Month: February Year: 2005
     
 

What if God decided to stop leading us tomorrow
because we didn’t follow him today?
What if God couldn’t take the time to bless us today
because we couldn’t take the time to thank him yesterday?
What if we never saw another flower bloom
because we grumbled when God sent the rain?
What if God didn’t walk with us today
because we failed to recognize it as His day?
What if God took away the Bible tomorrow
because we would not read it today?
What if God didn’t send his only begotten
Son because He wanted us to be prepared to pay the price for sin?
What if the door of the church was closed
because we did not open the door of our heart?
What if God stopped loving and caring for us
because we failed to love and care for others?
What if God would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him?
What if God answered our prayers the way we answer His call to service?
What if God met our needs the way we give Him our lives?

 
     

Sometimes I wonder how many opportunities I’ve missed to be grateful for so many things…the rain, the sun, friends, a hug, reading a good book, enjoying a meal…so many things one can so easily take for granted!! And how many times we’ve even prayed for things and then forgot to thank the Lord afterwards!! So this little message above is quite thought-provoking…to remember how great is His love, His mercy, His patience (!!!) and care.
I turned 46 this month (on Lincoln’s birthday), and I will not say anything new, but how on earth did the years fly by!! Where did they go!! And even with so many things behind, there are many challenges ahead…in the years the Lord may permit…no retirement ahead for Christians!!
Proverbs 4:18 says that “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” So for each of us this is part of our growth.
Humberto, as I’ve shared before, belongs to the pastoral Council of Cordoba  where he works with other pastors organizing events and retreats to strengthen the pastors of our city. They have a regular monthly meeting. I was invited this year to start a parallel group for the pastors’ wives at the same time, a breakfast, and we started last week with five ladies, sharing specific subjects that the pastors’ wives live in the ministry. I am praying that many more may come to this group, and receive encouragement and support. It will not be an easy group to gather, as they are all such busy women in their congregations, but all the more necessary!!
And the other photo is of Sebastian and Nathalie singing in a choir we presented this December, with several other kids, which was such a blessing!!
This March, Ari starts his 3rd year in college, Nathalie starts 4th year high school (sophomore) and Sebastian 2nd year high school (high schools have 6 years here in a new government program in Cordoba).
Ari enjoyed going to Buenos Aires for a world wide congress for Christian university students, where about 2,500 kids attended from many countries. He came home very challenge to grow in character and also to continue serving the Lord in music and with the youth group. He is gifted, he plays the drums, the organ, the guitar, but his favorite is the bass guitar (Funny, the bass guitar is called “bajo” in Spanish, which means “short”, and he’s such a big guy!!). Nathalie prefers to sing in the back up worship team, and Sebastian is learning guitar and drums. We are so grateful for our kids!!
Humberto and a team of pastors are already planning the June “Fiesta del Espiritu Santo” (Holy Spirit Celebration) in the stadium across our church, planning for the main speakers, the bands, the different workshops, children’s ministry, and other activities for a full day of blessing.
So…starting another year, I wanted to say THANK YOU again, thank you for being there, thank you for praying, and for those who are supporting us, THANK YOU AGAIN!! Your giving continues to encourage and strengthen us.

Evelyn Saint Jimenez
 
LAST MINUTE NEWS…
Little did I know as I was writing the February newsletter that Damaris (Saint), my brother David’s 22 year old daughter, would lose her battle against cancer on the 17th of this month…it has been such a sorrow: Damaris was a gifted, expressive, friendly, loving person, serving the Lord, playing her saxophone, teaching children…so we cannot imagine the pain for David and Edith; of course, it also affects us deeply as family. Their remaining son, Billy, 27, married to Inés, had his first baby boy on Christmas, so that has been a comfort alongside this loss. Please pray for them, as I know you will!

Evelyn Saint Jimenez
Gramajo Gutierrez 4070
5009 Tablada Park
Cordoba, Argentina