Posts Tagged ‘God’s grace’

Breakthroughs on the Border!

Posted: July 27, 2015 in Christianity, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Tijuana
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God’s Amazing Work!
Dave preaching at Monte Sion

Dave preaching at Monte Sion

The Lord gave us an incredible time on Sunday in Tijuana at Monte Sion with pastor Jaime Avila and his wife, Claudia. Pastor Jaime is just beginning to come into the Lo Mejor del Trigo network of churches. We’ve gotten to know each other through the training on life transformation that I’ve taken Jaime and some of the other LMT pastors to.

God keeps taking us and the pastors deeper, which is exciting!

Dawn, Hannah, David, our nephew Tyler, our friend Polly and I all went to pastor Jaime’s church. What a marvelous time of fellowship it was!

The Lord gave us an invigorating time praying for the people in the church after my sermon. It ministered to our spirit to see the Lord touch the people. There was much brokenness and healing as they confessed their sins, and asked God to meet them in their place of need.

There are a number of things that I enjoy about the work that God has called us to. One of my favorites is visiting the churches of the pastors we are working with, and having the opportunity to exhort and encourage the people.

As we’ve ministered in this way we’ve found it to be a tremendous encouragement to the pastors, the members of their church and to us. The Lord is using us in new ways as we learn more about prayer and addressing root issues.

Glory be to God!

A Testimony of God’s Saving & Healing Work!
From the outside looking in to the Monte Sion Church in Tijuana - they are praying for a bigger and better facility

From the outside looking in to the Monte Sion Church in Tijuana – they are praying for a bigger and better facility

After the service we had the opportunity to get to know Jaime and Claudia better.

Jaime has an unbelievable testimony. He was caught in a life of addiction for 15 years before God broke through and redeemed him. During that time he lost everything – his wife, his job, his family and his dignity then he cried out to God for help.

God heard his cry. He found a church and he came to Christ!

The Lord took away his desire for the drugs and he came back to his family. He invited his wife, Claudia to visit the church and she gave her life to Christ a month later.

Claudia had epilepsy. She suffered from epileptic seizures for 13 years. She was told that she would have epilepsy for the rest of her life.

Then Jaime saw someone healed of epilepsy at the church he was going to, and he told Claudia about it. She decided to go the church. They prayed for her and she was gloriously healed of her epilepsy. She has not had a seizure for 20 years, and she doesn’t have to take medicine. What an amazing God we serve!

Join Us In Prayer!

Pray with us for Jaime and Claudia as they seek to reach their community and grow the church. The church has been through some recent trials, but God is bringing about healing and wholeness as they minister. The Lord is also doing a healing work in their family.

We see so much brokenness, so much need, but God is greater still than all our sin and sorrow. He brings restoration, and meets us in our place of need.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

 

 

More Grace, More Good News!

Posted: June 5, 2014 in Christianity, Family Happenings, Ministry, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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How Does Healing Work?

The Lord has been encouraging us through his grace over the last week. I shared about how God healed Dawn’s sinus infection in my last post.

God continues to amaze us!

The Arch in Cabo San Lucas

The Arch in Cabo San Lucas

I must admit that I still struggle with healing and how it all works. Why does it happen sometimes, and other times it doesn’t? I don’t understand that.

Nonetheless, I do know God heals. Maybe there would be more healing if we believed him and trusted, although I know it’s not dependent on our faith.

I want to be sensitive here, because we know a number of people who are sick, or who are suffering with something and they have prayed, but God has not chosen to heal them.

Our Friend Abraham
The Arch in Cabo San Lucas

Abraham & Martha, Dawn & Dave

Last week Dawn and I were with our good friends Pastor Abraham and his wife, Martha. We had a wonderful time encouraging one another and sharing together. At the end of our time we prayed for one another.

Abraham’s eye had been bothering him, so we prayed for him. We asked the Lord to bring healing. After we prayed we asked Abraham how he felt, and he said he felt better. It was like the pain moved to another part of his head. We prayed some more, and asked God to touch Abraham and to heal him.

Then we asked Abraham again how he felt, and he said much better. I’ve been texting him since then asking him how’s he’s been feeling, and he says he continues to feel better. Rejoice in God’s healing work in our friend, Abraham.

More Good News

Earlier in the year we incurred some substantial hospital bills. We had some concerns about how we were going to pay for them. One of our partner churches said they wanted to help. I thought they would help some, but that we would still end up having to pay $1,000 or so.

The church took the initiative to talk to the hospital and negotiate the bill down, and then they paid the balance. Wow! Thank you Jesus!

Unfortunately, Not Everything is Good
Sunset on the Pacific

Sunset on the Pacific

Our church is going through a difficult season. I’m in leadership at the church, so it’s especially painful. It involves close friends, who I love and cherish. We need your prayers.

Despite, this setback overall God is blessing our ministry on the border in some astounding ways. We are in awe at times of how the Lord works.

While we rejoice in our many blessings we recognize that our ministry funds are low. This is a huge distraction for us, and I would pray that the Lord will meet our needs as he promises. Lord, Help my unbelief. Please join us in prayer!

I’m so thankful for God’s grace and his faithfulness!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

 

Ending on a High Note in Los Cabos!

Posted: August 22, 2013 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Team Members
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God’s Rich Blessings In Los Cabos
Dave preaching at the Fuente de Vida mission church

Dave preaching at the Fuente de Vida mission church

Our ministry trip to Los Cabos ended on a high note. In the morning, Peter Boling and I visited Vida Nueva. American missionaries who came several years ago started the church. These missionaries won many of the leaders and church members to Christ.

So encouraging seeing the legacy that they left. The missionary, Johnny Lynch who started the church didn’t even speak much Spanish. It’s amazing what God can do with a willing and faithful servant.

Now this church faithfully preaches the gospel, and they have ministries to gang members and the poor in the community that they are reaching.

May God’s Peace Rain Down on La Paz

Peter and I met with the church leaders on Saturday night, and we told them of the plan to start a new church in La Paz. They were very positive, and they started thinking of all the people they knew in La Paz.

La Paz means “the peace”. We pray that the Prince of Peace will bring his peace to the people of La Paz.

Then in the evening we went to the mission church that I wrote about in my last post, Fuente de Vida “Fountain of Life”.

The Journey from Prison to Missions
Peter Boling sharing his testimony at Fuente de Vida mission

Peter Boling sharing his testimony at Fuente de Vida mission

Peter shared his testimony. How God saved him from a life that was headed on a downward spiral. God used a fellow prison mate, who threatened to kill him to wake Peter up spiritually. Instead, the animal, as they called him, read Peter a Bible passage that brought him from asleep to being more than curious.

When he got out of prison he went to visit an aunt who was a believer. She didn’t want to open up the door when she saw Peter. He had a long beard, and long hair and looked like a bad dude. His reputation presided him. He told his aunt after she finally let him in; “I want to know how to become a Christian.”

She wasn’t sure she could believe him at first. “Are you serious?” she asked. Peter assured her he was, and she shared the gospel with him. Now Peter is a missionary with a wonderful testimony that he is using for the glory of God.

One thing I’ve seen about people who have been saved out of bad backgrounds is they get God’s grace. It’s not hard for them to understand the need for grace in their lives. Since they get it, they are good at sharing it with others. That’s what Peter and his wife, Jenny dedicate their lives to now.

The Gospel of Hope
The Arc of Los Cabos

The Arc of Los Cabos

After Peter shared his testimony I was able to preach about grace for those that don’t believe as well as the believer. I find there are so many Christians that either fall into liberalism or legalism. The people responded very well to the message. Grace gives us hope.

The Gospel gives all of us hope and lifts off the heavy burden that many try to carry alone. Jesus wants to take those burdens and carry them for us.

Our prayer is that the gospel will be powerfully proclaimed in Los Cabos and La Paz. Lord please do rain down your peace on La Paz and the Baja peninsula.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

God Uses Little Things to Build His Kingdom!

Posted: January 19, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Tijuana
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dinner, Lo Mejor del Trigo

Hannah, Dawn, David and Dave having dinner with Leo and Gloria and other friends

This past Tuesday our friends, Pastor Leo & Gloria Nevarez invited us for a wonderful dinner at their church in Rosarito, Mexico. They also invited Pastor Marcos Gomez and Pastor Bennie and some other friends from the church.

Leo and Gloria wanted to thank Dawn and me for encouraging them in their ministry by introducing them to Janet Lambert and Youth With A Mission (YWAM). The Lord also used this blog to connect Leo and Gloria with a family in Oxnard, California that wanted to make a difference, and minister to people in need. All of these people and ministries have begun to work together and God is moving in Rosarito in a powerful way.

I really didn’t do that much, but I’m glad the Lord used the little I did to bless Leo and Gloria and their church Lo Mejor del Trigo (The Best of the Wheat). It reminds me of how the Lord takes the little that we have and multiplies it. He took a young boy’s lunch, five loaves and two fish and fed 5,000.

I think the Lord takes pleasure in using the weak things of this world.

I wrote about some of the latest things God is doing in Rosarito in the post: God’s Blessings Keep Rolling Down in Rosarito! I like that title, because I think it accurately describes what the Lord is doing there.

I would have never connected the Nevarez’s with Janet and YWAM, if a friend of mine in Scottsdale, Arizona wouldn’t have suggested that I introduce them. Eric Tooker gave me Janet’s contact info, and it all began from there. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for faithful friends. Thank you for bringing all the loose ends together.

border, Tijuana border, San Ysidro

The San Ysidro Border crossing going into Tijuana

Leo told me that they now have about 60 people coming to their church. The church is growing!

I also enjoyed getting to know Pastor Marcos and Pastor Bennie better. They are pastoring churches that aren’t too far away from Leo’s church. Dawn and I pray that the Lord will use us to be a blessing to them. We hope their ministry and outreach into the community will grow for God’s grace. Please join us in prayer as we engage in dialogue with them and explore how best to encourage and strengthen them.

Thank you Lord for using the little we have to offer to expand your kingdom! May your rich and powerful blessings continue!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Miracle in Aurora: Petra Anderson Update

Posted: December 16, 2012 in Christianity, Reflections & Musings, Video
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Petra performing the violin

Petra performing the violin

Heart breaking and horrifying events took place in Oregon and Connecticut this last week. It’s a sad reminder that we live in a fallen world. Our country is suffering from decay from within.

Even with all the bad news there is hope. The tragedies of the past week also are a reminder of the recent shootings in Aurora, Colorado. Petra Anderson’s story is an amazing testimony of God’s grace. He miraculously spared Petra’s life. Now she is recovering.

Petra still is on a long journey to recovery, but it’s amazing she’s come so far so quickly. Brian Williams featured Petra’s story on Rock Center this week. I’ve included the video on this link: MSNBC, Miracle in Aurora.

This summer, Kim Anderson, Petra’s mom passed away due to cancer. Chloe and Robert (Petra’s sister and brother) along with Petra have endured more hardship than seems fair.

Our heart goes out to the families that were affected by the shootings in Oregon and Connecticut. Once again it doesn’t seem right and it isn’t fair. I’m sure many wonder where is God in all of this? Yet somehow, someway God is there in their midst. He does give us hope. Petra’s story is one of hope for a hurting people.

God is not dead. We may not understand his ways, but he is working.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither  are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Isaiah 55: 8-11 (ESV)

I know life is tough, and horrible things happen that leave us wondering. Remember friend, God is still on the throne. We walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). There is plenty to be thankful for.

I do praise the Lord for saving Petra’s life. I look forward to how he will use her and her family in the future. Her’s is a heartwarming story, and I’m encouraged that MSNBC would cover it.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org