Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Building the team

Sunday after church the team met over my house and we all shared out testimonies to one another. This was a great ice breaker. Listening to each person, with tears and laughter, I am just thrilled how God has intertwined our lives and will use us to help a hurting heart to heal. Our first meeting really shook a few of us as we watched a video of some pretty troubled youth dealing with drugs, cutting, alcohol, and divorce. We could see this wasn't going to be just a learning bible study, but one that would take alot of prayer, passion, & persistance. We may not be counselors and have our lives altogether, but we are being obedient to what God has called us to do. Each one of us is being called to a higher level of obedience and dependence on Him. We are all in new territory. We've all been either that kid that needed someone to reach out to us or have given a left arm to have had our own children apart of this bible study.
If you know of a troubled youth who needs help, consider mentioning Life Hurts God Heals to them. It could very well save their life, give them life tools, & be a safe place to share and to be themselves...and mostly give their lives to Christ.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

The Miraculous finding!


Last night we went out to dinner with our son. I was delighted that he had called me and wanted to spend time with his father and I.

When we got to the restaurant, we parked the car and locked the doors. Once inside, the hostess walked us to where our son was seated so we could join him. I distinctely remember I laid my keys at our table & left for the restroom. I left my purse in the car because I didn't want to bother with carrying it.
You see, to save some time, I picked my husband up in the front our home so we could be on time to join our son. I never got out of my car. I did however, have to clear off the seat of a couple of books & my purse before he sat in the passenger seat. I put them all in the backseat.
Anyways we enjoyed our steak dinners at Logan's Roadhouse & hearing all the latest from our son. We invited him to go with us on a trip to Ireland this summer. I wanted a cup of coffee and I told them if we were going to sit there a little longer, I'd like to get a cup. We DECIDED to leave the restaurant & go to the Starbucks around the corner for a latte. We left the building and I NOTICED our son jumping into his car to follow us and I NOTICED he was parked facing us & one row to the right of us. There wasn't a car directly to the right of my car. I remember this because that is where my son walked to get to his car and where my husband got in on the passenger side of my car as I unlocked it for him. We got to Starbucks and I DECIDED to grab my purse to pay for everyone's latte because my husband had just paid for our dinner. I couldn't find my purse. I couldn't figure out where it had gone because we had locked the car doors at the restaurant and I knew I didn't bring it in. Immediately I freaked out thinking the worse of my credit cards and checkbook being stolen. My husband SUGGESTED we go back to the restaurant and ask them if anyone turned in a purse. As I approached the parking lot, my husband also SUGGESTED I park at the same area I had parked earlier and we could look around just in case my purse was laying on the ground somewhere mutilated. I pulled up in the exact parking spot and looked around briefly of the parking lot and then went inside and no one had turned in a lost purse. As I walked outside and got closer to my car, I noticed something underneath a car parked two rows beyond my parked car; and as I got closer I realized it was MY PURSE underneath the car! I grabbed it in total shock and was even more shocked to find it untouched!
We can't figure it out....all I know is that the decisions we made brought us back to my purse. I'm glad I decided to pay for our coffee, I'm glad my husbands suggestion to go back to the restaurant & his suggestion to park in the same area happened. If we had made other decisions, my purse would have really been lost!
I know, I know....this still doesn't explain how my purse got there in the first place!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Evaristo's 40th Birthday Party


POOL OF SILOAM
JOHN 9
Tonight I attended a birthday party of a dear friend to me and to many others. I've known Evaristo for many years. If you go to the downtown McKinney square you may see him hanging out somewhere. He's got friends all over town! Some pretty prominent people were at the party along with a host of business owner's, members of his family, nieces, nephews and cousins. Even the Mayor & Fire Marshal were there! He has touched the lives of so many in different ways. There had to have been about 100 people present.
Evaristo was born on this day March 12, 1969 with Cerebral Palsy. He can't talk to you, but after you get to know him a bit it's amazing how you can figure out what he's trying to tell you. Most often, he'll be sitting somewhere relaxing in the sun and I come rushing out of the building from work and I hear him yell to me only the way he can. He is so special. We sit and talk sometimes & we have lunch together sometimes. I've met his family & have visited their home his church had rebuilt for his family. Over the years I've driven him to where ever he's needed to go & we pray together on numerous occasions. I've even given him a massage that he just loved! What a blessing that was! What a blessing the Lord has given us folk who work on the square!
Tonight at the party when I arrived they had just started presenting him with gifts. Many talked about how they met him or what he meant to them personally. Before I left the house, I thought a second of what I should bring to him as a gift. I went straight to the shelf of one of my most treasured possessions. I picked up the little bottle of the Jordan River water and put it in my pocket. When I presented it to Evaristo, I was astounded at what came out of my mouth. Just last night, my husband and I had read Joshua 4 and at work today during some free time, I was reading a book that was also talking about that same chapter. So when I went in to the party, it was fresh in my mind and heart.
God so publically displayed His glory in that place through the words He put in my heart....scripture...Hidden in my heart.... you could have heard a pin drop!
Evaristo believes in God and that God not only parts the waters for those who believe, but that those who have faith as small as a mustard seed can tell a mountain to move and it will move. But for some...like Evaristo....he climbs the mountain everyday WITH his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I believe thats what God was telling us all tonight. We may have limitations with our physical bodies and our prayer to have it removed might not happen, but it doesn't mean our faith is small, it only means that we climb above it victoriously!
What a great God! Happy Birthday to Evaristo! I thank you for teaching all of us how to live victoriously through watching your life! Could it be that someone like Evaristo was born to display the glory of the Lord like the man born blind from birth in the book of John? i would like to think so. I thank God for Evaristo. What a mountain top birthday party!
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus. "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." John 9:3-5

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Que'Tal What's Happening?

There's alot happening! 1.The Brook Ministries may have found the Land! I've started a folder with floor plans & spa ideas for The Brook Spa!
2.The new job is coming along slowly as I build my client base. My time management skills have really been stressed & challenged, but I think in the near future are some good changes in that regard.
3. I've got a fantastic team of people (along with myself)who are going to lead a youth bible study (Healing Ministry) this summer at Grace Community Church in Plano. It is called "Life Hurts God Heals" It's for middle/high schoolers. The kids don't have to be a member at Grace to attend. It will be starting in June! God has so prepared the way for this particular ministry to come about. And now, it is finally happening!Let me know if anyone would like information about it.
4. My husband & I have done well with our 2009 commitment to read through the bible together everyday. We just finished Deuteronomy. Weeks back reading in Exodus, I had a dream about the breastpiece that Aaron was to wear when entering the Holy of Holies. It was about the gemstones all over it. The dream was about decisions I make without consulting with the Lord first. I woke up with a repentant heart!
5. I made it through Spanish 1 and I bit off more than I can chew with taking the Soteriology class. I over loaded my schedule.
6. And oh yes, my goal for 2009 is to be debt free. I have just paid off 2 bills! Just 1 more to go which will take a while. It will be good when this burden is lifted!

SHARE IN OUR JOURNEY

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We are missionaries with The Brook Ministries in Costa Rica. We are here to help strengthen the church body of Jesus Christ & to fulfill His Great commission to the lost. At our conferences, my husband directs the recreational activities & excursions. I provide physical renewal with massage for the female attendees. We believe that regularly scheduled renewal of the body, mind, & spirit for ministry leaders in particular, will empower them to serve the Lord with renewed strength & perseverance to do what God has uniquely called them to do....SERVE & BUILD HIS CHURCH to the outermost parts of the world!