Posts Tagged ‘Galatians 6’

Strengthen the Hands of the Weak

Posted: September 12, 2022 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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A Wonderful Trip
Dave and Dawn with Jonathan and Hannah in PA

Dawn and I are returning from a trip to Pennsylvania. We were able to see our son, Jonathan and his wife, Hannah. The Lord also gave us the opportunity to see a few other friends and family who live in the area. We took advantage of the trip to visit two churches one in the Annapolis, Maryland area and one in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

It was a great trip as we hadn’t see Jonathan and Hannah for a year. We loved the opportunity to update our friends in the churches about all that God is doing in Mexico and on the Big Island. When I think about our many friends at the churches that support the ministry, I’m reminded of the importance of prayer for the gospel to expand successfully in the places we are ministering. These friends are so kind and they do truly infuse us with renewed strength to carry on.

Encouraging One Another
Dave and Dawn with Pastor Eliel, Jessica and their two girls Sarvia and Tirsa

I love the interest that people show in what we are doing, and in what God is doing through us. Sometimes we forget the importance of these connections when we are separated.

We don’t always realize how important it is to have people in our lives that encourage us. Friends who stand with us in the battle.

Isaiah 35:3 mentions the importance of strengthening the hands of those who are weak. Paul in Galatians 6:2 writes about bearing one another’s burdens. Dawn and I seek to do strengthen the pastors and leaders we are working with.

Showing Concern for Those in Need
Ernesto sharing the aid that we send with a family in need

Just recently one of our friends, Anna from the Big Island wrote me and said, “You are an excellent pastor, always showing concern for others. This is not very common. I notice that there are fewer pastors and I believe it’s because many of them don’t have someone like you to encourage them.” When I read this I thought, wow! I don’t always realize how important it is to show care and concern for our leaders. I’m grateful the Lord is using both Dawn and me in this way to strengthen the hands of those who are weak, and to help bear others burdens.

Another friend wrote me today and said, “you have been a great blessing to my family and to me. You are to me, as I’ve told you on other occasions, like the apostle Paul. You encourage me and exhort me in the Word of God. God bless you!”

We all need someone to stand with us and to encourage and to exhort us along the way. I recently heard that many pastors in the USA have been leaving the ministry because of discouragement especially during this season that we’ve been living through. The circumstances are even more difficult in Mexico and on the Big Island, so we pray and we seek to strengthen our friends. Our desire is to see healthy ministers of the gospel, who have strong families.

Who Cares for the Pastors?
VBS at one of our churches on the Big Island

Who cares for the pastors? Often pastors and leaders feel lonely and isolated. They don’t know where to go for the support that they need.

I think we tend to underestimate the necessity of having friends and family in our corner who show concern for us. We desire to be those friends for the pastors and leaders that we are working with. We also give thanks for the many friends that help us along the way. I think that is one of the privileges that we have as missionaries. There are a lot of people who pray for us, and who are cheering us on.

Thank you for being one of those friends. You are very important to us. You play a pivotal role in our lives and ministry. We give thanks for you!

Extend Your Hands to Help Our Familia
From an article in the BBC, August 17 2022. You can read the article here…

As stated in the photo above our familia on the Big Island is facing their worst economic crisis in 30 years. Dawn and I are sending aid every month to help the pastors and families on the Big Island. Since the COVID-19 hit in March 2020, we’ve been able to help more than 2,000 people in 9 different cities.

Your gifts are making a difference in this nation with tremendous needs that are difficult to meet. God is using you, because even where your feet cannot reach, your prayers can reach! Your offerings of love can reach!

You can be part of a team in the hands of God, and TOGETHER we can make a difference! Pray with us and extend your hands to help our familia. Make a Donation Today.

Thank you for your prayers and for your support for this work on the Big Island!

Click to Donate…
Video: A Tale of Two Cities

Tale of Two Cities featuring Jessica’s prayer for toothpaste

Thank you for joining us in prayer, and for considering making a gift to help our precious familia.

In His Grip, Dave

P.S. Help take the gospel to the Border, the Baja and Beyond
BeyondBordersLife.org

Kicking off 2019!

Posted: January 6, 2019 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Ramping up for the New Year

One year anniversary celebration for Hechos 13 church

I don’t know how it is for you, but I often have a hard time getting in gear after the holidays. Part of it is engaging emotionally and even physically. Don’t get me wrong 2018 was an excellent year, but after slowing down and spending some quality time with my family it’s not easy to get psyched up again.

What’s a guy to do!?!

Today I’m headed to Mexico City for a weeklong church planters assessment with people who I love and enjoy ministering with. Then the following week I’m headed to Quito, Ecuador to connect with an amazing ministry, Red de Multiplicación (Multiplication Network).  I will be meeting with their leadership as we desire to partner with them with a goal of seeing more churches started and to create an environment to grow healthier churches. I appreciate your prayers for my time with them.

So you can see that there’s not much time to rest as the year begins with much activity!

Galatians 6 – One of my Favorites

One of the verses that the Lord has used to encourage me over the years as I start off a new year is found in Galatians 6.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9 ESV

I love Paul’s encouragement to not grow weary. And when I start thinking about the many good things that the Lord lets me be involved in then I start getting excited.

Wonderful Celebration: So Thankful for the Advance!

Pastor Daniel Nuñez leading Hechos 13

Even last night, Sunday night, I participated in the first year anniversary of a new church plant in Tijuana. The church plant is called, Hechos 13 (Acts 13). My good friend and partner in ministry, Pastor Daniel Nuñez is planting this church. Ministerios Transformación the ministry that Pastor Daniel leads has planted almost 40 churches over the last 11 years. We have a wonderful relationship and partnership for the gospel.

A number of other pastors from Ministerios Transformación were at the celebration as well, and it was so good to see them as well as the people from the local congregation. When I see the fruit of our labor then I start feeling excited!

As I drove home last night I began to give thanks for all that the Lord has done so far. Dawn and I also give thanks and we look forward to all that the Lord is going to do this next year. We are super excited about our growing relationship with Red de Multiplicación. This connection is allowing us to expand our reach, which is something that we’ve been praying for!

Join us in Prayer!

Dawn and I walk on this winding road of faith togetherDawn & I appreciate your prayers as we walk on this journey of faith together

So as we kick off the ministry in this new year we ask you to join us in praying for the Lord’s leading and guidance. We truly want to be Spirit-led, and not driven purely by methods and plans. Our desire is that Jesus is in the middle of everything we do, and this his kingdom will expand on earth as it is in heaven. Amen!

We would also appreciate your prayers for Dawn and her mom, Alice. Alice had surgery on her neck in early December right after our son, Jonathan’s wedding. Dawn will be heading out to Pennsylvania to help her mom out while I travel to Mexico City and Quito. We do pray for the Lord’s continued and ongoing healing for Alice! Thank Jesus that he is our healer!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnBorder.org

Like Minded Ministers of the Gospel!

Posted: February 1, 2016 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Tijuana
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The Band of Brothers and Sisters

Pastor David Feiser, Pastor Victor Bravo, Dave & Pastor Daniel Nuñez celebrating the opening of Victor's church in Rosarito last year

Pastor David Feiser, Pastor Victor Bravo, Dave & Pastor Daniel Nuñez celebrating the opening of Victor’s church in Rosarito last year (What a great celebration it was!)

One of the things I love most about serving in ministry is the camaraderie that we share with such outstanding people here on the border. The Lord has gifted us with a wonderful group to work side by side with. What a rich blessing it is for me to serve with other men and women who truly love the Lord. They encourage me and my family in so many ways!

When Dawn and I where getting set up here on the border, God gave me a great mentor and coach in Dick Kaufmann. Dick told me, “when you look for ministry partners make sure that they are like minded.” That was invaluable advice as there are so many potential people that we could look to work with. God answered our prayer, and gave us some like minded people to work with who have become precious friends!

Walking Together on this Journey

All of our friends from Ministerios Transformación

All our friends from Ministerios Transformación

Pastor Daniel Nuñez, and the ministry he leads which just changed it’s name from Lo Mejor del Trigo to Ministerios Transformación have become some of our best ministry partners. Dawn and I truly do love serving alongside them.

I share some of my heaviest burdens with the pastors of Ministerios Transformación, and likewise they share their burdens with me. After all, isn’t than what Paul encourages us to do? “Bear one another’s burdens…” —Galatians 6:2 ESV

If you’ve followed our story at all, then you know that Dawn and I have travailed through some deep valleys. The Lord is bringing us out of the valley, but at times we wondered where and even if it would end.

In those times of darkness it gave us great comfort knowing that Dawn and I could share our hearts with the men and women associated with Ministerios Transformación. Our closest relationships are with the pastors and their wives. They’ve sent us encouraging notes, and they’ve asked their whole congregation to pray for us.

It lifted up our spirits knowing that whole congregations were praying for us. We know that this was going on in churches in the U.S. and some of the National Presbyterian Churches of Mexico in Baja California as well.

Thank you Jesus for These Special Friends

Daniel & Yolanda Nuñez celebrating Daniel's birthday!

Daniel & Yolanda Nuñez celebrating Daniel’s birthday!

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” —Psalm 133:1 ESV

Today (Sunday) I was able to go to the church in El Niño, Comunidad Cristiana. We celebrated Daniel Nuñez’s birthday. Even though it was a rainy and gloomy day there was much joy, life and light in the church as we celebrated.

I give thanks to the Lord for these special friends. They make my family and me feel very loved and we feel like we are part of them when we are together.

I say thank you Jesus for all of our friends in Mexico! Thank you for Ministerios Transformación! Thank you for pastor Daniel Nuñez and his family and all the pastors and leaders that are part of that ministry!

We give thanks for you, and recognize that it’s all for God’s glory! Praise Him!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Getting In Shape for 2015!

Posted: January 5, 2015 in Christianity, Ministry, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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2015 Are You Ready?

Stretching towards the goal in 2015

Stretching towards the goal in 2015

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes struggle to get psyched up for the new year. After having fun with my family and taking a few days off during the holidays it’s hard to get ramped up and start over again.

How do you feel when the new year rolls around? Are you excited, or do you shrink back?

A few years ago I shared in a men’s prayer group my difficulty getting up for the new year. One of my friends in the group, who has a close connection with God gave me a word of encouragement that has stuck with me. He reminded me of Paul’s exhortation in Galatians 6.

Do Not Grow Weary in Doing Good

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”  –Galatians 6:9 ESV

The Lord has used this word to give me hope and courage to take on the challenges and opportunities before me in the new year.

So dear friend, let me encourage you to not grow weary in doing good. The Lord is with you, he will give you the strength to keep on! He promises good things if you stay the course.

Love Jesus! Follow Him!

Dave, Dawn, Hannah and David Jr. with Daisy the dog

Dave, Dawn, Hannah and David Jr. with Daisy the dog

I’ve been trying to spend some extra time in prayer as 2014 closed and I begin 2015. The Lord has been reminding me to grow in my relationship with him. To make time to be still before him. To be careful not to get caught up in the tyranny of the urgent and that I should not compare myself to others.

Remember Peter and his question to Jesus about the Apostle John? Peter said what about him? Jesus said, don’t worry about him, you follow me! (My loose paraphrase of John 21:20-23).

Don’t get caught in the trap of comparison. God has a special and unique plan for each of us.

Pray!

I appreciate your prayers that this will be a fruitful year, and that Dawn and I will continue to grow in our love for Christ. Stay with us as we stay on this journey of faith. We need faithful friends like you to walk with us and encourage us along the way.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Rest for Your Soul

Posted: November 18, 2013 in Christianity, Journey, Ministry, Reflections & Musings, San Diego, Tijuana
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Lessons Learned from my Travels

Dave & Dawn at Covenant College

Dave & Dawn at Covenant College

Last Wednesday I returned from a two-week trip. Dawn accompanied me on the second week of the trip.

The Lord lifted our spirits as we connected with old and new friends, and had an opportunity to promote the ministry on the San Diego-Tijuana border.

You can get a glimpse of some what we did on the trip on these posts: The Call to Missions, The Spirit Moves in Missions and The Spirit Moves on the Mountain.

The Busyness of Life

Some people tell me that it seems like we are very busy, and they don’t know how we do it all. Well, I thought I’d write something about the fact that at times we do get worn out. Even though we got back from the trip last Wednesday night, I still feel like I’m in a fog and I have travel hangover (if there is such a thing) ;).

I was going to write about something else today. The next exciting thing that God is doing here, but as I was writing in my journal I felt impressed by the Lord that I should share about the need for rest and restoration. In other words, yes, I do get tired.

Sometimes when I get tired, then it seems like the world isn’t quite as an exciting place to live in. Everything appears grey or maybe even black for a few days. I lose my focus.

Look to Jesus

When this happens I have to remind myself to look to Jesus. It’s important to remember all the good things that the Lord is doing.

The Lord keeps bringing to mind, Matthew 11:28-30. It’s as if he’s saying, Dave,

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

God’s Comfort and Care

Beach at Border State Park; San Diego is on th...

Beach at Border State Park; San Diego is on the right while Tijuana is on the left. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Wow! What a wonderful and outstanding passage of comfort and care. We serve an awesome God and a loving Savior. I love that phrase, “you will find rest for your souls.” The Good Shepherd cares for his sheep, and leads them besides quiet waters.

A couple of years ago when I was feeling worn out, and wondering if I had the energy to launch into the new year, a friend reminded me of Galatians 6:9.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

The Lord Strengthens Us

As I’m on this journey I realize that I’m not alone. Jesus and His Spirit strengthen me along the way. When I feel weak it’s a reminder of how much I need the strength of Christ. That’s one of the reasons Paul said, “when I am weak then I am strong,” (2 Cor. 12:10b).

If you are feeling down today, look to Jesus. He is the one who restores your soul. David encourages us to hope in God in Psalm 42:11,

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Thanks for joining us on this journey, and for letting me bare part of my soul today!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

The Key is Relationships – “Convivir”

Posted: June 10, 2013 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Tijuana
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A great time at the "convivio" at our house on Sunday afternoon

A great time at the “convivio” at our house on Sunday afternoon

One the many things I love about our Latino friends is that they are strong relationally. Whereas, you might say Americans tend to be more task driven, Latinos are driven more by relationships. One isn’t better than the other, but Dawn and I do enjoy the latino culture.

One of my core values, or philosophical beliefs about ministry is that

Ministry flows out of relationship

That belief is not unique to me. The last time I was in Mission to the World’s headquarter’s I noticed they have a big banner that says exactly that, “Ministry Flows out of Relationship.” The point being that if you don’t have the foundation of a relationship with someone it’s hard to move forward. It’s hard to get the task done.

Convivio and the Bible

In Spanish a gathering is called a “convivio” the verb is “convivir” which literally means, to live together. This aptly describes time that is well spent living, laughing and loving with others.

This idea brings to mind some passages in the Bible, that express God’s heart for true fellowship.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. —Acts 2:42-44 (ESV)

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. —Galatians 6:2 (ESV)

“O Lord, that this would be a true expression of the activity and level of relationships exhibited here.”

The Importance of Building on a Strong Foundation

If you need to build on the firm foundation of a relationship in the U. S., it’s even more true in Mexico and other Latin countries. Much ministry is done over meals. Food is a wonderful way to enjoy one another and to get to know each other. When I take our American friends into Mexico I usually remind them of the importance of breaking break together. When we are willing to spend time with someone, it demonstrates that we are interested in them personally.

enjoying some tacos with Pastor Daniel Nuñez and Pastor Rodrigo Vallarta and their families in TJ

enjoying some tacos with Pastor Daniel Nuñez and Pastor Rodrigo Vallarta and their families in TJ

On the border two very different cultures merge. I see this every time I cross the border and go into Mexico. I also experience it in our church, because we have two languages (Spanish and English) and people from different cultures in our church.

I remember when I started going into Tijuana to get to know the pastors and ministry of Lo Mejor del Trigo. I asked Daniel Nuñez, the leader of the LMT movement in TJ, how I could work with the pastors. He recommended that I begin by spending time with them, and building a relationship with them. That was very sound advice. Since we moved to the border, Dawn and I have worked hard at getting to know the pastors and their wives. We’ve grown to love those that we’ve developed a relationship with.

Also, we’ve eaten some great tacos, and other wonderful Mexican cuisine along the way.

Lord, Hear Our Prayer

One way you can pray for us is that we will build a firm foundation for ministry here that the Lord will use for the expansion of his reign on earth as it is in heaven.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Starting the Year Off Right – Prayer Walk

Posted: January 4, 2013 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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Prayer essential for ministry

Prayer essential for ministry

I believe it’s important to start the year off well. Prayer is one of most productive initiatives we can engage in. Yet it’s also one of the hardest.

This year has started a little slow, since I’ve been a little under the weather. Last night things began to turn around as I went on a prayer walk with some friends in west Chula Vista. As we  walked and prayed it struck me how when we pray it can seem insignificant. It even might feel like a waste of time, and yet it’s one of the most important things we do.

One constant I’ve seen is that God works through prayer. Prayer is somewhat of a mystery, but the Lord hears the cries of his people. Jesus modeled a life of prayer. Paul continually prayed for the churches he started. James encourages us in prayer with a great promise.

“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

–James 5 16b-18 (ESV)

God uses our prayers!

God uses our prayers!

I confess that I have a long ways to go in prayer. I look to the Lord to lead and guide this year. I pray that my wife and I will grow together in prayer, and that our relationship with our Lord will deepen. Bring others along that we can encourage, and that we will spur them on as we inspire each other to pray. To keep doing the right things.

Do not grow weary in doing good. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9) I cling to this exhortation and promise as we begin 2013!

If I can inspire you this year in any way – grow in prayer. Grow in your love and knowledge of our Lord. Pray for and with us, that we will grow in the same way!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org