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| PASTORS WHO RECENTLY RECEIVED A NEW STUDY BIBLE. PASTOR TINA IS IN THE CENTER. |
The more stories that I write the more I realize that this blog has the perfect name. It's amazing that a city with as bad a reputation as Juarez, Mexico can be so full of miracles. Romans 5:20 says, "...where sin abounded, grace doth much more abound". The power of God that we witness so much in Juarez proves that His presence is here and He has not forsaken this city. And once again I am writing about God's supernatural presence in the lives of His people and in the history of Juarez.
I met Pastor Tina a few months ago. Not very long ago Tina's husband (who was a pastor), herself, and a few others were caught in the middle of a shoot-out. Tina was the only survivor. Pastor Tina has metal screws in the middle of her back as a reminder of the horrible ordeal.
After she lost her husband she asked God for guidance and direction. She felt that God wanted her to continue pastoring. But she struggled with her small church. She always wanted to have a lunch room in her church. Pastor Tina spends hours a day in prayer. She asked the Lord about a lunch room many times and one day the Lord showed her a vision of a man who would make her desire a reality. And one day not too long ago I showed up at her church door asking her if she would be willing to open up a lunch room in her church. The kids in the neighborhood were going hungry and we needed to do something. Of course she was delighted about the answer to her prayers and her tears showed it. She's had the lunchroom for almost 2 months now. All I do is supply the food and other material things.
Last Saturday morning, before feeding time started, I payed Pastor Tina a visit and brought her some supplies. She shared with me these incredible events that happened to her while I was away from Juarez visiting friends and family during the Christmas holidays.
A couple of women, whom she had never seen before, came to her church door wanting to speak her. She escorted them through the church and into her small house. She asked them to sit down while she prepared something to drink. But as she turned around they tackled her down, quickly tied her arms behind her back, threw her inside the bathroom floor, pounded her with their fists, and told her that they were going to kill her. Then two more men joined in with the two women.
Pastor Tina's back was hurting from her recent surgery. But she still had the strength to make a statement to them from the bathroom floor. She told them that in as much as she was a child of God and that Jesus was her Lord and King they had no authority over her life. She told them that if they killed her, it would only be because He authorized it, not them.
The team of four proceeded to collect things from Pastor Tina's small house to carry off. She mentioned the microwave, the 5 gallon water dispenser, her T.V. set, a large mirror in the living room, drinking glasses, and other items of value. They carried these into the church and put them by the front door. By this time Pastor Tina crawled out of the bathroom and into the living room to see what they were doing.
They started to take the items out of the church door but they were unable to. One by one they would pick up the items they had collected but when they got to the church door an invisible force would not allow them to get them past the door. Pastor Tina witnessed how they would have a tug-of-war with the items taken from her house. They picked up the microwave but it wouldn't go past the door. They would pull and then push but it would not go beyond the threshold. Someone was pulling the items back inside the church. Someone who they could not see. Finally they set the last item down and took off running. Pastor Tina set herself free and eventually carried everything back into the house. Not one thing was broken.
I was reminded about the two times that someone came into my house property and things were stolen from me. The second time they broke my car window and took what I had in my car. It is not a good feeling to know that someone has done this to you. I remember standing there and telling the angels who were supposed to be watching over me that they were fired. Of course, I was teasing...trying to find humor in a bad situation.
Was the Lord late? Were our angels asleep or off somewhere else? Did God forget us for a few minutes and the enemy took advantage of it? NEVER!!!
Pastor Tina and I both know that the Lord was just as present with us while I was being robbed and she was being beaten as He ever has been.
I reminded Pastor Tina about Paul and Silas in Acts 16. They were severely beaten because Paul had cast out a spirit of divination. Later, after they were thrown in prison, they are miraculously set free by the power of God. Was God late? Was He unaware that they had been severely flogged? No, He was there the whole time. God has His purposes and His divine plans.
Do you feel that God has departed from you? He is closer than you can possibly imagine. Faith! It's all about faith.
It doesn't matter what the circumstances are. As a child of God He is all around you and in you.
In Joshua chapter 1, the Lord continually tells Joshua to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. That is what we must be. Pastor Tina told her assailants that they had no authority over her. We are children of the King. He has authority over us and no one else. And He allows things to happen to us for a purpose. Let that purpose have its perfect way. Faith...it's all about faith.
Daniel Torres
11985 Pellicano
Ste. G, Box 169
El Paso, Texas 79936
1-501-827-7679
For tax-deductible gifts:
Covenant Fellowship
P.O. Box 8126
Searcy, Arkansas 72145
P.S. To enlarge picture just double click on it.
