Monday, November 29, 2010

Monkey see...

Two weekends ago I was helping my sister with a garage sale and a young mom with a 2 ½ to 3 year old daughter walked up. The mom was inside an area looking at some things and the little girl was within her sight but outside looking through a tub of toys, stuffed animals, little dolls, cars, plastic horses, etc. As I watched the little girl I became significantly amused. She would reach into the tub, bring out an item, and turn it over in her hands as if to check all sides top and bottom and then pause a second as if pondering. Then she would either throw it back in the tub as if to say “Nah” or carry it over to my sister to hold for when they checked out. I sat and watched this child go through this process over and over, again totally amused and chuckling at times. But then I realized what a “REAL LIFE” example of what we try to teach new moms and dads this situation provided……. “Young children model after your behaviors, not your words”. When they get older they have enough education to recognize some of your behaviors do not line up with your words. In this case it causes mistrust in the growing child and positions them to not know what to do in certain situations: “what you’ve told them” or “what you do”.

I wonder as we are in the throws of the Christmas season what you are telling them and modeling for them regarding the birth of our Savior. Do they get excited at Christmas because of the birth of Christ or because of the presents and gifts?

Monkey see, Monkey do...

His,
Vickie

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

How...

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe In Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14

The Strong’s Greek Dictionary defines the word preacher from that verse as….
kay-roos'-so…Of uncertain affinity; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel):—preach (-er), proclaim, publish.

This week as we are mindful of being Thankful, we at Pure Joy International Ministry want to salute the men and women all over the world that have taken that verse to heart and are proclaiming the gospel to the ends of the earth!

Thank you Missionaries all over the world for your willingness to go, share, and disciple the Nations!!! May God Bless you in a unique way this Thanksgiving Holiday.

Also, to all of you and yours that pray for this ministry, give on a regular basis, and go! Blessings to you as well!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Ministry Staff of Pure Joy!!!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Dear Moms...

Many months ago a women put an announcement in the church bulletin at Antioch Baptist, my home church. It simply was a request for mothers, grandmothers, aunts, etc. to join her on Monday mornings in her home to pray for our families. This time was just prayer for our families, nothing else unless the LORD led us to it. I have missed very few of those mornings. I have also watched the LORD working in the families of those of us that meet.

I could cover this page with God’s faithfulness to answer prayers regarding each of our families that we have been praying about. But let me just say, PRAISE GOD who Is and Is to come!!!!

A dear friend of mine, as well as one of our ladies we like to take overseas as a speaker whenever she is available, began a ministry called Mom’s Day of Prayer. Below is an excerpt from that organization’s New Vision for 2011! Please take time to read it and check out her web site!

Also, we are gearing up for our next Retreat. It will be in Uganda, Africa. Please join us in praying as we work with potential sponsoring churches and all that God would have for the Missionary Women in that area of Africa.

His,
vickie

A New Vision for the Worldwide Mom’s Day of Prayer Ministry for 2011! 47 Saturdays – 47 MDOP Coordinators – 47 Churches. Yes, we are praying that 47 Saturdays in 2011 will have a MDOP on each weekend! The only Saturdays that we are leaving out are January 1st and all the Saturdays in December.

Please visit the MDOP website at http://www.momsdayofprayer.com to sign up or call the MDOP office at 479-452-6215.

As one MDOP attendee said, "I wonder how many of our precious children will be spared from suicide, rape, abortion, sexual misconduct, running away, loneliness, pain, depression, eternity in Hell, drug and alcohol addiction, etc. etc. etc., because of the Mom’s Day of Prayer."

Can you imagine 47 weekends filled with praying women? Sign up now!

Kathy J. Coleman
Mom's Day of Prayer Founder
http://www.momsdayofprayer.com

http://www.letsgetrealmarriages.com
http://www.kathyjcoleman.com

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

His Attributes...

Do not let it be imagined that one must remain silent about one’s feelings of rebellion in order to enter into dialogue with God. Quite the opposite is the truth: it is precisely when one expresses them that a dialogue of truth begins.
PAUL TOURNIER (1898–1986)

We are a strange lot as human beings, aren’t we? I am talking to you and me, the body of Christ! I don’t know when I actually came to the place to “Believe” not just “know” that God knows all, sees all, is all powerful, is incomprehensible and is omnipresent, full of grace, mercy, etc. etc. But getting there was, and continues to be, life changing for me in my walk with God along with learning of all His other attributes.

Those are just a few of the Attributes of God that help me to walk in faith! Those particular attributes are the ones that have taught me to not waste my time trying to hide my sins and faults from Him and/or myself. In fact, those truths regarding His Attributes have provided me with the freedom to be honest with myself, God and others concerning my weaknesses and shortcomings

Why? Because . . . .

*when the God of All Creation can look at this lump of clay with all its faults and shortcomings and yet predestine me to be His child before the beginning of time,

*and through His Word continue to instruct me to run to Him for forgiveness of my sins, faults, and short comings as a child runs to a parent for love and security, worth and value,

*and as The Potter molds this clay daily for His Glory and use - whatever that might be,

. . . .then of course I want to dialogue with this Majestic God that is my only hope of eternal salvation in the future and righteousness in this lifetime.

Psalm 103:14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
You’ve heard the saying, “Get the right perspective on God and you’ll get the
right perspective on man.” Remember…He Knows, He Sees, He is all-powerful, and present 24-7. Get honest with yourself so you can get honest with The One that already knows and still LOVES you with an Eternal Love! Run to HIM!

His,
vickie

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

House or Home...

In a Treasury of Bible Illustrations complied by Ted Kyle and John Todd the following story is told….

House or Home

A cute little girl was sitting on top of a pile of luggage in a hotel lobby. Her parents were at the desk registering for their room. A sympathetic lady asked the little girl if they were visiting relatives in the city. “Oh, no,” the girl replied. “We’re going to live at this hotel until we find a house. My Daddy has a new job and we had to sell our house and move.” The lady said, “Oh, it’s too bad you don’t have a home.” To which the girl replied, “Oh we have a home—it’s just that we don’t have a house to put it in.”

Several weeks from now we will be celebrating the tradition of Thanksgiving.
I wonder how many people will be gathering in Houses and how many will be gathering in Homes?

Hmmmmmmm

His,
vickie

Invite someone to your Home for Thanksgiving! Plan now so they don’t feel like they were a last minute thought! The Holy Spirit of God will be glad to give you direction in this! He cares. Matthew 6:25-34