Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Latest Ramblings

Lately I just haven't been in the mood to write...I usually like to respond to current events, or to share what is on my mind, but to be honest...I just haven't felt like writing anything. Still, with Christmas coming, my mind begins to drift towards two days past Christmas Day. December 27th, to be exact. That is the Sunday that I gave my heart to the Lord, and it is a day that makes December 25th special to me. When I think of that day, I also think of Jesus' parable of the Sower and the Seed, how He speaks of seed falling on both unreceptive and receptive soil. Out of the van load of kids who went with me to the Hollywood Palladium on that December day, I know of only one who continued in his walk with Jesus. All of the others seem to have fallen away. One of them used to attend our church in our early days, but he ended up marrying and divorcing twice, and while at our church was using cocaine and finally just walked away from the Lord. I heard a few years ago that he went to Calvary Chino Hills for awhile, and I pray that he did and that he is still there, as my hope would be that he came back to the Lord. Interestingly, our church bought the house where his ex-wife used to live in on Pipeline, and we "paved paradise and put in a parking lot". When we bought the house, I believe she had started going to Calvary Chino Hills, and again, I sure pray she is still there. 
It is amazing, when I think of it, how many people I have known and cared about (and for) who have left their walks with Jesus. Friends that I would break bread with, pray with, laugh with, and even confide in who were trustworthy and yet, when it came down to it, more than likely never were saved. It amazes me. I think of their impact on my life, especially when I first came to faith in Jesus and sometimes wonder what made the difference. We went to the same church, had the same friends, made the same profession of faith in the same Savior, and yet they walked away and I have remained with Jesus. Truly salvation is a mystery. 
Jesus likened the Kingdom of God to a man sowing seed in his field, and the seed sprouts and grows, but he himself does not know how (Mk 4:26-29) I certainly have no idea why someone claims faith in Jesus and walks away, and others make the same claim and become missionaries, pastors, teachers, full time ministers, chaplains, etc. and remain and grow strong in Jesus. All I know is that I want to remain faithful to Him, until the end, and that I want to be one who encourages others to love and serve Him, too. It never has been an easy road for me, but it has been a blessed one.
When I got saved, I had been dating a girl who broke up with me. Of course, I thought I would die of a broken heart! She actually was used by the Lord to make me consider my life, and to get it right with Jesus. It is amazing how the Lord used a broken relationship and a broken heart to bring me to a place where He could be the mender of broken hearts (Lu 4:18) It took around five years for me to get over her, and I really didn't get over her until the day she got married. I went to her wedding, and then went home and cried myself to sleep (drama is my middle name). God gave her a great young man whom I knew was better for her than I could ever be, but I never dreamed of the incredible gift He had waiting for me when He opened my eyes to a beautiful young woman named Marie. He used my sorrow over being such a jerk to bring me to repentance, that I might be a better man and to grow into a good husband and His servant...and to be the pastor of the church I now love and serve. Hmmmm, what a wonderful God and what a beautiful plan He had for me, and has for you. 
May you remain strong in Him, Merry Christmas, and remember that the best is yet to come!

3 comments:

Max Solis said...

Since we are just rambling, just thought I'd throw it out there...I hope that we can remember that, come January 20th (when he officially have our new president sworn in), although we will be known as an Obama Nation, that doesn't mean that we have to be known as an abomination. LOL! But seriously, thank you Pastor David for sharing your heart with us not only from the pulpit, but also through this blog and your podcast. You are truely a "Good Shepard" Take care & God Bless!

J said...

Pastor David,

Merry Christmas! I thought I would start with that. My wife and I no longer attend your church(I know you would approve of where we attend now). Since CCCV is the church I started to attend when I got saved, I miss it very much. I go the the website pretty much every day just to try and keep up. Your blog in particular.

I too find it interesting how the people in our lives come and go and how some fall away. I can only pray that they come back to the Lord.

I find it so difficult at times but Jesus uses the most amazing ways and people to always point me back to him.

But He is faithful, as you know.

Thank you Pastor David for loving Jesus enough to be whom you are today and He used you to make a difference in my life.

I love you Pator David and may Jesus bless you and all of the Rosales family this Christmas in particular and forever more!

circleslash said...

Oh, Pastor David. That is exactly what I needed to hear.
As I write to you, it's only one week until my divorce is final. Yes, ironically, it's final on the 25th. Go figure. I wrote to you some months ago about how my husband threw me away and how I'm losing my home, etc. He's going back to Poland. I keep hearing over and over in Bible studies about Job and how the latter was better than the former. I know that the Lord is a just brilliant when it comes to making something amazing out of our mistakes. I'm counting on His faithfulness in the matter. I can't see it now, but I believe it to be on the horizon. I've cried so many tears, God must have gallons of the stuff! And soon, I'll attend my last study at your church. I'll miss it. But the Lord has provided so much more than I expected.
Merry Christmas to you and yours. God bless you, Pastor.