Seeking

As I recall lent season while growing up in the Catholic church, I remember fish filet Fridays, soup on Wednesdays and giving "something" up for 40 days. If asked why? I was told. Today, this season is bittersweet. It is sweet, because now I understand the goodness that was secured at the cross and tomb for all who believe in Jesus. It is bitter because many have yet to receive this truth, and others (including ourselves) that have received it sometimes forget. Husband and I continue praying for compassion, patience and opportunities with those in and outside the church - by God's providence, we are sharing three below.  On Good Friday morning, I had a chiropractor appointment. I have been seeing this doctor for a few years and have been able to build trust sharing about family, vacations and business. I have come to learn that she is a compassionate and skilled woman, and her family is from the Middle East. While I had been unable to share the gospel with her, a door ope...

Happy Spring Beloved! We pray you are growing in understanding of and fullness in God. The Lord has been doing much work growing, watering and planting this past month. Our update will be brief, sharing four key highlights - please join us as we praise Him - thank you for your faithful prayers and love. First, Johnny Gravino, the director of the Italian Theological Academy , ITA, taught at Cornerstone on a Sunday. He came to attend the annual  Shepherd's conference  at Grace Community Church, and our elder board invited him to preach (pictured below with one of our elders). It was a blessing for our brothers and sisters to meet and get to know him, especially as we continue praying about another opportunity to come alongside the work he, his wife and others are doing in Rome. This is the same gentleman we visited last summer. Husband was also able to spend some intimate time with him over coffee, and he shared how blessed he was.  Second, Husband and I were able to attend...

February brings much celebration to our home - me, Husband and both of our dad's have birthdays. I'll admit, I play the birthday card, because I enjoy spending time with people :D But as my D.O.B. neared, I was reflecting on my life as a whole, and especially since coming to Christ. The one thing that stands out is: the mercy of God - saving me, refining me and loving me.  To start, here is a bit of my testimony . I was raised catholic and attended church with my mom and older sister. Because of what I knew about God and what I did, like go to church, I believed I was going to heaven when I died. I thought I was a good person, or at least, good enough. In 2002, my dad who practiced no religion put his faith in Christ and "shared" Him with me. Shortly after, I prayed the "sinner's prayer," but my life was unchanged. Quite the opposite, I continued enjoying and walking towards sin. Another moral ritual, I now thought believing in Jesus and doing some of wh...

Happy New Year, beloved! To start out the year, we want to highlight a missionary couple: Art & Emalou Norris, as told by Juanita Fike in, "The Hand of the Ancient One." They served the Navajo people faithfully at various reservations for 42 years as husband and wife (plus their time as singles, prior to marriage). This couple has spurred us on, and we pray their conviction, unity and humility spur you on, whether single or married, as you press on where the Lord has you to minister to those around you. If I can sum up this couple in one word, the word is: conviction. When sobered by the reality that many natives had died without hearing the gospel, Art prayed, " 'I can't do anything about those people, but as long as You [God] give me life, I'll do everything to make sure the present generation of Indians know about Jesus' " (3). On his way to Prairie Bible Institute at 23 years old, facing logistical "setbacks," he thought, "Unce...

In the event we have not spoken, my Father-in-law, Jose Valadez, went home to be with the Lord on November 3.  I was listening to an old message from my pastor saying, 'anyone can point out someone's failure; it takes spiritual eyes to see that which the Lord is doing in their life.'  This mont h, we want to share a bit about Apa’s life-how he loved, served and grew [in the Lord]-because telling his story, brings glory to God and points us to Christ.  First, during his memorial service, more than one person stated, "he loved in his own way." As I was trying to process their words, this phrase did not settle well with me. Thankfully, the Spirit brought to remembrance 1 Corinthians 13 . While individuals express love differently from one another, the word sets a perfect standard and Jesus demonstrated it perfectly in real life. Though I cannot recall a single time Jose told me, "I love you," I know he loved me; he was patient, kind, was not easily provoked...

During a time of discouragement, a dear sister gifted me, "Dark Clouds Deep Mercy, Discovering the Grace of Lament" by Mark Vroegop. As our family enters a season of growing in lament, we would like to share a few encouragements with you as we tread this broken world together: "...turn, complain, ask, and trust" (29). "... every lament is a prayer. A statement of faith ...the honest cry of a hurting heart wrestling with the paradox of pain and the promise of God's goodness...how you live between a hard life and God's promises" (26, 84). When suffering comes, my desire is for it to pass, as quickly as possible, but this, "...can circumvent the opportunity afforded in lament - to give a person permission to wrestle with sorrow instead of rushing to end it. Lament provides a place for both feelings and truth" (19, 165)." We do not ignore or pretend our pain away; we must learn to see through and respond to it properly. Acknowledge our...

In February, I attended a high-school parent appreciation dinner at our church. The Leader, Kumi, had students (including Zachary) write and read a eulogy for their parents. Kumi started this tradition several years back after attending a memorial service where a child spoke about their parent, and he thought if only the parent could have heard that during their life. Between January and April, we received the news of 7 deaths, and it has been sobering. As we have been, we want to encourage you to seize three opportunities before you today : 1) forgive one another, 2) redeem the time and 3) fulfill the greatest commandment.  "Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity... forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:26-27, 32, NASB). The reality is we get angry and sin against one another. I have heard it said, once upset, the clock starts ticking, to "get over it....

Beloved, it is that time of year when the season is about to change and students are going back to school. Recently, in a Q&A, a young lady shared her testimony and call to serve as a missionary with bible translation. She defined her "spiritually dry season" as a time of being lonely with unmet expectations, in a region where there are no thriving, strong or welcoming churches - she had to bear her burdens alone, apart from her strong church family and look straight to the Lord. This summer, while reading "God does His best Work with Empty," by Nancy Guthrie, it was made clear I am naturally dry and empty, but Christ is faithful to continue providing Himself  (see Philippians 4:19 and Romans 8:32 ). In her book, Nancy hones in on the perspective of seeing emptiness in our life as a pre-planned opportunity for God to personally fill us in ways no one and nothing else can. Instead, we tend to quickly and regularly feed on our 'disappointment or frustration...