When dreams come true

Do you know that moment in which you see your dream becoming true right before your eyes?

It is a mix of emotions: 
Disbelief ...  Shock ... Awe ...  
Excitement ... Full Joy ... Purposefulness ...

That happened to me the other day.  I have been working with a group of ladies for about 5 years.  It has been a work of patience and waiting.   We all have become close friends and we trust each other. 

During the Holidays, spending extra time with God, I had this feeling that a special time in ministry was closer.  In the other hand, I started experiencing many challenges in my personal life.   That was the assurance to me that the new direction was from God, since blessings often come along with obstacles to prove our faith.  

Arriving back in Spain I started putting some structure to a still cloudy idea. Many friends have often asked me for recipes as I bring cakes and baked goods to our gatherings.  I thought that would provide a bait for my friends.  In the other hand, I wanted them to know that it was not only cooking, we would read and learn from the Bible.   A friend had done a similar ministry and gave it the name of Recipes for Life, which I though fit perfectly with what I was planning.  

To my astonishment, many ladies who were part of the craft class, wanted to come.  I thought it was for the recipes, but then learned they really want to get familiar with the Bible!  The other day a lady I do not know called me to know more about these classes.  I thought "she wants to learn how to bake".  I was shocked again to learn that the cooking was the extra, she was really interested in learning from the Bible!  I hope to see her soon in our event Recipes for Life. 

Back to the dream: picture a room full of Spanish ladies with a big smile in their faces, so thankful for the new Bible they received, learning the difference between the New and Old Testament, what do chapters and verses really mean, studying women of the Bible, reading and asking questions, participating without fear as they are among people they trust. 

What have I learned?

1) God is always at work.

2) God is the one who calls and determines the seasons of planting and harvesting.

3) God is the God of time ... in His time things happen. 

4) His Word does not come back void.

5) Ministry happens in a context of love and trust. 

Dreaming ...

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.

Psalms 126:5

It is not about me ...

We all have a set of values depending on our generation.  Some generations have learned that they should work hard and they will be able to fulfill their dreams; others believe they can do anything they set their hearts on, ... some many ways to view life!

Since becoming a Christian I have believed God had a wonderful plan for my life.  A plan that would include many blessings, hundreds of people coming to Christ, many opportunities to share my experiences, many stories of success. God is good and he has this wonderful life for me. 

I believe in many ways, we, the church has adopted the worldview of our generation in the way we see faith and God's actions in the world.  

What happens then when we do not receive the blessings we believe we are entitled to; what happens when not one person comes to Christ for a long time, when we have no opportunities to share our experiences and have just a few stores of success.  Have I failed?  Did God miscue?

None of the above ... we must readjust our view and understand of God and His ways.  Lately I have been facing this truth.  It is not all about me.  It is not about my success in achieving my goals.  It is not even about the number of people I am able to reach from month to month.   

The truth is that God is much more interested in me, the simple version of me.  The version of me that depends on Him, the version of me that look for His interest, the version of me that searches to understand His ways that are new each day, not because He changes but because I am getting to know another facet of His great being.  

I see two lessons in this:

1) When he looks to me he sees a gem.  A gem does not have to do anything to have value.  A gem IS valuable.  I am valuable to Him.  He enjoys looking at me and seeing the reflection of His son.  He enjoys the thought that I belong to him.  Nothing I do or do not do will ever change his pleasure in me.  This has been a life-changing thought. 

2) On the other hand, it is not about me.  It is His story.  He is reaching people, He is working all the time around me. He is preparing the soil, he is planting seeds, he is harvesting, he is resting the soil.  His timing is perfect and his work is flawless.  Do I have anything to do with it?  Yes, I can abide in Him and take part of what He is doing.  I can watch His actions and rejoice in them.  I can rest in Him and wait until His timing is perfect.  No pressure on me, no credit to me - my share is to rejoice in Him. 

These have been two truths I have been learning lately.  I am so honored to belong to a God so powerful that He controls the world but so sensitive to the point of watching me and maneuvering His ways around so I can take a small part in His might work. 

When you are not needed

We all fight with weaknesses derived from life scars or personality preferences. 

I love to be in the middle of the party where everything is happening.  I love when people count on me, and perhaps even feel a hint of pleasure when they need me!

This has a lot to do with my personality,  BUT we all know that  the "this is who I am, take it or leave it" mentality does not work in the Christian life or in the mission field. 

Due to my personality, people tend to come to me, to ask my opinion, just to hang out with me ... I love to have a good time and they do too!  

As the ministry has been developing, I have noticed the need to influence others and bring them along.  I have been diligent in finding people with whom I can spend extra time, pass on the knowhow and let them free to fly, ... and even go beyond ... 

God has been faithful in giving me this kind of women!  I have a special closer group of 2 ladies who participate in every aspect of my classes: from planning to inviting, from art work to sharing their faith.  It is amazing to count on their support.   

 Ministry can go on if I am not around.  Good, right?  Well, not always.  It is a bitter sweet experience. I am being totally transparent when I say it hurts when I am not needed. It hurts even when they are planning something not including me because I have been too busy.  They are being good friends and considerate, but it still hurts.  

God has been teaching me this lesson.  It is OK not to be needed.  That only means I have run the course and passed the baton to the next person. I played a role and it is done.  More and more God has been impressing on my heart that I should rejoice when I can walk out of the party, my absence unnoticed and rejoice that I had a part in bringing those people together.   I should rejoice walking out and knowing the party will go on, and just perhaps, the better part of it is still to happen. 

2 Timothy 2:2 

"and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well."

When God does not use my evangelistic strategy ...

Working with our company, we have received much training in Evangelism. With time I have developed my own style of doing it.  It always include lots of coffee time, sharing my own experience with God, making reference to the Bible often and planting seeds of doubt about the person's religious experience. 

In this process I pray often I will have an opportunity to share my testimony and lead the person to consider the same experience.   This is my strategy. 

I met P. a while ago in a craft event.  She has worked for new Ms. teaching the local language and culture.  That is her job.  She has been around Christians for a long time, observing and almost being accustomed to our culture.  I have grown to appreciate her as friend as she faithfully attends my craft class. 

A while back I felt I needed to put the situation in check.  I asked for prayer.  I mentioned to her that I would not be a real friend if I did not ask some questions. I made the point of sharing my testimony and challenged her to move from knowing about God to knowing God Himself.  She could not see what I was pointing out.  I felt I failed in my attempt.  

Perhaps God was not working in her life like I thought He was ... 

Perhaps I was too direct, burning bridges ...

Perhaps I failed in the way I explained it ...

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps ... 

But about the same time ...

P.'s brother had a transplant a while back.  Just recently they found a heart condition that required an open-heart surgery as well.   She was understandably worried about caring for him (who lives with her), taking care of her son and keeping up with her business.  I can imagine that her silent prayer was that God would pass this cup from her.    

For some reason she requested another exam.  She does not know why but she knew it was to be done.  The breakthrough starts with the doctor agreeing to do so, as all was ready to put the date of the surgery in the calendar. They were to go back to get the second results and set the date on a Monday.  On Sunday, the day before, while attending her Cth. church, she prayed God would give her strength.  She had a wild thought, almost like a flash in her mind, a voice that said:  "What if it is not necessary?".  She kept it to herself. 

The next morning they went to the get the results.  The doctor said: "Not sure how to start this, ... I have never seen this happening before ... there was a change ... the blockage moved ... no need for a surgery."  Wow!  She quickly called me saying (screaming): "God exists, He answer prayers!!!!!"

The next day she came to my class and her face was changed, her look was different.  I saw Jesus in her!  That is what I mean: God is not limited to our strategy of evangelism.  He will reach different people, different ways, ... we just sit in awe as He gives us the privilege to be a spectator of His might work of reaching the lost. 

Since then, she has been very outspoken about God's existence, His power, His answers to prayer, etc, etc.  She shared this testimony with all the other ladies in my class. And I stand amazed at what He is doing, His own way, not always following my strategy! :)

Mark 1

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy

40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 

41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 

42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. 

43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 

44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 

45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news.

In due time ...

I am not a farmer, but there is SO much to learn from them!   Correct me if I am wrong, friends, but I learned a farmer will use a land this way:  plowing, sowing, waiting and then harvesting.   Once in a while though, he will let the land rest, it can become overworked.

I believe that, as well as the farmers, we can relate to each one of those stages as we share Jesus with friends and family.  Sometimes I have made the mistake to overlook the last part: resting the land, giving it time ...

Visiting a city where we used to live I got the chance to have breakfast with a former neighbor.  During the time we lived close to her family, my husband and I presented the Gospel several times as we did life together.  Her life was pretty put together, both of them had nice jobs, several properties, nice kids, etc.  We truly loved them not only because of our desire of presenting Jesus, but because they ministered to us, helping us with our babies, sharing so many meals together, etc.

We have many times looked back and wondered:  what else could we have done?  They were always open to talk, but in a polite way explained their very Post-Modern view in life.

Having breakfast with her we learned lots of the latest chapters of their life more in details.  Her husband developed Parkinson desease, her Mom has Alzheimer's  desease, and her adult daughter  who lives with her is going though depression.   All depending on her for care and strength.

I asked her where she found strength.  During the conversation, in tears, for the first time she was open to talk receiving what I had to share with an open heart.  I was able to share about my own struggles and how I only find hope in God.  At the end of our conversation, Dwight downloaded, at her request, an app with daily messages from the Bible.

While in town I also was able to arrange for a Christian lady to apply for the job to care for her husband at home.   I am hoping this would work out and she would have a witness living in with them, blessing them each day with the presence of Jesus.

I have seen throughout the years that God uses our absence to speak to people.  They can get used to the fuzzy feeling of having Jesus around without having to commit.  When we are not around though, they realize they want that same presence in their lives.  Sooner or later, through experiences and trials, they will recognize the difference of the presence of Christ.

I write this praying that her heart will be blessed by the daily messages on her phone and that she will soon commit to Christ for He is the one from whom all our blessings flow.

Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master’s Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time.

James 5:7-8

God's Time

Today we were shopping and got late to pick up our son. We raced to the school expecting to find our little boy desperately crying for someone to come. He was the last kid to be picked up.

When he came in the car I told him how sorry I was. I asked:

- Were you scared?

He said:

- No.

- Why not?

- Papa said he would be here ... I was waiting for him to come.

God spoke to me at that point. The only thing my son needed was the assurance that my husband had promised, therefore he would abide by his promisse. I thought about my own relationship with my Heavenly Father as I wait for Him to do His work in my life and ministry.

1) He said He would: My son felt secure because my husband told him he would pick him up. God gave us so many promises and I have seen them been acomplished over and over again ... and yet, I doubt.

2) He always does what he promises: My son knows my husband. He knows his character. He had similar experiences before and he always came through. Don't I see the hand of God in my life and ministry over and over? ... and yet, I doubt.

3) He was not impatient: My son was just looking around. I do not want to wait for the time of the Lord. I get impatient and frustrated. He WILL come and meet me in my need as He has always done before. Not before, not after, but at the right time. I have seen it ... and yet, I doubt.

Just a little incident and lots of life lessons. God will give the fruit of our labor in due time. I love when God calls my attention and make me reflect on His truth through the eyes of a child.

I am glad I am not in charge!

It was Saturday night and my family went to the elevator in turns as there was no way all of us would fit, considering all the extra load of “stuff” we take for our house church. The meeting would be at one of our regular’s home on the next door building.

We had some songs to sing, some food, the advent wreath, candles, the guitar, kid’s activities with supplies, our Bibles, etc

Getting there we had plans to spend time around the wreath, sing and read the Bible, have some thought provoking questions and nice answers that would make all of us feel warm inside. This time of the year is so special and that was our plan for the event.

We get there and people are going crazy with food preparation. They had so much! It was sweet of them, but it took the focus from our time. We then started singing some songs that they brought from their Catholic church. Nice songs and we even knew some. Nothing like it was planned …

My husband started talking about last week’s focus. As the topic starts to penetrate our minds and hearts the last visitor family arrives. They then started kissing everyone, and the food started being served. Nothing like it was planned …

Almost like an instinct I admire in him so much, my husband starts the conversation again. This time the kids are in the back doing their Christmas crafts and reading portions of the Bible with my daughters. He starts talking about faith on the promised of God through Jesus, topic of the second week of Advent. It only started there, questions such as “Is God real?”, “Why does God allow suffering in the world?”, and statement such as “I am happy as an Atheist” brought a different dynamic to our meeting. Nothing like it was planned …

We had dessert and the kids wanted to present us a performance they had prepared in the back. It was about forgiving our friends when they wrong us. It had a good message but at times it was hard to get it with all the noise, disturbance and discussion among actors! We sat there for a while until we demand a last act! Nothing like it was planned …

We finished the meeting with an open end. We did not answer all the questions and not all questions were mentioned. It was midnight and we were tired. Strangely we walked home with joy our hearts. It was crazy at times but all that happened had a purpose. We were growing in knowledge of each other, as a family. People felt free to express their view and opinions. Kids felt part of it. The Word was preached. God was glorified!

When we meet as a family, do we ever plan every step of the way? No, we visit family with open hearts wanting to spend time together and sharing life’s experiences with each other. That was what happened. Did we plan exactly that way? No, but that is OK. I am glad I am not in charge! Our Father is in control!

Becoming Strong in the Broken Places

Hello friends!

I have been thinking lately about my journey to where I am today. I still have lots to learn, lots to change, in short, God is not done with me. BUT, there are a few lessons I have learned in my walk with the Lord.

In many occasions I found myself very close to God, but in others, unfurtunatly, I was far from God. The funny thing is that all during those trials, I was always serving God. People with whom I worked never noticed my spiritual status.

When you are a Christian for a while you learn to say the right words and do the right things before other people, no matter how you feel. But when you are alone in your room with closed doors, there is where your real "you" emerges.

I do not think God is waiting for those moments with us to make us feel terrible and demand a change. I believe he is hopeful for the right attitute in our hearts. He undestands our weakness and wants to make us strong. If we just could cross our pried and open up so He could work one of His miracles!

I write from my heart and to myself that some seasons in our life won't be easy. Even when you are in the center of God's will, doing His work, serving the people ... still, problems will arise. Then, what does God want from me?

I think he wants an attitude of surrender, trust and willingness to learn a new lesson. I am not there yet!! I still complain, get mad at Him, cry in desperation, etc. But He is patient and will wait until we calm down and surrender ourserves totally to His working hands in our lives.

I read this the other day and spoke to me personally. I would like to share with you:

"To become strong in the broken plances in our lives demands that we do two things, seeming opposites: hang in there, and let go. To somehow dig up the courage to keep going is the very courage that allows us to scoop up broken pieces of our lives and lay them all at the feet of the One who would do more in us than just get us through the storm. As James Means said, he would take the fire that blackens our horizons and warm our sould with it. He would sharpen our vision in the darkness that oppresses us. He would use the despair of standing at a grave to deepen our trust. This we cannot do for ourselves.
Perhaps because our brokenness brings us to the end of ourselves, it is here, in these jars of clay that we offer up to his very special grace, that God's all-surpassing power is make known and he, indeed, makes us strong in our broken places. "
By Verdell Davis
Riches Stored in Secret Places

I will leave these verses with you:

"My heart is steadfast, Oh God, my heart is steadfast, I will sing and give praise."Psalm 57:7

"And He said to me: 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
2 Corinthians 12:9

God bless you today! -- Mara

Scrapbooking

If you know me you know I am a scrapbooker. I just wish I had more time to devote to it, but you will hear it from any scrapbooker.

I started doing it to record the way Dwight and I met. It is such a cool love story that I wanted to keep all the detailes, including all the letters we exchanged, etc.

Then, with kids and family events, I saw it as a wonderful way to make those memories alive and even more beautiful.

It was with time that I realize what a wonderful tool it is in making friendships and sharing your faith and values with other ladies!

In Madrid, Spain, God brought a group of ladies to scrapbook together. I had many changes to share my faith, my biblical points of view on different aspects of life, and me!

Also, it becomes a support group. In this busy pace of life we all live, it is hard for anyone to find true friends, who know you, who cares about who you are and are interested in what you have to say.

I feel this kind of group offers this kind of support. Through their pictures, they share their most valued memories, they share who they are and we get to know each other really well.

We met once a week and in some of those morning, we never got to actually scrapbook. We shared so much over coffee that there was no time to work on the pictures! We had all kinds of circunstances. Some times it was just plain fun among girlsfriends. Other times it was not as light. We had one lady sharing family problems over tears. We had other one sharing about all the bitter memories she had when seing some of her baby/child pictures. And the list goes on ...

We also had two occasions in which a group came to do a workshop for them. There are many stablished churches there that have a scrapbook ministry and would love to come and help you with resources and their presence. Actually, many do not realize the impact they can have in a church start. Our experience shows that many, if not most churches start with ladies!

So, as you can see, I am an avid scrapbook lover!

Visit this article I wrote in my other blog about how I found out that "Scrapbooking is Biblical!" :

http://marasplace.blogspot.com/2005_05_01_marasplace_archive.html
Note you will have to scroll down on this page above to read the article!
Have a good week and get those pictures out of the shoe boxes!