A Transformation and A Love Story

Meet Julio [26] and Lidia [26], his wife. They have been married for 10 years. They have a 7-year old son, Caesar. They are new members at the church in Mexico. Julio asked if he could share his story with me on our last day at the conference.

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A short time ago Julio left his wife and son ["I abandoned them" - were his words to me].

He left Mexico and went to the USA to live with his brother who is a believer in Jesus Christ. He was there for 3 long years where he lived the life of a drug addict, smoked heavily and drank alcohol so much that his brother found him unconscious in the street most nights. Julio learned to speak some English when living in the States. He communicated to me the best he could - that his brother asked him many times to go to church with him.

Over and over Julio said, "No, I don't want any part of your God."

So.... his brother prayed for him.

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One morning Julio woke up after a drunken ordeal and reached for a drink.... but he vomited at the first swallow. He reached for his drugs, again he vomited. Cigarettes had the same affect. He went to his brother and yelled at him, "What have you done?"

His brother replied, "I have prayed for you, that God would make your body REPEL the alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes that have held you captive for so long."

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Instead of anger and rage, Julio said to his brother, "If your God can do this to me, then take me to your church, I want to meet Him." Julio went to church with his brother and there He met the Savior and the Lord of his life, Jesus Christ, for the first time. The preaching that day spoke life into his soul and he was transformed. God removed the scales from his eyes and he was given understanding to the Word. His darkness was turned into light.

He has now dedicated his life to 'ministry' there in Mexico. But he will be discipled fully and watched carefully in order for him to prove his faith to be genuine.

His heart was full the day he shared with me about this.

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On our last evening at the conference, a special celebration dinner was given in our honor [as the preaching/teaching team]. Many of the church members were there as well. I watched Julio and Lidia sitting in the corner holding hands together

and putting there heads together like a young grade school romance.

They were laughing and singing .......

and joyful in the Lord.

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Lidia looks up at her husband as he gives "gifts of love and appreciation" to our group.
God has given her back her life - rebuilt - restored and renewed, just as His Word says!

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Isaiah 61
The Year of the LORD's Favor

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on Me [Christ],

because the LORD has anointed Me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the LORD

for the display of His splendor.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins

and restore the places long devastated;

they will renew the ruined cities

that have been devastated for generations.

[emphasis added]

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Would you commit to praying for Julio, and his wife, Lidia, and son, Caesar, that God would grow their faith and bless their family as they seek to love and serve Him for the rest of their days there in Mexico?

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Choosing JOY, Stephanie