Morning, 

This past weekend we had the privilege of going to visit a Rehab center here in Ixtapaluca. It was their graduation service and friends and family had come to celebrate the "lucha" (fight) that these young men had passed through. We heard from men as young as 16 years of age and I understand that even younger ones had passed through their program. 

As you can see from the photo it’s not a very plush place. In fact, in the back right corner where we were sitting, there was a smell of putrid, you could smell sewer. The floor, I don't know if you can see it, is made-up of broken pieces of concrete and dirt. The building is piece-meal, patches of different types of block and concrete slapped together. The roof is a rotten tarp over the central portion of the center. It’s here in the middle of a deteriorating structure, rotten smells and horrible conditions that the God of the Universe has planted seeds and is causing something beautiful and fresh to come alive. It reminds of the image of a manure pile and on it you see a flower. It’s vibrant green stem and leaves support the most glorious and delicate brilliant white flower. Its petals a stark contrast to the putrid from which it sprouted, making the contrast all that more poignant. Reminds me of the verse that goes something like "God works all things together for good to those that love Him..." God can use anything for His glory when we surrender our lives to His Magnificent touch. 

Here is a link to a great song...it’s called "La Gloria de Dios" 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRsgqFu5c1o&spfreload=10%20Message%3A%20Unexpected%20end%20of%20input%20(url%3A%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DLRsgqFu5c1o)

 It explains all the things that happen simply because we've come into contact with La Gloria de Dios. For me, I like to remember times from the past, what God has saved me from/out-of. There is always the blessing of spending a complete life with Christ, but there is also the blessing of being saved out of something and knowing that you wouldn't be here except for the grace of God and the La Gloria de Dios. The bible states it this way...Luk 7:47  "Therefore I say to you, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, he loves little."