Live One Day at a Time

Here's the hymn that we've been singing a lot in Spanish. It says about the same thing in English, and has been a blessing to us these days. I hope it will be an inspiration to you, too!

We never know when shadows fall if another day will dawn,
Nor if the plans that we have made will turn out right or wrong;
We only know that Jesus’ love will go on endlessly;
While other’s ‘round about us fall, at peace in Christ we’ll be.

Don’t build your mansions here on earth, nor gather precious stones;
Forget those things that have no worth in an eternal home;
For life is so uncertain, friend, and death is ever near;
So lay up treasures in the sky, insure your presence there.

The beauty of this life seems drear, when seen in heaven’s light;
There is a home prepared by God for Christians living right.
Why hold to pleasures of this world that fade in just a day,
When loving him who gave us life is now the only way.

Chorus
So live one day at a time,
Be thoughtful, loving and kind;
Just do your best and leave God the rest,
And live one day at a time.

Strangers and Pilgrims

Another month has gone by, and seems it's been rather a sojourn. We spent three weeks with our dear families in Tlaxcala, Raùl's and Daniel's, catching up on news and encouraging each other in our walk with the Lord. One weekend we and Daniels went to Tehuacàn, and were able to visit David Balderas, who is seeing the light and wanting to walk in it.

Last weekend we all went to Mexico City (16 people in our suburban :). The Missionary Baptist church there, where Bro. Raùl had been pastor, was having a fortieth-anniversary celebration, with people coming from all over. When Josuè, Raùl's son, heard about it, he said right away, "I´m going to be there!" So the brethren took their signs with verses on, for all to see as they entered the building. It was a hard thing for them to do, with so many relatives and old acquaintances going to be there, but they wanted to do it, and stand for the truth. What a blessing! While the brethren were away, we sisters had a good discussion with Bro. Daniel´s two sisters-in-law, about the wife's submission, the veiling, and modest dress. They seem to really want to obey the Lord, and asked us to pray for them, that they would know what God really wants them to do. Lupita said, "You have nothing to lose, dressing like you do, and wearing the veiling, but as for us... What if the Lord really does want us to, and we aren't obeying?" Another time she said, "Once I said I'd never wear a veiling," giving the idea that now she isn't so sure that she won't! That was really encouraging, also.

Marcus' paperwork is in progress, and the lawyer thought it could be done this coming week. (The rest of us lost our residency, since we stayed longer in the States, and got to the border the day it expired. So we're here on tourist visas now.) Meanwhile, Marcus and Tony have been good and busy with repair work. They got the engine that we brought down, put into Bro. Daniel's minivan the first week we were here, and have been working for others since then.

Now a couple days ago we came to our house in Tehuacàn, to stay for a week or two. We need to pack up whatever we think we'll need for our stay in Missouri, as well as visit a number of people we've been in touch with here. I believe Marcus is planning for us to make another trip to Mexico City yet, also, to spend more time with the Alfonso Aragòn family there. So probably sometime this month we'll get back to Monett, to stay for a while.

All this travelling has been a good reminder to me, that as followers of Jesus we are to live here in the world as strangers and pilgrims. When I get tired of living out of suitcases, and staying first one place and then another, I need to remember how our Lord had no place to lay His head. Then I am rebuked for my feelings of self-pity, and begin to thank Him instead, for all my blessings!

Bro. Daniel's family introduced us to a Spanish song, Vive un dìa a la vez (Live one day at a time). What an encouragement that has been to me lately! I'm looking for it in English, but haven't found it - maybe one of you can help me? All I remember of the English song is "Just do your best and give God the rest, and live one day at a time." Anyway, I am so thankful for the assurance that God, our loving Father, is in control of our lives. Although we don't know the future, and what trials or joys it will bring, we can just live each day that He gives us, obeying Him by His grace, and trusting that "all things work together for good to them that love God." (Romans 8:28) "For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death." (Psalm 48:14)

God bless you!

Mexico at last!

Dear friends,
It’s been over a month since I’ve had the chance to write, and a lot has happened since then. So now I want to update you a bit…

The last I wrote, we were planning to leave for Mexico within a week. That was the beginning of December. Well, our plans suddenly changed when the brethren encouraged us to just stay up a bit longer, and find a house to move into before our visit to Mexico.

The Lord was very good in providing us a house – just what we were wishing for – an old farmhouse that we can live in rent-free, if we do the 15 minute calf chores there. Another bonus is that it’s just across the road from Bro. Kevn's place! We found out about this house on a Sunday, and by the end of the week we were getting settled in there. The brethren from church were so helpful and spent a number of days doing repairs around the house, cutting firewood, etc.

So we had about two weeks to get more-or-less settled in, and then we packed up for our trip south. We left this past Friday afternoon (the 9th), and spent Saturday afternoon and Sunday with Tim Sensenigs and Daniel Hubers in Texas. Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) we got to Reynosa, and after a number of hours of border troubles we were free to go to the García family, on the south side of the city.

We’re staying with our young brother, Eloy, and his parents for a couple days, here in Reynosa. It’s a blessing to visit with them and get rested up a bit before we go the last 14 hours or so to be with the families in Tlaxcala.

Shortly before we left for Mexico, we realized that Randall (5) and Roger (3) have basically forgotten Spanish in the past 6 months that we’ve been away from it. It’s amazing how quickly a small child adapts to his surroundings. When we first arrived in the States, they only wanted to talk Spanish, and now they can’t speak it when they try to! Randall comes to me and asks me how to say this or that, and Roger copies words when we tell him what to say. And they understand a fair amount of what is said to them in Spanish, but not all of it, like they would have before. So I guess it’ll take a little time for it to all come back for them.

We aren’t sure yet exactly how long we’ll be here in Mexico. It’ll probably be at least a month, depending on what all we need to do. Meanwhile we want to make good use of our time with the brethren here, encouraging each other on in the Way.

God bless you!

--Monica

Loving greetings!

We’re having a quiet Sunday afternoon here in Monett. Marcus went with 3 other brethren to Branson, several hours away, to preach at a big Christmas parade. So it’ll probably be evening before he gets back.

This morning Bro. David preached about the Good News. Jesus came to bring deliverance to the captives, sight to the blind… And there in Luke 4, after 3 minutes of preaching the Gospel, people were so filled with rage they wanted to kill Him. People don’t realize that they’re captives to sin. And they don’t want the Lord to free them from sin, and take away their fun times, or their lust and envy and hatred. So even though we are telling others about the Good News, and calling men to repentance, for a lot of them it seems to be bad news, since they don’t want to give up their own way. Recently a man wanted to argue with David as he was reproving sin with his signboard on the street, saying, “Your message doesn’t look like love. The Bible says, ‘For God so loved the world…’” Bro. David responded, “God’s love is not what’s on trial here. It’s yours.” The brethren are going to make a new signboard – “Jesus came to destroy your sinful pleasures.”

The little boys were all downstairs playing with the farm set happily, but suddenly there was a cry of alarm. “Clayton put his shoe in the potty!” So away I ran to wash and dry my little boy, and now he’s about to go to sleep in my arms, I believe.

Some highlights for us this month were the visit from my parents 2 weeks ago, and then the visit at La Monte, with Grandpas, Uncle Nevins, and the cousins after Thanksgiving. We also really enjoyed our visit with new friends, David and Tammy, where we stayed overnight.

From La Monte we went to Versailles, where we visited with a number of old friends, and picked up our old black minivan. Marcus wants to take the engine and transmission out of it, for Bro. Daniel’s minivan in Mexico.

We are planning to leave for Mexico a week from tomorrow, Lord willing. We want to go by Tim and Jenelle’s place on the way south (she's my cousin, and they live in Texas) – are looking forward to that! Then I believe we will stop in Reynosa to visit Bro. Eloy and his mother Guille, maybe stop in Mexico city to visit the brethren there, then on to Tlaxcala for a little while.

Our plans are to be in Mexico for a short time – two or three months – to finish things up there a bit, so we can return to the States and spend more time with the brethren here. We’re glad to hear that our Mexican brethren are doing well, and carrying on the work of visiting contacts, etc. So we want to be willing to step out for a time, and to learn with the brethren here at Monett some more.

God bless you!

Love and prayers, Monica

Trials - Blessings in Disguise!

Well, here I am in the early morning quiet, and my thoughts are busy… so I’m going to just jot some down to share with you.

I’ve been thinking about trials – how they really are not fun, or easy, but they are blessings from our loving Father. He gives us hard situations to mold us more into His image – to refine our character and make us pure, fit for Him to use. “But he knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job23:10) It’s His way of perfecting us – “Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly… Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me... The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” (Psa.138:6-9)

When the Lord allows a perplexing or challenging situation, let’s rejoice – He has not given up on us! He is showing His love – “For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth…” (Heb. 12:6) And He will not forsake the works of His hands, as long as we are faithful and submissive to Him. It’s another “thing” that is for our good. (Rom. 8:28)

Even the Lord Jesus Christ had to pass through fiery trials, and He “learned obedience by the things which he suffered.” (Heb. 5:8) If our divine Lord needed to learn by suffering, how much more necessary it must be for us!

So, dear friends and sisters, let’s rejoice when we are faced with yet another test – it’s another opportunity to learn and grow, and God’s love and faithfulness is shining right through it!

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psa. 139: 23, 24)

Later – I wrote this early yesterday morning, and already in the evening needed to put it to practice again – this rejoicing and thanking the Lord for tests and trials. :) Well, it’s hard, but I know it’s true, and what I need to do, so I’m gonna keep on trying!

God bless you!

Just a few photos I wanted to share with you...

What fun - a tent to play in!
Clayton's first birthday

Greetings!

Dear friends, (Nov. 7, 2008)

Greetings from chilly southern Missouri! We’re taking a little recess right now, and the children are out getting some fresh air and exercise. Marcus is out in the cold fixing some vehicles at Bro. Chris’ place, in spite of the sore throat and cold that he has.

Yesterday Marcus went with two other brothers to preach at the University of Arkansas. They went the last two weeks also. There are quite a few students who stop with questions, seeming to really want to know. They go in the morning and spend all day there. Yesterday a young Muslim woman wondered about the headcovering (one of the signs they said “Christian women cover their heads). She covers her head because the Koran says to do so, and she had no idea that it’s a Christian teaching.

Last evening we were at Chris Hammens for supper, along with a number of other church families. They served us venison steaks from the deer two of their boys (11 and 12 yrs. old) shot last weekend. Brian Minter and Marcus had butchered the deer for them, so we got the heart, liver, and ribs. :)

By the way, we’ve moved back to the meetinghouse now. Wednesday night was rather eventful here. Sirens woke some of us up around midnight – a tornado had been sighted and was moving toward Monett. Since we’re right in town, the sirens at two schools nearby were very loud, but the children didn’t wake up at all. Several neighbors joined us in the basement, with their dog, and the storm raged outside (hail, pouring rain, and strong winds). But it didn’t last long, and soon after 1:00 the sirens stopped and everyone went back to bed.

(Sunday) High time to get this finished now… Bro. David preached this morning about Redemption – Ransomed from Whom? Satan has men bound in sin – servants to sin, but Jesus has paid the ransom and unlocked the prison doors for us all to get up and follow Him. We were taken captives by Satan at his will. We didn’t realize we would become his slaves when we chose our own way over God’s way. Jesus didn’t owe anything to the devil, but we did, and we were needing ransoming from our kidnapper. He says, “If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

One of the main tenets of the modern gospel, that many of us have been taught, says something like this: Our sin has offended an almighty God, and He must punish this sin. And He can’t even forgive unless someone steps in and takes the punishment. And so Jesus died, shedding His blood, and as God saw His dreadful suffering and sacrifice, His wrath was appeased or “satisfied”. This in some way changed His mind about our sin, and He can forgive it, if we just “accept” Jesus’ sacrifice personally, by a “conversion experience”. In other words, we can get forgiven without ever even changing our lives, without ever making Him our Lord. “I’m under the blood. When God sees me, He doesn’t see my sin anymore, He sees the blood.” This doctrine removes personal responsibility to conform our lives to Jesus’ teachings. The early Christians never believed anything like this. This doctrine only came to be widely believed about 900 years ago. The Reformers embraced it. Look at the results today!

Wilbur and Joanna were here for lunch with us. The Guatemalan family who had planned to come to the service with them didn’t, since their daughter had a cough. They said they want to come Wednesday.

God bless you!

--Monica