Posts Tagged ‘Isaiah 61’

Some Reflections on the Past Year, and Hope for 2022
One of our highlights for 2021 is our beautiful granddaughter

I think for many of us as we start the new year it’s a good opportunity to reflect back on the highs and lows of the past year, as well as look forward to what we hope to do this year. I have spent some time praying and reflecting these last few weeks. It’s fun to remember the highlights. The positive things that the Lord did. And although it’s not as enjoyable to ponder the lowlights, it’s necessary especially if I don’t want to repeat them.

As others have said, It’s not wise to keep doing the same thing if it’s not working and expect a different result.

Contending for Breakthrough & Revival
Some of the Mexican pastors and families that we have the privilege of serving with

Dawn and I continue to pray for fruit in our lives and in our ministry. We pray for breakthrough and revival. It is something that we long for.

When we first felt called to the border over 10 years ago, the Lord gave us Isaiah 61.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…

Isaiah 61:1,2 ESV (emphasis mine)

This is a beautiful passage filled with hope and redemption. Jesus read from Isaiah 61 in the synagogue when he began his ministry, Luke 4:18-19. It’s always a good idea to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. On the border and in the other places where we minister there is much brokenness and many people are held captive, but Jesus brings hope. He brings redemption to the lost and the hurting. Only He can truly set the captives free.

As we work to see the Lord bring transformation to individuals, communities, and cities we recognize the need for the Spirit to work in the lives of the people we minister with. I have to admit this is not easy and sometimes I get frustrated and I start striving. In those moments it feels like I’m doing the ministry in my own strength instead of in the power of the Spirit.

The Lord has reminded me over and over again to, “cease striving, and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10. I guess I’m a slow learner. 🙂 I can’t do it in my own strength. As He says in Zechariah 4:6, it’s “not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.”

A Reminder to Serve in His Presence & in Joy
Joy filled churches on the Big Island

Recently I shared some of my goals and desires with a friend of mine. I told him that we are contending for revival in the churches and communities that we are serving in. He aided me in my journey, and he has prayed with me. One of the other ways he has helped me has been by asking me good questions. He asked me, “Where is your joy when you are contending for revival?” He said, “If there isn’t joy your contending could lead to burnout.” That made me stop and think because I have to admit that the joy is not always there.

I don’t always stop long enough to thank God for all the amazing work He is doing. That is one of the reasons that I started this blog. I like writing to highlight positive news. I’ve found that it helps me to reflect on the good that God is doing. The good news lifts me up and I hope it does the same for others as well.

As I reflected on the need for joy in my life, the Lord led me to some passages in the Bible that speak about that topic. The Psalmist said, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11, ESV). Jesus also speaks of the importance of joy. In John 15:11 he says, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

I believe one of the things the Lord is calling me to do this year as Dawn and I contend for revival on the Border, the Baja, and Beyond is to serve with joy. I love that joy is found in God’s presence.

Join Us in Prayer!
Pastors, leaders, and families that we are helping on the Big Island

Join me in praying that I will grow in living and serving in God’s presence and that I would experience more joy in 2022. I will pray the same for you as the Lord works in your life.

Pray as well for those we are ministering with that they will experience joy and see even more fruit this year. We pray for the Lord’s bountiful provision for the church planters and their families in Mexico and on the Big Island.

Extend your hands to help provide for the families in need on the Big Island and to see the church grow on the Border, the Baja and Beyond! Thank you so much for praying for us and with us!

Click to Donate…

In His Grip, Dave

BeyondBordersLife.org

P.S. I’m trying a few new plugins to see how they work. I included a feedback button if you’d like to share any thoughts I’d love to hear from you.

Our hope for the Border

Our hope for the Border

A friend of mine, Susie Fikse who went with her family to one of our recent outreach trips to Tijuana just wrote a helpful article on immigration issues. Click on the link to read the article Immigration: Reforming Hearts as well as Policy.

I like to highlight articles like Susie’s that can help us think through an issue that many people feel strongly about. Yet, I think most of us don’t understand all the complexities that are involved. What is our responsibility as Christians? How should the church respond to the needs of the immigrant community? Difficult questions for sure.

Fikse in her article cited above asks,

What are our deepest beliefs about immigration? Are they influenced more by the political parties and the media, or by Scripture and the heart of God? As Christians more fully understand the deeper issues embedded in the immigration debate, grasp God’s love and compassion for the “alien,” and begin to love those in our midst, our political positions will be infused with the compassion and truth of our Heavenly Father.

These are the types of issues and questions that we deal with daily here on the border. On the U.S. side of the border I frequently interact with people who live here, who have out stayed their visas. On the Mexican side some of the ministries that we are directly involved in are reaching out to the homeless and disenfranchised.

Ministering to the Needy on the Border

pastor Leo leading us in prayer

Pastor Leo leading us in prayer at the border

There are many people living in Tijuana right at the border line that have been deported, and they have nowhere to go. Fortunately, there are loving friends like, Leo and Gloria Nevarez who care for these people. They share the good news of the gospel with them, and they feed them.

The complexity and challenges of the border are some of the things that drew Dawn and me here. Jesus loves the foreigner, the alien, the lost and the destitute, and he calls us to do the same.

One of the passages that the Lord used to call us here is found in Isaiah 61.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound… They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. (Isaiah 61:1,2,4 ESV)

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

 

Harbor Mid-City Easter Sunday! Worship

Harbor Mid-City Easter Sunday!

I was so encouraged by all the Lord did today!

The Power of the Spirit of the Lord

Today we celebrated our first Easter Sunday here on the border at Harbor Mid-City. The Lord’s Spirit was moving in a powerful way during the service. I love the hope that the resurrection brings.

It was such a good day. We celebrated changed lives, and people who have been set free through the resurrection power of Christ. I was moved to tears as I saw a good friend of Dawn and mine come up for prayer, and ask God to bring healing to his life.

The worship, the celebration was so good, and so joyful. Later I thought, I love Easter. When I reflect back on past Easter’s I believe Easter is the best day of the year. I wish everyday could be Easter. It doesn’t hurt that the weather was beautiful, and the sun shone brightly.

Bring Good News to the Poor…

When Dawn and I first felt called to move to the border, the Lord impressed on our heart the message from Isaiah 61:1-4 (ESV, emphasis mine).

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion– to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

The power of the resurrection - the flowered Cross

The power of the resurrection – the flowered Cross

The Powerful Message of Easter: Restoration of Many Generations

All these wonderful acts of healing and restoration are the types of things we are seeing and experiencing in our ministry with Harbor on the border. It just fills me up, and I’d love to feel this way everyday! I continue to believe a huge reason we are seeing such an outpouring of God’s Spirit and his redeeming work is because so many are praying.

We are thrilled to witness God working in such a marvelous way. The Lord’s is bringing healing and hope, and somehow we are right there where’s it’s taking place.

O Lord, bring home the story, the message and the celebration of Easter to me, my family and friends each day. Make the truth of your death and your victory over death more real. O that we will fall on our face and worship you, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. Amen!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

As we head into the New Year I would like to thank all of those who read my blog post, and cheer me on along the way. I began blogging two years ago, and I wasn’t sure if I’d like it, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised.

I started this blog to let friends know what God is doing through our ministry on the border. My hope was to promote what we were doing, and to encourage friends to pray for us. I thought this would mostly be through people I already knew. I’ve been amazed as I’ve met new people through this blog that pray for and encourage us.

I would like to thank all that visit my blog, and especially those that pray for us and seek to encourage us along the way. You are a huge blessing to me and my family!

Here are some of the other blog sites from writers that have inspired me in 2012. I’ve listed a link to their blog, and their name if I know it. I greatly appreciate all of you!

There are many others that have spurred me on, and I wish I could list you all. Thanks so much!

Dave & Dawn at San Diego Harbor

Wishing You A Happy New Year!

Here’s a wonderful promise for you in 2013. It’s found in Isaiah 61:2,3 from the Message Bible. This passage describes our vision for ministry on the border.

“God sent me to announce the year of his grace—a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies—and to comfort all who mourn, To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.”

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org