Brazil…

We are three weeks out from the team leaving the country to head to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Please pray diligently for all details to come together. Registration Deadline for missionary women to sign up is next Wednesday, October 25, 2019. We count it as Pure Joy and an honor to be able to come alongside the missionary women and encourage them.  

On Another note… 

As I sat outside the other morning, engulfed with the sounds and sights of nature  -  birds chirping, frogs croaking, squirrels running to and fro, lake waters moved by a gentle breeze, geese flying over, hummingbirds, spiders, and butterflies going about their day - all is peaceable.

Then out of nowhere there is this large snap and cracking sound and all a sudden an unsuspecting tree limb makes its way to the ground 50 yards away. As you walk up on it you realize it’s dead. Sitting here I never even saw it. It just kind of fit in among the other limbs until it fell to the ground.

That tree limb got me to thinking about people we are around daily and weekly. So many people going through life looking like they are ok but, on the inside, they are dying. Maybe their marriage is falling apart, maybe they have a problem with their children, work related issues, church related issues, money issues, health issues, mental stress issues, etc., etc., but the truth is we have become so good at hiding our struggles for fear of others thoughts, feelings and/or actions towards us that whether the need is for Jesus, encouragement, help, a friend, or someone to just notice I’m dying here, we don’t say a word. And soon enough, like that limb, we snap and crack and fall to the ground.

Can I encourage us today? We all know those around us that we are familiar with daily and weekly. Don’t ignore when something doesn’t look right, sound right and/or puts a check in your spirit. Maybe they need to know Jesus, maybe they need a word of encouragement, maybe they just need a listening ear, a helping hand, or a hug. But, don’t ignore things that don’t seem right to you. Trust God’s spirit in you to direct your steps! Ask God to give you eyes to see and know.

And finally, thank you to my friends near and far that I serve with daily, study God’s word with weekly, and those that send emails, make phone calls, text, etc., that don’t mind stepping in my bowl of Cheerios when I am acting weirder than usual. Ha,ha I’m confident God has placed you in my life so I would not become one of those fallen limbs. Thank you, God.

Philippians 2:4 (ESV)
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

His,
Vickie

Deadline Closing In…

There are only 15 days until the opportunity to register for Pure Joy International São Paulo, Brazil conference closes. Please get the word out ASAP to anyone that you know is thinking about attending and/or hasn’t heard about it yet. Go to www.purejoyinternational.org to register. Final deadline is September 25th, 2019. No rooms secured after that date.

We have 40 missionary women sponsored as of now. We have 25 signed up. Please don’t stop giving towards sponsorships so we are prepared when remaining 25 slots get filled. Please keep praying for God to get the word out to those missionaries that need this conference.

Nehemiah

I love that book of the Bible. So rich and full of biblical principles on leadership, accountability, warfare, etc. One of my favorite biblical principles comes out of Nehemiah 2:1-5.
Nehemiah 2:1-4 (ESV)

In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So, I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.”

Did you catch that little sentence? So, I prayed to the God of heaven.

Nehemiah is standing before the king that he is the cupbearer to. Their relationship is obviously close enough that the King realizes Nehemiah is struggling in his spirit with something. The king asked him what’s up? (paraphrased). In that instance, in that millimeter of a second, Nehemiah in his mind looked to God and prayed. He didn’t fall on his knees, he didn’t run to the prayer room, he didn’t call others for prayer, he went to God immediately and only God knows what he prayed but this we know, it wasn’t a dissertation. It was short, sweet, sincere, believing by faith God was listening. And then he addressed the king. In real life time I suspect there was hardly a pause between what the king asked and his response. Yet, in-between that pause Nehemiah ran to the throne room.

I am trying to apply this principle to my life daily. And the more I desire to apply it, the more I recognize the times I don’t. Ugh!!

Can I encourage all of us to take time to pause, to run to the throne room before we speak or engage in actions that could have been handled differently, if we had just looked to Him even for a second. Just enough to change our focus so we could deal with it through His eyes.

By the way, it was amazing to read the rest of Chapter 2 of Nehemiah to see the king’s graciousness to him. May we know His graciousness as we look toward Him increasingly more!

His,
Vickie

A Good Chuckle…

Saturday morning, I found myself laughing at my great niece and nephew (I have a handful of them, these two just happen to live close) as we played in the living room floor. She is just over 2 ½ years of age and he just turned 7. I will let you try and figure out what it might have looked like as my great nephew charged at me with these words, “Cannon Ball!” Only to hear an immediate backup version coming at me from another angle, “Cannon Ball!” We were all piled up in the floor playing and laughing out loud. I’m not sure I needed the “Cannon Ball” hits but I did need those good laughs.

Today, I attended the funeral of a friend that I graduated with back in the years. (smile) I promise you, to know him was to just laugh. His home-going was every bit as full of laughter as his life reflected. The pastor that did the service told of a phone call he received from the deceased the day he took the pastorate at one of the local churches in the community. He said, Pastor, I want to give you a good piece of advice. The Pastor said, ok. The deceased said, “Don’t ever fry bacon in the nude”. The funeral home erupted in laughter. That was what my friend did, he encouraged people, prayed for people, and made people laugh. And above all, he loved “Jesus”.

I walked out of that funeral thinking; I need to laugh more. I used to laugh all the time. I could be wrong, but I suspect all of us could use a little more laughter in our lives.

Sao Paulo, Brazil –
We are 7 weeks out from heading to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Please continue to get the word out to the missionary women serving Internationally there. Also, please pray for the area. The fires that are burning from the Amazon caused a dark out (smoke) in the afternoon one day last week.

We still have spots available and the team continues to be diligent in their prayers and preparation on this side of the waters.

Have a Great Week!  (Laugh a little or a lot!!)

His,
Vickie

Sao Paulo Just Over 8 Weeks Away...

Absolutely cannot believe we are just over 8 weeks away from leaving the country to head to Sao Paulo, Brazil.  The team is getting more excited weekly.  Trunks are being ordered, sponsorships of missionary women are coming in, gifts are being made, prayers are being lifted up, worship music is being prepared,  team assignments are being prayed over, and all the other many details that go into the trips when Pure Joy International travels overseas.  Please continue to pray for the team and our time with the LORD daily.  If you asked me, what is the most important thing for the team in the preparation process?  My answer would be that we are spending time with the LORD in Spirit (Prayer) and in Truth (His Word).   You know the enemy hates that!  So, the spiritual battles are difficult in the preparation process for our teams.  If you plan on attending the retreat and or know someone that needs to be attending the retreat go to www.purejoyinternational.org  and get yourself/selves registered as soon as possible.  Get the word out.  So many times, people say, “no-one told me about it until it was too late”.  Please don’t assume ladies know about this opportunity, make sure they know. (smile)

Well, school has started back this past week for many families all the way from kindergarten to college.  Lot’s of momma’s and Dad’s out there with wet eyes.  However, probably just as many doing headstands and cartwheels.  Ha, ha,ha,ha,ha,ha   Please take time to keep our kids and their respective schools covered in prayer this year.

Today, my great-nephew (2^nd grade) informed me when asked, “What did you learn at school today?  Nothing, this week we are just getting to know each other.  We don’t start working till next week. Forget the math worksheet he had completed in his folder. Ha,ha,ha,ha   A big shout out to Mrs. Chelsea Kienol that she finds it important for the kids to get to know each other!

Hope each of you have a good week and please continue to pray with us about all things Sao Paulo!

His,

Vickie

Ever So Thankful…

This morning as I finished up my quiet time, I took some still moments to just listen to the words of the song “Christ Alone” stir my spirit. As I watched the sun rise, the shadows on the still lake reflect the picture-perfect tree line, butterflies and birds moving about it was all glorious! I was deeply reminded of what a Great God we serve. If you have not paid attention to those words in some time…may they encourage you today.
 
Also, just an update on Brazil. To registration go to www.purejoyinternatiaonal.org Dates of Retreat are October 16-19, 2019. It will be in Sao Paulo, Brazil. If you are or know a missionary woman serving internationally in South American or surrounding countries, don’t miss the opportunity. The only thing you/they must do is get to and from the conference, your hotel and meals are taken care of by those that have a heart to support missionary women. We have just over half of the missionary women sponsored as of today. Please continue to pray and give as He leads.  

His,
Vickie

IN CHRIST ALONE
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand  

Online Registration for Brazil is off and running…

Registrations for Brazil October 16-19, 2019 are coming in. Please if you have a sister, daughter, aunt, grandmother, cousin, etc. serving overseas as an international missionary woman single, married, widowed, and/or divorced in that part of the world send them to www.purejoyinternational.org to register for the Retreat/Conference.

This week has been full on my end of preparing for several upcoming events. Life remains crazy and our God remains faithful, so, there you have it.

Love you all and please continue to pray for all things Sao Paulo, Brazil. And if God is tugging at your heart to give towards the sponsorship of the missionary women, please do. And thank you to those of you that are already giving towards this trip.

His,
Vickie

Sao Paulo, Brazil Registration Open

Registration for the Pure Joy International Retreat to be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, October 16-19, 2019 is open. If you are a missionary women serving in this part of the world cross-culturally, outside of your country of origin, with a sending missions organization and or church and want to register Click here.  Remember, first come first serve, up to 50 then we go to a waiting list. If you have  questions, contact me at vickie@purejoyinternational.org.

Several of you have wondered if I have fallen of the edge of the world. Ha, ha, ha Not really, but I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that I was hanging on the edges of it. Let’s just say it has been a crazy summer. However, these things I know always and continue to grow deeper in understanding, God is Good, Faithful, and Sovereign. Just no way around it! And He is everything else He says He is through out scripture. So, if you are like me and life is just a little crazy this summer, hold on to the truths of God and who He is and know this, He is holding you!

His,
Vickie

p.s. Also, all you prayer warriors, givers and gifters get those hearts and minds to work on how you want to be a part of what God will be doing in Brazil. We have almost half of the missionary women already sponsored with just over 25 to go. Please start praying about how God wants you to be a part.