Easter was perfect!

Holiday get togethers are memorable.  A big part of these special days include being with family, celebrating customs and eating traditional foods.  My mom always did things up big with decorations, delicious food, and gifts.  My parents' house was the place to go for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, the Fourth of July, and birthdays.

When my mom passed away eight years ago, holidays changed.  As time passed, we stopped meeting at my parents' house and would rotate holidays at my brother's house or ours, but we moved further away, then to another country, then back again, yada yada yada.  Don't get me wrong - we've had some good family get togethers like Thanksgiving at my brother's in 2015; my sister-in-law really outdid herself with the meal and our son loved watching "grey" movies* with the family!  It's just that I miss some of the family traditions that we always did.

This year around Easter, I was feeling melancholy and nostalgic and told my husband about some of the things that I missed about Easter with my family growing up.  He gave me a big hug and suggested that I try to do those things again...so I did.

My mom always bought the four of us new clothes to look our best at church on Easter Sunday.  I don't go shopping very often, but decided to do it.  I bought new outfits for the three of us and my dad.

Every year, we'd take a family picture in our driveway with our new clothes on so I did that, too.

We used to have ham, macaroni and cheese, rolls, and lots more for lunch after church.  I didn't get around to cooking, but a good friend invited me to her relative's house and we had a delicious lunch there that tasted as good as I remember having at my parents' house growing up.  While we were there, we got to dye Easter eggs and have an Easter egg hunt with my friend's sons.

Of course Easter was a great day because we get to celebrate Jesus' resurrection, but it was also a great day because God blessed me with recreating special moments that I used to have with my family.

*  That Thanksgiving was David's first time watching a black and white movie which he called "grey".  It was "Miracle on 34th Street".  

The Promise of His Presence

There are very few things that would bring me back to the States unexpectantly, but one of those is the birth of my friend's twin babies.  Unfortunately, I flew back not to congratulate her, but to console her because at 22 weeks of pregnancy, she had to deliver her darling little babies who did not survive.  My dad was so kind to buy a ticket for me to come back.  Just to have time with Kristen and to be with her.

I finally got to see and speak to her yesterday for the first time since her miscarriage earlier this month (She had gone out of town with her husband for a few days to get away).  Until yesterday, we had only been e-mailing and texting a little bit and I was getting my information from a friend.  Kristen wanted to share her story so I just listened.  She showed me a picture of her little babies who lived for an hour or two.  When she finished the account, she asked me for some words of wisdom.  I was speechless.  I told her that I had thought of many things to say to comfort her, but that I had forgotten them all because I was just blessed by her composure.  She's the one who ministered to me!  The way that she and her husband are handling this is amazing and the only answer is God.  And she knows that.

Kristen didn't really cry yesterday because she was all out of tears.  She only cried a little when she saw me crying for her.  I saw her on auto-pilot yesterday, tired from sleepless nights of pain and heartache, and not believing that this is real.  I also saw a great strength in her that is only revealed in us when difficult times like this arise.  In our weakness is when God shows up and takes over and we can see Him handling everything.  I could easily understand how a person could lose her faith over this or how a couple could drift apart or even get a divorce over this, but not Chris and Kristen.  They display God's peace that passes understanding that He promised us.  They have grown stronger as a couple because of this.  They could have chosen to distance themselves from God and from each other because they don't understand why this happened, but they are trusting in God and have faith in Him.  They choose to believe that He loves them so much and is saddened by this tragedy too.  They know that His plan is greater and that He is in control.

Yesterday's sermon at church was excellent and God spoke to my heart about my friend's situation (and all of us when we go through hard times).
Here are the highlights:

• We move into the direction of the promises we choose to believe.

• God cannot love us more or less because God loves regardless.  (He is the definition of love.)

• Peace comes not by resolving the problems of the present, but by trusting in the promise of His presence.

With the last bullet point, we can choose to focus on the problems of the present or experience the promise of His presence.  Jesus assured us that we will have problems - not maybe, nor possibly, nor perhaps, but we will - because we live in an imperfect world with sin.  But that's not where the story ends.  We will have problems, but Jesus has overcome the world and we can rest in the promise of His presence. 

They are optimistic and want to try again this summer; I was gladdened by this news.  Please pray for Chris and Kristen who feel God's peace, but need healing for their broken hearts.  They say that "time heals all wounds", but it doesn't.  God heals all wounds and He will heal theirs.

If our stories were included in the Bible...

The Bible is a compilation of stories written by over 40 authors of how God moved in their lives and the lives of others.  Even though the Bible is complete, that doesn’t mean that God stopped working.  He continues to write His story of provision, protection, blessing, healing, forgiveness, mercy, and redemption in our lives today.

After reading a portion of Genesis yesterday, I decided to begin writing a little of my story to add to the mix.  Unlike the stories in the Bible, all of our shortcomings are not included here, but like the Bible, the focus is on how great the LORD is with us, though we are underserving.

(The words in parentheses remind me of stuff that happened in the Bible.)

Winter 2008 – Jennifer’s mother had fallen ill and her body had succumbed to a consuming cancer.  But the LORD was with Jennifer and she became pregnant.  Her mother was able to enter into Heaven knowing that her only daughter was with child.

Jennifer’s mother passed away on April 10, 2008.  It was a sad day for all, but the LORD was with Jennifer and gave her His peace that passes understanding.  She mourned the loss of her mother with whom she had a very close friendship, but she is completely at peace with the situation.  Jennifer feels like her mother was here as an angel to instruct her and now that she is grown, it was time for her mother to return back to Heaven.  (Philippians 4:7)

Fall 2011 – Enrique and Jennifer decided to take their toddler son and move to an unknown land where the LORD had told them to go.  The language, food, and customs were different and the cost of living was high, but the LORD provided for every need and continues to do so. (Abraham)

Spring 2012 – Ashley needed a nursery director so she looked upon Jennifer for help.  Although Jennifer did not feel capable of such a position, she acquiesced provided that the LORD would guide her steps, which He did.  (Moses and Isaiah)

Kelsey needed a place to live on the other side of the city in order to be closer to her work with Openhouse.  Edgar and Raquel could plainly see that the LORD was with Enrique and Jennifer so they granted Kelsey access to their home without even having met her.  She resided there for five months.  (Abimelech, Genesis 26:28)

Summer 2012 – Enrique led his small group through a curriculum entitled “Text”.  Although Jennifer was present at the “live” sermon when Andy Stanley preached it at North Point a couple of years ago, it wasn’t until now that Jennifer decided to commit to the discipline of reading God’s word on a consistent basis.

Jennifer began to journal her understandings, questions, and revelations and the Bible became fresh and exciting.  Reading it turned into a pleasurable moment that she looked forward to rather than an arduous task.   She continues this activity to today.  (Rachel’s grave, Genesis 35:20)

November 2012 – Julio and Enrique flew to Atlanta for a conference at North Point.  This time with other pastors and small group leaders who have a similar calling and method was refreshing and rejuvenating for both men who went back to Costa Rica with a renewed sense of purpose.

Julio visited six small groups – both women’s and couples’ – and was excited to see how much of an impact these groups had on the participants.  His enthusiasm to get people into groups increased.

December 2012 – Enrique and Jennifer went on a coffee tour with their small group and were reminded of why they moved to Costa Rica.  To “do life” with four couples and walk with them on their spiritual journey is worth the daily irritations of living in a foreign land.

Our small group and their families (one couple is missing).

Jennifer had a final dinner with her women’s small group which was the perfect way to end the group.  She and her friends were able to celebrate their time together in the new home of Rocío, a seeker of the LORD.  Rocío recognizes that all blessings come from the LORD.

My women's small group.

Fall/Winter 2012 – Enrique obeyed the LORD by giving a consistent percentage of all funds received – be it salary, translation projects, or rent money - back to God.

The LORD honored Enrique and Jennifer’s obedience by giving them money that they were not expecting through new translation projects, extra donations, and a year-end bonus.

Jennifer praised the LORD calling Him Jehovah Jireh – The LORD will provide.

2012 – The LORD’s favor rested upon Enrique and Jennifer and allowed them to form relationships with the local people.  Enrique and Jennifer were able to invest in the lives of neighbors (Christian and Annia), David’s friends’ families (Omar, Tiffany, Rosa, Henry, and Elena), their new church family, and even strangers (Marisol).

This story is just a minute sampling of God's hand in our lives and our story continues to be written.

My mom's friends

My small group’s current Bible study is to read the very short book of Ruth.  For the first week, we are to read the first two chapters and then answer the study guide.  The first question is:  When you think of loyalty, what comes to mind?  My answer is that loyalty means that someone is always with you supporting you all the way.  The second question is: When have you had someone support you during a difficult time?  What did that mean to you?

My family has always been there for me every step of the way from saying goodbye as I went away to college in another state to sending me off to be a missionary in Mexico to letting me go live on the border town of Juarez when I was engaged to welcoming a foreigner as my husband to moving to Costa Rica.  They may not have always agreed with or understood my decisions, but they have always been supportive.

Another set of people that have been so supportive – loyal if you will – are my mom’s friends.  As I type this, it brings me to tears when I think of their kindness and generosity toward me.  These ladies have done so much for me that I could never repay them. Before my mom’s cancer diagnosis, during her illness, and after her death, they have helped me in countless ways.  I don’t have room to mention them all in this blog, but here are just a few:

Sitting with my mom at the hospital and hospice, planting flowers in her yard, providing a place for my grandmother to stay, planning the reception at my mom’s funeral, preparing meals, providing restaurant gift cards for my family, taking me out to eat, going through and distributing her things, keeping in touch with and visiting my grandmother in Florida, throwing me a baby shower, giving David presents, and sending me birthday and Christmas cards, amongst many other good deeds.

I don’t deserve their kindness.  They don’t really even have to keep in touch with me anymore now that my mom is no longer here.  I know that they do these things out of their friendship with my mom and that I’m just the benefactor of the loyalty that they had for her.  Even though it’s been four years, what they’ve done for me has not and will not be forgotten.

I wish that everyone had such good friends.  My mom’s friends were her friends and whenever I reference them to others, I always say “my mom’s friends”, but I truly feel that it’s appropriate for me to say that they’re my friends too.  

Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

In the Old Testament, over 600 laws were created to protect and instruct men and women in areas such as: family life, business practices, property, clothing, and agriculture. A lot of the rules prohibited people from participating in certain activities or working on certain days. It was impossible to keep all of those rules!

In the New Testament, the Pharisees (religious leaders of that time) added rules and regulations that did not exist, raising their traditions and customs to the level of doctrine. Fortunately for us, Jesus came and set us free from all of the rule keeping and showed us that the way to grow closer to God is not through actions nor deeds, but through a relationship with Him.

Instead of just a lot of “don’t do this” and “don’t do that” rules, we received commandments to do good such as:

• Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
• Make allowance for each other’s faults and
• Forgive the person who offends you.
• Always be joyful.
• Keep on praying.
• No matter what happens, always be thankful.
• Take tender care of those who are weak.
• Be patient with everyone.

The list goes on and on – all good things, but so many that I don’t know how I can remember them all! I want to do good, but what if I forget something that’s on the list?

That’s when I remember about God’s grace and about His Holy Spirit. I recall that I don’t have to remember a list of do’s and don’ts because as a believer, the Holy Spirit resides within me and He will guide me.

Sometimes when I read about the fruit of the Spirit, I can clearly see it in my husband, but not so much in me and I get frustrated and jealous. How is Enrique always so loving and kind and good? His patience is off the charts and I want that too! So I strive to show love or be gentle or have faith, but I can’t do it on my own. I just can’t. It doesn’t work that way.

In order for me to have the fruit of the Spirit, I need to walk closely with the Lord. I need to be in communion with Him constantly. What does that mean? It means reading His Word (the Bible), and talking and listening to Him (praying). When I do those two things, everything else will fall into place. The fruit of the Spirit is a byproduct of that relationship. So I don’t have to try to be nice or help others or be joyful or smile superficially. My close connection with God will automatically cause me to display those characteristics plus motivate me to encourage those who are down, help my fellow man, and share my faith in God with others.

Thank you, God, for liberating me!

What can separate us from God's love?

When your baby is born, you have a deep love for him.  He did not do anything to deserve that love, but you love him because he is yours; he is a part of you.  He came from you. 

As a baby, he does not do anything to make you love him.  He does not pick up after himself.  He does not buy you flowers.  He does not take you out to eat.  He just lays there, eats, sleeps, and cries.  Cries and cries and cries.  But you love him anyway.  Especially when he is sleeping. 

When he grows older and does things that you do not like or says things that hurt you, you still love him.  Even though he does not understand the sacrifices that you have made for him and he takes you for granted, you love him so much.

Did you know that God loves you much more?  Even if you do not love Him back, He still loves you.  Even if you have chosen not to obey Him, He loves you.  If you have no desire to read the Bible and do not go to church, He still loves you.  Even if you do not believe in Hi, God loves you.  What you do or do not do does not quantify His love for you.  God loved us before we even heard of or knew His name.  Before we were born!

There are many verses in the Bible that show us how much God loves us, cares for us, watches over us, and longs for us to know Him, but I will mention just one – Romans 8:39.


"nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us."

Final Steps

We leave on August 12 and are continuing to prepare ourselves for the journey. Last week, we got some necessary paperwork processed in order to live in Costa Rica. We also continue to go through boxes and boxes of stuff because we are not taking much with us. Even though it is sometimes hard to let go of material wealth, it feels liberating to purge and remember that all of the things that we accumulate do not matter and we cannot take it with us anyway when we die. My father's pastor brought home that point in last week's sermon about the rich young ruler described in Luke 18:18-30. As we are about to leave our families, friends, and “stuff” behind, the last two verses of that passage are comforting to me, “'Truly I tell you,' Jesus said to them, 'no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.'”