Posts Tagged ‘forgiveness’

Thrilled By Transformation: God is at Work!

Posted: April 22, 2016 in Christianity, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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I Can’t Keep Up!
Claves 1 - Keys for a Transformed Life

Claves 1 – Keys for a Transformed Life

There are so many good things going on that I’m having a hard time keeping up with it all! That is a good problem to have, right? 😉

Last week we partnered with Ministerios Fuente de Gracia and Ministerios Transformación to hold a course on The Keys for a Transformed Life in Spanish Claves para la Vida Transformada.

Thrilled by the Transformation
Rosa and her son, Mauro receiving their certificate from Jose Juan and Jeinny for completing the course

Rosa and her son, Mauro receiving their certificate from Jose Juan and Jeinny for completing the course

This is the second time in the last year that we’ve held this course in Tijuana. About mid-way through the week those taking the course get so excited about what they are learning they start asking about the next class. There is a Claves 2 (Keys 2). the course actually has four modules.

Not only do the participants start asking about when we can organize Claves 2, but they start thinking about their friends. They wish their friends and their family members could have taken the course.

Dawn and I had the same reaction when we first took Claves about three years ago. The power of the gospel shines on people’s lives. As they confess their sins to one another, repent and forgive they experience a new found freedom in Christ.

Cut Off the Roots
Calvin Anderson the leader of the Ministerios Fuente de Gracia teaching one of the lessons

Calvin Anderson the leader of the Ministerios Fuente de Gracia teaching one of the lessons

So many Christians seem to get stuck in their walk with Christ. There is a sense in which the answer is to return to our first love, and to practice the basics. Another key point is that we are prone to treat symptoms rather than the root issues. Claves gives people a handle on how to begin to find the roots of the bad fruit in their lives. Then we show them how to cut the roots off.

This is a life long process, but we have to begin somewhere. I find that many believers don’t even know where to start. So it’s a real eye-opening experience to learn these truths. Dawn and I have used the teaching found in Claves to mentor and disciple pastoral couples.

We are so thankful for the Lord leading us to our friends with Ministerios Fuente de Gracia who lead and teach the Claves courses. It’s been a fruitful partnership that the Lord has given us with them. Hallelujah! Our prayer is that more and more leaders and people in the church will experience true freedom in Christ. Freedom in the gospel.

Stand With Us In Prayer

Thanks for praying for us.

I’m going to be heading to Cuba this Sunday, April 24 – Friday April 29th to work with a team to train coaches for ministry in Havana. God is doing a marvelous work in Cuba, so I’m excited to be a part of it. Pray for my time in Cuba, as well as for Dawn, Hannah and David while I’m away. Pray that they not only do well, but that they thrive!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

‘Tis the Season!

Posted: December 21, 2015 in Christianity, Ministry, Reflections & Musings
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Jesus Brings Us Joy!

Nativity_tree2011“‘Tis the season to be jolly,” as the Welsh and English Christmas melody goes. I concur with the sentiment of joy during this time of year. Yes, there are some negative elements, but I love that many focus on the first advent of Christ. I enjoy the extra time with my family, and gathering for celebrations with close friends.

It is a special time of the year!

When I reflect on the festivities of the last few days. The times to feast, and give thanks for all the Lord has done. The opportunities to celebrate with the ones we love. I wish we would celebrate what God is doing and has done more often. Wouldn’t it be great to give thanks to our colleagues, friends, partners in ministry on a regular basis.

O Lord, that it will be so.

Joy to the World

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

(The words and lyrics of the old Christmas carol ‘Joy to the Word’ were written in 1719 by Isaac Watts, 1674-1748.)

Jesus Paid it All

Friends I hope that you will take advantage of the season, and experience the joy of the Savior with your family and your friends. Even if you find yourself in a difficult situation, remember Christ paid the price for your sins. All your debts have been paid on the cross.

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:13-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Diaso Family at the border - with the U.S./Mexico border fence in the background

The Diaso Family at the border – with the U.S./Mexico border fence in the background

Don’t take your eyes off of Jesus.

Dawn and I along with our three children, David Jr., Jonathan and Hannah wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Amazed by God’s Work of Transformation!

Posted: October 5, 2015 in Christianity, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Tijuana
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Keys to Transformation
Growing and learning together - Keys for a Transformed Life

Growing and learning together – Keys for a Transformed Life

This last week was tremendously gratifying as the Lord brought together a dream that Dawn and I have been working on for two years. Our friends from Ministerios Fuente de Gracia (Fountain of Grace Ministry) came and led a training seminar in Tijuana on Keys for a Transformed Life. We held the course at the Lo Mejor del Trigo (LMT) El Niño church.

I’ve written a lot about LMT in the past and the leader of this church planting movement, pastor Daniel Nuñez. Daniel, the pastors and leaders of the 25 churches they have planted are wonderful friends and partners in ministry. We often stop and give thanks for them!

This Spring Pastor Daniel went to San Antonio de Las Minas, near Ensenada with me. We took seven pastors from LMT, and God used that time to minister to them in a deep and profound way.

While we were in San Antonio de las Minas we began to think through and plan on bringing the teaching to Tijuana so more pastors and church leaders could attend.

The Basics – Faith & Repentance
One of the learning activities during the course

One of the learning activities during the course

More than 50 people attended the course last week. We dealt with some basic and deep foundational issues. The people heard about the importance of practicing forgiveness and repentance in their Christian life. They learned what it means to be sons and daughters of God. Then as we soaked up these basic principles there was opportunity at the end of the session for us to meet in small groups to practice what we were learning.

It’s beautiful to see the Spirit break through. Many wept as they shared, because of the pain involved in the root causes. With the tears there is a release and as people confess to one another and to God, He shows up and brings comfort and healing.

Dawn and I feel like this is, as the name implies, one of the most transformational courses we’ve been through. Also, as we’ve been able to share the teaching with others we’ve seen God change people from the inside out.

Healing in the Lives of Pastors and Leaders
The group that completed the course

The group that completed the course

A number of the pastors and leaders we work with have deep wounds that they’ve never been able to deal with, because they haven’t had the opportunity to do so. They are in a difficult situation, because many people in the church look up to them, so they don’t know where to turn for help. They are stuck.

The leaders in the churches feel afraid to open up, so they go on limping along not knowing how to be set free. It’s a process to be sure, but it’s amazing to see the process begin and to play a part in that!

On the final night of the course everyone had an opportunity to give a short testimony on how God had used the teaching in their lives. It was gratifying to hear so many positive reports of how the Lord had met them during the week.

Dawn and I pray that the Lord will continue to heal and to bring  transformation in the hearts of men and women on the border and the Baja! Thanks for the part you play in seeing this become a reality.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

2 Keys to Transformation

Posted: June 30, 2015 in Christianity, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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Growing Together - Course on The Keys to a Transformed Life

Growing Together – Through the Course on The Keys to a Transformed Life

God is Taking Us Deeper

Over the last two weeks God has drawn us deeper. Dawn, Hannah and I have been going through a workshop on Keys to a Transformed Life. What’s made it extra special was that we were able to take our missionary colleagues Peter & Jenny Boling and Jim DeWitt. Four pastors from Tijuana and four church leaders from Ensenada also went with us.

2 Keys – Forgiveness & Repentance
Pastor Jaime Avila, Pastor Mario Perez and Pastor Ivan Casados with Calvin Anderson & Jeinny Escorcia

Pastor Jaime Avila, Pastor Mario Perez and Pastor Ivan Casados with Calvin Anderson & Jeinny Escorcia

Two of the keys we spent a lot of time focusing on were forgiveness and repentance. These are bedrock Christian disciplines. On the one hand, they are very basic to our faith. On the other hand, we often struggle to put them in practice.

We don’t like to admit that we are wrong. Our pride gets in the way. Yet forgiveness and repentance bring healing. God’s grace meets us at our place of weakness.

Luther said that all of life is repentance.

The Benefits of Confession

James speaks of the benefits of confession, even confessing to one another. A Christian practice that has mostly been lost on the church today.

And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭15-16‬ ESV)

I can’t say that it is easy to open up and share about areas where we are wounded, but it is freeing when accompanied with forgiveness and repentance.

Turn to the father. He promises to remove our sin as far as the east is from the west. Learn of the father’s love for you.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he removes our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. (‭Psalm‬ ‭103‬:‭8-13‬ ESV)

The Keys to a Transformed Life

Our Group – The Keys to a Transformed Life

It’s all part of the upside down kingdom. Where we see a flaunting of sin in the world, God calls us to repent. In many ways that word, repent, seems old an antiquated today. It sounds harsh, and yet it is what the Lord chooses to bring us healing and wholeness. God ministers to us through confession and repentance.

Also when we are willing to forgive those who have wronged us, we receive God’s healing touch. It is freeing to forgive. Jesus taught us to pray asking our Heavenly Father, “to forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.… For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:12, 14, 15)

That may be a hard passage, but it’s a wonderful promise. Forgiveness is an amazing gift that the Lord offers us. Come and receive his many gifts!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

 

 

 

The Importance of Confession

Posted: December 19, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Journey, Missions, Reflections & Musings, Team Members
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God Works through our Weaknesses
Lindsey, Ana & Rafael working in the the Christmas store

Lindsey, Ana & Rafael working in the the Christmas store

A friend commented after I wrote my last post that I shouldn’t have mentioned I was in a bad mood, or had a bad attitude. They thought everyone is going to wonder why I was in a bad mood.

I think this is a good point, but I felt like it was important to mention my poor state of mind for a couple of reasons.

First, I believe it’s helpful that people understand that it’s God who brings the fruit. Even though you could say that I wasn’t at the top of my game, God still used me. Paul said when I am week then I am strong, because God’s grace abounds and is released.

…”My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of the weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. —2 Corinthians 12:9,10

Pastor Roberto Shim sharing the good news of Christmas with our Spanish congregation

Pastor Roberto Shim sharing the good news of Christmas with our Spanish congregation

I also thought it was significant that the Spirit prompted me to confess my poor attitude, and to repent. After I did that my heart was changed. God began to do an amazing work. This is an evidence of his grace in my life.

Martin Luther said that all of life is repentance. I’m finding this to be true in my life. Also, as rotten as my attitude can be, it’s so freeing once I do confess my sin and my struggle. It makes me wonder, why do I wait so long to turn to God, and confess?

So you might still be wondering, what I had a bad attitude about? It wasn’t any one thing, and it wouldn’t be wise to share it publicly on this forum. Just know that I am a sinner saved by grace, and that God is faithful to use flawed people. I do think confession and repentance are wonderful remedies that the Lord has given us, and I am so thankful for God’s grace. I am so thankful that he forgives, and that he still uses me despite my flaws.

Exciting to See People Respond to the Gospel

The Lord is the one who brings the increase! We are excited to be a part of that.

There were at least 17 people that prayed to received Christ with a group of us from Harbor Mid-Ciy on Sunday. We are so thankful for such a great group of people that the Lord has given us to minister with at Harbor. I pray that the Lord will give us many more days like that.

The fruit was ripe. Dawn and I were there at the right time. Glory be to God is the highest!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org