More about the peach

My little peach is down on the ground! I so loved looking at it as it hung on the tree. In fact, there were even two more little peaches. As I looked for the missing peach.....I saw a bird come and tear the flesh of the peach and eat it. Then, I found the one I had been watching, a little bruised and hidden in the grass.

John 12:24 says "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." Hmm..... trees heavy with fruit are beautiful but the fruit must be picked and consumed for it to be profitable. The little peach must stop just looking pretty and be torn, bruised, hidden, consumed for it to be profitable and to bring forth more fruit. The seed has to be exposed--not the prettiest part of the peach, by the way--and then buried or hidden away to bring forth more peaches.

Do we want to just "look pretty", on display? Or are we willing to be hurt, bruised, torn, broken, consumed, hidden away in order to see more fruit come forth?

Thank you, little peach! And thank you, God! I think I got the lesson this week!! I want my life to have profitable, living-giving fruit!!!

A Storm and A Peach

Last night, we had a terrible storm.....thunder/lightning/WIND/rain/lots of rain and some hail. The wind made a big mess of our yard and the rain made it look like the aftermath of a hurricane. I had damage to the roof of my laundry room and the cover for the water heater vent flew off. That means that we had water in the laundry room and I had to turn the water heater off. The cats and Chiquita outside on the covered porch got wet.....water ran across the floor of the porch and some blew in through the screen windows. The street was flooded from curb to curb for a couple of hours.And we had no electricity for about 2 hours. Generally speaking, it was a mess.

About 3 a.m., I went out on the porch and could see a clear sky and lots of twinkling stars. How quickly the storm passes! How easily we can forget it fury!

And, this morning as I looked out at a messy yard, I saw a brave peach hanging on my little peach tree. A blessing of FRUIT after the STORM. May that be true of our spiritual lives as well. When the storms of life pass, may they leave behind precious fruit.

Aunt Myrtle

Yesterday my Aunt Myrtle moved from this earth to her heavenly reward. She's my Dad's sister-in-law, the widow of his older brother. When Dad's Mother died, she married my uncle and became a second mother to the rest of the siblings. You cannot imagine a sweeter, more gentle and loving person. I have such fond memories of spending our week of summer vacation at their home in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. She made wonderful doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, waffles and cookies! When Dad had his arm amputated and then went into septic shock, I called Aunt Myrtle and without saying a word to me, she began praying for Dad. She was such special prayer warrior. I also greatly admire the grace with which she lived her last years while she was battling cancer.....like a true lady.

Although the immediate family will have a small service soon, the memorial service will be on June 28th (tentatively scheduled), as we are having the Roen reunion that weekend and many of us will be in Rice Lake, Wisconsin at that time.

I want to give some special recognition to my cousin Arvid. He faithfully and lovingly cared for first his aunt Violet and then his Mother so that they could remain in their home instead of going to a nursing facility. During the last months, he was with Aunt Myrtle basically 24/7. Such a wonderful gift he gave to his mother.

Aunt Myrtle leaves us a wonderful example and so many beautiful memories.

Note: The first picture shows left to right my brother David, Arvid, and my Dad.
The second picture shows my Dad and Mom with Aunt Myrtle in the middle.

Memorial Day Weekend

Wow! It just dawned on me that this is the first truly patriotic holiday that I have LIVED in the USA in 15 years. Since Mexico doesn't celebrate US holidays...obviously...I have not really had the feel of a patriotic day for a long time. It is great to reflect on our country and the wonderful freedom that God has granted us. Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

The Harvest

As I was driving home last night after the baptismal service, I saw these fields of sorghum. They are just about ready for harvesting. It made me think of much work that goes into people's lives....teaching, answering questions, praying with them, helping them through difficulties and illnesses, etc......and then the precious harvest comes. I am praying for a great harvest of souls for the Lord at Nueva Vida....and all the churches where I have friends and family.

Baptisms! Praise the Lord!

Last Sunday, we had to cancell our baptisms because of the weather.....thunder, lightning and rain were in the forecast and tin doesn't mix well with those! But, those who were waiting to be baptized couldn't wait! We had a baptismal service last night, baptizing one man and two teenage girls! How wonderful it is to see them take this step of faith. And, I know God will bless them as they walk with Him. The exciting part is that Alberto is the owner of the land our church building is on and the eldest son of the founding members who have now passed on to Glory. And, the girls were the first Sunday School children who came when I started pastoring in Lasara 16 years ago. They would go to Mass at the Catholic Church and then walk across the field to Nueva Vida. I really believe that prayers, patience, and faithfulness are keys to the growth of our church as well as the spiritual growth of the members and visitors. They had prepared a picnic supper for us, the weather was wonderful and the fellowship was sweet!

Jessica's sons are in the picture checking out the baptistry where their Mom was baptized! And, after the service, the tank takes wheels and heads back to Raymondville!

Empty and Dry

I really should have taken my camera.....but I didn't. I went to Reynosa on errands and went by my "old house." The grass has grown wild and then dried because of lack of rain---really because no one was there to water the lawn. My precious rosebushes are drying up, no flowers left, and only dry, brown leaves. No one cares anymore. It hurts to look at a house that used to be a home. The large porch was a special place where I entertained....when the dogs and I enjoyed the late evenings.....where porch furniture and other stuff gave signs of LIFE. The dogs' kennels are empty and the cement block storage shed that I built and turned into a home for my cats is quiet and dark. Before the yard and house were filled with life and light.....but now it is dark, dry, and empty.....even dying.

It made me wonder about a life once inhabited by the God of all creation, the God of Life and Light and Power......but now empty of God because someone chose to reject Him....a life now empty, without power, without life and without light. How it must hurt God´s heart to look at the emptiness and feel the rejection.

I just feel sad.

Six Red Roses

My church surprised me with 6 beautiful red roses for my birthday and for being the mother (pastor) of the church. Six members each said a little bit about what I mean to them and then gave me the rose. It was so sweet....and so touching! I love my church family so much!!!

Mothers' Day and more!

Mothers' Day was so special at Nueva Vida. We had our service outside, under the roof at the Salazars' ranch. It was a bit hard to get a correct count as we had people moving around and some arriving late. However, I wrote down all the ones I could remember and the total was 66!!! Out of that number, 18 were first time visitors, 19 were family members who came to celebrate Mothers' Day with us and 29 were the Nueva Vida family. We did have some of our people missing because of illness, being with their family on Mothers' Day, and work. That was a pretty exciting attendance!! We had praise and worship, special music for Mothers' Day, the message, and we gave little gifts to all the Mothers present and we prayed for them especially. Following the service, we had our Mothers Day dinner with no need to wait for seating and serving. We had grilled fajitas, sausage, bread, rice, beans, drinks and cake. Everyone seems to really enjoy it. Now, we will be praying that some of our visitors will be returning to be part of our church.