"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."~from ISAIAH 61 Bible verse for this Blog

APOLOGY to READERS who followed a SEARCH to HERE & didn't find it

On July 18, 2017, I drafted almost 3000 blog posts that I had published since 2008 when I began blogging, rather than edit each one. So if you clicked here from somewhere else and ended up with the post unavailable or error, I am sorry but this is why. It'd be too much work for me to go back and fix them. There's an explanation on 7/19/17 as I'm still learning.
Showing posts with label Me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Me. Show all posts

Friday, February 21, 2014

IMPORTANT UPDATE

I am officially done making trips here



to legally abide 


with my vehicle 


HERE
for now



Explanation, if you're curious or interested (for once I have something I can share about my life here that doesn't involve anyone really but me):

This was the year, I could have changed my status to Permanent Resident in this country and still remain a USA citizen living abroad (although when I returned home by airplane and went through the airport procedure in presenting my MN driver license, passport, etc. they told me I was more from here than there, USA, because I now spend my time here. I explained that I was born in USA and still consider my home there as my residence). So it only was logical to considering applying for Residency (not citizenship, not even dual married to a Mexican whose parents came from Leon, Guanajuato) but the law does not allow me to remain here with a foreign vehicle. 

Well, although my van is in its last years, I still depend on it quite regularly, especially for going or moving back home (USA) with my dog family. Since that was part of the stipulation, I did not want to apply and have to take my van back to USA, but continue as I have since 2009-2010 with an FM3 {because what would I do with my dogs then or in the future?}. Before 2009, I use to make trips to the border or home, every 6 months with a tourist permit (FMM) and a temporary importation of my van. As you might imagine that was very costly and put alot of wear and tear on the van and me. As it has become less safe to travel that distance, I have not wanted to make the trip north via a land vehicle, especially alone with 3-4 or last time 6 dogs on board. Each year or every 6 months, a permit is required to be here for me and thus my van (we go together) even the dogs (need papers too). Except they were all born in Mexico.

{missing 1 in photo from current ones here}

Anyways, the situation was changed by me wanting to remain with my MN vehicle ... so I was informed that I would have to leave the country and go to a MX consulate in the USA to reapply. There was no way, I want to travel home in the winter, not even to the AZ border (16 hr. trip one way) and wait for the process of the FM3 permit, I would probably have gone tourist once again for 6 months ... but I just really was not up to a trip at all. So it was recommended, I allow my permit to expire, pay the fine for that and then solicit reapplying for my FM3. This is why the long process and why so many trips back and forth where I live rather than driving to the border. At least I did not have to leave the country and wait somewhere until I was able to get a permit to return.

At first, I went in December to inquire about the truth in me not being able to keep my van here (which was true so... )it's been a long process, but I am done! And thanks to my spouse, paid until 2018. By then, I hope to have moved my van and dogs back to MN safely, even if I continue here. I now have permission until then when I will be able to apply for Residency once again. Once I have that, I no longer have to pay each year but I cannot have a vehicle from USA here. So that means flying, which I would not put any of my dogs through, so they have to leave in a vehicle driven from here to MN ... we'll see what God wills for the next 4 years and after that ... it's ALL in His hands.

And it's almost time for CARNAVAL, which starts next Thurs., so big time for ministry and evangelism here, people from all over come ...

2013
{I'll have to go and take my own photos for this year now below because the ones I selected were not showing, so I added the 2013 one above} and now these from ...

2014



They're already getting ready!

Time to pray for souls to be open to Jesus!


*Oh, and if you think this legal process seems ridiculous, it's even worse and less available for those wanting to go to USA from here (legally or illegally) ... it is multiplied, much more difficult and with much more "red tape", danger and seemingly hopeless chance for a better future ... the American dream ... broken and at a great risk. 


***

As of 2/20/14, it seems that I am encountering another setback once again with "laptop problems" (black screen on start up). So, I'll be waiting this one out and praying once again for a God sent miracle (it's happened before). Meanwhile, I do have many upcoming posts in place (just not completed) due to me being a bit involved, I try to set these up ahead. I clearly had no idea, I'd be encountering computer tech problems when I set these up, so I am thankful for that ... I must be really hard on computers. Please pray with and for me, and do not stop visiting me or being in touch, because I will continue somehow, God willing. I have 40 days set up for Lent, that I hope you'll enjoy along with me, even if I can't respond as often as I'd like. 

Should I leave the comments open or close them for Lent?


well,
COMMENTS
are closed
here
once again


but as always, your reaction checked below
let's me know someone was here

Thanks!
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Thursday, August 26, 2010

END of THIS STORY

SO VERY THANKFUL

that
"I CAN BEGIN AGAIN"

with 
Larnelle Harris

(hit start and continue to read, no video to see, just a great song to hear)

Yes, as the words of this song say:

"I can begin again..."
and
I am so thankful
that
in
JESUS CHRIST
I am
BORN AGAIN
and
through
HIS HOLY SPIRIT
I can
LIVE
again

BE
FREE
and
TESTIFY

"THIS IS MY STORY"
(the personal testimony of my steps of faith)
is really not complete
because
the greatest part
has
just begun
...

So the
END of THIS STORY
is actually the
beginning
of more
yet
to
BE

of course, the real end, I believe
will be when I am at the feet of my
Precious Lord Jesus
and even then
it will be the BEST & REAL END of this story
I cannot wait until the
Author & Finisher
completes this
Never-Ending
STORY

<>

It is in these last 15 years that my life and passions have really come to be and I know that God willing, if He tarries much longer, the best is yet to be! My journey from so many MAZES and MESSES; bondage to freedom, brokenness to wholeness; failures to true success did not just happen overnight or in one conversion experience. I am still on the path to becoming more and more complete and free in Him; because it's a lifelong process. Wrong habits, unhealthy choices and hang-ups, feelings, thinking and acting take time to change and be transformed. And it all happens because of Jesus Christ & the Holy Spirit in me, step by step... these are STEPS of FAITH!



ooohhh 
And the end of this story...well, we'll all see how that turns out...

ONE DAY
AT
A
TIME
UNTIL
THAT
FINAL
DAY
OF

JUDGEMENT

It's a never ending story... I'm hopeful in that!


[THESE POSTS are in the REVERSE ORDER]
so the start is at the end of this list as


Still awake in the early hours, in prayer for so many on my heart over at The Lighthouse of Prayer and throughout blog land, when I was ready to shut down my laptop, this song just rose up from within me so, of course, I had to have accompaniment and I quickly rushed over to YouTube, not getting the right song and finally... well, it's posted over at a different blog:  THE POWER of YOUR LOVE!!! {when I recently tried to follow link I did not arrive there, so perhaps it's best not to follow} 

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Tuesday, August 24, 2010

THIS IS MY STORY... Part VII.

STEPS of FAITH...
a LETTER from CHRIST


... a REFLECTION

(The Message) says:
...Peggy,
your very life is a letter...
that anyone should be able to read by just looking at you.
Christ Himself wrote it ...
...with God's Living Spirit...

and we publish it
right here

This next part of my life is very endearing to me. Once more I cannot share as much as I would like to about this because it involves our precious daughter. However, God used this time of a critical health situation for her, to bring us together in a bonded relationship like a real mother and daughter. His touch upon her life was a profound MIRACLE! Because of her undiagnosed situation for one year, after an emergency hospital near death situation; because her hemoglobin levels had dropped so low, followed by weekly doctor after doctor to specialists and frequent hospital visits, blood draws and infusions, much trial medicines, her body took a toil. It was at this time, an angel of the Lord in the form of a person, and a special family from our church, took us into their home to be closer to the hospital, but frankly, we needed the family support and love. I was homeschooling our daughter and this beautiful woman friend was homeschooling her two kids. This was a real growing time for both of us and seeing God in this family as well as how a family centered in God works. I truly could never say enough about how this dear saint, her husband and children encompassed us with God's love and made us family that moved me beyond gratitude and indebtedness.


After a year of healing, both our daughter and I moved on: our daughter back home for that summer to be with her brother, who she missed more than he missed her, AND I moved out on my own.(Yep you heard me right. My husband and I had agreed, had a talk, that this was best for now. Me coming home now was not good for either of us)(as of recent summer visit after 15+yrs., that is still the response).

Later in the fall, our daughter came to live with me so I could continue her schooling besides working 2-3 jobs to make ends meet. At this time, my husband, resigned to me being away and began to help me out financially to support our daughter being there. He also had retired at the end of the last school year & was now home full time but planning a trip to Mexico, where we had talked about moving to upon his retirement, so that I could begin working on a mission field I felt I had waited for since 6th grade to make real my calling in life. He knew of this and at one time had considered living part time elsewhere, but that he would travel to see which part was best so that we could go there and he would come & go from there. But all this would not happen until after both kids graduated.

It was while he was gone that our daughter hit the biggest crisis in her health due to the effects of her medicine... her back broke in 3 places and she needed to be put in a body cast, needing to have constant therapy and relearn many basic skills all over again. It was in this time, that she needed to come to rely on me, like a newborn child. So we grew closer together. A bond that deepened both of us in our FAITH. I became a constant prayer warrior. I became dependent on God. She became dependent on me believing in God and her faith like a child touched Him (and me). It was when my church family rose up once again and came together to not just help us by serving, being there but once again, another family took us in with a hospital bed & all the inconveniences of having two people live in their walk in basement. Our home had too many stairs. But when we were able to do so, we made our living room at home into our daughter's bedroom for her hospital bed. During this time, I learned all that I could about her medical needs and how to care for someone around the clock 24/7. My husband was not there, but my church family and God Almighty, the greatest Healer and Divine Great Physician came to live with us.

When my husband returned, with the news that he would never move or go back to Mexico, I told him that I had taken care of our daughter for 6 months alone without him and now it was time for me to go. So I left for a special Holy Week in Mexico... and not only was it the best price ever for a week away, but God met me right here and spoke to me, confirming that urgency, that desire to "go and teach others" about Him. I met a wonderful messenger of God, 108 year old Susana, who had a Word from the Lord she said for me... which was John 14:6 (I shared about SUSANA a long time ago on this blog). It was clearly God speaking...

This trip, just like one I had made before, with a short term mission group to Monterrey, Mexico, was too short for me... and I needed to come back and determined after my encounter with Susana that I would for an entire month to see if I could live in Mexico alone. I came home, ready to return that fall. That summer, my husband and I came to a new agreement. We would separate but remain married unless... so we drew up separation papers but they would not be filed unless... to this day they have not been filed. Yet we have definitely parted our ways.

I know that this is not God's plan for marriage, but I have stepped away, freed him and myself, by removing me from being his obstacle. Yes, I took myself out of being his problem, decreased our stress filled relationship, but left many conflicts unresolved, probably never to be resolved ...YET I believe that God is at work. Yes, I should be under my husband's headship, yes, I do know what God's Word says and Yes, some even believe until this is resolved there will be no fruit in what I do... but God is still working on me...on him and yes, even in the lives around me.

AND I BELIEVE that SALVATION is more than a prayer... and God's Spirit is at work." It is not by Power, nor by Might but by His Spirit... " and He is gentle, never forces, but beckons us to DRAW CLOSE and COME, HUMBLY, Just as we are and that message still needs to hit home and SO, I PRAY and I STAY until HE MOVES ME... and I have HOPE that as He refines me, HE is at work at home... I go home each year with an open heart and mind, ready & willing but it takes two and Jesus being in their midst, actually right in the center, as it should have been at the very beginning, if it is not God's will or God's plan, it will not be done, if it is... IT WILL BE DONE but salvation is for everyone... and it is our CHOICE because of our FREE WILL and Jesus offers this to each one of us with the same love; an eternal love; a forgiving love; a perfect love; just where we are... I have that kind of love for those that have crossed my life's journey.

...end of Part VII...
Do you know Jesus Christ as Savior and have you made Him Lord?
Do you have loved ones that you are praying for their salvation?
Have you witnessed to them,
opened the door
to Jesus
sharing
His love
for them?
I do

KEEP PRAYING then BELIEVE
and
SEE them as SAVED

RECEIVE by FAITH

THANK HIM
claiming them for God's Kingdom.

NOW LIVE A LIFE like JESUS
filled by HIS SPIRIT

BE HIS WITNESS
LIVE IT
TESTIFY
KEEP IT REAL
LIVE FOR JESUS



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yydqnfYqT0E

How I would like these words to be
REFLECTED
in me
&
from me
through my life
actions
words


from one ugly duckling
to
one godly swan
reflecting
HIS LOVE
made in His image
to
be
JESUS
to
U

Can I pray with you? or for you? or for your family to know Jesus? I'd love to have the honor. Let me know right in the comments.


HERE are the other parts of "THIS IS MY STORY" (under the label testimony,too)
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Thursday, August 5, 2010

THIS IS MY STORY... PART II

STEPS of FAITH...

a LETTER from CHRIST

... a REFLECTION...

"...Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ Himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives—and we publish it."
(verse 3 from "The Message")
Yes, I have taken you through the core words of my blog, MAZES, MESSES, MIRACLES revealing only that it encompasses my personal life testimony but STILL I have not shared my story.(shame on me) Those words were not chosen by me, but given to me and slowly it has dawned on me why.

SO,
Am I purposefully meandering and postponing this by just giving you bits & pieces or am I walking you through a MAZE to get there?
(to just arrive at a closed gated like this)
(no, definitely not) 

 If any of you knew me well, you'd know better. If any of you have written out a 50+ life testimony, you'll understand. Without a B.C.(before Christ) moment or a miraculous conversion or a special pivotal point in your life, it's not so easy to give the WHOLE unholy, hole filled story ...

I'm sure that by now you may feel that way, if you've taken your time to follow along with this so far (I'm sorry). But I'm back to my same dilemma of "where do I begin...?" My life testimony is not so cut and dry. Maybe it is yet to be and not yet done deal. Maybe it is in the making, as I sort through my 50+ yrs. of life. That's more than 5 decades of God working on me and in me with moments that are so significant to me, but maybe not to anyone else, without THAT MOMENT of conversion that stands out from the rest of my life and says "YES" this is IT,...when your testimony begins... began... or is it yet to BE!



I have spent the last year soul searching, reading other's testimonies and the how-to's, so you'd think that I would finally have this to a fine art and a masterpiece of God's work in me; a tapestry of pieces woven together; unraveling fabric; mended; unstitched; backstitched and hopefully hemstitched... sewn together finally in one piece, much like the many MAZES I have wandered through of His redemptive story in me... so please bear with me... I promise by the end of this year (lol) this will be more clear. Much of life is a process, and we go through stages, seasons, and steps of growth; my faith has been through the same kind of a walk; yes, just like the dancers in many of my posts leading up to this:

STEPS of FAITH

I was born into a faith believing, 'church' going family, that I had always thought was 'normal', until when I look back in retrospect with many insights from others.

It was not the kind of church that I belong to now (I'm trying not to name denominations, to not step on anyone's beliefs, so I'm trying to walk carefully here-forgive me anyone, if I say things that offend you about your church. This is just for me personally, I do not intend to judge anyone or their church) so we did not sit around and read or share the Bible together, but a beautiful family Bible always sat on our living room coffee table like a centerpiece. I think I might have been the only one who sat for hours, at many different times, going through that big red book... and my, how I loved the pictures in this book from a very young age to even now, as it is my family keepsake that I treasure. I even loved the back of the book where it gave meanings for names... like mine "a pearl". I so enjoyed even the texture of this book's cover. And it was red...a very significant color, that years later, I came to learn signified the blood of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. I never knew that there were people, who did not know this as I was growing up and even the ones around me, who did know this truth, never spent time talking about it or singing about it or even acknowledging Him as their Savior.

Our family did say prayers together before meals known as 'grace'. Now that was an unusual way to use that word for the prayer that we would bless our food with before eating and there are ones for afterwards also for giving thanks, but we never said those. These were prayers that were rote prayers, many I remember still to this day. Most are beautifully written but I just wondered why we never shared from our own words, our own hearts. Yet these rote prayers formed a wonderful basis to build upon.

I started my school year in Kindergarten, right across the street from my house, in a public school. But then for the next eight years, I walked nine long blocks to the school associated with my church, to be trained in my faith, the disciplines and doctrines of my church. It also gave me the opportunity to meet others of the same beliefs and training and some really wonderful teachers. The added benefit was you're right next to the church, always open to you for the significant training & events that they use to mark new moments of growth and understanding (and the people who knew the MOST about our beliefs and that 'big red book').

These were such momentous times! You would study really hard and then the day would come to show how much you've grown or learned. (side note: since I was always the shortest, I was always in front, usually number one - now that really made me feel special and also, I'd better know ALL I was expected to know from their books on faith or significant people known as saints for being in front, I'd be one called on for sure). Since I was a jabberwocky, it was good that they were set answers. (I did say "was" but I guess it's "am" ... does writing that way count too?)

I might have good grades in most subjects but my conduct was most often the cause for me to be in "hot waters" at home and also cause for disciplinary action at school like at home. It never changed. Quite the curious child. Quite often the questioning one. Quite the eager one and very strong willed! Very frequently the one to shake her hand off with the answers or be talking any way. Not so much a trouble maker but definitely had moments of trouble. Many memories of these and moments sent to confess my wrongs & make them right... if you could by just repeating the same prayers. I guess similar to writing over and over the same thing on the blackboard. I wonder still about the other kids, like the one who ate my crayons with my paste; or the boys I kicked their shins on the playground because they pulled our scarves down... NO TESTIMONY or TRANSFORMATION in this part of my story.

But it was in this place, after a vocational day that I was in church and prayed to ask Jesus into my life in a special way. It was not one of those significant 'event' days, called sacraments (three of those had already taken place by this time); nor was it a day I had to be there. I had fully received and completed those stages that marked my religious growth. It was a day when I just wanted to be there. When I felt drawn to be there.

It was in sixth grade. That year, I had a wonderful teacher (a nun from the order of the Sisters of St. Joseph) that I respected and liked very well. She just had a special glow about her and I wanted to be just like her. I had already been through confession & now it was the regular weekly Saturday event. I had the joy and privilege of receiving communion of Jesus Christ every week, sometimes many times throughout the week but only once a day. I had confirmed my beliefs and asked for the Holy Spirit to teach me how to be fruitful in my faith, by my own choice, accepting the faith of my parents as my own and the responsibility of making it my own.

Yet on this day, I remember saying a prayer from my heart, not from any book or any rote form, that I told Jesus, I really want to KNOW Him in my life. Without even knowing the scripture or that we need to pray a prayer I asked Jesus to come into my heart; and shine in my life like my teacher's glow; so I could know, love & serve Him in whatever I may DO but let me be a witness to Him. I clearly remember telling Jesus that I want to know Him more, love Him more and use my life to serve Him better with my whole mind, my whole heart and my whole soul. Would He consider being my Friend and help me with this? Teach me all that I wanted to know in that 'big red book'. Yes, this is a very significant 'step of faith' in my story.


...and that was the start...
PART II

oops... it's beginning to unravel or I am

[but I am also a bit disillusioned and disappointed as I share this, please PRAY for me]

Thanks to YOU who are encouraging me through this!

a new beginning


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To my faithful visitors;
all of you who spend your valuable time here with me
I do appreciate you so much!

Thank you for taking your time to visit!

Love, Sweet blessings & Hugs!

DIOS TE BENDIGA
GOD BLESS YOU

always

Peggy