Beauty for Ashes

Psalm 77:11-12 says:“I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

It is so very important to always be grateful! Being grateful has us look at our life with a different perspective. 

When I look back over my life and remember all that the Lord has done for me, I am filled with thanksgiving. He gave me a loving husband, three awesome children, seven precious grandchildren and in 2020 a sweet great granddaughter. All these blessings are in themselves many reasons for me to be very grateful.

My husband was a successful chartered accountant with a good income. Our lifestyle permitted me to travel, live in beautiful homes, including a condo on the beach in South Carolina, buy nice clothes, drive nice cars, and taste all the good things life could offer. 

Starting early on in our marriage Roger would always push me to learn more. He would explain complicated accounting details; When I would roll my eyes in complete boredom, and I did that often, he would say: “Listen to me, what I am saying, it’s important you understand.” He was somewhat stubborn, and he had made up his mind that this woman he had married was going to be his office manager. He won and by 1980, I became the office manager of his successful accounting firm. If and when I would struggled with these new responsibilities, he would always say: “Denise, you can do this.”

In September 1981, we became born-again christians. Soon afterwards, our values changed, our desired changed and our life goals changed. The glitter the world was offering us faded away. For a season it left our hearts yearning to be filled with a more meaningful life. So, we prayed that the Lord would use us somewhere else than in an accounting firm. In 1989, after a trip to Mexico, Roger felt a calling to go back on a permanent basis. Immediately, I was in completely agreement with his decision.  We sold everything we had and left for the mission field in August 1990.

Once on the mission field, he continued to strongly encourage me to learn more about the daily administration details of the ministry.  When we started to write our own Spanish children bible curriculum  he taught me how to work with a graphic software program. Over the years we also did some construction projects. Roger also thought me many details about construction, even if at times I found the information very boring. Nevertheless, I listened to what he had to say, never thinking that one day I would need all this information.

Life on the mission field was not an easy life, but a very fulfilling life. We learned a new language and got acquainted with a new culture. We found ourselves totally immersed in what the Lord had for us to do. We never looked back, we never had regrets. We always felt the Lord's love, guidance, provision and His protection.

In 2005, we had to come back to Ottawa because Roger was having some serious health issues. He was a non-smoker, but a lung cancer diagnosis in 2006 threw us for a spin. He fought like a brave soldier through 72 chemo treatments and 34 radiation treatments but unfortunately he went to be with Jesus in March 2008.

After he died, I continued with the ministry work, even if in the beginning, many were the days, where I had no physical or emotional strength. Days when I would miss Roger so much that it would take all my energy just to get up and face another day without him.

Even through those difficult days, deep in my heart I knew I was to continue. Even on the hardest of days, I never felt that the Lord had removed the missionary calling on my life. No matter what struggles I was facing I had to continue and I will continue until the Lord tells me otherwise.

For 15 years while on the mission field, Roger had done his share and I had done mine. In 2008, I was now faced with continuing to do my share plus take on his share. On a daily basis, the Lord gave me strength. On a daily basis, He gave me the will to continue the vision. The fire in my spirit was always and is still burning in my heart. When I struggled with new responsibilities, I remember what Roger told me so many times: “Denise, you can do this.”

The ministry is Mexico is doing very well and growing. In 2017, after several pneumonias brought on by working too hard, the Lord changed the way I was doing things. Now, I still oversee the program, but, I am letting my qualified volunteers look after the daily details. In 2017, TLCCM had 3 locations. Now in 2021, we have 8 locations, including 5 indigenous communities in or near the mountains outside of Tijuana. Each month, we touch the lives of 315 families. The gospel is being preached, bibles are being distributed, children lessons are being copied and distributed and entire families are being helped in several different ways, including monthly distribution of supplies and groceries. 

Does this mean that I am is free of problems? Of course not. The devil likes to put several obstacles in my way, but I am pressing on. The Lord's reputation for my life precedes Him. Therefore, I fully trust Him for the now situations and for future situations I might encounter.

When I am feel somewhat overwhelmed, I remember Roger pushing me to be all that he knew I could be. Even to this day his influence helps me to never to give up. Part of God’s faithfulness for my life is that for 44 years, He gave me a life partner that helped me become who I am today. 

Of course, I would never be where I am today if the Lord had not taken care such good care of me. After Roger died, the Lord took me by the hand, and He has never let me go. Through it all, He has been right by my side, walking with me on good days and carrying me through during the difficult times.

He has sustained me. He has been my strength & peace! He has enabled me to do things I would never have thought possible. I enjoy teaching or sharing God's Word in three languages depending on where I am. I enjoy writing articles for my BLOG and I love to encourage and pray for people. My life is full. There is really never a dull moment. 

I thank the Lord for opening for both of us, doors of ministry that permitted us to go where we had never gone before, do things we never thought we could do and serve Him in a country that adopted us as their own. 

Isaiah 61:2-3 says: “ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion; to bestow on them (on me) a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” 

          I am so very grateful! The Lord has truly made beauty out of the ashes of my life.

 Sincerely, 

Denise 

Update: After some health issues in 2020-2021 it became difficult for me to continue the work in Tijuana. I retired on December 31st, 2022. Nevertheless every word I wrote in this BLOG hopefully will encourage someone to seek the Lord's will and do things you never thought you could do!

New International Version used unless otherwise specified