Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Storms...

Last night storms passed through our state (Arkansas) in the form of tornados and flooding. A community (Vilonia) just 30 minutes up the road from us experienced a possible F2 or F3 tornado. In the northwestern part of the state several lost their lives to flood waters. These same storms continued across the country to bring destruction to other communities and lives as well. Tonight (Tuesday) it is said that we are to have a continuation of these storms.
Isn’t that just like life? Storms hit us out of nowhere. Last week I shared with you a storm from my life…the storm itself passed and all is back to normal again. Well, except for me. I have learned over time that God really does do a work in us through the storms if we will allow Him and it will be for His Glory and our spiritual maturity.

It seems like many of the children of God are experiencing major storms and trials in their lives all around us today. Take heart that HE knows us so well and knew we would need His Word to walk on for our sure footing! These are the stones He used in my life this past week to encourage me to keep walking! These two verses James 1:2 and 1 Peter 4:12. I like the two renditions below.

ESV James 1:2
2 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial (storms), for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

The Message Bible James 1:2
2 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. 3You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. 4So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

ESV 1 Peter 4:12
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

The Message Bible 1 Peter 4:12
12 Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. 13Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.

Tomorrow is the deadline for our Costa Rica Team coming together! Please pray as a few people are still in the valley of decision! I am so excited about the team God has brought together for this trip. Every time He just hits it on the mark! Imagine that!

Starting next week we will be in the “get down to business” stage for this trip. I will be making you aware of prayer requests and what you can do to be involved in this trip besides giving. We always need the finances to start coming in for the women at this time. However, there are some other things that I want to encourage you to do that I have not done before. I’m looking for it to be incredible because I believe only God could put this stuff on my heart! If you knew me you would understand that because I do not have much of a creative bone in my body! Some would say not even ONE! Ha,ha,ha. But I do try to have a tender ear to the LORD and His direction!
This week please pray for the final team members to come on board and then for all the details that will start up within the next week and forward!
Costa Rica……Here we come!!!!!

His,
Vickie

P.S. Keep Walking my friends!!!!!! Remember; don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Monday...

Remember all the jokes about Mondays over the years of your life?  Well, truthfully I haven’t had a “Monday”, if you will, in my life in some time.  Praise God!  But today I had one during the morning hours that reminded me that every second of every day can end up being a “Monday” apart from the grace of God. 

I started my day with an interaction with my 16 year old niece that was anything but pretty.  (16 year old is the operative word here and should tell you everything, ha,ha).  Yes, anyone would have seriously considered me as having tipped the scale of losing it!  The words I spoke were ugly and the actions weren’t any prettier!

When I returned to reality I was totally ashamed of my behavior before the Father, the testimony of the LORD in my life to my niece (which I’m sure she questioned at the moment)  and absolutely angry with myself for not responding differently. 

I sought the LORD’S forgiveness and KNOW it is always there when we go to Him pure of heart and repentant!  I wrote  my niece (because she is not talking to me for now J) a letter of confession and asked for ‘forgiveness’ and am sure she will forgive me when she is over being mad at me and/or when she needs me for something again, whichever comes first.  (Did I tell you she is 16 years old?  Enough said!)  I also have forgiven myself,  which is the hardest for us,  isn’t it? 

But mostly I have received that reality check that we all need sometimes that says…”Remember apart from HIM, it ain’t pretty!”  I am so thankful that these difficult times are the reminder in our lives that HE does LIVE!  And HE LIVES inside of you and me as Believers!  I’m so thankful I feel the need to confess, repent and seek forgiveness when things don’t line up with TRUTH!  As we go into the Easter weekend may we not forget the POWER OF THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION! Praise God HE is in us and we are in HIM!  +++

I had a great time over the weekend in Austin, TX.  Got to spend time with several of the girls I have had the privilege to disciple over the years.  Also was able to talk with several ladies from Great Hills Church that are praying about being part of our team for Costa Rica!  Pray this week as many of the ladies are making that decision to go or not go depending on how God is speaking to them.  I am excited about what God has in store for the time with the Missionary Women in Costa Rica.  I want to close out today with an email I received from one of the ladies that will be attending the retreat….

"Thank you so very much for all that you and the other ladies of the team are doing for all of us here in Costa Rica. When I received the notice of the retreat and began to pray about the possibility of going I felt and continue to feel great emotion. Each time I read the invitation and looked at the website and even now as I write you this email, great emotion wells up within me and I begin to cry. I cannot explain it. This has rarely happened to me. Again thank you. May God abundantly bless you all."

Love You All and Covet Your Prayers,

His,
Vickie

Monday, April 11, 2011

Take the mask off...

One of the things that God has led me to do when we go into a conference overseas is to start by helping the missionary women “take the mask off”. You know what I mean by that…stop playing the game of everything is “ok” when it really isn’t. Stop pretending your marriage is ok if it is not, stop pretending that everything is ok in your ministry if it is not, stop pretending everything is fine with the kids if it is not, stop pretending you are ok if you are not, stop pretending you are joyful in the LORD if you are not. Stop pretending you are not struggling with a stronghold if you are. Stop Pretending!!

I looked up the word pretend in the Webster Dictionary and here is the definition of the word pretend.

• To give a false appearance of being, possessing, or performing.
• To make believe
• To claim, represent, or assert falsely.

Wow, that about summarizes it! You know the enemy wants believers to pretend! Why? Because pretense is deception and Satan is the Father of deception! Pretenders never run to God and the family of God. They just hide out and pretend, which is exactly what the enemy desires us to do.

Well, my precious ones, stop pretending. Stop hiding! Stop being deceived into believing our God is not big enough! I don’t know your specific situation and/or trial but I know we all have them! I’m smack dab in the middle of one as I write these words that come from my heart! “Take the Mask Off”, run to your Father God and cry out these words which He already knows but we need to get honest about - “it’s me”, me without the pretense, me without the mask, me your daughter! Run to Him, Consecrate yourselves (confess and repent from everything that does not line up with the truth of His Word), rally your Christian troops in prayer and Stand! He will fight for you!

Friends, the enemy is waging WAR against the Family of God! We see it in all the areas I mentioned at the beginning of this blog and more! He wants us to wear the mask, he wants us to hide out, he wants us to believe we are all alone in the battle and he wants us to believe we are defeated!! Rise Up!! The power of the resurrection indwells us!!!

Costa Rica here we come! This weekend I fly to Austin, Texas to meet with ladies from that area that are interested in becoming involved in our trip. I know of one young lady that already has received the word from God and her husband that she is on “go” for Costa Rica. I suspect we are going to have several more team members from that area. We also received another team member from my home church Antioch Baptist in Conway, AR. She, too, received affirmation from the LORD and her husband this week.

I have another lady from Tulsa, OK that is praying for affirmation from God to go. She is single. Us single girls get a two for one because if God affirms we can go then it is without question that our husband is a yes too! Isaiah 54:5 Our maker is our husband! Got to love that truth!

Please continue to pray for all the details of the trip. We have 19 and half missionary women sponsored so far. So, 19 total bodies and either arms and or legs of another! That leaves 30 total bodies and the rest of that other person’s body to be sponsored! Ha,ha,

This is assuming that I haven’t miscalculated due to my dyslexia with numbers! If I have I can promise you that the staff won’t let that get by!

Have a GREAT week in the LORD and be ever mindful of these weeks that preceded His journey to the Cross because a lot was going on!

I love you guys…

His,
Vickie

Monday, April 4, 2011

Today...

As I write this blog I am looking out my office window at the calmness after the early morning storms that came through. There may or may not be more to come before the day is over.

It makes me think of a book I’ve been reading by Billy Graham written several years ago but now in a new updated version called “Storm Warnings”. The book is more relevant today than it was in its original writing but only because we are continually moving towards His Return!

The chapters I am in right now have to do with deception in the last days. One thing that He said that really rings true to my soul is that we have been deceived today in the church by the “Love and Forgive” mentality. Please don’t jump on this statement before hearing me out. I, like most any of you, am all about Love and Forgiveness because that is JESUS’ very message! I praise God for these Graces! Dr. Graham, however, is talking about how there is no genuine confession and repentance. Instead there is an attitude that He has to Love and Forgive me. (Italics mine) Dear Ones, HE owes us nothing! We owe HIM everything! Do not be deceived, God will not be mocked! We, as the church of the living God, cannot continue to live with blatant sin in our lives and claim His love and forgiveness apart from true confession and true repentance! There is nothing hidden that won’t be revealed! We must stop believing we are hiding our sins because they aren’t hidden from the ONLY ONE that can make a difference in our life. Run to Him, Confess to Him, Repent and HIS Love and Forgiveness will abound!! Believe me when I tell you I understand this truth and it is a run that will change your life for eternity and daily!!!!

Some of you are probably saying, “put the book down!” ha,ha,ha,ha,ha.

Moving on - let’s turn to Costa Rica. We have our 50 women and have started a waiting list. The team is starting to form and that is exciting to my soul! Met with some ladies from Morrilton yesterday and had some sweet prayer time for the missionary women and the trip. God is already putting some things on my heart for this trip and this group of women. It is so exciting how HE makes it so personal! I love how HE loves us! I have already received a couple of emails from ladies who will be in attendance, excited about Pure Joy coming and what God has in store for them! So put on your prayer pads and begin asking God to direct you on the prayers you are praying for this group of ladies, giving to help towards sponsorship of the ladies, and also, there is possibly still room for a few of you that might be interested in being part of this team!

Love you guys and excited about the days ahead….

His,
Vickie