1 Corinthians 4:2 "Faithful." on this week's Word of Grace Devotional with Pastor Joe Marquez. (On the passing of Pastor Dave Gonzales.)

5/16/2016

The Word of Grace Devotion for the Week of May 16, 2016
Faithful
1 Corinthians 4:2- “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”
Beloved, yesterday one of my dear friends in the ministry, Pastor Dave Gonzales passed away from complications with diabetes. Pastor Dave was Cindy Arauco’s pastor in California and I had the opportunity to meet Pastor Dave and his family.
It wasn’t long after that Pastor Dave invited me to go on an outreach to Iraq to help teach a Bible Conference In Duhok, Iraq to precious saints whose lives in were constant peril. It was there that I met Pastor Jeff Fadness and John (The Encyclopedia) Chubik. If John ever went on Jeopardy he would win in a landslide!
While in Duhok, Iraq, I still remember asking why a large steel container was parked in front of the church where we had our Bible Conference. I was told that its purpose was protection from a possible car bomber. We don’t live in that type of a situation so sometimes it is difficult for us to understand the cost of being a Christian. Persecution for us is being offended. Persecution for many believers around the world involves the loss of their life.
Pastor Dave loved ministering in these locations. He was a good friend of Wes Bentley and had gone to the Sudan to minister to the men training to be chaplains. If Pastor Dave was anything, he was faithful. He persevered through his illness and continued to serve the Lord. This is what Saints do. We keep on walking and serving and loving Jesus until He decides to take us home.
I was miss Pastor Dave and my heart is broken for his wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren and his flock at Calvary Chapel Cerritos but I know that I will see Pastor Dave again. So while I mourn his passing I do not mourn without hope.
2 Corinthians 5:1- “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
2 Corinthians 5:6-8, “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
Beloved, I pray that you will have a blessed week! I love you and I will be praying for you! And if you can please say a prayer for the family of Pastor Dave and his church.

In Jesus,
Pastor Joe

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Senior Pastor
Joe Marquez

Beloved, we are soon to once again celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the human Son of man and the divine Son of God. He is one hundred percent human and one hundred percent God.

While there were many people instrumental in the birth of Christ, this morning we will look at His birth through the eyes of Joseph, His legal father. There is not too much known about the man who would care for Christ as He grew up. We know that Joseph was possibly a carpenter but most importantly we know that he was a righteous man who did the right thing.

When others would have ran away from a responsibility that was not even their own, Joseph stood steadfast and remained faithful to the end. We can learn much from his character and apply his attributes of faithfulness, purity, and perseverance to our own lives.

May you have a Blessed Christmas week and may Christ always be at the center of your lives!

P.S. Come back this evening as we look at the birth of Christ through the Gospel of Luke!