Tuesday, August 26, 2014

THE LORD IS UNFAIR


"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard ..."

~ Matthew 20: 1-16
At least that's the way The Grape Pickers Union looked at it! There was a full on demonstration! There was anger. There was yelling! Protests. He's unfair! A Rich Man against us poor!

What right has the Lord hiring some local "scabs" for a few hours work and paying them same wages as those who had worked the whole hot day! It isn't fair, the grape workers chanted! The Lord bi-passed the Union and no one, but no one does that!

And even today, by our standards it looks like God acted unfairly!

When will we, God's own children, get it through our thick human heads that God thinks and judges differently than we do, and I might add, He has every right to do so! (Is.55:8)

Surprise! He changed the rules in favor of compassion. He had compassion on the poor who needed work, the few who would have worked that hot day but weren't given opportunity ... after all, He said, "it's my vineyard: it's my money and I'll do with it what pleases me." And compassion pleases Him! It's sad that Godly mercy, compassion and grace doesn't seem to filter through to His earthly family.

God has the right to bless whom He wants, the way He wants and wherever He wants ... so be it GRACE!

Sunday, August 17, 2014

ON MY OWN


As many of you know, the latest news we got from David in Mexico City was sad indeed. The specialists tried their best but all efforts failed. In fact they said from what they saw he was fortunate to even be alive. The scarred mess they found inside him was confusing at best.

David had to look forward to living with an abdominal catheter.

Three days ago David and his mother were crying again, but this time it was crying for joy! A "God" surprise happened! David felt an urge; an urge he hadn't felt for years and began urinate on his own and through the right equipment.

Wow! You see David had all the equipment but it had never worked since the truck ran over him!

Wow! Miracle of all miracles, now he can pee on demand! He has been joyfully drinking water and peeing for almost three days. Joyful trips to the bathroom! Sounds silly, but to him it's a life changer.

He gives God the credit and is so thankful for all of you on Facebook who prayed for him.

They will remain in the hospital in Mexico City for two more weeks as doctors study the situation and redo bladder, continue praying for him.


Thursday, August 07, 2014

BUS RIDE FOR A HEMORRHAGING CHILD


Last Thursday was Spectrum's workday in Barrio Laguna.

Mari, mother of four, is very poor and Spectrum's free vegetables are a real help. Mari was glad to get them, but she had another problem. Her little boy was alone in the General Hospital, he just had surgery and she really needed to be with him but had no money for return transportation; a couple of dollars would do it. Would some Christian missionary giver her a little money for transportation?

She threaded her way through the crowd contacting several of the Christian missionaries telling them about her son Victor in the hospital. The night before he was vomiting blood when she quickly took him, by local bus, to the General Hospital where they quickly operated on him. (I wonder what she felt like sitting on the at the bus stop holding her child while waiting for a bus?)

Mari simply needed a little cash for bus fare to visit Victor. Several Christian missionaries prayed with her but none offered her any help for transportation. Prayers and sympathy are nice but ... some things take dollars.

Then one Mexican lady pulled Mari aside and said "Go find Hortensia, she'll help you" (Word gets around).

Well, that just what she did, and Hortensia listened to her story. Mari has four young kids and her husband is crippled and can't work. He gets a pension of about $90. a month. She earns a little extra by selling candies, tortillas and nopalis (cactus) When Victor, 9, had his attack, they took him to the hospital, but then she had to return home to the children.

Alone in the General Hospital isn't a good place for a kid to be. No mother would want to leave her son in a Hospital alone. She wanted so badly to visit him, but no Christian missionary had even $2. To help her out. Strange isn't it?

Well, Hortensia did give her the transportation money plus some food money for the family. People know we care. I give Hortensia extra money to help on her Spectrum work days.

I met Victor last Saturday, the day he was discharged from the hospital. He had lost a lot of blood. He was a little shy, but he let me pull his lower eyelids down and I saw he was still anemic. He needed good food and some red meat.. (Iron) So we made it possible for her to buy the food the doctor prescribed. In this case the proper diet was essential! Mari was so happy!

We appreciate those of you who make it possible for us to help in cases like this.