done the right thing simply because somebody else was watching me.........

This scripture is really cutting me wide open.I feel so very foolish.

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere". Vs17

So, how often do I walk in the wisdom that comes from heaven??? Well, how often am I peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere???? That is a very impressive list. I tend to think that if I can express one of these attributes every day then I'm doing pretty good.... But all of them???? Yes, this is what it means to walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh. In the flesh I most certainly can produce NONE of these attributes. They are NOT in me. They are of CHRIST. If I want to bear this fruit than I must be connected to the vine (John 15). There is a huge diference between plugging in for a couple hours to charge our batteries and truly remaining in the vine.

" I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing". Vs. 5

The Lord has put a choice on the table before me. He is showing me a 'v' in the road. He is showing me another way. Choice #1:I can choose to 'plug-in' or 'touchbase' when I need a pick me up. Kind of like going to Starbucks and getting a Vente 'Americano' with an extra shot. This is a lifestyle. Do you know anybody that lives like this??? How many people go for 3 days straight before crashing into a 'coma-like' state for 24 hours? How many people do you know that refuse to go to the dentist only their teeth are completely rotted and falling out of their mouth? Maybe you are one of them, hahahaha. My point is, we can live our Christian lives the SAME WAY.

Choice #2: Abide in the vine. Abiding in the vine means having living water flowing in me and out of me constantly. There's no crash at the end of this 'pick me up' because it's not a temporary fix. IT IS A COMPLETE CHANGE OF HEART AND MIND. It's a turning upside down of our priorities.

Are you living off of spiritual 'pick me ups'? Are your running to Christ to 'plug-in' when your battery light is blinking? Are you seeking spiritual guidance only when you are confused and desperate. Has your Christianity become like the treatment of a modern day M.D.? In other words, are you pacifying yourself by temporarily calming the symptoms instead of curing the sickness? Jesus isn't meant to be used like a band-aid.......... He is supposed to be stearing the bike so that you don't fall in the first place. Jesus isn't just #911. He doesn't want to just be there to pick up the pieces.

Right now He is challenging me. He is challenging me to live abundantly in Christ. To be completely renewed and transformed. No more band-aids or extra shots of espresso. He wants me to DWELL IN HIM.

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God". Romans 12:2

Choosing to abide in Christ will be no 'walk in the park'. Abiding in Christ is not a 5 or 10 or even 45 minute exercise that you do every morning. Abiding in Christ is every moment of every day. Abiding in Christ is rain or shine, snow or sleet. Abiding in Christ isn't a shirt you wear, it's a re-arranging of your heart and mind. Abiding in Christ isn't a 5-year plan. Abiding in Christ is living and breathing heaven here on earth.

God help me, I want to live abundantly. I want my heart and mind to be rearranged, radically......

January

"For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love." Galatians 5

Are you waiting eagerly for the hope of righteousness??? I sure am :) How I long for the day that I will be free of this fleshly body and my wicked, wicked heart. How I long for the day that we will live in the splendor and majesty of our God. How I long to hear the words, 'Well done, good and faithful servant'. I cannot wait to see the fruit of our lives here on earth. I long for no more tears, no more pain, no more goodbye's. I long to hear the angels sing; Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, God Almighty. Who was, and is, and is to come.

That day is coming soon. It's coming SOON. Are we living each day as if it was our last? Are our hearts longing for eternity? Do you long to see the Savior's face?

Last week we had a group here from Calvary Chapel Lincoln. There were a huge blast and a huge blessing. They brought 250 gift from their church and also Calvary Chapel Wichita. What a HUGE Blessing it has been to distribute the boxes. Christmas in January :) The kids were not complaining ;) Below is little Uriel, from Huazahuari, with his box.
T

This last Tuesday the ladies from Osobampo put together a baby shower for Carla. Her due date is February 7th. It was a wonderful time of fun, fellowship, and of course the word. Below we have Tola and her youngest, Ana Sofia.Doña Yaya with gift boxes for her grandchildren :)Adaneli opening her box !!!Adaneli, Dorly, and her cousin on Sunday night.

The group from Nebraska also lent a helping hand to our dear sister in Christ, Chuy. Chuy owns a taco stand in Navojoa. The group gave the place a face lift :) :) They also sealed some roofs for us here on the ranch. Not to mention the wonderul treat of having them cook for us! Chili and cheeseburgers were the highlights :)

Prayer Request:

1. That Carla would have a safe delivery. Protection for her and baby Rebecca.

2. Martin and Eubodia's family. They are new believers who live in Huazahuari. Their daughter, Ophelia, delivered a baby prematurely and with complications 2 weeks ago. Ophelia had emergency surgery that did not go well. She is now home in Huazahuari but is still very weak. Please pray for her, her baby boy, and the whole family. Please pray that the Lord would continue to work in their lives. Please pray that the enemy would be bound from their house and that he would have no hold on any of them.

3. Please continue to pray for all of the villages that we visit: Osobampo, Mocuzari, Las Minitas, Jusibampo, Huazahuari, San Antonio, Jijiri, and Tesia. That the word would go forth with power!

4. Keep Dan in your prayers and he goes to the jail in Obregon on Mondays.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers and your support. May God bless you and keep you planted firmly until the day of His return!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!