The Lord's "Much More" by Charles Spurgeon

And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this. (2 Chronicles 25:9)

If you have made a mistake, bear the loss of it; but do not act contrary to the will of the Lord. The Lord can give you much more than you are likely to lose; and if He does not, will you begin bargaining and chaffering with God. The king of Judah had hired an army from idolatrous Israel, and he was commanded to send home the fighting men because the Lord was not with them. He was willing to send away the host, only he grudged paying the hundred talents for nothing. Oh, for shame! If the Lord will give the victory without the hirelings, surely it was a good bargain to pay their wages and to be rid of them.

Be willing to lose money for conscience' sake, for peace's sake, for Christ's sake. Rest assured that losses for the Lord are not losses. Even in this life they are more than recompensed: in some cases the Lord prevents any loss from happening. As to our immortal life, what we lose for Jesus is invested in heaven. Fret not at apparent disaster but listen to the whisper, "The Lord is able to give thee much more than this."

"He with Us; We with Him" by Charles Spurgeon

The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. (Proverbs 10:27)

There is no doubt about it. The fear of the Lord leads to virtuous habits, and these prevent that waste of life which comes of sin and vice. The holy rest which springs out of faith in the Lord Jesus also greatly helps a man when he is ill. Every physician rejoices to have a patient whose mind is fully at ease. Worry kills, but confidence in God is like healing medicine.

We have therefore all the arrangements for long life, and if it be really for our good, we shall see a good old age and come to our graves as shocks of corn in their season. Let us not be overcome with sudden expectation of death the moment we have a finger-ache, but let us rather expect that we may have to work on through a considerable length of days.

And what if we should soon be called to the higher sphere? Certainly there would be nothing to deplore in such a summons but everything to rejoice in. Living or dying we are the Lord's. If we live, Jesus will be with us; if we die, we shall be with Jesus.

The truest lengthening of life is to live while we live, wasting no time but using every hour for the highest ends. So be it this day.

"No Cause to Blush" by Charles Spurgeon

Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed. (Isaiah 54.4)

We shall not be ashamed of our faith. Carping critics may assail the Scriptures upon which we ground our belief, but every year the Lord will make it more and more clear that in His Book there is no error, no excess, and no omission. It is no discredit to be a simple believer; the faith which looks alone to Jesus is a crown of honor on any man's head and better than a star on his breast.

We shall not be ashamed of our hope. It shall be even as the Lord has said. We shall be fed, led, blest, and rested. Our Lord will come, and then the days of our mourning shall be ended. How we shall glory in the Lord who first gave us lively hope and then gave us that which we hoped for!

We shall not be ashamed of our love. Jesus is to us the altogether lovely, and never, never, shall we have to blush because we have yielded our hearts to Him. The sight of our glorious Well-beloved will justify the most enthusiastic attachment to Him. None will blame the martyrs for dying for Him. When the enemies of Christ are clothed with everlasting contempt, the lovers of Jesus shall find themselves honored by all holy beings, because they chose the reproach of Christ rather than the treasures of Egypt.

May 2011 Newsletter

“I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.” Psalm 81:10. I am sure you are familiar with the stories about George Muller, his orphanage ministry, and his enduring faith as a living testimony to those who knew him. A long time ago I read his biography; before that I did not know that one of his favorite verses from the Bible was Psalm 81:10. When I meditate on the Lord’s provision and protection all these years, I cannot stop giving thanks for His grace and mercy towards a sinner like me.

MINISTRY NEWS
Every first Friday of each month, a Ladies Missionary Prayer Group meets in Westminster, MD to read missionaries’ letters and pray for their needs. Whenever possible, I join them to be blessed and pray for others.

This past month I had the privilege of speaking to 83 people at a Ladies Luncheon in Dillsburg, PA, the theme was “Be Blessed” speaking on Philippians 4:19 and Ephesians 3:20. On the first weekend in May, I was able to speak to 66 people at a Mother-Daughter Banquet in Lebanon, PA, the theme was “The 23rd Psalm.” I am always blessed, and praise the Lord for these opportunities to present my ministry as well as being an encourager.

The faithfulness of God is beyond any human understanding. Although my missionary support level is still at 28%, the Lord is providing through the faithful support from a few churches and individuals. Please continue to pray that I will get more opportunities to present my ministry to ladies groups and/or churches.

Sometimes it is good to think ahead, you may ask yourselves what am I talking about? I would like to share an opportunity with you that I have to minister with and translate for Dr. Taylor (IPM Female Missionary Advocate) in the country of Guatemala in July 2012. You might be thinking “that is way in the future” and we do not know what the future will bring. I do believe in the One who holds the future and for this reason, if the Lord leads you to be part of this ministry, would you help me to raise the necessary funds? You can send your gift payable to IPM, INC. designating “Galdamez Travel—Guatemala.”

Back in January 2011, I wrote about Freddie asking you to pray for his salvation. He passed away on the first week of this month, he was like a father to me. A friend of the family, who is a pastor, visited him at hospice and presented the gospel to him. It seems that Freddie trusted Christ as his Savior a few days before passing away. Please pray for his family.

DEAF MINISTRIES NEWS
I had the pleasure of attending a deaf rally in a church located in Hummelstown, PA. Mr. Ronnie Rice and Brother Nathan McConnell from the Bill Rice Ranch were ministering to the deaf in our area. I was blessed with the preaching and the fellowship.

I have been to traveling with Dr. & Mrs. Young as he presents the deaf ministry of IPM to churches. This has also given me the opportunity to interact with the Deaf. During the month of May and June I will be signing the evening pre-services and a couple of hymns at my current church.

On the subject of thinking ahead, I am glad to share with you another opportunity to minister with the deaf. Dr. Curtis Young suggested that it would be a good idea if I were to travel to Las Vegas, NV as part of a team with Silent Word Ministries. In addition to ministering at a DeafNation Expo, we will be distributing tracts and DVDs on the street. Deaf people from all over the world will be participating in this annual event. If you feel led by the Lord to be a part of this ministry, please make your checks payable to IPM, Inc. with a note designating “Galdamez Deaf Travel”.

In the March letter, I mentioned that I was starting Sign Language courses online, the cost was $200. Two days after I mailed the letter, I received a check in the amount of $200 from a dear Christian couple. I used these funds to pay for the courses. Now, for future money received for this purpose I will use it for the trip to Las Vegas; I will contact my supporters to let them know how I am allocating these funds. I have already completed six lessons of ASL101 and have received 100% on all the quizzes. It is an exciting ministry!

PRAYER REQUESTS
For our American and national missionaries, their families, and their ministries
My missionary support of $1,900 (lacking every month)
Funds to participate at the DeafNation Las Vegas Expo ‘12, still needed $875
Learn ASL online to reach the Deaf locally and around the world.
Funds to participate at the IPM Central America Regional Conference, still needed $1,300
Funds to cover the expense of my new desktop computer, still needed $1,000
To be an instrument proclaiming the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ

PRAISES
The Lord’s constant protection and faithfulness.
New prayer partners and financial supporters of this ministry.
More opportunities to present the ministry with IPM at missions’ conferences and single ministries (especially ladies ministries' meetings).

My Christian Testimony

I hope my testimony will be a blessing to you.

Before I trusted Jesus Christ

I was born in 1958 in El Salvador, Central America. I almost died the day I was born, but God saved me physically. Growing up, I attended a Catholic High School and graduated in 1976. Later that year my father died after a lengthy battle with alcohol. Thankfully I had already forgiven him. After two years of uncertainty, I got a job that allowed me to come to the United States in 1980.

In 1981, I was living and working in New Jersey. A girl at work asked me if I wanted to share expenses with her by renting an apartment. Over the next 7 months, I spent my days drinking, dancing, and partying, as I never had in my life. I made a fool of myself, a fact I am not proud of today. 

In 1986, I experienced the most depressing year of my life. I tried liquor, cigarettes, and dancing to cheer me up. I did not want to live anymore. In November of the same year, I called my mother and told her that I was coming home for Christmas to be with my brother and her. She told me that their lives had changed for the better. I told her that did not matter to me. When I was back home, I spent my Wednesday nights and Sundays at church crying like a baby in each service. I knew that the people there had something that I needed. Before I left, my mother and brother encouraged me to look for a Bible believing church if I decided to give my life to the Lord Jesus Christ.
 

When I trusted Jesus Christ

In early  February 1987 I was reading my Bible when quite suddenly I had the impulse to reach for the telephone book and try to find a Bible Church as my brother had suggested a couple of months earlier. On Saturday February 14, 1987, three representatives of Brighton Avenue Bible Chapel in East Orange, NJ came to visit. After they showed me from the Word of God how to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ alone and trust Him as my personal Savior and Lord, I understood my need, believed, and was saved.

After I trusted Jesus Christ

Since 1987, my life has drastically changed. Although problems, disappointments, and trials can always be a part of life, now, being on the other side of the CROSS, I can see my life with His eyes. In 1994, I started attending First Baptist Church in Dover, New Jersey until September 1996. In the meantime, I was involved in different ministries: a Prison Ministry, a Homeless Ministry, and Counseling among others. I was also praying that God would allow me to go to a Bible College to study His Word.

That year I moved to Florida. Six years later, I was accepted at Clearwater Christian College to pursue a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Church Ministries/Missions and a Minor in Bible. I had the privilege to travel to the People’s Republic of China with a group of students from CCC.  I graduated in May 2006 and became a missionary to the island of Puerto Rico with International Partnership Ministries, Inc. (IPM) Currently; I am on deputation raising financial support while ministering in the IPM main office located in Hanover, Pennsylvania.

The reason why I studied at a Christian College was to increase my knowledge in the Bible and to be able to counsel and understand other people and the need they have for Jesus Christ in their lives. My emphasis is to minister to all people's groups.

While attending Faith Baptist Church of New Port Richey, Florida, I was the Missions secretary between 2003 and 2005, contacting our 40 missionaries around the world and mailing their monthly support.

In September of 2005, I became a Missionary Appointee with International Partnership Ministries, Inc. planning to go to Puerto Rico. But the Lord had other plans for me. Instead of leaving to Puerto Rico, I moved to Hanover, Pennsylvania at the end of 2006 and became a Home Office Missionary/Office Coordinator. My ministry now covers the United States and the world. 

As a Home Office missionary and a woman, I have found that raising support has special challenges. Some churches will only consider supporting missionaries serving in the foreign field. Yet, I praise the Lord for His faithfulness with blessings throughout this time.