update by Lisa...

Greetings Saints and Family!

As you all know we are now living in Mexico.  Its been a while since I blogged so I thought I share some things since we've been in Mexico.

Like I have shared before, we never had a passion to minister in Mexico but know for sure God has called us here for a time.  It is a step out of our Jerusalem and into Samaria.  Definitely has been testing ground and much refining on me, and I can see how the refining is needed for God to trust us with greater works and sending us beyond our Samaria.

The hardest part for me living here is not living in a poor country, but not being able right now to share the gospel verbally.  Lina is the only one in our group who speaks Spanish.  She's our interpreter, but more Joseph since that's his wife.  Sean and I haven't found an interpreter for us.  That something you have to choose wisely, making sure the interpreter is a true christian who will interpret the true gospel for us.  I really don't care to find an interpreter.  It seems to me I would put a burden on them to follow me around and witness with me, so Sean and I just ordered Rosetta Stone.  Rosetta is suppose to be one of the best tool to learn different languages quick and easy.  Do pray for us that God will enable us to learn the language quickly.

Don't get me wrong, serving the lost has been great, but when you meet so many people who are lost you do desire greatly for them to hear the gospel message that will save them!

Mexico is definitely different from America.  The hearts here do seem more soft than those in America.  I can understand why Jesus says to preach to the poor.  The poor are usually more desperate to hear about the hope in Christ than those who have plenty.  Usually those who have plenty are so comfortable and prideful in their riches that it blinds them to their wicked heart.  Similar to the pharisees who Jesus rebuked.  They look so holy and nice on the outside, but Jesus who can see the heart rebuked them for their greed and lust, exposing their wicked heart.  Such people who are deceived by outside appearance will not cry out to Jesus.  Their good works will blind them from their depraved vile hearts.  Oh, may God expose their motives so that they may see that even their best works are filth!  For those who have not been awaken and born again cannot have pure loving motives.  For all good works without His Spirit are rooted in selfishness, greed, and lust.

Isaiah 64:6
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Not that we are not to minister to the plenty.  There has also been pharisee types that God has saved!  But surely Paul did say in 1 cor. 1:26-27 that not many wise, mighty, and noble are called, but HE HAS CHOSEN the foolish things of the world.........

God resist the proud and gives grace to the humble. There is hope still for the prideful and living in plenty/greed........ Humble yourselves in the Lord and he will lift you up!

Psalm 10:17
LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble;You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear,

Psalm 18:27
For You will save the humble people,But will bring down haughty looks.

Luke18:9-14
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Notice the pharisee spews out HIS OWN goodness and never admits nor sees that he's a wretched sinner!

I thought Texas had bad billboards, but it isn't as bad as Mexico!  That was definitely a trial for me!  Having children, I do not want their minds defiled by these pornographic pictures and thinking that this is what women should dress and act like. Sean and I are having to tell them a lot while in the car to keep their heads down.  We know that such images, if giving into deep thoughts WILL defile your mind and its our duty to protect our kids from such obvious vileness.  Sean and I have shared with them why they are not to stare at these images and taking them to proverb where it speaks of the harlot women, to beware of her devices because she will lead you to hell, but we are careful not to make them pharisees.  We want to warn them of these things, desiring them to hate evil and love righteousness,  but also give them a brokenness for those who are bound in iniquity.  Helping them understand that those who are lost are bound in their sin and that Jesus is the only one who can awaken them to truth and set them free so we must preach the gospel that can save them and that those whom Jesus draws will hear (john10:2-4).  We must show the love of Christ to them and share the gospel, but not to have any fellowship with darkness (2cor.6:14).  Please do keep our children in your prayers.  We are praying about moving to a different area.  Somewhere that is not too close to the main blvd.  where most of the pornographic pix are and we have heard many gunshots at night.  We hear police sirens EVERYDAY.  Our kids are use to the gunshots and sirens though.  It doesn't scare them anymore.  We know God has lead us to this apartment for right now.  We got to be a witness to a Jehovah's witness guy name Aaron who use to live in the apartment we are living now and it does seem that the house we were going to move in was more for Joseph and Lina who really do have more of a passion for that neighborhood.  Joseph and Lina are now living in the house that Sean and I was going to move into at first.  I did have a dream a couple of weeks ago that Sean and I looked for a new place and the lady told me that I am approved to move in to this new place.  I hope that means that God gave us His approval to find a new place.  If we are approved by God to do so then God will provide us financially for a new place!  The apartment we live in cost $260 with water.  Usually finding a small house to rent cost a little more, but not too much more, unless you are like many Americans and want a better looking house.  Then you will be paying $600 and up.  After seeing the houses that many people live in at the village we minister at, it makes our little apartment seem like luxury!  So, we are very thankful with what we have and thank God for giving us hot water! Sean and I would still like to minister in that area and you can find more people speaking English on the main blvd. but we don't care to live in it or close to it, for the care of our children.  Yes, as a mother this has been my biggest trial (with the dirty pix) since being here, but I have learn to give it to God and trust Him or else I would be one fretful mother and that would make it worse.

Its been real nice living very simple.  I like it a lot.  No stress, no pressure to live the "American dream" that puts you in much bondage to all kinds of evil and greed.  No worries about the cares of this world to choke the life of Christ out of you.

Its been really neat to minister to people who are not just physically hungry but also spiritually hungry.  We had bible study a couple times with some of the people in the village and its really neat to see that the message of the cross does not offend them, but encourage them, unlike many American Christians who we have preached the cross too have been very offended with the message of the cross which is the very basic of Christianity.  Not taking it as an encouragement and exhortation, but taking it as negative because they are not ready to loose their life for Jesus.

The area God has lead us too seem very ripe for harvest!  The kids are really neat and not shy at all, but will come and hug you and talk to you.  You can tell they like being around us.  I practice my Spanish a lot with the kids.  They won't make fun of me when I sound like a Texan trying to speak Spanish :)

I wanted to share some of my trials to let you know it wasn't all easy for me, but mostly it has been good and I do really enjoy living in Mexico more than Texas, believe it or not!  It feels good to be stripped of pleasures of this world and be conformed to the things that Christ takes pleasure in!

I want to thank those who have prayed for us. Sean and I covet your prayers!  It is so important for the saints to pray for one another.  Let us not be deceived, there is a spiritual battle and our warring is not physically, but spiritually.  Be watchful and prayerful saints knowing we can do NOTHING WITHOUT THE LORD,

Luke 21:34
[ The Importance of Watching ] "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.


BUT ARE ABLE TO OVERCOME EVERYTHING THRU HIM!

1 John 5:3-5

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Saint,look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith!  Meditate on His love, how He the King of Kings humbled Himself, becoming like man, endured much suffering, and continually making intercession for us to set us free and being able to overcome to the end!  Meditate on His word that is so rich in hope, great exhortation to move His Elect forward and the spiritual promises that is ours!

God bless you, saints.  May His word dwell richly in you and that depth of His love and wisdom be deeply revealed to you.


IN Christ,

 

Lisa