For People Like Martha

Last Saturday, Mom and I and a lady in our church made a very meaningful visit. We went to visit Martha, our dear (nearly) 80-year-old friend who was saved in 2012 at our Annual Christmas Banquet. The following year, she was diagnosed with cancer, and began receiving treatments. (You can read another post about Martha here.)

When we went to her house on Saturday, we were so pleased to see Martha looking so well!  Her beautiful hair was fixed so nicely; she was dressed very elegantly, and she seemed so full of energy.  She busied herself in the kitchen, and served us coffee and pastries.

As she told us about the experiences she has lived concerning her treatments and with the doctors, there was one main message that she conveyed: God is my Healer, and I trust in Him for my life.  Her sweet attitude and positive spirit were so refreshing!

I couldn't help but thank God for this sweet old lady, who lived so many years without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She married, raised children, and lived her whole life with no understanding of what God did for her, and of  His desire to save her.  Yet, God brought this dear lady to a banquet where she heard the Gospel preached, and she accepted Christ as her Saviour.  Now, she is being a testimony for her Lord.  She testifies to her doctors that it is God Who is working in her.

Martha is the lady in the lime green, standing next to her sister, Beatriz, on her right.

Martha and Beatriz are daughters of a former mayor of our city, who served in the 1940s.

As we prepare for the upcoming banquet, to be held on November 21, I thank the Lord for allowing me to be a part of this ministry.  We have had hard struggles and deep heartache this year as the devil has fought his hardest to destroy this ministry.  But I think of what Gamaliel said in Acts, concerning the work of Peter and of the apostles:  "And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."

So, with our eyes on Jesus, and in hope of the blessing of God upon this ministry, we look forward to seeing just what God will do for us and through us.  If just one more Martha would be saved, it will have been worth it all.

And with this prayer on my lips, I press toward the mark:  "And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it."  Psalms 90:17

Would you please be praying for us as we work hard the following four weeks toward the banquet? (If you want a specific prayer list, please get in touch with me, and I will be happy to provide that for you.)

A Birthday Girl and A Poem

"Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right."
Proverbs 20:11

Our Precious Debbie Jolene turned nine years old last month.  I know that every mother feels this way, but I'm going to say it: "I just cannot believe how quickly time is passing!"  And she really (REALLY) grew a lot this year!

I have so enjoyed watching her grow and mature this year, though.  That is one of the joys of motherhood, is it not?  To be able to watch our children grow and mature and to see them begin to develop their talents and watch them learn new things.

God gave our Debbie-Girl a special love for animals.  She told me, "Mommy, do you know what I want to do?  I want to take in stray, hurt dogs and fix them up and help them get well."  It just absolutely amazes me to see with what love and tenderness she cares for animals. This past year she had a cute little Lab puppy (which she named Chelsea) and she learned responsibility in caring for her puppy.  She has had rabbits and chickens as well this year.  The thing she desires to have the most is her own horse.  She told me, "Mommy, it just seems that I will never, ever get a horse of my own."  I told her, "I really do believe that the Lord is going to give you a horse.  But we have to wait on His timing."  I told her, "Delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."  (Isn't it such a comforting thing to be able to raise our children on the certainty of God's Word, and know that He will keep His word?  I just love that!)

And the thing that blesses my heart the most about our Debbie-Girl is seeing her rise early in the morning, while the house is still quiet, and sit and read her Bible and write in her notebook the things that she has read that morning.  I know there is no greater joy than to see that our children choose to walk in truth.  My heart over-flows with gratitude every time I see her bending her little head over, reading her Bible by the light of her lamp.  I tell her over and over what a blessing that is to her mother!

So, to my Little Debbie-Girl: my prayer to my Lord for you is that God would use your life to bring honor and glory to His name, and that He will use you for the exact purpose for which you were created.  I can hardly wait to see how He uses you!  But while I wait, I pray that I will enjoy every moment with you.  You are a delight and a joy to me.  Daddy and I love you so very much!!!

This year, Debbie's cousins were here with her and helped her celebrate.  She had a very fun day and received many special gifts.  Her Uncle Jason picked out a purple flannel vest that she loves; her brother Andrew gave her a jewelry box and a tea set; and her Uncle Lanny and cousin Rebecca bought her a Barbie with a horse which she LOVES!  And her Mimi gave her a special card with a poem written especially for her; oh, and there was a $200-peso bill in the card, too!!

I really do enjoy reading the poems that Mom writes for our birthdays.  The one she wrote to Debbie this year is just as special, and I want to share it with you.

"Your Birthday comes in three more days,
But we just couldn't wait!
So this is what we'll do today:
We're gonna celebrate!
We'll thank the Lord for sending you to us nine years ago!
And with this money in your card,
A-shopping you can go!"

How loved you are, my Debbie-Jolene, by your Mommy and Daddy, by your brothers, your cousins, uncles and aunts and your grandmothers, and by Jesus, too!  Live to please Him...that's what really counts in this life!!!