Unopened Gifts

Every one of us has been given a gift.  Think about Christmas Day. You have gifts under the tree waiting to be opened. Imagine your excitement, wondering what your gift will be and what you can do with it.

What if, for some reason, you never opened your gifts? The excitement you had disappears.  The imagining of how you could use it ceases.  Perhaps a tragedy occurred on Christmas Day and you left your gifts under the tree intentionally. The thought of opening them is too painful.  The gift is the same.  The attitude towards it has changed.  The gifts may be put away in a closet or under a bed somewhere.  Someday, they will be found again unexpectedly, while searching for something else.  The excitement returns....

What could it be?  Don't leave your gifts unopened this time.

Romans 12:6-8 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.  If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Land of the Living

God really amazes me sometimes.  I don't know why I continue to be perplexed about the love God has for me, for ALL of us.

Part of my homework this morning for 'Children of the Day', a study of Thessalonians by Beth Moore, was to read Psalms 25.  Since it is Saturday, I have more time, so I kept reading through chapter 27.  The last two verses resonated with me and I read them over and over, got out my highlighter and highlighted them.  When I completed my homework I opened my Jesus Calling App.  Today's title (Sept 27) is 'Relax in My Everlasting Arms'.  Guess which verses were referenced?  The last two verses of Psalms 27.  Some would call it coincidence.  I call it My Savior's persistent love for me, to let me know He hears my prayers, He hears my cries for help, and He is all I need. 

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

—Psalm 27:13–14

The Last Day

I wrote this poem a couple of years ago.  Adam is now 17 and I think this it means even more to me today.  Matthew 19:14 “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

The Last Day

My 14 year old son,

Sat in my lap one day,

Just to be silly,

Just to say “hey”.

 

I sat there and thought…

When did he become as big as I?

I hold back the tears,

As I start to cry.

I try to remember,

THINK BACK!!!

It will come…

When was the last day,

 

That I rocked my son?

I can’t remember,

I don’t know,

which day it was.

The very last day

That I rocked my son.

gindy villarreal 3/21/12

Honduras-Day 3

I wrote this while Adam and I were on a mission trip in Tegucigalpa, Honduras back in June.  I wanted to put it on my blog and include some of the pics from our trip.

Day 3-First day to visit Jubilee School.

What I did not see today were luxury cars, manicured lawns or nice houses.  What I did not see today was an orderly drop off line, perfectly clean and pressed uniforms, or a beautiful campus.  No frantic stay at home moms or professional dads.  

 What I did see today on the bus ride to Jubilee was rush hour traffic with no order and motorcycles weaving in and out of buses and trucks.  The biggest vehicle goes first and a honk precedes each movement of every car on the jam packed road.  I saw trash in the streets and smog in the air.  I saw starving dogs and people digging through garbage for food.  I saw bars on windows and military police stationed randomly throughout the city.  Somehow, this made me feel safe.

Arrival at the school involves a person getting out to open a large solid metal gate.  The school is accessed through a steep cement driveway.  The stairs leading to the school are cement and steep.  The classrooms have bars on the windows except the windows have no glass.  No air conditioning, no heating.  I see one boy being tutored—outside. 

Our first stop at the school was during daily praise and worship at 8:00am.  We stood at the back of the room filled with children---everyone standing, no chairs.  I notice the paint peeling from the cinder block walls and the squeaky sound of the two ceiling fans.

Worship begins with Emily playing her guitar.  The songs are in Spanish, but it doesn’t matter.  The words are projected on the wall, so we all sing.  The feeling I have is almost indescribable.  I am moved to tears as the Holy Spirit fills the room.  Our surroundings did not matter.  How we got there did not matter.  The fact that we are brothers and sisters in Christ matter and we are worshipping our God together with these precious children.

I witnessed my son’s personal testimony of answered prayer for a little brother.  I saw him smile more than I ever have.  I see him answering his call to be a servant for the Lord. 

The children at Jubilee live a rough life with very little of the material world.  However, they are so full of joy and love.  They accepted us immediately, literally with open arms.  They could not give away enough hugs.  I ask myself how they could be so giving.  But I know the answer…….JESUS.

 

Romans 12:9-10 Let love be genuine.  Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another with brotherly affection in showing honor.

mamapossum