Not a fairy tale....

    Once upon a time, there was a boy about 13 years old who came to a party at church for an awards ceremony that was given for the children who were part of an Upward Soccer Tournament....He hadn't participated in the soccer league but came because a neighbor invited him....  When the invitation was made to accept Jesus he opened his heart and Christ came in!  That was about 4 years ago!  Thanks to our brother Manny who came from a distant land called Niceville with a heart for the under privileged, these children were able to have a wonderful two seasons of Soccer focused on learning the Word of God.  Then one day the young boy brought his little brothers to our little country Mission School in Laguna del Valle.  Danny and Pablito began to grow in Christ which made their mother curious about what was making the difference....Ana began to attend our after school program where she became part of our Women's bible study.  One day she shared a story of the pain and anger she had stored in her heart because of physical abuse of her stepfather.  She also shared a very sad story of a brother who also suffered abuse of a negligent grandmother who caused paralysis of her baby brother.  Due to the neglect the young boy died a very sad, sad death.... As she shared with much pain we watched Jesus begin to wash away every tear, every pain, every resentment and root of bitterness in this young mother as she learned that if she didn't forgive she wouldn't be forgiven!  What was the result of her leaving her pain at the feet of Jesus?  Her mother, her brother his wife and her two-step sisters came to Christ!  It has been such an incredible experience watching this family being transformed.  Her sisters are young mothers as well and have since this story began, allowed their children to come to the school and to church and are now members of the church.

      The beauty the Lord makes from the ashes of our lives is so incredible!  The two young sisters share the same father who is Ana's stepfather.  When the girl's mother got very sick this last year, we watched her go through a lot of physical anguish because she is diabetic with a weak liver.  It is interesting that she says it is due to all the "coraje"  or anger that she has bottled up inside due to her very difficult life which first began with an alcoholic husband and then with a physically abusive 2nd husband...  The Lord touched Carmen with His redemptive love and the healing began!  As she was in the hospital she had a visit from the father of her two youngest daughters.  He came to seek relinquishment in a way of the guilt he had carried so long that caused their marriage to dissolve, absolution for the pain he had caused his wife.  She forgave him in her heart and it has been incredible to watch her move to compassion for the one who caused her so much anguish.

    A few months ago the father suffered a stroke causing paralysis on his left side.  He has been in bed now for several months and it had been impossible for him to get up.  His current wife has to work full-time to support them and he must now depend on his daughters to take care of him.  The Lord working in these girls lives put it on their hearts to share the transforming power of Jesus with Him.  As they displayed changes in their own lives he began to seek more....He has been a very devout Catholic attending church practically everyday but his private life exhibited something complete different.  Carmen, the two girls and Ana have sought him out to encourage him.  As they spoke so fondly of Christ and His church the man asked to speak to us.  Well yesterday was the day that he took us there....As tears flowed from His eyes, he listened to God's love story and something began to happen.  When he was told that religion didn't save him, reading the bible didn't save him, good behavior didn't save Him...there was a pause.  He really thought he had been doing all the right things working his own righteousness which only left him empty in the end.  A white-washed tomb on the outside and dead on the inside.  The tears flowed....  Then Jesus and the Holy Spirit came like a flood and washed His tears away as he confessed his sin and Jesus covered him with His blood!  Mario now has his name written in the Book of Life!

      This story began with a boy, Pancho, let's not forget about him....He now must be about 17 years old...my heart breaks to think how the enemy has sought to devour him so many times...I would ask you to pray for this boy who had the seed planted in his heart, who shows up every now and again knowing that he needs to follow the Lord, but the influence of the drug's, wrong friends, and the world want to consume Him!  Please join us in praying for this boy who the Lord used mightily to bring his whole family to the cross!

   I guess the most amazing thing to me is that our lives are not a fairy tale but a true story for those in Christ which truly can look forward to a happy ending....a place called Heaven.  It is such and incredible blessing to watch and be a part of what the Lord is doing to give this truly happy ending to so many people who are being saved, ready for His return!  As we watch this Holiday Season unfold, let us not forget what is truly important....The birth of His Son who came to bring healing to the broken hearted and to make straight the path of those who would truly seek Him!

   I share this hoping it will bring encouragement to your heart today as you work to build God's Kingdom during these oh so tumultuous times.  We can be confident in this...God is still sitting on the Throne and He will have the last word!  He is the beginning and the end, the author and the finisher of our faith!  He will rejoice when He sees all those bowing before His throne in worship and praise of His redemptive power that He gave us at the cross through the Name that is above all names, Jesus Christ our Lord!