God did not direct His call to Isaiah--Isaiah overheard God saying, "...who will go for Us?" The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God's call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude. "Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). That is, few prove that they are the chosen ones. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and have had their spiritual condition changed and their ears opened. Then they hear "the voice of the Lord" continually asking, "...who will go for Us?" However, God doesn't single out someone and say, "Now, you go." He did not force His will on Isaiah, Isaiah was in the presence of God, and he overheard the call. His response, performed in complete freedom, could only be to say, "Here am I! Send me."
We need to remove the thought from our minds of expecting God to come to force us or to plead with us. When our Lord called His disciples, He did it without irresistible pressure from the outside. The quiet, yet passionate, insistence of His "Follow Me" was spoken to men whose every sense was receptive (Matthew 4:19). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to bring us face to face with God, we too will hear what Isaiah heard--"the voice of the Lord." In perfect freedom we too will say, "Here am I! Send me."
The theme of the missions conference this year was, "Till the whole world hears" (Matthew 24:14). We were very blessed hearing how God is work out His purpose in fulfilling His word through men and women that have heard and answered His call. What an amazing privilege it is to be bearers of the wonderful and amazing news of the kingdom of God. The time draws near and we need to be 'about our Father's business.'
Our time in the USA has been sweet and relaxing. We are quiet ready to get back home to the ranch though, and look forward to continue the work the Lord has prepared before hand for us to do. We look with expectancy to this new year as His coming draws closer. He is teaching us new things every day. My sister Delia was telling me how the apostle Paul expressed he was the chief of sinners (1Ti 1:15), we were saying how the closer one gets to the Light, the more we can see the blemishes...we are amazed that the Lord chooses us to be His messengers.
One of the speakers in the conference was comparing us to a father that invites his child to make cookies. He holds the child's hands in his and starts measuring the ingredients and makes the batter and all, in the end the child is showing the cookies she made. He was saying how God almighty chooses to use us to do this work that would be much easier for Him to do on His own. We can slow and mess up the work, yet He holds our hands and allows us to participate with Him. I really liked this illustration because I am one that would chose to do the work myself instead of having someone else mess it up, or not do it right...
We have the best friends in the world! Really. Steve, Daniel's soul mate, (definition for their sake: someone with whom one has a feeling of deep and natural affinity and compatibility), they only see each other once a year, they don't communicate the rest of the year much, yet when they get to see each other, it seems like to me anyway, they feel like they have never been apart. I love that!
'Meet the Missionaries Day' in CC Costa Mesa was lots of fun. 'Thank you Patty & Tony for all the work you did, you will definitely get a raise for next year.'
We had the greatest time with our friends at 'a get together' at Steve & Shawna's house. 'Thank you, guys, for opening your house and doing all that work you did!' We are humbled and blessed to the max for the Lord's amazing, amazing blessings poured out to us through your awesome generosity and your undeserving love to us!
PRAYER REQUEST FOR RANCHO MARANATHA, ALAMOS, MX.
Please continue to pray for Paul & Pam Cooper as they get ready to come and serve full time with us at the ranch. We are looking forward to have them working along side us to farther His kingdom. Pray for the Lord to guide them in all they need to do.
The day the conference ended (Thursday, Jan. 8th) we found out Marco Antonio from 'Las Minitas,' (we do our Friday night Bible study there every week), had passed away. He was one of our drivers and a big encourager in his community. He was 46 years old and died of a heart attack, leaving his wife and three children. Please pray for Luz María (the wife), and for Brizeyda, (youngest daughter, 6 years old), she loved her father dearly. The other two children were his step children, Dulce María is one of them and she stays with us at the ranch and goes to school in Alamos. Pray too for their community as Marco will be so very missed there.
We are looking forward to have some short term mission groups that are coming to the ranch this year. We want, most of all, to be a blessing to all that come. Please for us to have serving hearts, and be an encouragement to each one that will be coming out to work with us. Pray for us to be diligent and be ready at all times. For God to give us His strength and that we won't try to do things in our own strength. What a waste of time that is, and how unproductive!
WE SO MUCH NEED GOD'S WISDOM AND GUIDANCE (this is truly a shout from deep), we want to be good stewards of His riches, and all that He has entrusted us.
Please continue to pray for the girls on the ranch. We have a new one coming, her name is Alejandra and she is 12 years old. Also, we started the adoption process with Josie. We have to do the stripping of the rights and that can take a long time. The Lord knows...we are also fixing something with Lolis' (Faith) birth certificate. We need to make a trip to Monterey, Nuevo Leon, as soon as possible, before this month is over, Lord willing, to get Marilú's new birth certificate. We really need to be done with that. We would like for her to start Bible college soon. We are thinking of sending her to Ensenada to Juan Domingo's school there. Please pray for the Lord to give us the wisdom and the desire to do all those things we need to do. We are also planning on starting adoption process for Carolina. Again, we only want to do what the Lord would have us do, so we need to be in tune with Him. Pray that we don't lose focus, that we remain true to the One that has called us to have a relationship with Him. That our eyes are fixed on Him, the Finisher of our faith.
Please be praying for our trip back home, for travel mercies and for His hand to be over us.
Mike's birthday today! He is having cancer surgery today, PLEASE PRAY!!!
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14)
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK you to each one of you for standing with us!
WE LOVE YOU ALL,
Daniel & Ana
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14)
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK you to each one of you for standing with us!
WE LOVE YOU ALL,
Daniel & Ana
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