GIVE THANKS IN EVERYTHING

Talking to someone the other day reminded me of giving thanks in everything. I know that thanksgiving dy is one of the biggest holidays in the United States. I really do think is a great holiday and a great opportunity to be together with family and remember that we owe it all to Christ. I'm not sure that that is what is celebrated in every household in the country. To be honest I'm not sure that that was the purpose of it in the first place.

For us christians we should be celebrating and giving thanks everyday of the year. Because of Christ sacrifice we have evrything we need. Sometimes we forget that there is no greater thing that salvation. And we are distracted by the influence and the things of this world. Even our own holidays. Sadly there are more suicides during this time of the year than there are in the whole year. And it doesn't happen just to non christians.

So let's remember to be thakful always. And look at the words that the apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians on the 4th chapter. "Rejoice in the Lord always, and I say it again rejoice" (par) Because we like him have everything we need in Christ, so let's be thankful of that.

WHAT DO WE SEE?

We just got back from a wonderful place. Hot Springs Village Arkansas. The time of the year reminded us of the change that goes on in our lives. Change that God makes if we just open up our hearts and let him transform us. It was jus beutiful, the mountains with all the colors and the wonderful display of God's creation.
And when we say God's creation we mean all of God's creation. We forget sometimes that we are part of it. In fact we are according to Him, the most important part, because he made us in His image. The brothers and sisters of Hot Springs Village, make of the place a brighter one. And we were reminded to put our sight on things above. We had a wonderful time being among people that love the Lord, and show their love with their works.
We took the kids to see the water dam, the three sisters lake and drove around the village admiring it's lakes, trees, and all the ups and downs of its roads. The kids loved it all. On our way back, Maribel asked Isabella our daughter what she liked best about Hot Springs Village and our trip to Arkansas. With a smile on her face she said "THE HEARTS OF THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS". That's what she saw. Isn't that what the Lord sees?. God bless the Church in Hot Springs Village and the impact they are making in the lives around them. Praising God not only with their lips, but with their whole hearts.

SLEEPLESS IN SOUTH FLORIDA

Last Monday was a day to celebrate for our family. The final adoption papers were signed in front of a judge in the Broward County Courthouse. Needless to say we were all very happy, not just because it was official in front of men that we were a family, but also it was a confirmation of our Lord that it was his plan.

The next day after school Giancarlo seemed a little tired. We asked him if anything was wrong, and he told us that he did not sleep well the night before. Maribel asked him why?, and he said: he was very excited and happy. He said that he couldn't sleep thanking God because he had parents. Our eyes watered and we realized we did not really think how this made them feel. But not only that, we realize we should be the same way with our Father. Thinking and thanking him constantly about the way he adopted us and all the trouble he had to go through to make this a reality.

We thank God today more than ever and we hope this will encourage and remind many that God has a plan. We are always in his hands, and if we should ever loose sleep over anything, it should be because we are praying to Him, thanking him for His love and the life He has given us in Christ.

IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL!

September the tenth was a special day for many people. Luis Elmer Cordova was celebrating his birthday. That same day his oldest sister gave herself to the Lord, by confessing him in front of the whole church and getting baptized for the remission of her sins. She was born spiritually the same day his younger brother was born spiritually. Not too long ago Luis's daughter on mother's day got baptized too and back in March his youngest son on Luis's wedding anniversary confess Christ as his savior and got baptized. His whole family and beyond are now in Christ. What a better cause to celebrate on your birthday.

But that day was a special day for someone else as well. Noemi Perla had been visiting with us since last year, and was faithful in studying the word. She had told us about all the suffering she had been through including a very bad divorce and the death of her youngest son. That same September the tenth at the end of the service she asked me to go with her to the front of the church and she confessed Christ as her savior and was baptized for the remission of her sins. When she came out of the water Andy our song leader started singing the hymn "It is well with my Lord". She started whalling and Maribel held her as she got it together. Later she told Maribel that that was the last song she sang to her son on his funeral.

Today there are many souls that can say the same thing. "It is well with my soul". But there are also many others who can't. Let's all do our part to bring to them the word of hope that our Lord gave to us, so that one day soon they can also celebrate and say "It is well with my Lord"

We love you very much.

ABOVE ALL THINGS GUARD YOUR HEART

Hello again. Sorry we have not written in a long time. My excuse as always is time. But really is just an excuse, because we can always set aside time for everything. We just got back from Orlando where we attended a conference that is held every two years called "Spiritual Growth Workshop". It was a great time of fellowship with brothers and sisters from long ago as well as new ones.

We went to The Holy Land Experience. A theme park that teaches about Christ and the God's plan to redeem humanity. With life size recreations of the tabernacle, the temple and other Jerusalem sites, shows and dramas, movies, and meuseum like displays of how the scripture was put together through the ages and preached to different kinds of audiences.

Days before the conference as we were sitting down in the living room, Isabella our daughter told Mari and I "You know I think if we start puting things in our heart, Jesus will not have room to be in it". This was very deep coming from a seven year old. But she was right. Proverbs 4:23 says "Above all things guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of Life".

We should always make time to meditate on the word of God. Read and study. Pray and spent some time apart with God. Otherwise is easy to fill up with things that might put Him out of our lives. We made time thank God for the workshop, but it is not enough to eat just once a day or in this case once every two years.

Take time right know to reflect on how you spend your time, and if your heart is guarded by the word of God. Because He is the source of everything and all that is, and in Him, we are safe.

YOUR TREASURE IS WHERE YOUR HEART IS

Hello everyone. We hope our Lord is blessing you in all you do for him. WE have had a tough month, but full of blessing too. All this month we were sick on and off. Maribel got sick first, and then the kids and finally me. We thank God for that too. We had the opportunity to reflect on how good we have it when we are healthy, but also how much we need of the Lord.
The other day we went to the mall to spend some time with the kids. This isn't just any mall, but one that sits right on the edge of the ocean. Hence the name BAYSIDE Mall. We all enjoy looking at the sea and the fish and birds that live around and inside it. Also looking at the tall bridges open up for the cruise lines to go by, and the people laughing and having a good time. There is a carousel where Giancarlo and Isabella rode, and seeing them go around smiling does something to your heart.
After a while it was time to go back home. As we were walking towards the car, Giancarlo asked me "Daddy do we have any tools in the car?". Right away I thought, maybe he saw the car and saw that we had a flat tire or something. So I asked him "Why do you ask?" He pointed his finger at two men that were pushing their van and said "It looks like they need help". Without thinking I told him to stay whith Maribel and ran towards the van to help push.
They ran out of gas. But when I was walking back to the car I thought of my sons heart. His heart is in serving. He could've easily ignored the men he saw, he could've seen them and just look away, but instead he wanted to help them.
Sometimes I think we miss those opportunities because our heart is not on the things above. We missed them because we are thinking about ourselves, or other things that are not as important. But Gian Carlo tought me a lesson. I have to keep an eye on the things that matter, because where my treasure is, that's where my heart will be.
We love you very much.
The Preciado's

Another reason to celebrate

Mary was chosen by God to bear His only Son. He chose a girl that was willing to do His will according to Luke's account. She must have known what this would mean. She was risking being the talk of the town if Joseph left her. She was risking her own life, because the law would have her stoned. But all she wanted to do was the Lord's will.

Last Sunday was Mother's day. It was Maribel's first celebration as a Mom. We celebrated as a family taking her to eat at her favorite restaurant.....On the border. But the real celebration came later that afternoon. When a young girl from the college group accepted to do the Lord's will in her life and was baptized for the forgiveness of her sins. We all rejoiced as she left her family's own mother's day celebration, to come with her brother Luis Felipe (who was baptized two months ago) and her sister Marieugenia to be baptized by the pool at our apartment. Her aunt and cousin came and two other college guys were present to celebrate with us.

Mary was a good mother we are sure of that, but it was because she was willing to do the Lord's will. Like Cynthia who opened her heart to Jesus and is willing to do His will.

We love you Mom's. Thank you for the love and sacrifice you show us with your lives.

UNLESS WE ARE LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN

We have been very busy this last month. WE have a new home, and new kids. We are learning how to be parents, asking the Lord for wisdom to do it.

Oh but the Lord is using the Kids to teach us constantly. Last Tuesday night we went to Felipe and Maria de Los Angeles home, were they live with their cousin and his wife. Both couples have a child. Just before leaving to go to the study, Maribel asked the kids if they wanted to take the other kids a toy. Both of them said yes at the same time and ran into their bedroom. When they came out both our faces were in awe. They took the best toy they had. The one they love the most. The one that they took care of the best. When Maribel asked them, are you taking that to give it to the other kids, they both replied "yes Mom, these are the best things we have"

Jesus said that unless we are like little children, we will not inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus always gives us the best. We should do the same. That night we saw Jesus in their hearts, because they gave their best toy knowing that what was important was to give it your best.

We are very blessed and learning with Giancarlo and Isabella.

We love you all in the Lord.

ADOPTION AND A NEW IDENTITY

Dear Family and friends. It has been a while since you last heard from us. We apologize, but we literaly have not had time to write. We have many great news.

The Lord has blessed us with a new birth. He has adopted one more son as His own. Last Sunday night we went to the local beach to baptize Luis Felipe Cordova. He is twenty years old and a new baby in Christ. I have been having breakfast with him since December and after the breakfast a Bible study. We also study with his whole family Friday nights.

Lately we have been thinking a lot about adoption. Last Monday we were invited to dinner by Andy and Belinda Garcia. We finally were free that night and accepted gladly. Their daughter came to dinner as well. She works at an adoption agency called Shepard Care. She shared with us a case that was on her mind about two beautiful kids that were put up for adoption. The boy 9 years old and the girl 7 years old. Maribel and I looked at each other and it was as if we both knew what we had to do.

Later that Friday we were at a meeting with the director of the adoption agency discussing the possibility of adopting the kids. "They have been through a lot, specially this last two months" he said. Their adoptive parents took them because they had a natural born son that is autistic and they could not handle the three of them. With tears in their eyes the agency took them and we believe the Lord put them in our Hands.

"We are going to give them a new name!" we said. And we are going to love them and tell them they are the most special thing that the Lord has given us in a long time. But most of all we are going to tell them about Jesus and the Love He has for all of us.

We come to Christ much like this. He takes us in the way we are. He gives us a new name. He gives us a new position. He showers us with love. And is up to us to remember what He did when He adopted us. Sure we can't erase the past, but we can live the present knowing that there is no greater love than the one that God shows by adopting us through Jesus.

A new name, a new family, a new identity. A new life full of hope and hope in Christ, the name above all names.

MAN DOES NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE

After a long absence due in part of lack of time, we come to you with some updates about new years resolutions. Well one of them was to start a strict diet to loose the pounds aquired mainly during our stay in Arkansas. That hasn't worked very well, but is not all a bad thing.

We are getting together with people in their homes to share a meal, and also I Carlos have breakfast three times a week with two college age guys and a 40 year old single dad. We eat first sometimes and then have a Bible study. Sometimes at the homes we have the Bible study first and then we eat.

I have a Bible study breakfast Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. And Maribel and I have a Bible study Dinner Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays sometimes lunch study as well. But you see we get to know the people while we eat, and we get to share the most important food of all the word of God. This is the food that fills us up.

We praise God for Physical food, (specially me). But we praise him even more for the spiritual food, the one that is everlasting.

So you see we haven't been able to start our diet, but at the same time we are having the Lord's diet when he said to the disciples in John 4 "My food is to do the will of God, and to finish His work". (par)

Until next time. Right now we are getting ready to buy some food.

In His Love;
Carlos and Maribel

From Rags To Riches

Ana is a native from Cuba that arrived to the United States three months ago. That's when we met her. We have developed a friendship with her and Osmani her husband, Grabiel their son and Jenny their four year old daughter. Maribel and I were invited to their house to eat and we brought her a coffee maker. She did not know how to use it. "When I lived in Cuba I lived in extreme poverty" she said. Later that day we took them to the building for and english class and then a Bible study. Their very first one.
The next day there was a ladies class in the building to learn how to make quilts and other things. The rags or little pieces of cloth were all over the place. As soon as Ana came in the door she was welcomed by three of our english elderly sisters with all the love of Christ. They hugged her and welcomed her and as soon as she sat down one of them opened her sawing machine and gave it to her to use it. Ana's eyes lit up and immediately she asked Maribel for help to learn how to use the automatic singer. She said that in Cuba she used a tractor to saw.
After the class on the way home Ana said to us "I felt rich by being there today. I have never felt so special. Those ladies were very nice and even let me use their machine without knowing me."
She felt the love of Christ and the real riches in this Life. She went from rags to riches in a couple of hours from something that was done over 2000 years ago.
"For you all know of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" 2Corinthians 8-9.
Let us all go from rags to riches in Christ.
Love always;
Carlos and Maribel Preciado

GOOD INTENTIONS

Last Thursday I had breakfast with Tony the person that sold us the ad we run in a local newspaper. I gave him directions to get to the place, but my directions were wrong. He could not find the place for half an hour until I realized I had given him the wrong directions. My intentions were good, because I wanted to get him where we were going to have breakfast, but the directions were wrong.
After breakfast we had an informal Bible study, and I told Tony that though our parents had good intentions of showing us the way to God, they were giving us the wrong directions. Jesus said that "He is the way, the Truth and the Life and noone comes to the Father but through Him."
He had to leave suddenly after he recieved a call, but that day we both learned something. It does not matter how good your intentions are, if you do not know the correct way, you will always be lost.

HEALTH EXPO

Our dear friends, brothers and sisters in the Lord. We have been blessed throughout this first month of January meeting lots of people that will Lord willing will get to know the Lord.
We have been praying, planning and preparing for an event we will have this saturday 21st of January. It will have as the main theme Health. We will have three speakers talk about the physical, mental and most important spiritual health. These will talk about the importance of a wholistic need with Christ being the center and main focus of all. We have been promoting the event throughout Broward county with flyers, posters, newspaper adds, T.V., and word of mouth. We will have booths that will have information about all the health related themes and in the spiritual booths we will have all the ministries offered at the Griffin Road Church (Iglesia De Cristo). The event is targeted to the growing hispanic community and we expect as many as 300 in attendance that day. We will have a follow up Bi-Lingual Service the next day and hopefully many Bible studies.
Pray for the people that will get to hear the Lord's word and for all of us that we may use it according to His will.
Also pray for Enrique, Marisela and Rosita a new family from Mexico that we are studying the Bible with. Also for Jose and Leonor that will attend Church services for the first time this Sunday, also Felipe and Maria de los Angeles that we will pick up on Sunday to attend for the first time as well. They too are from Mexico. Also for Daniel and Sarah whom we met at a "Pollo Tropical" (a fast food cuban chicken place) who were looking for a Church to attend that started at noon and will start comming with us this Sunday. Also pray for Silvia, Maritza, Jessica, Melva, Elsa, Ana and Omar, Ruben, Ademir and Henry who we are talking to and getting to know to one day soon start a Bible study with them.
We are still looking for our home, but we are greatful in the meantime to be blessed with many people that are looking for him to cover all aspects of our health.
May He that can do imeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, keep you with all His peace, mercy and love.
We love you.
Carlos and Maribel Preciado

EXPO-SALUD

Estamos empezando un 2006 emocionados, confiando que Dios tiene grandes planes para el Sur de la Florida. EXPO-SALUD es el evento que estamos trabajando y promoviendo,y tendra lugar el 21 de Enero en las instalaciones de la Iglesia, aqui en Griffin Road. Hemos hablado con muchos negocios locales y nos han dado su apoyo. Seguimos orando por el desarrollo exitoso de este evento, para la gloria de Dios! Y por muchas oportunidades de mostrar el amor de Dios a la comunidad latina aqui en Broward. Cuerpo, Mente y Alma, sera el tema central de este evento y trataremos de mantener una informacion-educativa del mismo tema todo este 2006!

Bendiciones para todos en esta nueva etapa! Nuevo caminar...pero recordemos que hay un solo destino....DIOS!

Chit Chat

Monday right after christmas, Maribel and I went to get some gas at the gas. I went in to get a reciept after pumping gas and then I walked out. I decided to use the restroom so I went back inside and there was a guy waiting to use it for it was occupied. We started talking and it turned out he was visiting from Fort Myers for the holiday and was on his way back. I told him tobe careful on the road back and told him about our dear Jim. I told him we were missionaries and that we taught the Bible and gave him my card. Also that if he was interested in learning more about Jesus to call me, because I had a friend that was getting together witha group to study the word.
Tuesday evening came and I recieved a call from Marvin the guy at the gas station that I met the night before. He told me if I could call my friend, because he wanted to study more about Jesus. I had called my friend already and told him "wait for his call".
Wednesday night I was at a retreat for leaders in Eustus Fl. and I got a call from Roberto my friend the minister from Naples Florida, and he told me that someone wanted to speack to me. It was Marvin. I got so excited tears came out of my eyes. He thank me for telling him about the studies and told me he had been with Roberto the whole day telling people about Christ. I told him that the Lord was looking for him and that I was only an instrument. And with a little chit chat we both found that out.
Praise God for using us in His Kingdom.