Posts Tagged ‘Praise’

Rejoicing in God’s Grace

Posted: December 29, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Journey, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Reflections & Musings, San Diego, Tijuana
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Pastor Daniel Nuñez with his wife, Yolanda

Pastor Daniel Nuñez with his wife, Yolanda (Daniel is the leader of Lo Mejor del Trigo)

As 2013 draws to a close, it causes me to reflect on all the wonderful works our Lord has done in the past year.

I believe this has been one of the most fruitful and most fulfilling years for Dawn and me in our 25 years of marriage. We couldn’t wait to move to the border, and dig into the ministry on the San Diego – Tijuana border.

It’s been even better than we imagined!

Not everything has been perfect. We’ve experienced some challenges and setbacks as well, but overall it’s been an outstanding time of ministry.

Rejoicing with our Wonderful Partners
Worship at Christmas in City Heights

Worship at Harbor Mid-Cities, Christmas in City Heights

God has given us wonderful partners to serve with here. We love working with Harbor and it’s network of churches north of the border. South of the Border we have a great and growing relationship with Lo Mejor del Trigo and their network of churches. The Lord has opened up some new doors for us as well with the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico.

Rejoicing in the Fruit God has Given
feeding the homeless at El Bordo

feeding the homeless at El Bordo with Pastor Leo and his wife Gloria

Through our partnership with these ministries we’ve seen more than 100 come to Christ in the churches we are directly involved with. Untold hundreds of homeless have been fed and cared for. The poor and unfortunate families have been given hot meals in the name of Christ. Those that were once addicted to drugs have found a Christ-centered drug rehab, and they are healing.

One of the exciting things is that these ministries will only get stronger in 2014. The Lord will extend the reach of the church through his people.

What a privilege it is for Dawn and me to be a part of all that God is doing. That is why we are rejoicing in God’s grace.

In my upcoming posts I’d like to highlight in some more specific ways that we’ve seen God work in 2013. Today I wanted to cast the vision, and give an overview of our Lord’s mighty deeds. We truly see his heart for the border as we live and serve here.

Dave and Dawn - thankful for the Lord's renewing work on the border

Dave and Dawn – thankful for the Lord’s renewing work on the border

Rejoicing in Christ’s Call

Thank you Jesus for calling us to serve you here, and for moving in such a powerful way. We do cry  out and ask you to continue to touch the hearts of men, women and children so that we will see your kingdom extended on the earth.

Consider a Year-End Gift

If you are looking for a fantastic way to give, please consider making a year-end gift to our ministry on the border. You can give online by clicking on this link: https://donations.mtw.org/donate/AddDesignation.aspx?No=11717

In His Grace, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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Trials and Tears: Part Two, Answers

Posted: November 23, 2013 in Christianity, Family Happenings, Journey, Ministry, Prayer
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The Lord Hears our Prayers

Today (Friday) was a much better day than Thursday!

The Lord wipes our tears away. He promises to be near the brokenhearted.

Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears… The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalms 34:3-4, 7-8, ESV)

David & Jon in the recovery room after the surgery

David & Jon in the recovery room after the surgery

God Answers for Jon

Thanks for praying for our friends and our family. Jonathan’s surgery went very well. Jon’s doctor gave us this wonderful news after he came out of the operation room.

We feel very relieved and we give praise to the Lord for his care for our son. He’s uncomfortable as he recovers, but that is normal after the type of surgery he had.

We won’t know for about a month how successful the surgery was in improving his vision. It’s hard to wait, but we trust. Please join us in calling out to our Lord in asking for his complete healing work.

The Lord Cares for Hannah
Jon & Hannah right before we began our trek

Jon & Hannah

Hannah is feeling sore from her accident, and she had a good day today. She is on her way to recovery!

We still have things to sort out with the insurance company, but things are definitely moving in the right direction. Pray for wisdom and favor with the insurance adjuster as Hannah interacts with them about repairing the damages that she suffered.

God Comes Through for Ana

Another encouraging answer to prayer is that our friend, Ana who had been detained since Tuesday morning was released on Friday. She is now back with her family. Her family is overjoyed! We join them in giving thanks.

God’s hand is in all of this, and we praise him as we look to him to lead us.

Praise the Lord that his mercies are new every morning. Thank the Lord for a new day. Thank him that he lifts us up when we are down.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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God is Moving on the Border!

Posted: May 31, 2013 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Tijuana
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The Gospel is Making a Difference in Tijuana
The pastors from Lo Mejor del Trigo that we met with last week.

The pastors from Lo Mejor del Trigo that we met with last week.

I give thanks for the leaders the Lord has given me to work with on both sides of the border. Last week I was able to meet with a number of them. Such choice servants of the Lord!

We visited the two churches that Harbor helped plant among some of the other churches. Cesar one of the younger pastors has just taken over a church that has gone through a lot of turmoil. The church had shrunk and was down to about three families.

Since Cesar took the church over just in the last month they’ve had 100 people attend the church.

The Lord Hears the Prayer of His People

I asked Cesar what they were doing to reach the people. He said the main thing they were doing was praying. God is hearing their plea.

These ministries are loving on the people in the community. Many of them are feeding the poor. Periodically they set up a medical clinic to help those that can’t afford to go to a doctor. It’s so good to see the Lord at work.

God is working through these churches as they share the love of Christ in their community. Our prayer is that they will continue to grow and to be a blessing in Tijuana.

Praise and Prayer

I praise the Lord for his faithfulness to these churches, and those who serve in them. They are blessing their communities in some practical ways. One of the questions we are asking is how can we come alongside of them, and be of encouragement to them.

Join in prayer as we ask the Lord to open the hearts of the people as the gospel goes out into the communities surrounding the church.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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We are the Easter People!

Posted: April 9, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Reflections & Musings, San Diego, Video
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We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song —Pope John Paul II

Harbor Mid-City Easter Sunday! Worship

Harbor Mid-City Easter Sunday!

The message of Easter is one of hope. Light breaks through the darkness. We live in a world that seems hopeless and in despair. The resurrection is the game changer. That’s why hallelujah is our song!

When God enters in it is reminder that there is hope. When the gospel truly does break forth it gives us reason to rejoice. Often we are not singing hallelujah, because our spiritual eyes and ears are not open to what the Lord is doing all around us. Maybe we’ve forgotten what our savior did for us on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

One of the ways we learn of how God is working in a community is listening to the testimony of his people. On Easter Sunday, Danny Kim put together a marvelous video that tells the story of three changed lives.

Moses and Oliva both came to know the resurrected savior in a very personal way this last year. God worked in Timonthy’s heart and gave him the strength to forgive someone who had abused him years ago.

It brought tears to my eyes to observe how the Lord had redeemed the lives of these friends. I know that the Lord used the testimonies of these transformed lives to touch the hearts of many who were there to worship the risen savior.

Resurrection: Finding New Life in Jesus Christ!

Give thanks with us for the Lord’s marvelous work, and for these transformed lives!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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Giving Thanks for 2012!

Posted: December 31, 2012 in Christianity, Church Planting, Family Happenings, Journey, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Reflections & Musings, San Diego, Tijuana
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Jon, David, Hannah, Dave & Dawn at Hannah's graduation

Jon, David, Hannah, Dave & Dawn at Hannah’s graduation

Even though I am ending 2012 in bed with a cold, it has been an outstanding year! We have experienced more change this year than we have since we left Mexico in late 1999.

I praise the Lord along with my wife, Dawn, for all He has done in and through us in 2012.

“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!”

–Psalm 100:1,2

The biggest event in our lives this past year was selling our house in Colorado and moving to the San Diego-Tijuana border. Dawn and I had been working towards this goal for two years. It took us longer than we thought it would take to sell our house. We know God’s timing is perfect, but that doesn’t mean it is easy to wait.

The wait has made it all the sweeter, though. We love being here, and we are so thrilled with all that God is doing.

After living in Colorado for 12 years it was hard to say good-bye to all our friends. We will always cherish our time in Colorado Springs. God brought healing and provided some wonderful fellow sojourners.

The most difficult thing about leaving Colorado was leaving two of our children, Jonathan and Hannah. We miss them dearly. It’s not easy being instant empty nesters. After all, aren’t we too young for that? 😉

It does make it easier knowing that our loving Father is watching over our children, and caring for them. We are grateful that our oldest son, David Jr. lives close to us as he goes to school in El Cajon at San Diego Christian College.

All three of our kids are doing well and they love the Lord.

  • David is on the student council at his school, and he’s excelling in his courses. When I visited the school recently one of the professors from the school told me David was a high impact student! Thank you Lord!
  • Jonathan began working at Wells Fargo Bank as a teller in June. He just went through their banker’s training, and he is exploring the possibility of getting a job transfer that would put him close to us. O, Lord, we pray you would open the door for that to happen soon.
  • Hannah graduated from high school in May. She is working at Big Lots and going through many adjustments being on her own in Colorado. Hannah will fly out to visit us this next week, so we are super excited about seeing her!

We have much to be thankful for in 2012! Even in the short time Dawn and I have been here, we’ve seen the Lord do some wonderful things. In late October and early November we partnered with Harbor Church and Lo Mejor Del Trigo to start a new church.

God’s encouraged us as we launched the English as a Second Language (ESL) outreach last April. Oliva came to Christ through ESL, and is now growing in her faith. We are getting ready to launch a second ESL class next week.

Dave & Dawn at San Diego Harbor

Wishing You A Happy New Year!

This is only a small sampling of the many marvelous things that God did in 2012. Praise him with us!

“For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5, ESV)

Thanks so much for joining us on this journey!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org