Next page

I am turning the page in this chapter in the book of life. I begin another semester of university in the morning.  This is going to be a busy semester, but I hope that I will be able to keep it all under control. With work and school it can be so easy to lose sight of the One who is the most important piece in my life. However, if I set my sight on things above, and not on earthly things, He will help me through even the roughest days.

There has been a lot on my mind as of late. In regards to this upcoming semester: What does God have in store for me? In the anticipation of getting started, I have appreciated a few thoughts as of late that were taken from a few recent ministry meetings and today's Bible reading. They have had me thinking about my character and my testimony that others see. "When the world looks at me, do they see Jesus?" (The Cathedrals). The war against the world is a hard one. There are so many things that are seen and heard that so easily fill our minds with the world and can so easily suck a Christian away. However, I pray that I will be a positive Christian example to those that I will come into contact with this semester. It's not easy... but God is with me and if I cling fast to His truth then He will protect, encourage, and help me.

I have also enjoyed reading through the book of Jeremiah. Here are a few verses that I will share with you. May they even help you today as well:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

O lord, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble. Jeremiah 16:19

As I face the world my prayer is "Preserve me, O God". A step in the world causes on to become full of images, deceiving thoughts, places to go, things to do, and words and language that can suck a person in and cause them to lose focus on the One. May you and I hold fast to the One who will supply all of your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Thirty Pieces of Silver

Thirty pieces of silver,
For the Lord of Life they gave;
Thirty pieces of silver,
Only the price of a slave.

Thirty pieces of silver,
Laid in Iscariot's hand;
Thirty pieces of silver -
And the aid of an armed band,
Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter
Brought the humbled Son of God,
At midnight from the garden
Where His sweat had been like blood.

Thirty pieces of silver,
Burn on the traitor's brain;
Thirty pieces of silver -
Oh, it is hellish gain.

I have sinned, and betrayed the guiltless
He cried with a fevered breath,
As he cast them down the temple,
And rushed to a madman's death.

It may not be for silver,
It may not be for gold,
But still by tens and thousands
Is the precious Saviour sold;
Sold for a Godless friendship,
Sold for a selfish aim,
Sold for a fleeting trifle,
Sold for an empty name.

Sold in the mart of Science,
Sold in the seat of power,
Sold in the shrine of fortune,
Sold in pleasure's bower;
Sold where the awful bargain
Non but God's eye can see,
Ponder, my soul, the question,
Shall He be sold by thee?

-David Craig- The Coat of Many Colors

Home

They say that "home is where the heart is". I left home to return home yesterday. I left a large part of my heart in Zapopan/ Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and brought the rest of my heart back to Nebraska. Once again, I am home.

Two months in the south. Two months that I will never forget. Two months for which God opened the doors from me to stay with the Thiessen family, study Spanish at CEPE, and help where I could. Two months in which I developed close relationships with others. Two months of fellowship, lessons, challenges, encouragement. Two months of growing closer to Him through reading the Bible, prayer, ministry, Bible studies, readings, fellowship. Two months that changed my life.

I'm back in Nebraska now- thankful for the time I was able to be in Mexico. I look at the next week as time to organize myself for what lies ahead. I face a busy semester of university and work, but I am thankful that God will never leave me nor forsake me and will guide me through each day and will help me face what lies ahead.

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deuteronomy 31:6

Home. Two months. Mexico. Thankful.

Just thought that I would share this quote with you this morning:

"Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him and expect help from Him, He will never fail you."

-George Mueller

2 weeks... 2 meetings a day- complete

Two weeks of meetings- two meetings a day (Children's meeting followed by meetings on Future Events). Both of the meetings were well attended. The meetings on future events were challenging and extremely interesting.

The following are pictures from this weeks' events:

Sunday: This picture is of the last meeting (gospel meeting Sunday night) in the tin hall. 

 Monday: Children's meeting

 Cutting styrofoam rectangles by table saw to be used to create Moises' body in the activity for the younger children. 

 Francisco reading part of the night's selection of reading

 Those in attendance...

 Saul stayed awake to participate in the activity!

 Esteban with his Moises figure! :)

The younger children... and a couple of mother's working!

Tuesday: 

 Coloring page over the tabernacle.

 Madeline

 Saul

 Angel

 The ladies... faithfully preparing the snack for the children. 

 Joel giving the quiz questions

 The prize table on Friday night!

Wednesday: The parables of Balaam

 Creating talking donkey puppets!

 ...and enjoying their snacks!

Thursday: The bronze serpent

 Afrika... the sister of America and Francia

 Oscar Alfredo with his bronze serpent

 Miss Madeline

Friday: Crossing the Jordan! (finally! :) )

 All of the nightly verses... the verses the children said nightly to gain points. For extra verse points the children could learn Psalms 105 & 106. 

 The lesson... and a few of the over 90 people that were in attendance!

Dowson and Hegel... enjoying their pozole

Tomorrow is the inauguration of the new hall here in Zapopan. Following the breaking of bread, the program for the end of the school year will take place with those who were in attendance saying verses! There is much excitement in anticipation for the big day! 

And we are halfway through...

The following are pictures from Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights of the children's meetings that are taking the children from Egypt to Canaan:
Backtrack to night 2:

Wednesday (Night 3) Moses crosses the Red Sea:

 Miss Cloe! :)

 Erika and Saul... at the end of a long day

 Timothy teaching the verse

 Activity for those 7 and younger: Moses crossing the Red Sea pieces put together to create a scene

Thursday (Night 4) Manna in the wilderness:

 Joel leading the singing with the children

 Timothy lifting Oscar to reach the board

 The younger children coloring after creating baskets with manna on them on paper

Friday (Night 5) Water from the Rock (these pictures are compliments of Erika!):
There were 86 souls in the room to hear the message!

 Watching as Timothy entertains the children while teaching them the nightly verse...

 Oscar with the activity of the night: Picture scene of water from the rock

 Mariana

 all of the children: at least 33 ages 7 and younger

Fabiola, Marisolina, and I :)

Saturday at Tonala :)

Please continue to pray for those that are attending the children's meetings and the future event meetings each night... that there may be blessing. 

Update- Children's Meetings

I apologize for not updating sooner... the last couple of weeks have flown by with preparations for children's meetings and the end of school last week the actual meetings going on this week there is much to do!

I finished out the school term well- it was difficult, but I feel as though I learned new things that were helpful... which is the point I guess!

We are almost half way through a 2-week series of children's meetings, as well as a simultaneous 2-week series on events of the future following each night. The meetings are taking place in the new hall- something the Christians were excited about! So far the attendance has been excellent to both sets of meetings. Please pray for those attending the meetings, that there may be blessing here in Zapopan.

Nights 1-2: From Egypt to Canaan

 (Picture for Dad: check out the lights!! :) )

 Timothy is in charge of teaching the verse each night.

 Color activity for night 1

 A proud grandma with Miss Cloé Victoria

 Night 2 activity for the younger children... passover lambs

Night 2 had 22 children all in a 12 passenger van for a ride!

I will try to get more pictures posted soon! :)