TearsofJoy

To clarify I love my present Pastor, church and church family but as wounded as I came into Truth God orchestrated for me to first come into a small UPC church in Killeen Texas August 1999. I had a critical spirit and was skeptic about the genuineness of Christians. First thing out of my mouth was Lord if they say anything about my pants or attire I am out of here never to step foot in a Pentecostal church again. A minister and his wife Brother, Sister Torres took me under their wing, guess what really shocked me is what God had delivered them from, an unbelievable transformation. Then Sister Gloria Rolland became a very important person that God would use to pray with me and experience a friendship like I never had, she was amazing! She could cook, sew, sing, loved to laugh (which I desperately needed because I was fighting everything to keep my sanity due to the uncertainty if I still had a marriage) and she loved the Word of God with a passion. Till this day I love this lady and he...

One day my youngest son of only 6 or 7 years old(he is now 20 ;-)) made a comment that stop me in my tracks and I got to thinking. I was making my bed early one morning when he walked in, in such an excited voice he told me, “Mom aren’t you glad that Noah obeyed God or else humans wouldn’t be on this earth, Mom we wouldn’t be alive” and I answered yes Papas(my term of endearment to my both of my Sons). Just like he had bounced into my room he was gone and I sat on my bed to pounder what he had said. Lamech named his son Noah, and said, “He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed.” Gen 5:29    I searched everywhere where Lamech would get his info on his sons’ name and destiny but couldn’t find anything. I pondered on my sons comment and truly I hadn’t never really considered Noah’s obedience as the sole reason why humanity still exists. Noah found favor in the Lords eyes and humanity was spared. Noah boarded...

I keep this little globe on my desk, to remind me of a lost world🌎 we must reach. Living in the comfort of the states we block out or lose focus of the great big world🌎 that is out there. We recently had close to 30 people walk into our church all from different parts of Africa. These folks speak Swahili, Congo and Burundi based on my research they have one language in common French and some speak English. Very humble people, their beautiful attire is colorful, uniquely designed. They were forced out of there world🌎 to come to our part of the world🌎, so within our part of the world🌎 we are commissioned to spread the gospel...we are missionaries here in Arizona.

Born in Violet, Texas on March 27, 1932 passed on to glory June 11, 2016! Dad what a life you had, for the most part you never knew what had transpired in your childhood. Your illegal deportation to Mexico by so called immigration officials know as Texas Rangers during the Great Depression of this country at the age of 7 forever altered your ambition to become an attorney or for you to even learn to read or write English or Spanish.  At the age of 21 you returned to your land a very frustrated man, not understanding the language or ways of Americans. You met Mom, Nieves and began your life with her, eleven children she bore you but two departed after their birth. With no education you worked hard labor, as a farm worker you and Mom provided for your families as best as you could. The nopales, migas, frijoles, venado, rabbit and tortillas were most of our staples growing up, KFC was a rare, luxury meal to us as I recall. Your side of the family, we now know were Lipan Apache bu...

I've dreamed many dreams that never came true I've seen them vanish at dawn. But I've realized enough of my dreams, To make me want to dream on. I've prayed many prayers when no answer came, Though I waited patient and long, But answers have come to enough of my prayers To make me keep praying on. I've trusted many a friend that failed, And left me to weep along. But I've found enough of my friends true blue, To make me keep trusting on. I've sown many seed that fell by the way For the birds to feed upon, But I've held enough golden sheaves in my hands To make me keep sowing on. I've drained the cup of disappointment and pain And gone many days without song. But I've sipped enough nectar from the roses of life To make me want to live on.   Ruth Parks Greene

March 2000 still a fairly new convert repented and baptized in Jesus Name, seeking the Holy Ghost the ladies from a small central Texas church invited me to a ladies meeting in Lufkin-Nacogdoches area. I found sitters for my guys that were 3 and 8 at that time and rushed in my packing.  Made a mental note of two thinks in particular that I had to get no matter how tight my budget was. I talked to God, told him you are my provider now and you know us girls have to have our stuff to keep pretty so please Lord make a way for me. We drove into a beautiful campground still had those two items on my mind and told Sisters Torres and Rolland we have to go to town as soon as we register and get our stuff put in the dorm.  We registered and were handed a yellow envelope (more like a packet). When I got a chance I opened the envelope and their before my eyes are the two items I had asked God for! I was like WOW God answered my prayer so fast. To anyone out there it may not seem like a b...

When I think how privileged I am to serve in God's kingdom can't help but weep. For anyone to deny God's existence is unthinkable and my heart aches. Several years ago I decided to do outreach with our Spanish work so we went to a predominantly large  spanish grocery store parking lot. I was very excited because I enjoy telling people I meet about my Jesus. I approached a middle aged Hispanic lady walking to her car by greeting her, telling her my name and what church I was from. She quickly became very nervous so I reassured her I was only trying to invite her to church. By now she was moving faster to her car, gets in the car and with her window opened slightly she tells me "I am an atheists I don't believe in God. " I stopped in my tracks and don't know why but this sadness came over me, tears started falling from my eyes. By now she is starting her car I look at her and ask her, how can you not believe there is a God? This was Flor talking now( not ...