The Last Letter - Pt.1

One thing in life is certain: You and I will all die one day. There is nothing we can do about that. So, in a sense, we are all "dying." We have all heard of people who live well. They give to others, have a positive attitude, and trust God every day. How many times have you heard a story about someone who is "dying" well? What if you knew that you had six months, two months, one month to live? How would you or I handle that? How about when your body starts shutting down and writhing in pain? When your hair begins to fall out? How would you and I handle that? Would we trust God? Could we still be joyful and hopeful?

I am witness today of this happening in one of my best friends. Agnes, a woman who I have known for over thirty years. Recently, she was asked to share a message with her local church. She was so weak and frail that she decided to write it out instead and have someone read it to the congregation. Over the next few days, I will be sharing the text of that message.

Agnes's body is in the brutal final stages of cancer. She has been told that she can go at anytime. She, and her husband, Johnny, were a vital part of our ministry in a tiny rural village in northern New Mexico. They were amazing armor bearers for us as we pastored our first church. They were there for us during the good times and the rough times. They were always there to encourage us to keep on going.  We began leading that church when we were just twenty-six years old.  They are a little older than us and  were still willing to respect the spiritual authority of their young pastors.

Steve and I have kept a strong bond with Johnny and Agnes even though we moved to Albuquerque. We have spent many of our wedding anniversaries with them. I can go on and on about our sweet friendship and fellowship with them. I feel that this message will encourage you because even though she is walking through the valley of the shadow of death, she is determined to "finish strong." 

"Life's Journey" - Pt. 1

Hebrews 11:10

". . . for he waited for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

2 Timothy 4:7-8

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only but also to all who love His appearing."

In this life, we may enter many races to win many different kinds of crowns, medals, or prizes, but it is only those who are serious and will work hard who will win anything.

How is it that we can finish the journey of life well? 

Finishing well requires:

• Fighting the good fight
• Finishing your work
• Faithfulness in Christ

Throughout the Bible we find people of God who began well and finished poorly, who were running well but stumbled along the way, and those who may have began badly but finished well. We need to maintain our focus if we are going to finish well...

Pastor Ann Ulibarri and her husband, Steve, oversee the ministries of Family Worship Center in Albuquerque, NM. Ann leads the women's ministries at FWC.

What To Do When You've Lost Your Job

Losing your job is beyond stressful, it can be frightening and depressing. According to some sources, 7.9 million people have been laid off in this recession. Regardless of how dire economic forecasts may be, God is in control of the affairs of Earth. "Many are the plans of a man's heart but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." (Prov. 19.21) Your financial future does not depend on the latest employment report.

"Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life." (Ecc. 7.14)

When you've lost your job you must be willing to examine the place of pain. Why were you laid off or fired? Take the losing of favor seriously. What was the reason? Was it incompetence? Were you unwilling to learn new skills? Were you more of a problem than a solution to a problem for your boss? Were you hard to get along with? Or was the Lord moving you into a different place? Be brutally honest with yourself about this.

Next, realize that your new "job" is to find a job. Find a place your difference is needed. Find a problem that you can solve for an employer or by starting your own business. You were created to solve a problem. Discovering what value you bring to the world and the place that you are to practice your craft is your task.


Ask God for direction and help. If you don't ask, you won't receive.

When you find the "place" God sends you, you need to be prepared. God will not "give" you a job. He provides an opportunity but you have to be ready.

When you get an interview, here are four things you need to say to your prospective new employer:

1. You will never have to give me an instruction twice. I have a system I use to make sure I remember what you tell me.

2. I am a completer. I finish what I start.

3. I am agreeable. I am positive and happy person and can get along with anyone in any situation.

4. I am easy to correct. I know you have a certain way of doing things here and I will learn to do them your way.

The Lord Jesus said "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you." This doesn't mean you need to go feed the poor in Africa or become a pastor. It means you should submit to the government, the laws, the policies, and the principles of God. Jesus is saying He wants you to stop running your life and do things His way. He says "seek" His lordship. When you do this, He'll take care of the rest.

You Don't Have to Be Perfect

In Mark 1:40-45, we read of a leper approaching Jesus and begging to be made clean. He was one of the outcasts - rejected by society and probably his family, too. But he dared to try. He heard of One who could change that.  He said to Jesus: "If you want to, You can make me whole! If you care enough, will you cleanse me?" He knew Jesus had the power to cleanse him.

Jesus did something that must have sent a shock wave through the crowd. He not only cared but He touched an unclean leper. Jesus full of compassion, touched and healed him! That "touch" is the vital part of this encounter. His touch not only released God's power but it conveyed for all to see that he - a leper and social reject - was accepted.

The leper was made whole both internally and physically. He was no longer rejected but fully accepted. It changed his life, just as it will yours and mine. No one can feel the "accepting" touch of God and remain the same. It is in the power of His acceptance that frees us from rejection. So just like the leper, we don't have to be perfect to be accepted.

Pastor Doris Sanchez

Pastor Doris Sanchez is an Administrator and Small Group Pastor at Family Worship Center in Albuquerque, NM.