The Lord is always ready to bless us....We are learning this in a much deeper way this year. In the midst of an upside down world, the Lord in His glory wants to shine through. His light penetrates the darkness and He is working even when we can't seem to see Him working. He is showing us that we must always be looking for that silver lining even on the most cloudy of days because He wants to bless us! Sometimes it's a physical blessing like provision for something as small as a veterinarian visit for a pet...does that sound strange? Our little dog Penny ripped her du-claw and in the midst of a crazy busy day yesterday I had to drop her off for a quick surgery. How was I going to pay for it? Somehow I wasn't worried; I knew the Lord would provide! We had friends visiting from Santa Fe yesterday for the day as they stopped here in PV on their cruise. They weren't interested in seeing the sights but were more interested in visiting the school. They hung out with us all day, bought food for the kids at the school, helped out immensely at the Mission, filling in for some of our missing team members. Before they left they put a gift in my hand and said, "here, we are sure you all as a family have needs as well, use it for whatever you need". I just am so tickled with how the Lord is always ready to love us even in the simple things of life! Even to care for a precious part of His creation, our dog.
Then we see how He is always ready to bless us with his spiritual blessings if we walk in obedience with Him. Estie and I just returned from New Mexico this week and reflecting on that trip, I see how the LORD set up so many divine appointments with family members in the short 12 days we were there that it truly blows my mind! We had the pleasure of hearing from Bill's brothers that they were attending Calvary Albuquerque pretty regularly and have been touched by the Word. They even made it to an Apologetics Conference! What a blessing especially for Bill to hear that news! His burden has been for his family ever since he got saved many moons ago. I was also able to find my parents much more healthy than last year; a direct answer to our prayers. I got to fellowship with my two sisters who are growing in Christ. The Lord provided us with a vehicle through a lifetime friend of Bill's named John Pacheco, which enabled us the ability to travel in NM. What a blessing that was as we needed to travel to Santa Fe to get Apostilles for our Mexican Visas. What a blessing to be able to walk into a state office and have paperwork given to you so quickly! We were able to spend time with our friends David and Zoe who really are responsible for us getting to Puerto Vallarta in the first place. We got to pray for Zoe's mom who fell and broke a bone in her back...what a privilege to bring people before the throne of our God... I love how the Lord has allowed us to maintain some of these early friendships for such a long time....It is like we were never apart! Then Estie and I met with a long lost cousin of mine after 25 years and had the opportunity to share the Lord's goodness with her...must I say more? We had wonderful fellowship with our friends at Calvary Alb., Calvary Metro SF, Calvary Las Vegas, and with friends from Calvary S. Denver, and Mile High Calvary. Our good friends John and Doreen and their boys were able to meet us as well in Denver even after a blizzard! We were detained for two days but were blessed with the privilege of going to service at Calvary South Denver and got to hear a wonderful teaching on Jesus as the Christ, by Geno. I know the Lord wanted us there to be blessed by His word! The Lord was in control of our whole trip, one which I worried a bit about wondering if I was going to be able to handle it because of my fibromyalgia flare up in December and January. He was so good because I really didn't suffer in the cold!
Walking in Jesus and growing in Him has proven to be the most fulfilling experience of our lives. We live to share that Good News with others and will never turn back! He gives us the blessing of serving a banquet of His blessings to His children here in Calvary PV every single day! He provided workers for Bill while we were gone as the body is "working out their salvation", growing in holiness and good works. We are seeing the fruit of our labors as we watch the number of teachers growing at the school, and the number of "serious bible students" growing in our bible studies at the church and at the Mission. The number of "soldiers" he sends us from the North to help raise our hands in the battle only increases in spite of the "drug lord" scare that is so published and talked about in the US. These brothers and sisters that come in "high season" are not shirked by the mass media scare in regards to Mexico! They are sure of their calling knowing the time draws near for the eminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ! Today many of them are at the church giving it a face lift by painting, repairing, and making it a home in paradise for our body, all under the supervision of our wonderful brother and sister Jim and Linda who are here for the winter. Yes, I am amazed by His blessings! I pray that no matter what you may be going through that you would know that with out a shadow of a doubt that the Lord is waiting and wanting to bless you as you walk in obedience to Him!
Walking in Jesus and growing in Him has proven to be the most fulfilling experience of our lives. We live to share that Good News with others and will never turn back! He gives us the blessing of serving a banquet of His blessings to His children here in Calvary PV every single day! He provided workers for Bill while we were gone as the body is "working out their salvation", growing in holiness and good works. We are seeing the fruit of our labors as we watch the number of teachers growing at the school, and the number of "serious bible students" growing in our bible studies at the church and at the Mission. The number of "soldiers" he sends us from the North to help raise our hands in the battle only increases in spite of the "drug lord" scare that is so published and talked about in the US. These brothers and sisters that come in "high season" are not shirked by the mass media scare in regards to Mexico! They are sure of their calling knowing the time draws near for the eminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ! Today many of them are at the church giving it a face lift by painting, repairing, and making it a home in paradise for our body, all under the supervision of our wonderful brother and sister Jim and Linda who are here for the winter. Yes, I am amazed by His blessings! I pray that no matter what you may be going through that you would know that with out a shadow of a doubt that the Lord is waiting and wanting to bless you as you walk in obedience to Him!
God bless you! Bill, Renee', Estie, Micah and Abby
