The Rainbow

The other day as we were having dinner Mom said, "Look at the rainbow." I turned out my sliding door and what do I see, I beautiful rainbow. I ran and got my camera and went outside to take a picture of it (as Angie would say - "for your blog!"). When I stepped outside I was taken back by such beauty. I was able to see the rainbow from one end to the other. It was an odd, yet wonderful sight. There was dark clouds on one spot, blue skies on the other, the sun shining through and a slight drizzle. In the middle of all this here is this beautiful rainbow gracing the skies. Imagine, the God that we serve is able to create all of this contrast from nothing. He is able to make these beautiful colors shine through the sky with a stroke of His finger. O what mighty God we serve. Yes, I stood there taking these picture in awe and adoration, praising My Jesus. As I stood there my eyes saw another rainbow form-wow! As you see these pictures, may they cause you to sit in wonder of Our God who "spoke" and created all things - big and small.

Revelation 4:3 - And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

Happy 10th Anniversary Jose and Herlinda

Today is my nephew, Jose and my friend, Herlinda's 10th Wedding Anniversary. We are so blessed to be part of their lives and to see God's mighty hand working in them individually and as a whole. We love you guys, have an incredible day!

Happy Birthday Manuel

Today is my older brother's birthday. I don't know if he will see this but - I hope you have an incredible day. I pray that you would know how much God loves you and desires to have a living-thriving relationship with you. I love you Manuel, Happy Birthday! (the picture is my brother and his son Jose)

January Caregiver's Fellowship

On Friday we had our January Caregiver's Fellowship. Once again we all gathered around food and fellowship. We shared our heart and carried our burdens together to the Lord, who alone can meet all our needs.

Ida shared with us the following devotion:
If anyone serves Me, him My father will honor. John 12:26

Young people seek adventure and excitement; but youth wants more--it wants something to believe in; it wants a cause to give itself to and a flag to follow. Without a purpose greater than themselves, young people know they will end up with empty hearts and meaningless lives. The only cause that is big enough to satisfy the yearning of our hearts is the cause of Jesus Christ; and its flag is the blood-stained body that was lifted on the Cross of Calvary for the redemption of the world. This invitation to discipleship is the most thrilling cause we could ever imagine. Think of it: The God of the universe invites us to become His partners in reclaiming the world for Him! We can each have a part, using the unique gifts and opportunities God has given us. Christ's call is for us to be His disciples every day. How are you responding to His call? (Other verses she shared were John 14:27; 15:5,7,8)

Sorry I have no pictures for this gathering, but I dropped the ball - SORRY! Watch for our next gathering and come and enjoy the fellowship and companionship of those who are walking this same journey. It gets lonely out there, so let us take advantage of what the Lord has provided for us and walk side by side so that this journey is a little less lonely.

Father I lift each person who at this moment is a caregiver, I pray that You would breath upon them strength and endurance. That You would be that Light at the end of the tunnel. Give them Your joy and peace. In Jesus Name - Amen.

Happy 5th Birthday Anne!

Happy Birthday sweetie! We are blessed to be part of your life and watch you grow. You are a beautiful little girl and we love you lots and lots!!!

Uncle Jaime, Auntie Leti, Angie, Jaimito and Gama Vila

Bare Roots

Okay so these aren't the prettiest pictures that you've ever seen, but they give us food for thought. In the winter we cut rose bushes down to the bare root. We would never think of not pruning them. It is a necessity - if we want beautiful roses in the spring/summer. As we look at this unattractive, bare rose bush, we have in our brain-bank what it should look like and what it has looked like. We know that the Roses are big, pink and full of fragrance. We know that the leaves are a beautiful green and we can almost picture the rose bush in all its fullness. But what if we didn't have this foreknowledge. Would we wait in expectation to the fullness to come or would we yank it out and throw it away? As this bare bush sits in my yard, I don't sit by it and partake of its fragrance. No one goes by it and cuts some of its beautiful root, no, it sits alone in the cold, damp weather with no beauty emanating from it.

And so the contrast. Seasons, seasons, seasons. Each and everyone is so needed. How bare and how lonely and how unattractive we feel when Our Heavenly Father has pruned us to the bare root. How cold, how alone. You see, in these times of winter we don't fall back on what WE KNOW (that God is at work, that God is in control, that God will bring beauty from ashes, that God is making a beautiful creation out of me), we fall on what we "see"-bare roots; on how we "feel"-cold, damp, and lonely. We can't even think past winter into spring/summer. Winter is so cold and cruel.

But hey, guess what, after winter ALWAYS comes spring/summer! When our fragrance will be that of Christ to others, when our "fruit/flowers" will be used to bless others, to bring joy to others. A time when others will sit by/next to us and be blessed by the beauty of the Lord in us.

So let us keep singing, let us keep praising His name - when we are faithless, He remains faithful. You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:7

Bare roots will become beautiful roses! He makes everything beautiful in His time. Praise be to Our Wonderful Creator!

God's Faithfulness

The other night I was sitting in my bedroom reading. You see this night my husband would be having some men over for a prayer meeting. We all retired to our respective bedrooms in order to give the men some privacy. As I sat and read I began to hear the doorbell and then laughs and greetings. Then beautiful worship. In an instant my heart was overwhelmed with emotion. I closed my eyes and basked in these sounds. My heart was filled with an overwhelming joy. There came thanksgiving and praise from my lips unto My Faithful Heavenly Father. I was reminded of how long ago I would pray for my husband to become our spiritual leader. To have a hunger and a thirst for righteousness sake. So often we pray and then forget what we have prayed for. Either because it has been too long or you've given up on what you've prayed for. But this night God reminded me of His faithfulness.

In 1 Corinthians 11:3 we are told, "But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." This is God's order for us. I am thankful for what God is doing in my husband's heart, but I am also thankful that He is changing my heart. And you know what, we are all blessed when we keep God's order of things.

Numbers 23:19 says, "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoke, and will He not make it good?" God is faithful to keep His Word to us. Trust Him...Praise Him.

Happy 9th Anniversary!

Happy 9th Anniversary to Jose and Laura. We are so excited for all that the Lord has done in them and we are excited to see what the Lord will do in their future. We love them and treasure them being part of our family.

Nick's Testimony

A friend e-mailed me this video (below). O my goodness, what a challenge! Lately, my heart has been aching for my daughter. I've wondered what God has in store for her future. She gets down, discouraged and frustrated because she doesn't function the way "normal people" do. Things don't come easy for her. Her brain doesn't "flow" in a manner that "we" think it should. Then there is my chronic pain, etc. And all the muck that comes from this beast. And then there is...I could go on. Anyhow, when I saw this video it left me with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. One of the things that Nick says is, "circumstances do not have to change in order for us to be victorious". So whatever you are going through, I know that you will be challenged and totally excited of what God is going to do through your circumstances. Praise be to God that truly ALL things work together for the good of those who love God and who are the called according to His purpose. We have no excuse!