January 02, 2012

Strawberry Fields And The Begats

We, (the Espinoza children), learned how to work at a very young age. As with most migrant worker families, parents would take their children to the fields and set them to work or often kept them in the car while the parents were harvesting the season's crop. I worked the onion, strawberries, cucumber, and other fields to labor as an elementary school aged child. I do not regret this time, believe it or not, some of my most cherished memories were when we as a family were working together.
(This was not taken while we were working but this a picture of the Espinoza's. I used this picture because this is probably what we looked like with so many kids in our family when it was lunch time. Mom always took a lot of food for us and we had to drive several cars so we could get to work.)
(Eva and Myself )
I was already baptized and living a life for the Lord when at the age of fourteen a wonderful revelation came to me. On one morning, I had awaken very early to go work in the strawberry fields in Modesto, California. At this time in my life, I had desired to fully  understand who the Lord was? The Psalmist wrote, "Who is this King of Glory..." Psalm 24:8.  
(Google Source)
I had taken my school clothes with me and I would change in the van from wet muddy shoes and skirt to dry clean clothes, then taken to school while the rest of my family continued working. I usually slept on the way to school but not this time. I could not stop trying to understand who is the Lord, the Father, the Son and how does it all come together?       
I remembered that as a child watching The Bill Cosby show, where Mr. Cosby asked a child what was their favorite part of the Bible, the little girl replied that she liked "All the begat's." 


This person was born of that person, etc. Hmm, with that memory the verse John 3:16 came to mind and I saw it!  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." He was a son because He was born of a woman. That is what made Him the Son because to be a son you would have to be born and that is the only time the bible tells us when He was born. He was not a son coming to be born a Son.  "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8, Because HE IS the One that IS (everlasting) and He WAS (still everlasting from the beginning) AND which is to come (going to come when He was born) He is the ALMIGHTY! (and He will come again for His bride!) ME!! ;D 


I sat up so thrilled and exclaimed with much excitement, "I see it! I see it!" 
My sister, Carol, who was driving asked me in a desperate way, "What do you see?" as she was looking at both sides of the road to find what I had seen.
"How Jesus was a son, He was a begat!!" 
She had this look on her face as if she could not believe I would speak in such terms. I knew I had better explain quickly.
"He was a son because He was born", I replied. 
 So, I explained how I got a realization of who Jesus is! I knew Jesus was the Holy Ghost as He said "I will be in you", as the Holy Ghost! But now, I know who Jesus is!


Can you see why I get so excited when I hear about who Jesus is? Every time I hear the message of One God I see it over and over again, so plain to see. What about you? Do you know who He is? I have never forgotten who Jesus is and will never, never forget how I learned through a little girl stating what her favorite part of the bible was and John 3:16 put it all together for me. Thank God! I know WHO He is and I KNOW Him. It just goes to show what children learn stays with them.


Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Your answer to the Psalmist's question
Psalm 24:8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD...
xox 
Blessings,
 
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5 comments:

  1. Sis Payan,

    What church did you attend in Modesto and how did you wind up in Phoenix?

    I love this story because I'm from Modesto, too. :)

    I know the Gonzaleses (not sure how it's spelled) and I think I've seen at least one of your sisters visit occasionally with Sis Bonnie, but I could be wrong :)

    Wonderful story.

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  2. Pastor Nathaniel Montez was my pastor. The most wonderful man in the world! He would not stop reaching for my family's salvation. He pastored in Salida, Ca. We went to special services at Bro. Randy Keyes' church that may be where you have met my family. Small world after all.

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  3. My family attended Pastor Montez church the same time too, my mother was Frances Sandoval, we then went to pastor Keyes church, I just happen to come across your Blog

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    1. What a thrill to come across old friends. I knew your mother she was an inspiration to me: always smiling and talking of the Lord. I remember she had kids but I moved from Modesto when just a young girl that I do not remember very much other than the church services. So glad you found my blog. I love the connection with the old church family and have always wished I had a picture of Pastor and Sis. Montez for a keepsake. If it were not for them I might not have learned of this wonderful truth.

      God's blessings on you,
      Darlene

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HOW SWEET OF YOU TO SAY SO!