So lately a lot has been on my mind. First of course is my memories of my many close calls and adventures in Peru with the result of seeing God's grace and overwhelming supernatural protection over my life just about everywhere I go; which that said leads to an inevitable reality check and heart surgery for myself with the Lord. But most don't ever see the inscisions of where the selfish side of the missionary is removed and the pacemaker is inserted and when the missionary returns to his home country to deliver an update to his home church family, mentors, and friends they hope to just receive a warm welcome from his/her loved ones and that probably is one of the most amazing gifts they can receive after coming back from the mission field for a temporary time in their home country.
Second, is saying 'See ya later' to a very close and awesome church family of mine that I've grown close to in the last six months or so since my return from Peru to the United States. As much as I want to stay enjoy their company I know it just wouldn't be right staying in the States and not following through with what the Lord wants me to do in the missions field. I realized that just as there are individuals in my church who have their ministry whether it be worship,Children's ministry,Youth ministry,members of the Board,Greeters,etc. My ministry is the missions field.
Though it's interesting, today I'm celebrating four years of walking with the Lord and little over four years ago walking with the Lord was the LAST THING I wanted to do. Now, it's what I plan to do day by day and it's not like the Lord called me and I answered and I fell in love with the Father of the Most High and everything He has done for me, but He called and chose me to go speak to others in other parts of the world or nation about the Good News. The Good News about the Life,Death,and Resurrection of Jesus Christ that which can be simplifed to everything that was placed at the Cross. For me, I think back to those many rebellious times in my 'B.C. days'(Before Christ)when I was shaking my fist at God in my heart and shaking my fist at the Church in my heart as well and as that proverbial pendulum swung from the worst extreme it swung to the Greater and Most Awesome extreme as I saw what the Lord did for me at the Cross. It's not like I'm some 'cruising Christian' so to speak as I would fear I would be, but fortunately I'd like to say I am not, but I see my motives and the heart that the Lord has given me and I see that my heart is no longer on that pendulum, but now is situated in His hands.
Well, I must say that it has been fun to write this blog and I can't wait to have more things to share with you all in coming time and at this moment I have my plane ticket for Peru paid for and half of my tuition paid off. Praise the Lord! And still plenty of money left over to buy whatever things I need for my trip and time in Peru. For now, hasta luego!
-Danielito
Friday, December 25, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
As the smoke has risen...
Today, I realized how many battles I've been through in the last few months since planning to go back to Peru and even the personal battles I went through before hand as well and I must say, it has made me incredibly more thankful for the Father in Heaven I have. On that note in the 'father department', it has made much more thankful for my own father whom I've been developing a much better relationship with him now than probably ever before in my life. I can't really describe how thankful I am to have him especially after the many times he has told me how much he didn't have the kind of conversations I've had with him compared to his 'communication life' with his father, for that I am very grateful. I am also very grateful for the lines of communication that my Father in Heaven has provided within this relationship with my father and I, though it's not just my father and I that are growing closer; it's my whole family. Step by step, I'm seeing a change for the better in my family and I'm enjoying this a lot and I would so much rather have this change than have these life changing conversations during the time over someone's death-bed 20 or 30 years down the road, Lord willing longer than those two time-span's I mentioned.
I've been very fortunate to be used in very important relationships here in the States, not just with my family, but my friends as well. I've been able to communicate and renew a friendship with a close NJROTC Cadet brother of mine from high school whom is in the U.S. Army at the moment in Baghdad and en-route to his new location compared to his less war-raging environment in Kuwait he accepted the Lord at 30,000 feet during a pretty turbulent flight, one flight that involved a lightning bolt narrowly missing his transport's right wing by 100 ft. I really thank the Lord for letting me be part of something like this in friendship and in being given the finances to buy him the Bible that would be used in his acceptance of the Lord. I've been SO fortunate to be able to be used in my workplace, granted I have my 'frustrated moments' where I'm not exactly setting an example that God would approve of or calls me to have in those short but ugly moments. This is most certainly an area that the Lord working on, but praise Him the fact that He is providing me with a consistency of 27 hours of work a week which is the max. I can get at the moment and my managers have been assigning me 12 hours shifts quite frequently to the point that I am the first to get them because they've asked me if I don't mind getting them and I said, "I won't be complaining at all for getting them.' Behold, the Lord not only provided me the hours to receive finances to add towards Peru, but also a ton of endurance for it in the area of fatigue. Don't get me wrong, I have my moments close to 7 or 8pm where I act a little...'funny', where all I see is Panera Bread logos, baguettes, and order tickets and I say, 'Twelve hours of this, Lord, help me...oh help me.' Sure enough, He always goes above and beyond I ask for.
Lately, I've been practicing my Spanish when I can and have been incredibly thankful for what the Lord has done for me and is doing for me and for the first time in a long time I am content with where I am, but still waiting patiently to go back to Peru and slowly putting more and more trust in the Lord in certain areas where I know I need to not trust so much in myself, but hold true to His Promises. I say all of this after a major 'heart-surgery', if you will has the Lord has been doing some serious work on my heart. I also want to thank all of YOU! Who are following up with my blog and I thank you so much for your prayers and support no matter how small or large you may think it is, it helps SO MUCH. Anyway, I gotta run. I have to work tomorrow, but not until the afternoon; although I have some other priorities to tend to. God bless and Good Night or Buenos Noches y Dios te Bendiga!
-Danielito...
I've been very fortunate to be used in very important relationships here in the States, not just with my family, but my friends as well. I've been able to communicate and renew a friendship with a close NJROTC Cadet brother of mine from high school whom is in the U.S. Army at the moment in Baghdad and en-route to his new location compared to his less war-raging environment in Kuwait he accepted the Lord at 30,000 feet during a pretty turbulent flight, one flight that involved a lightning bolt narrowly missing his transport's right wing by 100 ft. I really thank the Lord for letting me be part of something like this in friendship and in being given the finances to buy him the Bible that would be used in his acceptance of the Lord. I've been SO fortunate to be able to be used in my workplace, granted I have my 'frustrated moments' where I'm not exactly setting an example that God would approve of or calls me to have in those short but ugly moments. This is most certainly an area that the Lord working on, but praise Him the fact that He is providing me with a consistency of 27 hours of work a week which is the max. I can get at the moment and my managers have been assigning me 12 hours shifts quite frequently to the point that I am the first to get them because they've asked me if I don't mind getting them and I said, "I won't be complaining at all for getting them.' Behold, the Lord not only provided me the hours to receive finances to add towards Peru, but also a ton of endurance for it in the area of fatigue. Don't get me wrong, I have my moments close to 7 or 8pm where I act a little...'funny', where all I see is Panera Bread logos, baguettes, and order tickets and I say, 'Twelve hours of this, Lord, help me...oh help me.' Sure enough, He always goes above and beyond I ask for.
Lately, I've been practicing my Spanish when I can and have been incredibly thankful for what the Lord has done for me and is doing for me and for the first time in a long time I am content with where I am, but still waiting patiently to go back to Peru and slowly putting more and more trust in the Lord in certain areas where I know I need to not trust so much in myself, but hold true to His Promises. I say all of this after a major 'heart-surgery', if you will has the Lord has been doing some serious work on my heart. I also want to thank all of YOU! Who are following up with my blog and I thank you so much for your prayers and support no matter how small or large you may think it is, it helps SO MUCH. Anyway, I gotta run. I have to work tomorrow, but not until the afternoon; although I have some other priorities to tend to. God bless and Good Night or Buenos Noches y Dios te Bendiga!
-Danielito...
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