Posts Tagged ‘Rejoice’

The Highs and Lows of 2014
The Sunset on the Pacific

The Sunset on the Pacific

At this time of year we tend to reflect on the past year. I like to take time to consider all that the Lord did in and through us during the year.

Questions like, what were the highs and lows of the year? What did we accomplish? How did my family and I grow in our faith?

God Uses Our Pain

In reflecting on the year I realize that this has been one of the hardest years I’ve experienced in a while. Yet even in the trials and pain God has shown up. In many ways, it’s been a mind-blowing year even amidst the difficulties.

The Lord has been with me all along the way! I believe some of my lows are connected to some of my highs. God has drawn me closer to him during those dark moments. He’s strengthened my faith and my love for him. I’ve seen the Lord also do an amazing work in the life of my family.

The Lord’s Amazing Work!
Before and after with the whole group in front of the church before we left

Before and after with the whole group in front of the church in Ribera del Bosque

There have also been some wonderful accomplishments this past year. One of the highlights was helping start a new church plant in Tijuana with Lo Mejor del Trigo in Ribera del Bosque. Dawn and I have loved getting to know Pastor Ivan Casados and his wife, Rocio.

God is also doing some amazing things through some of our other pastor friends that we minister with in Tijuana. Pastor Daniel Nuñez leads the Lo Mejor del Trigo, and he and his wife are special friends. It’s always a joy to be with them.

There’s not space to mention all the pastors we work with, but here are some of the those that we’ve worked most closely with are Pastor Abraham and Martha Velazquez, Pastor Rodrigo and Nancy Vallarta, Pastor Jaime and Valentina Rodriguez and Pastor Leo and Gloria Nevarez.

VBS at the Nueva Jerusalén church in Ensenada

VBS at the Nueva Jerusalén church in Ensenada

Dawn and I have loved getting to know our friends from the Nueva Jerusalén (the New Jerusalem) church in Ensenada. God richly blessed the VBS outreach we held with them and Skyview Presbyterian from Denver this last summer.

I also give thanks for the pastors working in Tijuana and all of Baja California with the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico.

We are getting ready to launch a new church in La Paz, Baja California Sur. There are a number of great men and women represented in these churches.

Bridging Cultures at the Bridge Church
Baptism - the Lord's sign and seal is an element of being part of the family of God!

Baptism at Bridge Church

Dawn and I feel so blessed to minister with and to support the bi-lingual, multicultural Bridge Church and pastor Stephen Phelan north of the border. The church went through a difficult season this summer, but God is lifting us up and bringing healing. One exciting recent development is that one of the pastors from Lo Mejor Del Trigo, Jaime Rodriguez will be taking over as Spanish pastor for the Bridge church staring January 1st.

Giving Thanks for All the Lord has Done

I’m so grateful for all the Lord has done and is doing. He uses our brokenness. He doesn’t waste our pain. He lifts us up when we are down.

I look forward to an even better 2015!

You have played an important role in our 2014, as you’ve prayed for and encouraged us along the way. Dawn and I thank you for going on this journey with us.

Help Us to End 2014 Strong – There’s Still Time to Give

Since we are at Year-End, we are praying for the Lord to raise up the funds necessary to keep this ministry rolling.

DARK RED1 copyWould you consider a special year-end gift? You can give online here at donations.mw.org – select Diaso, David & Dawn, account #11717

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

The Highs & Lows of Life
The Diaso Family at Christmas!

Jon, David Jr. Hannah, Dawn & Dave with Daisy

Over the last several weeks we have experienced some highs and lows. I’ve written about the huge trial our family has been going through.

Paul in Romans 12:15 encourages us to, “rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” It has felt like we’ve done more than our share of weeping recently.

In Ecclesiastes Solomon writes about different times and different seasons of life. “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).

Almost immediately upon starting 2014 we found ourselves in a pit. It was easy to weep and difficult to laugh. We lived in fear. There were days of despair. We felt many of the negative emotions that most experience when they are going through a dark time in life.

The good news is that now we are starting to smile and rejoice in the Lord’s deliverance.

The Lord Lifts Us Up

We found ourselves in a valley, fighting for hope. Those days caused us to identify with the time for weeping that Solomon speaks of. Yet despite the sorrow we felt, the Lord sustained us. He gave us strength through the trials we endured. He used the prayers and love of faithful friends to keep us upright.

Rejoice with Those Who Rejoice

Over the last week things have been getting much better. God has brought healing to our family! He’s grown us and drawn us close to him.

Now we are rejoicing!

We give thanks for your loving support. Where would we be without our friends? Where would we be without our God?

Continue to pray for the Lord’s comfort and his healing work.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org