Posts Tagged ‘repentance’

Thrilled By Transformation: God is at Work!

Posted: April 22, 2016 in Christianity, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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I Can’t Keep Up!
Claves 1 - Keys for a Transformed Life

Claves 1 – Keys for a Transformed Life

There are so many good things going on that I’m having a hard time keeping up with it all! That is a good problem to have, right? 😉

Last week we partnered with Ministerios Fuente de Gracia and Ministerios Transformación to hold a course on The Keys for a Transformed Life in Spanish Claves para la Vida Transformada.

Thrilled by the Transformation
Rosa and her son, Mauro receiving their certificate from Jose Juan and Jeinny for completing the course

Rosa and her son, Mauro receiving their certificate from Jose Juan and Jeinny for completing the course

This is the second time in the last year that we’ve held this course in Tijuana. About mid-way through the week those taking the course get so excited about what they are learning they start asking about the next class. There is a Claves 2 (Keys 2). the course actually has four modules.

Not only do the participants start asking about when we can organize Claves 2, but they start thinking about their friends. They wish their friends and their family members could have taken the course.

Dawn and I had the same reaction when we first took Claves about three years ago. The power of the gospel shines on people’s lives. As they confess their sins to one another, repent and forgive they experience a new found freedom in Christ.

Cut Off the Roots
Calvin Anderson the leader of the Ministerios Fuente de Gracia teaching one of the lessons

Calvin Anderson the leader of the Ministerios Fuente de Gracia teaching one of the lessons

So many Christians seem to get stuck in their walk with Christ. There is a sense in which the answer is to return to our first love, and to practice the basics. Another key point is that we are prone to treat symptoms rather than the root issues. Claves gives people a handle on how to begin to find the roots of the bad fruit in their lives. Then we show them how to cut the roots off.

This is a life long process, but we have to begin somewhere. I find that many believers don’t even know where to start. So it’s a real eye-opening experience to learn these truths. Dawn and I have used the teaching found in Claves to mentor and disciple pastoral couples.

We are so thankful for the Lord leading us to our friends with Ministerios Fuente de Gracia who lead and teach the Claves courses. It’s been a fruitful partnership that the Lord has given us with them. Hallelujah! Our prayer is that more and more leaders and people in the church will experience true freedom in Christ. Freedom in the gospel.

Stand With Us In Prayer

Thanks for praying for us.

I’m going to be heading to Cuba this Sunday, April 24 – Friday April 29th to work with a team to train coaches for ministry in Havana. God is doing a marvelous work in Cuba, so I’m excited to be a part of it. Pray for my time in Cuba, as well as for Dawn, Hannah and David while I’m away. Pray that they not only do well, but that they thrive!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Amazed by God’s Work of Transformation!

Posted: October 5, 2015 in Christianity, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Tijuana
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Keys to Transformation
Growing and learning together - Keys for a Transformed Life

Growing and learning together – Keys for a Transformed Life

This last week was tremendously gratifying as the Lord brought together a dream that Dawn and I have been working on for two years. Our friends from Ministerios Fuente de Gracia (Fountain of Grace Ministry) came and led a training seminar in Tijuana on Keys for a Transformed Life. We held the course at the Lo Mejor del Trigo (LMT) El Niño church.

I’ve written a lot about LMT in the past and the leader of this church planting movement, pastor Daniel Nuñez. Daniel, the pastors and leaders of the 25 churches they have planted are wonderful friends and partners in ministry. We often stop and give thanks for them!

This Spring Pastor Daniel went to San Antonio de Las Minas, near Ensenada with me. We took seven pastors from LMT, and God used that time to minister to them in a deep and profound way.

While we were in San Antonio de las Minas we began to think through and plan on bringing the teaching to Tijuana so more pastors and church leaders could attend.

The Basics – Faith & Repentance
One of the learning activities during the course

One of the learning activities during the course

More than 50 people attended the course last week. We dealt with some basic and deep foundational issues. The people heard about the importance of practicing forgiveness and repentance in their Christian life. They learned what it means to be sons and daughters of God. Then as we soaked up these basic principles there was opportunity at the end of the session for us to meet in small groups to practice what we were learning.

It’s beautiful to see the Spirit break through. Many wept as they shared, because of the pain involved in the root causes. With the tears there is a release and as people confess to one another and to God, He shows up and brings comfort and healing.

Dawn and I feel like this is, as the name implies, one of the most transformational courses we’ve been through. Also, as we’ve been able to share the teaching with others we’ve seen God change people from the inside out.

Healing in the Lives of Pastors and Leaders
The group that completed the course

The group that completed the course

A number of the pastors and leaders we work with have deep wounds that they’ve never been able to deal with, because they haven’t had the opportunity to do so. They are in a difficult situation, because many people in the church look up to them, so they don’t know where to turn for help. They are stuck.

The leaders in the churches feel afraid to open up, so they go on limping along not knowing how to be set free. It’s a process to be sure, but it’s amazing to see the process begin and to play a part in that!

On the final night of the course everyone had an opportunity to give a short testimony on how God had used the teaching in their lives. It was gratifying to hear so many positive reports of how the Lord had met them during the week.

Dawn and I pray that the Lord will continue to heal and to bring  transformation in the hearts of men and women on the border and the Baja! Thanks for the part you play in seeing this become a reality.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

2 Keys to Transformation

Posted: June 30, 2015 in Christianity, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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Growing Together - Course on The Keys to a Transformed Life

Growing Together – Through the Course on The Keys to a Transformed Life

God is Taking Us Deeper

Over the last two weeks God has drawn us deeper. Dawn, Hannah and I have been going through a workshop on Keys to a Transformed Life. What’s made it extra special was that we were able to take our missionary colleagues Peter & Jenny Boling and Jim DeWitt. Four pastors from Tijuana and four church leaders from Ensenada also went with us.

2 Keys – Forgiveness & Repentance
Pastor Jaime Avila, Pastor Mario Perez and Pastor Ivan Casados with Calvin Anderson & Jeinny Escorcia

Pastor Jaime Avila, Pastor Mario Perez and Pastor Ivan Casados with Calvin Anderson & Jeinny Escorcia

Two of the keys we spent a lot of time focusing on were forgiveness and repentance. These are bedrock Christian disciplines. On the one hand, they are very basic to our faith. On the other hand, we often struggle to put them in practice.

We don’t like to admit that we are wrong. Our pride gets in the way. Yet forgiveness and repentance bring healing. God’s grace meets us at our place of weakness.

Luther said that all of life is repentance.

The Benefits of Confession

James speaks of the benefits of confession, even confessing to one another. A Christian practice that has mostly been lost on the church today.

And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭15-16‬ ESV)

I can’t say that it is easy to open up and share about areas where we are wounded, but it is freeing when accompanied with forgiveness and repentance.

Turn to the father. He promises to remove our sin as far as the east is from the west. Learn of the father’s love for you.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he removes our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. (‭Psalm‬ ‭103‬:‭8-13‬ ESV)

The Keys to a Transformed Life

Our Group – The Keys to a Transformed Life

It’s all part of the upside down kingdom. Where we see a flaunting of sin in the world, God calls us to repent. In many ways that word, repent, seems old an antiquated today. It sounds harsh, and yet it is what the Lord chooses to bring us healing and wholeness. God ministers to us through confession and repentance.

Also when we are willing to forgive those who have wronged us, we receive God’s healing touch. It is freeing to forgive. Jesus taught us to pray asking our Heavenly Father, “to forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.… For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:12, 14, 15)

That may be a hard passage, but it’s a wonderful promise. Forgiveness is an amazing gift that the Lord offers us. Come and receive his many gifts!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

 

 

 

Life Transformation in Leaders!

Posted: May 18, 2015 in Christianity, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer
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God Changes Lives for His Glory
The group of pastors and leaders in San Antonio de las Minas

The group of pastors and leaders in San Antonio de las Minas

Life Transformation with 10 leaders in San Antonio de las Minas near Ensenada. Last week the Lord gave me the privilege of going through the Keys to a Transformed Life with the pastors from Lo Mejor del Trigo.

Our friends from Ministerios Fuente de Gracia (Ministry of Fountain of Grace) led us during the week. God showed up! It was thrilling to be a part of this group.

Wonderful Partners in Ministry

I’ve worked very closely with pastor Daniel Nuñez and many of the pastors with Lo Mejor del Trigo over the last 4 years. They are wonderful partners in the gospel, and I thank the Lord for what he is doing in and through these pastors.

As I’ve come alongside these leaders I’ve seen the needs they have. We’ve shared together over meals and while ministering together. I feel honored that I am able to get the time with them. They are outstanding leaders who love Jesus. Most of them are bi-vocational pastors, which is extremely difficult.

God Works Through Repentance & Confession
Learning together

Learning together

Martin Luther said that, “all of life is repentance.” In fact forgiveness and repentance were among the key lessons that we learned while in San Antonio de las Minas. We shared deeply in small groups. We confessed our sins to one another. In that time God showed up in a special way and met us at our point of need hallelujah.

Confession isn’t easy. It is painful, but God meets us there. As we humble ourselves he enters in and brings healing.

This verse comes to mind from Micah 6:8,

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

The Lord desires that we walk humbly before him. He works in and through our humility. Thanks be to God!

I look forward to what the Lord is going to do in the lives of these pastors, and how it will strengthen their churches. O Lord, do a great work through these men. Do a great work first in their families and then in their churches. Be Glorified in their lives, and let the spark that was ignited this last week be only the beginning!

One of the things that we are praying for on the border and the Baja is for life transformation which will bring about revival. Join us as we look to the Lord for a work that only he can do.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

The Importance of Confession

Posted: December 19, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Journey, Missions, Reflections & Musings, Team Members
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God Works through our Weaknesses
Lindsey, Ana & Rafael working in the the Christmas store

Lindsey, Ana & Rafael working in the the Christmas store

A friend commented after I wrote my last post that I shouldn’t have mentioned I was in a bad mood, or had a bad attitude. They thought everyone is going to wonder why I was in a bad mood.

I think this is a good point, but I felt like it was important to mention my poor state of mind for a couple of reasons.

First, I believe it’s helpful that people understand that it’s God who brings the fruit. Even though you could say that I wasn’t at the top of my game, God still used me. Paul said when I am week then I am strong, because God’s grace abounds and is released.

…”My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of the weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. —2 Corinthians 12:9,10

Pastor Roberto Shim sharing the good news of Christmas with our Spanish congregation

Pastor Roberto Shim sharing the good news of Christmas with our Spanish congregation

I also thought it was significant that the Spirit prompted me to confess my poor attitude, and to repent. After I did that my heart was changed. God began to do an amazing work. This is an evidence of his grace in my life.

Martin Luther said that all of life is repentance. I’m finding this to be true in my life. Also, as rotten as my attitude can be, it’s so freeing once I do confess my sin and my struggle. It makes me wonder, why do I wait so long to turn to God, and confess?

So you might still be wondering, what I had a bad attitude about? It wasn’t any one thing, and it wouldn’t be wise to share it publicly on this forum. Just know that I am a sinner saved by grace, and that God is faithful to use flawed people. I do think confession and repentance are wonderful remedies that the Lord has given us, and I am so thankful for God’s grace. I am so thankful that he forgives, and that he still uses me despite my flaws.

Exciting to See People Respond to the Gospel

The Lord is the one who brings the increase! We are excited to be a part of that.

There were at least 17 people that prayed to received Christ with a group of us from Harbor Mid-Ciy on Sunday. We are so thankful for such a great group of people that the Lord has given us to minister with at Harbor. I pray that the Lord will give us many more days like that.

The fruit was ripe. Dawn and I were there at the right time. Glory be to God is the highest!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Confession and Healing: They Go Hand in Hand

Posted: July 2, 2013 in Christianity, Ministry, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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Dave & Dawn on the Border

Dave & Dawn – there is hope through the cross of Jesus

This past week Dawn and I felt like the Lord took us deeper, as we participated in a Ministry of Pastoral Care conference in Wheaton, Illinois.

I also had the opportunity to preach this past Sunday on Genesis 26. Through the conference and this passage, the Lord taught me some awesome truths.

The Lord showed me how man fails in being faithful to trust God. This failure has a bearing on those we love. Man is supposed to protect women and children, yet we often do the opposite. So what do we do? Do we throw up our arms in resignation and disgust? I think not.

God Brings Healing Through Confession

One of the gifts the Lord has given us is the gift of confession for our sins and the gift of forgiveness. That is one of things that we practiced at the conference last week. It was scary to be vulnerable enough to confess to others our faults. Yet strangely we found it freeing. God brings healing as we humble ourselves and confess our sins.

Americans value individualism, and this cultural value has found its way into the church. We’ve lost the importance of living out our lives in community. Therefore, in many ways even in the church much emphasis is given to what I do individually to grow in Christ. I don’t mean to disparage the importance of that, but we don’t want to lose sight of all the one another commands in Scripture.

Love one another, Bear one another’s burdens, confess to one another, etc.

A loss of a sense of the value of community is one of the reasons we don’t confess our sins to one another today. Part of the reason as well is a wrong application of confession in some churches, which lead to seemingly rote and meaningless acts.

Confess to One Another

It’s wonderfully healing to confess our sins to God, and to one another.

James tells us,

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. — James 5:16 (ESV)

God Uses Prayer and confession to bring healing

God Uses Prayer and confession to bring healing

The Lord promises healing as we confess and pray for one another. Tell me, why wouldn’t we talk God up on this offer? I would like to urge you today to take the risk. Find someone safe that you can pray with and confess your sins to.

There are so many hurting people in the church today, so many in need of counseling. Much of the reason for this relates to either sins committed against the person or by the person. Obviously, it’s more complex than that, and I do not mean to minimize your pain if you’ve been hurt deeply. Yet I do believe God can and will bring much healing as we bring our sins to the Lord and ask him to enter in and to touch us.

Martin Luther said that, “all of life is repentance.” Let us repent for our sins, look to Christ as we confess, and receive his healing touch. Let’s walk in freedom together!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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