Scottish man met Colombian woman

Almost 25 years ago, maybe more, Mr. Stirling moved to the States with his wife and two kids; he had accepted a new job that not only brought them to a new culture, a new nation, but a job that was part of God's perfect plan for their lives. One of his kids name is Craig, and it is about him and his wife that this story tells.

After Craig and his family moved to the United States, he continued with his life without knowing that a woman created just for him, was growing up in a different place. Yadith was born in Colombia, in a small town called "Charalá" and yet, she had no clue that the LORD had created a good husband who will take care of her, a good man who will love her, just as Christ loves His church. Both Craig and Yadith had different experiences growing up, but God had a plan to be fulfilled for their lives.

Craig accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior, and so did Yadith. Not at the same day, not at the same place, neither at the same time, but the same Spirit was with them. After years went by, Craig decided to go to Costa Rica to study Spanish; his desire for doing missions in Latin America had grown in a way that he never imagined. The All powerful King of Kings brought Yadith out of her country to a place she never thought she could be...The United States of America. She had passion for doing missions and she wanted a man by her side who will share her dreams and walk with her any place her God will take her. During her second year in the States, she moved to live in New Jersey and there she met the Snyder family; a family who served the same God Craig knew, the same Lord Yadith was following. Amy, one of the Snyder's daughters, told Yadith about a good man she knew; a man with three specific characteristics: number one, he wanted to go to missions; number two, he was really nice, and number three he was tall! As the time for Yadith to stay at the States was short at that point, she decided not to meet him because she didn't want to get involved in a relationship that would not last and would have left her with a broken heart. Time was not in her favor, she needed to go back home.

Craig was studying and talking to his good friend Brian, who was Amanda's husband. Amanda is another woman from the Snyder family who knew Yadith very well. It was Brian who told Craig that he could practice his Spanish with this woman from Colombia who attended his father in law's church. After all she was learning English and he could help her too.

It was fall, as I remember, and Yadith got an e-mail; she was surprised after she opened and thought that Amy had given Craig her e-mail address, even though she asked her not to give it to him. Weeks went by and Craig and Yadith were talking more and more. After some e-mails, the phone calls started to happen more and more often, and one day, Amy told Yadith that it wasn't her who told Craig about her. To Yadith's surprise it was Brian.-"But why?-Yadith asked-"I just say hi to him and that's all, does he knows me?"-Maybe, maybe not. But it was God working on her path, sending a man she could not imagine, a man she had refused to meet.

By Christmas time, Craig went back to the States to spend some days with his family, and it was the perfect opportunity to meet this woman. They had been talking for months and never seen each other in person, but yet in their hearts there was love; an incredible and mysterious love neither of them had ever known, not ever felt, nor ever thought.
Amy was right. When Yadith saw Craig for the first time, she saw clearly that he was tall; after spending their first date, she was completely sure that he was nice and that his passion was missions in the Latin American world.

Craig and Yadith fell in love, in a way the world had never known; yet the LORD brought them together because His will needed to be done. They dated another time and it was time to say good-bye. Craig returned to Costa Rica to follow his call, and Yadith went back to Colombia to follow what the LORD had spoke. She knew that Craig was going to be her husband, she knew it in her heart but she never told him so, because she knew it wasn't God's timing but it will happen someday... a wedding to remember, a story to be told. God had gave her peace to go to her country and not knowing how exactly He will bring her back to Craig, but it took just a little faith that let her go on her way.

Craig had no clue what to do; he had fallen in love with a woman that he couldn't probably ever see again. He was confused but his decision was to keep talking to her, after all they both had phones and internet. It wasn't easy, not for him nor for her, but there was hope, there was faith and a Savior who is faithful, who had a perfect plan for this two souls.

It was the beginning of a journey of love; a journey that took them to different places and Spiritual levels; a journey that made them happy and sad, and made them cry out to God. A journey that the LORD held in His hands, a journey that would show them that even though they couldn't see, there was a Heavenly Father who had a way, who had brought them from different countries to the same place, because He was seeing the future that was just dreamed by them.

To be continue...
Next post: God spoke

God's perfect time

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" (Eclesiastes 3:1)

When I came to the States for the very first time back in 2006, I knew that as an Au-pair I could take some classes and I thought how wonderful could be to take Bible classes in English. I wanted to go to Bible school and learn more about God, His word and every possible thing that I could learn about my LORD. It's being three years since God placed that dream in my heart, but just now it is a reality.

Walking three years and seeing how difficult it was, tried to turn me down a couple times. In 2006, I told my family, who was paying my Universities studies as a teacher, that I wanted to go to Bible school and go to missions; to my surprised, my older sister who totally disagreed with me for going to an Assemblies of God church, was the one who told me that she will help me as much as possible to make my dream come true. During 2006 I tried to find a school but I could not. During half of that year I didn't have Christians friends and looking for a church was even harder. I thought it couldn't be.

In 2007, I moved to New Jersey and met my good friends at Glad Tidings church. Amy, (my closes friend) used to sit and listen to me for hours and hours. I told her about my desire of going to Bible school and she told me that I could do it. There was not a lot of people who believed I could do so, but even her dad, Rev. Snyder gave me some information about Global University and VFCC. I was planing in going to VFCC, but I found out that it was a little too much that what I could afford, so I took the paper that he gave me with the Global University web side and kept it with me; I looked at it but even though the classes were not expensive, I knew I could not afford them from Colombia and I was living in less that six motnhs.

After I met Craig, I told Him about my dreams, including that one, but it was just last week that we were sitting on our sofa and I mentioned to him the same thing: "I want to take some Bible classes"-I said. His answer, "why don't you do it online with Global University?"-Wow! what else could I say? I asked him to look with me online and I enrolled to get my credentials with the Assemblies of God.

I think for so many reason, that even thought God placed that desire on my heart in 2006 , His perfect timing is now, three years after!
1- I know more English that what I used to; when I first came here, I didn't have a good level of English, which could have made my classes a compelte chaos. There is a lot of reading and who knows how could I handle that.
2-Craig is a blessing to me and I can ask him as many questions as I have, he always try to help me. It's good to have a Rev. at home.
3-God blessed us with the ability of being able to afford those classes and I can live here... as a resident now!

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4)

You have no idea how much I've learn so far and to finish this, I want to share with you the following paragraph out of one of my lessons:

"Zechariah and Elizabeth could not have a child in their old age, and it was impossible for the virgin Mary to give birth. But nothing is impossible with God. People do not fathom how God does things, but through faith they can understand that what is impossible for them is possible for their heavenly Father. When God calls on people to do something, He will always provide a way. Hold on to the dream God has placed in your heart, even when others doubt, mock, or say it will never happen. If something is truly of God, He will bring it to pass. Nothing is impossible with Him!" (The life and Teachings of Christ, Global University, Unit 1, Chapter 1, Lesson 1.2,Page 18)

"Abide in me", says the LORD

I'm reading a book by Rick Joyner, "The call", and after reading a few pages there was something on my head, something I read over and over again. I found it interesting, not only because it's in the book more that once, but because when I am doing something different, all I hear is "abide in me".
As most of you know, English is my second language and I was praying and wondering about the true meaning of only one word: abide.

Yesterday, as I was listening to the song "In your Presence" by Jason Upton, I found online a good definition for what's being on my head for the last two or three days, and felt like sharing it here. I wasn't sure about the meaning of "abide", because it didn't make sense what I found in a dictionary and maybe, even though, English is your first language, this blog can help you to truly understand what the Lord means by telling you to abide in Him.

"The most important factor in our walk with Jesus Christ is to abide in him. The more we abide in Christ, the more we will have peace, victory over sin, and be In His Steps. What does it mean to abide in Christ? Let's first look at the definition for the word abide.

ABIDE:
to wait for
to endure without yielding
to bear patiently
to accept without objection
to remain stable or fixed in a state
to continue in a place
Synonyms: Stay, continue, bear

ABIDING: enduring, continuing

To abide has to do with the concept of 'being' instead of 'doing'. Doing in relation to the Christian walk is: reading your Bible, going to church, praying, witnessing, doing good works, fleeing sin, etc. These are all good things to do as a Christian. These are things we should be doing. If we are not doing these things our walk with God and others will suffer. However, if we are doing these things just because we are suppose to, or we are doing them in our own strength, we will not have victory or peace and miss out in having an intimate relationship with Christ. If we are not careful, we can become works oriented instead of Christ oriented.

To Abide in Christ is to be in the 'being' mode. We still are doing the things that God has called us to, but we are doing it in His strength. Abiding in Christ is about having an intimate relationship with Him. The more we are abiding in Him, the more we will be faithful. We will hear His voice clearer, not be works oriented, and have more peace in our life. To abide is to experience His presence.

Let's explore the definition of abide:

To wait for-We as Christians need to spend much more time waiting on God. By this we mean spending time with God, seeking His will, not jumping ahead of Him.

To endure without yielding-To be determined to experience God's presence.

To bear patiently-To abide in Christ when we don't feel like it. To be patient waiting for God to reveal His will and Himself.

To continue in a place-We need to spend more time, staying in His presence.

If we are abiding in Christ, we can be assured that we will walk IN HIS STEPS.

Abiding in Christ is a process. We don't get there over night. So don't get discouraged if it seems hard to just 'rest in Him'. Enjoy the mountains, the ocean, the blue skies (even the thunder and lightning), the green pastures (even the hot desert). As you enjoy God's creation, you will sense His presence. Abiding will come. Stop and 'smell the roses'."

Source: http://www.creatingfutures.net/abide.html

Home, sweet home

There is nothing like being home! People enjoy staying at home; some reasons...because they can watch movies, get a good night sleep at their own beds, sit around, read, organize and so many more that proof that being home is the best!

Being at my home church, is the best that could happen for me last weekend. I have a home church back in Colombia, the church where I started growing Spiritually and learning more and more about the Lord. He gave me a home church at New Jersey and I love it! I love the Pastor, his messages, and my family...the people that goes there, they are a blessing for my life and now, for my husband's life too.
We were not sure if we could make it...For our schedule, it seemed like we could not go because of surgeries and recovery time, but I know that my God will give me the desires of my heart, ALL of them (Psalm 37:4), and I know I keep on saying the same thing over and over again, but it is true! You can find the same Bible verse in my old blogs and you'll probably read it again in the future ones but it is not because I can't find anymore, but because I have many, many testimonies of how true it is and how awesome our LORD i;, He is faithful, whatever He said he does, nothing return empty to his mouth (Isaiah 55:11)

The first time I walked in Glad Tidings Church, Frenchie gave me a huge, HUGE hug that I haven't forgot; after that hug I kept walking and the presence of the Lord met me right there; it was on February 2007 and I still have the same feeling when I walk in...the presence of God truly dwells there! During the year that I was there, I found a truly godly family in Christ. When I was back in Colombia last year, they prayed for me, I was truly on their hearts and the amazing thing, is that I am still!!! I am not living close to them, except Brian and Amanda, but I know they kept me and my husband on their prayers and it's incredible to have a family who love us and miss us in that way. I grow up spisitually with them and I love them all.

I found a mom right there at that church. Denise, a sweet mom I'll always keep on my heart. She loved me as a dautghter and I could not be more blessed or tahnkful for having her
-A crazy brother. Stepehen, who is really Denise son, therefore I made him my brother, just because we have the same Heavenly Father and our mom (Denise) on earth. It was his idea, but he doesn'n know yet; I thought about it just the Saturday that Craig had his surgery, for a text message Stephen sent on my cell phone. He is a good man and nice brother!
-Good shephers. Pastor Snyder. He is really used by God and had touched my life so many times and so many ways, as the same that his wife, Sister Snyder.
-Good friends. The Snyder's girls, that aren't girls any more. I love Amy, Amanda and Esther. Althought I had share more time with Amy and Amanda, Esther is always on my prayers too.
-A good Colombian woman. Deisy, who actually knows my father's family...isn't the world small?
-A very good friend. Amy; I love my dear friend, Pastor and sister, I wish she was living close by. -A good friend of my husband...Brian, who told Craig about me before we met, I believe the Lord used Brian to bring us together

And the one who was SO excited about seeing me last Saturday, the one I just saw a couple times when I was there. I didn't know her that much from 2007, but I started knowing more about her through her blog. She has gave me encouragement when I am not asking for, but just looking to find it. I jumped from her wedding day to the first year birthdya celebration for her son... Heather!
My little ones: Bo, isn't really little anymore.- Charity, Ocean and Silas..the Swomley clan,- and Pj's, how cute are all of them.
I could name all of the people that I know from my home church, but they know how much I love them and keep them on my prayers and my heart. They are my family in Christ and I am truly blessed by having them all.

"How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere" (Psalm 84:1,10)

Thank you Lord for my home church, blessed the family I have in there...In Jesus wonderful name...Amen!