I REMEMBER AS A LITTLE GIRL CELEBRATING PASSION WEEK., WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO EAT ANY MEAT THAT WEEK AND ESPECIALLY ON “HOLY FRIDAY”. I CAN ALSO RECALL GOING TO CHURCH ON EASTER SUNDAY AT OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE IN CALEXICO WEARING MY NEW EASTER DRESS AND EVERY YEAR WEARING AN EASTER HAT. BEING THE 7TH CHILD OUT OF SIXTEEN SIBLINGS, MY MOTHER HAD EASTER BASKETS FOR ALL OF HER LOVELY DAUGHTERS EVERY YEAR!
MY PARENTS WOULD TAKE US TO THE PARK FOR EGG HUNT. THAT WAS THE GOOD SIDE…BUT I ALSO RECALL THAT MOST OF THOSE EASTER SUNDAYS ENDED UP WITH MY DAD AND BROTHERS GETTING DRUNK AND SPOILING OUR EASTER EGG HUNT AND MY MOTHER OFTEN ENDED UP WORRIED AND CRYING BECAUSE THEY LOVED TO DRINK AND DRIVE. ONE TIME MY OLDEST BROTHER WAS SO DRUNK, HE DROVE THE CAR RIGHT INTO OUR LIVING ROOM!
NOT BLAMING MY PARENTS NOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE I KNOW THEY TRIED TO BE AS BEST PARENTS AS EVER, HUMBLE FIELD WORKERS AND ALWAYS PROVIDING FOR ALL OF US…BUT I THANK GOD THAT SOMEONE CAME TO WITNESS TO MY MOTHER AND IT WAS THROUGH THE POWER OF A PRAYING MOM THAT I CAME KNOW CHRIST!
EVEN THOUGH GOD SAVED ME AT AN OLDER AGE, JOB 42:5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear.. BECAME SO REAL TO ME.
I OFTEN WONDER HOW DID I EVER LIVED WITHOUT CHRIST IN MY HEART? I CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE!
HAVING BEEN SAVED OVER 30 YRS, I REALLY THANK GOD FOR EVERY BLESSING THAT HAS COME MY WAY. MY JOURNEY HAS NOT BEEN EASY AND I KNOW THAT IT WOULD’VE BEEN HARDER OR EVEN IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT HAVING HIM AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR.
WITHOUT GOD WE ARE NOTHING BUT THROUGH HIM ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. WE NEED TO CONTINUE SHARING OUR TESTIMONY AND GOD’S LOVE TO EVERY SOUL WE ENCOUNTERED AND LET’S LET THAT BE OUR PASSION, NOT ONLY THIS WEEK BUT LET US MAKE IT A LIFESTYLE
I BESEECH ALL PARENTS TO NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR CHILDREN AND LET’S CONTINUE TO SHOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST… THROUGH OUR EXAMPLE SHIP.
BECAUSE HE LIVES…WE CAN LIVE TOMORROW!
AT HIS SERVICE,
LYDIA VILLA
FAST: NO RED MEATS
TARGET: SINGLE PARENTS
"A Call to Arms" Fasting Forum 2015 