Dear Friends and Supporters,

Chosen to have a different life.

The example I had of a mother who loved the Lord and was devoted to His work is a great blessing. My mother showed her loved to God by caring for her family and the ministry as best she could. The phrase “whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord” is how she lived. I am thankful that I was taught that to be in God’s service was a blessing.

It saddens my heart when I hear people say, “The last thing I want to be is a pastor’s wife.” It is not the easiest job in the world, but the eternal earnings are far more than what you can imagine. We will have the privilege to enjoy the results in heaven. I guess one of the things that runs through my mind many times is the surprises that we will have in heaven. We will then know the lives of people that we were given the privilege to touch and were not even aware of. But then again we may be saddened by knowing that we could have done more.

My life has been far from a normal life. But I would not change it for anything. God has been there for us at all times. His faithfulness has been so evident in our lives and in our family. Being a mother to so many was sometimes scary. I always asked God to help me to do and say the right things–not always so easy when you’re dealing with children that you have no idea what they have experienced and what their family life was.

Kathy Barros with her three oldest kids

Depending on God for direction was vital in every sense of the word. I look back and see the ways that God led me in doing so many things that could only come from Him. I’m glad He could use me. God was faithful and has blessed us with 6 children that love the Lord. The oldest 3 are married and serving the Lord. A while back I was talking to Amelia about the difficulty of teaching children now in days. I was blessed to hear her say, “Mom, the most important thing you taught us was biblical principals that we needed to live by.”

Loving the Lord has to be more than just an obligation it has to be a way of living–a  lifestyle. There is a verse that always gets my attention: “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.” [Deuteronomy 7:9]

“You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.” [Exodus 20:5-6]

As a mother and wife I always try to remember that God has more to offer than He wants to take away. The choice is ours. It is so easy to get caught up in the things of this world and forget that this world is not our HOME. “Thousand generations!!!!” That is lots of generations.

What are we leaving for our generation: blessing or curses? God even makes the curses so much less than the blessings. May God continue to help us stay strong and remember that He is Lord!

Love,
Kathy Hatcher Barros

Odali & Kathy Barros
odali_kathy[at]hotmail.com
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Av. Victor Hugo Boaretto S/N
Garca, Sao Paulo 17.400,000
Brasil, SA

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