Grace at Jasons Deli

What we do best is go out and eat after the services.

night out

Well we went out to the races, I decided to take a picture with my growing boys.I wanted to keep them away from the Halloween stuff so to keep them occupied we went out, to wallbangers first off course. You should of seen there eyes light up when the cars would take off. Then David started crying because we were walking through the back & a car decided to do a burn out, & scared him, made him cry, my poor baby. We had a good time I hope my boys remember this when they get old.

lets go racing

Such a great night, by the time you know it it is almost midnight & the races arent even over yet. I so want a fast car or truck now.

lost

I feel so lost sometimes in wanting to do so much for God; I seem to forget I still have a church here locally. I have felt I have neglected our church or feel bad because, I forget about the things that need to be done around the church. I know we have a Pastor, but I will do whatever it takes for him not to worry about certain things; he has plenty on his plate, with Family first of course, then the church, then work, so if I can do my part a small part & help him out in someway I will do it. I just wish a lot more people would step up & do what God is telling them to do. Some people refuse to listen; of course I have been included in that. I have wanted to decorate my Sunday school room with maps, & the apostles & how they were martyred, I haven’t gotten around to it, so I feel bad I know I could do more for these kids, I pray for each & everyone, wont you help me pray for these kiddos they are our future church. I would love to do more for the kids in our church, but I know God will give me time & some other people to help out.

Halloween

Halloween is coming up as a Christian you shouldn't be involved with anything to do with the Devil, but Christians still do. Why do you have to be a part of the Devils holiday, why? They make it out to be cute, funny, but it is still the devils holiday, Christian Have no part now is the time to see where you stand with God. Remember HIM.

Heritage

When we were coming back from Mexico(again with the Mexico), Hey I have to break it down for you if not I will forget or make it a really long post, he he. Well we were coming back, & the Border Patrol guy is really mean asking for I.D., & birth Certificates, BUT he sounded more Mexican than I did, I told D, I felt like asking him for I.D., & yes I said it out loud, he he. We forget where we come from, don't we what we were raised from, what we grew up seeing & hearing. I find it so hard to believe when preacher come down to Texas then leave, Gods call is without repentance, even people from here that leave some where else, they just don't have the burden for the Valley, each person is different, each burden is different as God would put it in your heart. If God gives you liberty to do it then do it don't talk yourself out of it, you only live once in this world. Ah yes if people aren't standing up for God are you, or do you join them & start saying we should do this, & that, but what about you what have you done, some people don't even grow in the Lord they are so satisfied where they are at they refuse to do anything for Christ. Don't forget your a wrecthed sinner like all the rest, What makes you better than anyone, some one took the time e to tell you about Christ, why haven't you told anyone, oh I get it your to busy , or you just don't care, God can fix that, he will take that away from you , that is keeping you from serving HIM, you get to busty God can slow you down, God is in charge or have you forgotten. What will it take for you to look upon HIM again, What would he have to do to get your attention. Don't forget where you came from, don't forget who you are, don't forget who you are serving.

Humble

When we went to Mexico they picked us up , took us to the church. When we got there the Mexican people were so humble & treated us like royalty. We sang, we heard the preaching, then of course comes the food, we had pozole made out of chicken it was so delicious, then of course they put a stack of fresh corn tortillas just out from the factory so good, then we had some chicken salad it was also so good. We were still treated like royalty, I remembered our culture when we were sitting outside The Villegas House the day of the house warming party. I remember looking around I thinking we are all HIS children yet so different in culture Hispanic, & true Mexicans are so different, & yes there was even white people there in both the church service in Mexico, & the house warming party(A.K.A the Laiklams). I talked to my dad about going over there, that is where we used to go every year for Christmas & new years, had not been to that place in 12 years or so. My dads family moved to Houston with all the other Mexicans, he he, so now there is really no relatives there anymore, none that I know of. I really enjoyed it it was so nice, I just loved it, Oh i forgot to mention that they have an abandoned bus there it is the nursery/ Sunday school room for the kids. I hope & pray to meet more people, I never knew what it felt to be in a Spanish service. I bought some Cd's that are so cool to me, My wife called me the other day on Sunday when we were coming back from Mercedes from eating & asked me what I was listening to in the background. I told her it was Ramon Ayala she said "WHAT" i was just kidding , J still laughs about that he was in the truck with me. Laters keep praying for me that God would use me as HE would see fit.

Rio Bravo

Well as you all will know I have been called of God to preach His Holy Word in Spanish here in the valley, I have such a burden for the Spanish speaking people who can’t find a church or have never heard the Gospel. We went on trip to Rio Bravo, Mexico; it is about 30 to 45 minutes in after you get to Nuevo Progreso, Mex. Sis. Pat Mendez from Epaphroditus Mission invited my wife, & I to go with her, just so can meet other pastors from Mexico. Who of course speak Spanish like all the time? Well I met Brother Luis Garcia we talked a lot about my burden; he was genuine in wanting to help me. I told him I don’t know where to start or how to start my education on the bible in either English or Spanish, because as you may know down here in the valley it is Tex-Mex not the proper Spanish, but who else better to talk in Tex-Mex to the lost of the valley. Well it has been so refreshing knowing, that I can count on brothers & sisters in Christ. I didn't know where to begin to study the bible in English or Spanish, but the Lord has been giving me some opportunities to get known in Mexico, today I went to drop off a washing machine to Sis. Pat, I asked my boss if I could have it, that it wasn't for me it was for a church in Mexico, he told me that I could give it away which is cool. As I went to drop it off after work, I was unloading it from the truck, with these cool dollies we have at work that I can unload an appliance from my truck with one person, well I here in the back ground, "Hermano Juan" so I turn around, & it is Brother Luis the Pastor from the church we visited this week end. It was so cool, they were working on Sis. Pats warehouse, they are building a wall out of cinder block, then He introduced me to Brother Mario Vega also from Rio Bravo, Mex., they are building a building in Mexico, he wants me to help him translate in the U.S. to help them get funds to build it, I told him i would help. so I am excited about that. I want to thank Sis. Pat for introducing me to these Christians. Then I had to hurry because Mike had piano.

Vantage point/Juan

So I get up in the morning on 10/22/08 debating in my head what I will do for my wife, or really what will I get her for our 12^th anniversary. I had a couple of spies know as Agent Van pelt, & Agent DigiSal trying to figure out what I can get the LAW as I call her. Had been planning for about a month in advance, at one time I was considering to get her a treadmill so she can walk at home, but I can already hear her, “You know what I can do with that money”. Well I was going back & forth on a lot of things the IPhone for example, but she ended getting that one on her own, so I was back to square one. Then Agent Van Pelt suggested a purse that DigiSal had for sale, don’t ask me where he got it from he said he used it once only, so you know, don’t ask don’t tell, hehe. So DigiSal & I are emailing back & forth ok maybe once or twice. Well the day had come the day before our anniversary & yes I had nothing not even a card, so I was terrified I know my wife don’t care if I get her anything, but just to make her feel special I still have to get her something, I mean come on look at me, & look at her she got robbed in this transaction. Well I call her up from work to tell her lets have lunch at the Mall, so she agrees, of course she is bringing little David he is already out of school. As we eat some Chinese food, I tell her I confess all the planning for nothing I told her I would get her a perfume, so while we are eating & talking she tells me she saw Pastor Mark & Sis Kim as they were leaving the mall, they said hi to each other then went on their separate ways, Sis Kim tells her, “I just saw Lucy here she was leaving when we got here. So we finish lunch go to get the perfume, & like always my wife is Nah we can go look for it cheaper somewhere else, but I would have none of that, so I bought it & got my self some cologne also. I told her we were even we got each other something and there we were done. I gave her a kiss, & came back to work. Then I still felt I needed to get her something else, BECAUSE you know how women are, & ask , “what did he get you? I didn’t want her to say some perfume. So after work I went to the mall got her an anklet & a card, couldn’t wait to give it to her, I always tend to ruin the surprise, & cant wait to give it to her , but this time I waited. I kept it in the truck hoping they wouldn’t break into my truck & steal it since I have the DVD player in there & all my tools. I also placed a pen on the porch to write in the card when I had a chance to get away. So we are off to church, service was great stepping all over the toes of everyone, with the 7 deadly sins. After church we are outside talking like usual, talking with the women about perfumes then I see J, in the distance looking puzzled so I walk over there to see what’s up, but nothing is going on as I ask, he is watching the kids throw the football around when all of a sudden we here a yell screaming, “it’s a BUG” well it was Adri she was caring Adrian, & I guess a bug flew on her or something, then J decides to leave so, I said, “ok man see you later”. I think he was going to see Robs little girl. I see Adri leave a little bit after that. So I go into the car waiting on the Law to get in because we decide not to go out to eat since we were going to walk later that night. As I am sitting in the car, because women have twice even three times more words than men, we just grunt after we are out of words, but no matter I am waiting in the car patiently mind you, just turned the car on not honking or anything. David decides to come into the car with me, then I see Lucy walking over to her car to get some brownies, I see the women eating, they are giving me the signal if I want some , I say no, but Lucy still comes over to offer me some for the kids so I take one, & give it to David. We leave church get home change into our work out cloth, I try to sneak out side to write something on the card, but I hear the Law coming so ABORT ABORT mission, act cool, he he. We leave go walking come back, & remember I have a pen thrown on the floor to write in the card with, she decides to clean up the porch because when they come, & drop off Aiden the baby she baby-sits she doesn’t want them to see a mess. So I am thinking my pen where is it, we come inside she is taking a shower, so I sneak out, & take the card and fill it out with some loving words, all moochy words he he. Then I can think of how to give her the present I am thinking should I leave it on the dresser when I leave in the morning to work nah, she gets up to get the boys off to school. So I kiss her tell her bye, I Love you, God Bless you, pray for me today. Then while she is in the room getting the boys up I sneak the card out from under place mats on the dining room table, & I decide to put it in her driver side seat the card first then the gift, that way when she goes to drop the boys she can be surprised, and she was yay. So she emails me to tell me I really got her, I surprised her she wasn’t expecting it. & that was my point of view till that time of day.

Plain and simple

As my 5 yr old David was telling my wife, for some strange reason he just comes up to tells her “we like McCain because he believes God, And Rock Obama doesn’t”. If only it were that simple for us adults we have to make every situation harder than it really is. I don’t know where David gets off in talking about politics, but then he said his older bother Mike told him. Because they talk all night long instead of going to bed, hehe. Well like Forest Gump said, “That’s all I got to say, about that”.

JOB

Well back in December 24Th of 1999, I received Christ as my personal Savior. I had a job with this company driving the big rigs over the road all over the U.S.A, then I got saved, & the Holy Spirit told me I had to be home with my family, so I asked to get transferred to local work around the valley, so I got the job, I was on fire for God, but I was money hungry, believe me the money was good, my wife was a manager at the Whataburger so we had some serious dough. Well I couldn't see my self tithing ( giving God 10% which is nothing cause HE lets us keep 90%, & gives us the air we breath & LIFE, & strength to work) I was just tipping God giving what I thought the church would be happy with, but then I started backsliding listing to worldly music, getting away from God. Then in December the next year, I was so away from God, & I knew I had to get back on track, but just couldn't get myself to do it. Then I had an accident in Alamo, TX, construction was going on, & as I came over the over pass traffic was at a complete stop. I tries to stop I was fully loaded, & the truck, & trailer wouldn't stop. It was like in slow motion looking for a way out before I plow through a row of cars. I had a load of M.R.E's, going to McAllen. I managed to almost bump a B.F.I truck (garbage truck)onto the grass, but the truck wouldn't stop. I was almost to a complete stop when a minivan was the one van I had to clear to make a stop, I needed about a foot 12 inches, & I wouldn't have hit them, Yes I hit the back of there minivan, & broke a tail light. Yes just a taillight I remember Asking Jesus to help me so loud in the truck," Help me LORD oh Help ME" practically crying. I jumped out of the truck to see if the people were alright, & they were. Then it dawned on me what just happened it felt so surreal so like if I was dreaming waiting to wake up, but I didn't wake up it was real. I had to move the truck out of the way, I parked to the side, they moved also. We were waiting for the cops to show up, & the driver said he was going to walk down the road to get breakfast at a McDonald's near by, while the cops got there, I'm thinking man this guy is thinking about food at a time like this, then he even offered to buy me something, I said no of course. Then it was all over, had to deliver in Mcallen then back to harlingen. When I got back I was fired, then it really hit me, I can honestly say I was crying in the truck when I was cleaning out my truck. I tried to explain to them that the brakes didn't work on the truck, but they would not listen to me. I had proof I reported the breaks were not working properly for about 3 days before the accident. Then I had no Job no money. & it was Christmas, that's all I kept thinking man MY FAMILY what will they get for Christmas, how can anyone have no money for Christmas. It took that for God to get my attention, I got home & in the middle of what is now my dining room used to be the living room, I fell to my knees, gathered the Family, & got them to kneel & pray with me. I felt so bad I had let them down, most of all I knew I let Jesus down. I fell to my knees, & cried to the lord YES cried to the LORD up above to have Mercy on me, to forgive me for bringing this upon my family. But you know what Gods people, & family came through for us so good, the pastors little girl even lend us, yes lend us her stuffed Christmas tree for us to set up on the the dining room table, my family had such a wonderful Christmas that year I will always remember that. I cry even when I tell this story, because I know MY father in heaven is merciful, He loves me, no matter what I do, he will take care of HIS children, & HE will also chastise them. Don't wait for it to get this bad, don't wait for something to happen in your life for God to get your attention. I love Jesus I need HIM, in my life, my family had so many gifts that year, from family members, church members, friends, & all because HE is in control, and we act like spoiled brats having everything always wanting more, always wanting never happy with what we got. I can honestly say I tithe I am not bragging, & you know what you can never ever ever out give God HE owns it all, he will continue to shower you with blessing untold, blessing you don't even know you have. Like the Hymnal says count your blessing & see what God has done, count them name them one by one , you will see what you are blessed & don't even know it, you health, you family your house, your cars, your job, your ability to walk, your ability to talk, your ability to breathe, your ability to get up in the morning, open you eyes, to see, to hear, to smell, to taste, your blessing the people around you that love you, your kids that look up to you, your sibling that are watching every thing you do. Count them you can never out give God & never put a price on what HE has already given you. SO it was a blessing that I lost my Job because, I would pray for a Job where I can be in the house of God on Sundays all day & Wednesday's, & still be able to help out in church on Saturday's, & I still have my needs met financially, HE is good, isn't HE, HE is awesome, HE is MY LORD, & SAVIOUR. thank you for your time i know its along one but some people wont read it. But wait there is more, the Texas workforce from the employment office reviewed my case we had a court hearing over the phone, & I won, by GOD GRACE of course, & they gave me a lump some of about 3 thousand dollars, I told you, you can never out give God HE just keeps pouring out the blessings, HE is so AWESOME.

Last night

Last night I couldn’t sleep don’t know what it was just woke up with a bad chest pain on my left side, of course you start to think Heart attack. I was getting angry at my wife for telling me to lets go to the doctor, I just wanted to be left alone I was so uncomfortable I was just moving my left arm around in circle to make it go away. It wasn’t like a sharp pain it was more like a soreness, just bothering me. I still have some soreness on my left arm, but if my wife wants me to go check it out I will.
I was so proud of myself for walking last night; I actually kept up with my wife if you know how she walks she walks pretty fast. We did 2 miles non stop, and then we went to get healthy groceries, watching all calories, carbs, & aspartame in drinks. I felt good till I was fast asleep last night; when I was awaken by this uncomfortable feeling. My calves were all tightening up for some reason I think they were just sore. I started praying like crazy to make this feeling go away, I was the one that woke my wife up telling her my chest hurt, and then I am getting mad at her sorry baby, I Love You. She even got dressed, & went to the store to get me some aspirin or some Bayer, I just know my wife was giving them to me & I was to take them. I didn’t even stop to think about her & the kids, I was being selfish. You as a person have an impact on many lives & don’t even know it. I don’t know what my wife would do without me, of course in getting her life back together, but I wouldn’t want to leave her so unprepared. I know she is strong, & will find a way, but I still need to think more about her, & stop being so selfish. I love my boys, & I know they know I love them, but my wife I have to show her more that I love her, not just saying it. Love is an action, we have to show it. I fall so short in this if you could pray for me to show her how much I love her, & not take her for granted like I always do. And about dying, I am not afraid, I know where I will spend eternity, but I am afraid of how I will leave my family behind. We will see how this goes or what happens.