Our Puppy!

We lost our incredible boxer, Bauer, last night! Two weeks ago he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He brought us a lot of joy and we will miss him. At just three years old, his illness was shocking to both us and the doctors that worked on him. He was a love bug. He had to be touching you all the time. He loved people. We had two of our neighbors in church last week that are a result of Debbie walking Bauer by their house and conversation starting because of him. He was definitely a very special dog and a huge part of our family and was Debbie's baby. We love you, Podie!

The 23rd Psalm

This month we kicked off our CONNECT GROUPS which are Bible Study groups held in different people's homes. On Monday night, Steve and I attended one in one of our College young ladies' apartments to show our support. This was only her second one, she had invited several, but was not sure how many would come. We heard the buzzer sound, she went to the speaker and a ladies voice came on asking if this was where the meeting was. Natalia immediately buzzed her in the building. She opened her front door and in walked a lady and her 19 year old grandaughter! One of our Outreach teams had canvased the area on Saturday with flyers about the Connect Group meeting in their neighborhood. Helen received one and came! She thought that it was a neighborhood meeting and was taken back when we told her it was a Bible Study. They decided to stay. Later she told us that God had led them to the meeting. The group discussion at the beginning eased her and she even made some comments. The lesson was on fear. She told us that she needed to hear that. When we prayed together at the end, God's presence was felt in a mighty way. You could see the peace that He had brought to our new friends. God is so awesome in how He works. We are very excited about our CONNECT GROUPS and know that God is leading people to each of them on different nights of the week in different cities in this southbay area! Our prayer is that God will lead them fromt the north, the south, the east, and the west and do a mighty work in their lives! He is doing just that and showed us that when Helen and LaQuinta walked in on Monday night!

Just as Natalia began to teach the lesson, she read the 23rd Psalm and Helen told us that was her favorite passage. I then read a version that I have glued in the front flap of my Bible. Helen asked for a copy of it. I just typed it and e-mailed it to her. That's when I thought that I would blog it here today.

THE 23rd PSALM

The Lord is my Shepherd
That’s Relationship!
I shall not want
That’s Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pasture
That’s Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters
That’s Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul
That’s Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
That’s Guidance!
For His name sake
That’s Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
That’s Testing!
I will fear no evil
That’s Protection!
For Thou art with me
That’s Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me
That’s Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies
That’s Hope!
Thou anointest my head with oil
That’s Consecration!
My cup runneth over
That’s Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
That’s blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
That’s Security!
Forever
That’s Eternity!

SAM - Single Adult Ministry

I have been in St. Louis this week in meetings for Single Adult Ministry in the UPCI. I am very excited about all that God is doing with SAM in our great organization. We have some great things coming in the future. One is a new website, a single's e-mail devotional, a new young adult ministry, some blogs, as well as other things! It is an exciting time for SAM!! As soon as some of these things are up and running, I will let you know.

Single Adults can cover a wide age span as well as various lifestyles. Their ages may vary from 18 to over 80 years of age. Every group represents different needs, interests, and physical abilities. Young adults in their 20’s and 30’s as well as middle-aged or older single adults. There are the never-married, the widowed, or the divorced and many of them are single parents. They make up nearly 45% of the population in North America! What a harvest field! Nearly 70% of all new converts in any denomination are single.

There is a need for SAM in every local church, no matter the size of the congregation. That is our goal in working with every District Sunday School director and their District Single's director to make Pastors aware of this great need.

In order for us to see revival like never before:
· We must recognize this great unmarried mission field, for it’s harvest white. “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” John 4:35 – NIV
· We must reach out to this generation and reap what has been sown. "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:37-38 – NIV
· We must relate to all single adults. “. . .Yes, whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him” 1 Corinthians 9:22 – TLB

Single adults are a vast growing mighty force of the church and are instrumental in God’s purpose for the church. A revival growing church believes that single adults are crucial players in today’s revival. They realize that the talents and abilities of today’s single adults are too valuable to ignore. This vast growing group can become a mighty force in your church. They are instrumental in God’s purpose for the church. What better example to follow than the greatest single adult to ever live – JESUS CHRIST!

Mom's Update

Thank you to everyone for all of your prayers for my Mom, Pat Foster (shown above with great-grandaughter's, Jesi & Jayden). She is doing incredible! In fact, she always amazes us at Christmas because she goes non-stop taking care of everyone and loving every minute of it! Mom has always been known as a great hostess. She feels great and is in great spirits. In fact, I called and talked to Dad after we got home last week. He told me that he was more worried about her than she was. Mom feels a peace that everything is okay. The doctor told her that she has most likely had the anterior communicating artery aneurysm since birth. Mom is very positive about it feeling that everything is okay. The doctor said that there are chances that if they were to do the coil up through the arteries or the actual brain surgery, that there is a chance it won't work. . .etc. He told her that if she was in her 30's or 40's that he would say immediate surgery, but that at her age of 78 that it is her choice. Also since she most likely has had it for so long. It means so much to have people all over praying for her. There has been so many calls and cards and they mean so much to Mom, Dad, and all of us. Mom has always been a woman of strong faith and prayer. She feels a peace that she is to go on with life as she has and not have any thing done. She has strong faith and believes that God is taking care of her and her life is in his hands. Dad and all of us support Mom and feel peace that she is going to be okay. Thank you again for your prayers. The Foster/Saiz Family appreciate you so much!

I Love Southern California

This morning when I opened up THE DAILY BREEZE, our daily newspaper for the south bay area of L.A. . . . .this is the picture I saw on the front page with this caption under it. . . .Snow-capped mountains loom over downtown Los Angeles after storms cleared the air. Most people do not think of Los Angeles with snow and mountains. But on any clear day, just driving around we always see the beauty of the mountains. I just wanted to share the beauty we are seeing today! I love southern California!!

I must add. . . .my roots do still come out. . . . . . . So proud of LSU!!! GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!

Prayer Request

You may have read an earlier post where Debbie asked for prayer for her mom, Sis. Patricia Foster, who was diagnosed with an aneurysm. Today she went in for a consultation and the doctor told her it was possible that she has had this all of her life and nothing could happen, but if it's taken place recently, then there is always the chance of hemorrhage . He told them if they chose to do surgery, that there were a couple of options. One is fixing it through the artery and if that is not an option then they would have to do brain surgery. He said he would provide all of his findings to any other doctor if they chose to have a second opinion. This is much to consider. We ask the prayers of our friends and family for her healing and for direction to know what to do!

Happy New Year!

We pray God's blessings upon you in 2008!!

The Saiz Family

Steve, Debbie, Steve Jr.,

Bauer, & Chaquita