We know this is a little long, but please take the time to read as you will find it a blessing and joy in the Lord. We also want to say thank you and praise to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ then to you for your prayers, love and support as we have completed our first term of three years. Coming to an end we had to return to the states early due to the medical situation with Anna as cancer cells were discovered in the process of taking our physicals to return after our stateside assignment.
God has been faithful and we will continue to magnify His glorious name. It has definitely been a joy during these difficult first three years as we have grown through the experiences of being robbed, incarcerated, illness, death in the family and Anna’s cancer. Amidst the hardships, not only have we grown, but God has allowed us the blessing of seeing Him at work in the lives of many non-believers coming to have a relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, new believers being discipled and broken homes and relationships being restored. Much work still needs to be done as we prepare in our stateside assignment to return and continue in the work the Lord has called us to.
1500 Communities for Christ: Healthy churches, obedient to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, pleasing to God, who disciple and take care of their members, who bless and impact their communities for good, and who carry the gospel to other places.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Ep 3:20
"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand." (2 Corinthians 1:4)
God continues His amazing work through His faithful prayer warriors. Your fervent prayers bring glory to His name as we continue to receive of his blessings, provisions and amazing care. This could not be done without the strength, guidance and provisions given by the Lord. God is being honored through the commitment of His people in these past three years and these difficult days.
We would like to share with you some of the devotionals we have been clinging on to as you have been praying for us and may they be of encouragement to you as well. Some are taken from "Experiencing God Day By Day" and "My Utmost Of His Highest."
LIFE WITH THE SHEPHERD: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters”. Ps 23:1–2
COMFORT FROM THE SHEPHERD: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Ps 23:4
As a child of God you are never alone! Your Shepherd is with you at all times. You never have to call Him in to your situation. You never have to wonder where He is. You never have to fear that if things become too difficult, He will abandon you. He goes before you; He walks beside you; He comes behind you. He protects you securely. Just as He sees every sparrow and knows every hair that is on your head, so His gaze is constantly upon you (Lu 12:6–7). Even when you cannot see Him, He always keeps His eyes upon you. He comforts you with His strong presence in times of sorrow and grief. He leads you through the valley of the shadow of death. He does not necessarily lead you around the valley as you might wish. There are times when your Shepherd knows that the only way to get you where He wants to take you is to lead you down the path that passes through the dark valley. Yet, at those times He walks closely with you, reassuring you throughout the journey that He still loves you and is with you. It is during those times that you experience His love and compassion in a deeper dimension than you ever have before.
You never need to fear evil. As intimidating as evil can be, there is nothing you will ever face that intimidates your Shepherd. He has seen it all and soundly defeated every form of wickedness. Evil never catches Him by surprise. Your Shepherd is always prepared and knows exactly when and where you will experience difficulty. Place your absolute trust in your Good Shepherd that He will protect you and demonstrate His love for you through the darkest valley.
RESTORATION FROM THE SHEPHERD: “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” Ps 23:3
Your Shepherd knows your every need. He knows you will grow weary in your pilgrimage with Him. He knows there are times when you need rest. Your Shepherd knows just what you need to be refreshed. At times you need to lie in lush meadows or beside quiet streams. Sometimes you need to be held by your Shepherd. At other times you need to enjoy the pleasures the Shepherd provides. The Shepherd will not always replenish you in the same way; His response to you will always perfectly correspond to your present need.
As you follow your Shepherd there will be times when your soul becomes exhausted, perhaps because of trials you are experiencing or temptations you are resisting. The persecution you face or the burdens you are carrying for others may be wearing you down. You may be weary from the discipline the Shepherd has brought upon you. There will be times when you feel you can go no further in your Christian pilgrimage. Your Shepherd knows when you have reached this point, and He always has a remedy! There are many ways He can strengthen you: through His word, through others, or through your circumstances. He knows what you need even better than you do.
Have you grown weary? Does your soul need to be refreshed? Don’t attempt to recover on your own. Only God knows how to heal and rejuvenate a soul (Is 40:28–31; Mt 11:28–30). He will do it perfectly, sometimes in surprising ways. Ask Him to restore you, and then be prepared to respond to what He does next.
These next few months we would ask you to join us in prayer as we take up our cross.
TAKE UP YOUR CROSS: Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Mt 16:24
May the Lord bless you all.
Al and Anna Rodriguez
