Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Is your leadership refreshing others? Are they flourishing under it?

Today I read Psalms 72 which seems to stir quite the discussion as to authorship among commentaries. After reading so many commentaries’ thoughts on it, I have come to this conclusion:  Whoever is the author of the psalm (David, Solomon, or them together), this truth stands out to me - it is about the reign/authority of God, David, Solomon and Jesus Christ our LORD.

I was stirred by the verses 6-7 that reads:

Psalm 72:6-7 (NLT)
May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass, like the showers that water the earth. May all the godly flourish during his reign. May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.

There is no want for another book on leadership. I could rattle off so many authors and book titles on leadership and most of you will have heard the name or have read the book. But, I never want us to forget that there are so many gems in God’s word regarding any topic you and I come face to face with on this earth; gems that speak truth and make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. So, today this blog is really geared toward those that serve in leadership in some capacity or another - such as a husband, pastor, team leader, Sunday school teacher, class room teacher, bible study leader, ministry leader, etc. 

Does your leadership style honor God’s Word? Is it refreshing others? Does it encourage those around you? Does it replenish them in the low places? Are people flourishing under your leadership?  Are they growing?  Thriving?  Challenged?  Serving with a heart attitude of excellence?  

If you are in a position of leadership serving others, I ask you to please stop as I have today and evaluate your leadership.  Park it next to God’s Word and ask yourself - does it line up?  And I dare you to take it a step further and ask those that serve alongside you (though under your leadership) those questions.  You can be sure I am going to ask my Pure Joy Board, Advisors, and Staff.  And I might not like some of the answers or I might like them all but this I can tell you…. I will grow and learn and Praise God for the answers whatever they are.  It is time in leadership for there to be some accountability in the body of Christ.  I ask you to please build some into your life if you haven’t already. Otherwise, you are live bait for the enemy!!

Love you all,

His,
Vickie







Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Voices….

Last night I had the opportunity to go watch my 5 year old cousin play t-ball. If you are parents of small children who have come up through the sports arena you have a good visual of what that looks like. But, let me stir your memory again. As the team takes the field the coach gently guides and points the kids in the direction of the thing called a base and or position to play. While the coach is helping the first baseman to his base, the shortstop has already begun to dig and compose a pretty good dirt pile, which elicits a cry from a parent in the stands, “quit playing in the dirt!” which cause all the kids that were playing in the dirt to come to attention. Finally, everyone is in position. Again, from the stands, “pay attention”, “keep your eye on the ball”! And the game begins. The batter beats the rubber t-ball holder to death before finally hitting the ball, which goes maybe 5 yards. The batting team is yelling, “Run!” to which the batter and some of the fielding team respond. Honestly, it is hysterical!!! And might I add that only in t-ball can a player respond to a parent’s cry of, “Do you need to go to the bathroom” and have a coach respond with “Go to the bathroom, that is more important”! 

Well, as I sit and watch the kids be kids and the parents constantly yelling at the kids about what he or she should or should not be doing, the person who caught my attention the most in all the funny moments was the coach of my little cousin’s team. He was like a gentle giant next to the kids. He never got frustrated with the parents and all the coaching from the stands, the bathroom trips, the funny moments, etc. I jokingly asked him as he came into the dugout during one inning if he realized he had all these assistant coaches on board. He grinned and carried on with the game.

I like to muse at the idea that God looks down on us some days as if He is watching a 5 year old t-ball game. Watching us as we grow in our likeness of Him through all our playing in the dirt, bathroom breaks, running in all directions, and listening to so many voices from the stands. And like that coach, “the gentle giant,” He grins and carries on with molding us into the image of His Son.

Romans 8:28-35 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

The Message translation may be the easier to read….

Romans 8:28-35 (MSG)
 That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun. So, what do you think?

With God on our side like this, how can we lose.  If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen?  Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.

Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

Love you all,

His,
Vickie


P.S. We are praying through continuing our trip to Nepal in the fall. Please join us as we make decision guided by His counsel.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Psalm 62:8

Psalm 62:8 (ESV)
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

I love the statement, “O people; pour out your heart before him". When is the last time you really poured out your heart to Him? I mean emptied out before Him your soul/heart, meaning every thought, feeling, and emotion you could possibly find floating around in your physical body that houses your soul/heart? Can I just take a wild guess…… it was probably the last time you felt like you were drowning in your circumstances and had already done everything you knew was humanly possible to do. So as a last resort you turned to Him. Isn’t that true of most of us, if we really will admit it. 
 
But I want to challenge us with something. I want to challenge us with the parts of the verse that hem in that statement.
 
·       Trust in Him at all times – meaning no matter what life brings; (a) when things are going well and we don’t really have a serious care in the world it seems, (b) when things aren’t going so well and there are serious bumps in the road, (c) And lastly, when things are absolutely terrible and unbearable and there seems to be no hope.

·       God is a refuge for us. Selah – He is a safe place for us;  pause and think about this. Remember when you were growing up and played tag. Usually there was a base (refuge, safe place) and if you could get to base no one could tag you. It temporarily gave you a reprieve from your opponent. God is our base. He gives us a reprieve from the enemy 24-7 but we have to Trust Him. We have to run to Him and not the worthless idols of self, others, materialism, etc. Selah

In summary, no matter what life brings across your path, He is a safe place so “pour out your heart before Him, He can be Trusted!

Love you all,
Have a great week..

His,
Vickie

Thursday, May 7, 2015

It’s a Heart Matter….

This morning in my quiet time a passage hung on my heart as I read through my daily reading. It was from 1 Chronicles 29:9. I have presented it below in several translations because I want you to catch some wording.

1 Chronicles 29:9 (ESV) 
Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

1 Chronicles 29:9 (ASV) 
Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to Jehovah: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

1 Chronicles 29:9 (NKJV) 
Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the LORD; and King David also rejoiced greatly.

1 Chronicles 29:9 (TLB) 
Everyone was excited and happy for this opportunity of service, and King David was moved with deep joy.

The above passage is located in Chapter 29 just after David had addressed the assembly concerning the preparations for Solomon’s building of the temple. As their leader he is sharing with them that because he has set his affections on the house of his God, he has given to the house of God, over and above all that he has. He then goes on to say to the assembly, “Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the LORD?” In response to the question it states... The people all gave willingly. Now, enter the verse that hung on my heart. Look at all the different translations.

  • What was the result of them giving willingly? They were rejoicing!
  • Why? Because they had given willingly with a whole heart, perfect heart, loyal heart!
  • Who had they given willing to? The LORD!
  • Where was King David in this? Also rejoicing greatly!

Why was all this rejoicing taking place? Because David has set his affections on the house of his God. He desired what God desired!  


Can I ask you something? On what have you set your affections? Do you desire what God desires? Until we do set our affections and desires towards Him, it is most assuredly true that we will not give willingly of our time, finances and service. Sure we may give apart from having our affections and desires set on Him but we will not experience the “rejoicing” that we read about in the verse above.

Love You all...

His,
Vickie

Just a note for those of you that followed the Italy trip: As you know the warfare was crazy. I received an email, from one of the ladies that attended, sharing with us that several other global ministries have had issues related to this in regards to Europe. Seasoned Bible students will have some understanding of why due to the role this part of the world plays in the end time. I’m confident the enemy does not want the Name of Jesus lifted up in that part of the world.