NOTES FROM THE BETTER HALF

To catch up on something we many times forget to do after requesting prayer.. Dock and I have two BIG praise items that you've supported us with lately.

Our son, David, who lives 3 minutes from us made a sudden and unexpected trip to the ER about a week ago. He had severe and sudden back pain. He was placed on a morphine derivative med, valium and a strong anti-inflammatory. They waited, x-rayed, examined and found it to be a muscle spasm. He went home, slept (of course he slept with that amount of meds in his system). He was fine the next day and every day since. Thanks for praying for Dave and his little family.

Our daughter, Debbie, as many of you know had been "invited" out of the country of Spain and was living with us. She, her husband and four kids have been missionaries there for years. She was "invited" to leave Spain (and family) for a minimum of 3 months to "re-apply" for official permission to reside in Spain. That can sometimes take up to a year. Our son-in-law, Giles, had to do the same last year and was away from the family for many months. So.. the family has been basically split up for a year...I'm sure you can relate..HUGE deal! Yesterday, Deb got permission from the Chicago Spanish Consulate to re-enter Spain legally. She got her VISA yesterday morning and flew home last night to be with her family.

Praise God for a double victory in the Caton family! And thanks to you all for the support.

Norma

PS If we had more children other than Deb and Dave, we would still be reporting God's provision and blessings! He's just like that!

Guess What????!!!

Guess what????!!!

I Got My VISA!!!!!

I'm in Budapest….with Giles…but will come back to the States this weekend, then go into Chicago on Monday for the Visa!!!!  And fly out that day or the next, depending on flights!!!!  Will be home with the kids for a couple of 'normal days' and then have SPRING BREAK as a family!!

Praise the Lord.  His timing is perfect. 

We will write more later, but you needed to know this much!  

Debbie Davis

Prayer has been answered.   Some of you who see this may be getting the news for the second or even possible third time from one source or another.  But to all of you who have prayed for our daughter, she is finally receiving her visa.  She had already been told that it would be at least 6 months, and that it could go on even longer.  But thanks to answered prayers through God's mercy, she will be on her way back very soon after only three months.  She is currently in Budapest Hungary, with her husband for a conference.  The children all remain in Spain, but thankfully, they will all soon be reunited.  Thank to all of you so much for praying for her and their family.   Dock

STEP BY STEP

Oh God you are my God, earnestly I seek you.  My soul thirsts for you, and my body longs for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water.   Psalm 63:1

Lord I love this portion of scripture because it reminds me of the words that Rich Mullins wrote years ago from your word about being with you each step of the way.  He said, step-by-step you’ll lead me, and I will follow you all of my days.  

Your message has been clear this past few days to let my spirit be calm, and walk in quietness.  There is so much noise everywhere.  Sometimes I feel so wrapped up in self and anxieties, and I need that still small voice to quiet my spirit, and then to calmly get up and continue the journey just one step at a time. 

Lord, I see how much I need you, and I am gradually learning what it means to live in and walk in peace.  In Matthew Ch. 14, we see how you calmed the storm in Peter’s life.  Too often we want you to do things our way, and so much so that we sometimes reach a point of thinking we can go on our own, and walk on water, just as Peter did.  But you have that way of calming us and reassuring us that you are always there to pick us up when we stumble or fall. 

And the still small voice says,  “ Yes, that is right.“  Too many are out rushing and running to and fro, but their steps are not planned and their house is not in order.” But be assured, you must take just one step at a time, one day at a time, step by step.

You see, I have summoned  you by name, you are mine.  Fear not for I have redeemed you.  I will be with you and when you pass through the waters, I will be with you.  When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you, and when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.  Isaiah 43:1-2. 

So I want you to learn to walk step-by-step in faith, in peace and calmness so that you in turn may be able to find other men along the pathway.  As you walk, teach them this quietness in the spirit through example. 

Dock Caton   03/12/2012

SUFFERING

Recently I found some writings from a very capable writer who prepared his scripts in both English and Spanish on face book.  His writings were so good, that I was not only compelled to use them, but I look forward to many more to come in the futue. 

Nate Davis, a young lad 13 years of age, delivers his message to youth on face book.  He is the son of  Giles and Debbie Davis, Missionaries in Spain since December 2005.  It is not by mere coincidence that he just happens to be my grandson.  Words cannot express how proud  we are of him and, the way God is using him for His glory.  From his own skills and mindset, he provides this writing in both English and Spanish.  I look forward to having many more postings from the heart and mind of this young man.

  SUFFERING

English Version...

We will go through trials, difficulties, suffering, rejection, hatred, envy, resentment, impurity, and all kinds of misfortunes. Everyone has gone through something like that, some of them overcome with faith, others, fall constantly and end up on the floor. God, the Creator of the universe, is going to let Satan attack multiple times, we'll suffer, we'll hurt, and we're going to hate what God will tell us to do.


God is not evil. Yes, we are left to suffer, but it is for a reason which is quite logical. For us to listen, obey and follow Him, is a test. Will a teacher give out homework just to annoy us?  Would a good father send his son to school every day just to avoid him? Would God let you hurt for nothing? No, of course not. Of course, we do not like what God wants from us, nor will we like it if we lose someone special, nor if they insult us because of our faith, nor if we have to leave our family and friends because God wants us elsewhere.  We will also hate when God lets Satan torment and torture us with temptations in which we will fall a lot. But there are reasons:

If we do what God commands, He will benefit us for having obeyed.  When we lose someone special, we'll mature, as we learn to live without that person and to be content with God's plan (this applies also to leaving your family and friends). 

I
f they insult us because of our faith, God will bless us for

having to follow him, proving our strong faith.


When we suffer with temptations, but exceed them, knowing that God gives us more joy than lust, comparison, and envy, and I think we know why God will bless us for that...
"But it is so difficult to follow God if I know that what He wants will lead me into suffering. How can I be OK with that, say many?”  
Yes, it is always difficult. God did not invent tests to pass unnoticed or easy. They'll always be difficult. But that's what faith is. If you have enough to settle and say, "God, even I know I'll suffer, I'll endure it for you and glorify you for it because I know that benefits will come after," or if you fall to the bottom and go down the wrong path, the easiest one. 
Yet God also wants desperately for us to have a happy life free from suffering, but if He sees that you need any of these tests to be happy then, He will put them in front of you, hoping that you win over them because of listening to Him. And something that most of the time, or always (depending on the person), God will give you is joy. Joy in the midst of suffering. Whatever the tests you're going through, it's possible to be joyful with it, and thank Him for caring so much for you as to leave you, one of his creations to suffer, for your good. No matter how difficult the test you're going trough, never forget that God does it for your sake, because he loves you. Follow him, and you'll be happy, either in this world, or in Heaven.  Nate Davis 03/01/12

 SUFRAMIENTO

Spanish Version….

Vamos a pasar por pruebas, dificultades, sufrimiento, rechazo, odio, envidia, rencor, impureza, y todo tipo de desgracias. Todo el mundo ha pasado por algo así, algunos lo superaron con fe, otros cayeron constantemente y acabaron en el suelo. Dios, el Creador del universo, va a dejar que Satanás nos ataque múltiplas veces, vamos a sufrir, vamos a doler, y vamos a odiar lo que Dios nos dice que hagamos.

Dios no es malvado. Sí, nos deja sufrir, pero lo hace por una razón que es bastante lógica. Para que le escuchemos, le obedezcamos, y le sigamos. Es una prueba. ¿Un profesor va a poner deberes solo para jorobar? ¿Un buen padre va a mandar a su hijo al colegio cada día solo para alejarse de él?... ¿Dios va a hacerte sufrir solo para nada? No. Claro que no. Claro, no nos gustará lo que Dios quiere que hagamos, ni nos encantará perder a alguien especial, ni si nos insultan por nuestra fe, ni si tenemos que dejar a nuestra familia y amigos porque Dios nos quiere en otro lugar, e incluso lo odiaremos cuando Dios deje a Satanás atormentarnos y torturarnos con tentaciones en las que caeremos mucho. Pero hay razones:

-Si hacemos lo que Dios nos manda, Él nos beneficiará por haberle obedecido.-Cuando perdemos alguien especial, maduraremos, porque aprenderemos a vivir sin esa persona y a conformarnos con el plan de Dios (y esto se aplica también a dejar a tu familia y amigos).

-Si nos insultan por nuestra fe, Dios nos bendecirá por sufrir por seguirle, demostrando nuestra fe fuerte.

-Cuando sufrimos con tentaciones, pero las superamos, sabiendo que Dios nos da mas gozo que la lujuria, la comparación, y la envidia, y creo que ya sabemos por qué Dios nos bendecirá por eso..."Pero es dificilísimo seguir a Dios si sé que lo que me manda va a traerme sufrimiento, ¿cómo conformarme con ello?", dirán muchos. Sí, siempre es difícil. Dios no inventó las pruebas para que pasaran desapercibidas ni fáciles. Siempre serán difíciles. Pero en eso consiste la fe. Si tienes la suficiente como para conformarte y decir: "Dios, aunque sufriré, lo haré por ti, y te glorificaré por ello porque sé que solo vendrá a mi beneficio después", o si vas a caer al fondo e ir por el camino equivocado, el más difícil.

Aún así, Dios también quiere desesperadamente que tengas una vida feliz y libre de sufrimiento, pero si ve que necesitas alguna de esas pruebas para después ser feliz, te los pondrá delante, con la esperanza de que las superes haciéndole caso a Él. Y algo que la mayoría de las veces, o sino todas (depende de la persona), Dios te dará es gozo. Gozo en medio del sufrimiento. Pases por la prueba que pases, es posible tener gozo con ello, y darle gracias por preocuparse tanto por ti como para dejarte a ti, una de sus creaciones, sufrir; por tu bien. Ahora, difícil que sea la prueba por la que estás pasando, nunca olvides que Dios lo hace por tu bien, porque te quiere. Síguele, y serás feliz, o en este mundo, o en el de arriba.   Nate Davis 03/01/12

JARROS ROTAS

Because we have so many Spanish-speaking friends, every once in awhile, someone has asked me, to translate writing into the Spanish language.  Such is the case with this particular writing, a translated version of the previous article entitled “Broken Vessels”

JARROS ROTAS

Mientras he pasado a través de las distintas estaciones de la vida, he visto a personas quebrantadas una y otra vez. A veces, esa rotura es tan grave que cuesta meses o incluso años para curar o sobrepasar; y algunas veces sólo se obtiene a través de un consejero o contando con ayuda especial.  En otras situaciones, es posible que no sea tan grave, pero simplemente que siga reapareciendo la rotura. ¿Cuántas veces será, Señor? ¿Será igual que el número de veces que debemos perdonar a los demás; 70 x 7?    

¿Qué significa ser quebrantado? ¿Significa lo que experimenta uno durante una caída?  ¿Romper huesos?   En algunos casos, podría significar precisamente eso. 

¿Significa que uno se rompe mentalmente hasta el punto de ser incapaz de funcionar adecuadamente, o hasta tener que ver un terapeuta?  Quizás para algunos será.

Quebrantamiento podría significar que Cristo nos lleva hasta un punto en nuestro camino que no estamos en condiciones de seguir adelante sin la ayuda de alguien. Y quizás significa que algunos tendrán que morir para la mayor gloria.

Para muchos de nosotros hace un par de semanas, significó subir a un avión e ir a Nicaragua, donde pudimos ver y comprender de primera mano lo que significa el sufrimiento. Observamos pobres pequeños niños hambrientos que con tristeza en sus ojos dieron el relato de otra cara del quebrantamiento.

A menudo nuestro quebrantamiento se produce por tener demasiado que comer, o tanta riqueza y fortuna que no sabemos qué hacer con ella. Tenemos tantas cosas a a nuestro derredor que nos tropezamos con ellas, sin saber cómo usar las cosas que Él nos ha dado para su gloria.

Honestamente, yo no sé si puedo decirle lo que significa ser una jarra rota, pero puedo decirle esto. Tuvimos el ejemplo perfecto de quebrantamiento que descendió a la tierra para enseñarnos cómo manejarlo. Isaías nos cuenta sobre un hombre que creció como un brote o un tallo desde la tierra seca.  No tuvo belleza para atraer a nadie.  No era atractivo.  Ni había ninguna cualidad que nos haría acercarnos a él.  Así que fue odiado y rechazado.  Era un hombre que tuvo que afrentarse a mucho sufrimiento y dolor. Todos evitaron mirarle, pero ha quedado muy claro que Él tomó sobre sí mismo todo nuestro dolor y nuestro sufrimiento; nuestro quebrantamiento. Lo llevaba sobre sus hombros todo el camino hacia la cruz del Calvario.

Sin embargo, seguimos evitándole como lo hicieron hace tiempo. Él fue rechazado; nadie le dio su merecido aprecio.

Él fue herido, magullado por el hombre y humillado. Fue aplastado y reventado y enviado a la tumba por toda nuestra rebelión y pecado.

Ahora pedimos al Señor, ¿Qué debemos llevarnos de todo esto? A. W. Tozer dijo: "Él quiere nada menos de nosotros, que el todo".

Una cosa que estoy empezando a aprender: Jesús dijo "Si uno realmente quiere ser mi discípulo, debe recoger su cruz cada día y seguirme."

Aunque es posible, es improbable que moramos en el extranjero sirviéndole. Sin embargo, debemos estar dispuestos a morir si es la cruz que él nos asigna. Su copa tiene el sabor el sabor de la muerte. No hay amor más grande para el hombre mortal que el de un amigo que muere por el.

Eso es exactamente lo que hizo por cada uno de nosotros. Él eligió morir para que se pueda seguir viviendo. Dios nos ayude a ser esa clase de siervo.

Dock Caton 03/01/12

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