Monday, April 25, 2016

Excitement Grows and Be of Good Courage.....

We have had registration open now for nearly 3 weeks for Southeast Asia. We have 35 women registered with only 15 more positions open before we go to our waiting list sign up. Just shows you the need that is out there to minister to our frontline workers to help keep them on the front lines. We also already have 22 women sponsored which means we only have 28 left to sponsor for this trip. If God is moving on your heart to give, please be obedient as He leads. Thank you for those of you who have already poured into this trip financially and those who will. 

We have another team member that we picked up this last week as well. Please pray for the team to continue to come together. Yes, we could leave the country with the ladies we have now and minister to the women in Southeast Asia. However, I just happen to believe there are several more of you out there who are supposed to be on this team. So please be sensitive to the Father on this issue, too.

This morning in my quiet time as I sat beside the lake reading 2 Samuel 10:1-19 I couldn’t help but think, I know so many people who feel like Joab felt in the battle David had sent him into with the Ammonites and Syrians. This battle was provoked by King Hanun of the Ammonites when he listened to poor counsel. You must read 2 Samuel 10:1-19 to get the full picture.

For our purposes today I want to pick up the story in 2 Samuel 10:9-14

2 Samuel 10:9-14 (ESV)
9 When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians.  10 The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. 11 And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12 Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him.” 13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14 And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

Do you feel like the battle has been set against you in the front and in the rear? Feel like you are hemmed in and there doesn’t appear to be a way out? I love Joab’s strategy…he might as well have said, we are in this together brother! If you need help I’ll come to you. If I need help you come to me. Can I ask you something? Do you need help in your circumstances right now? Have you asked for help? Made plans for it? And are you aware if a sister or brother in Christ around you who needs help? Are you extending yourself to them? 

And then the verse... Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him. I love this too, because it simply says.... Do not be deterred no matter the circumstances; let us fight for what God has given us families, neighbors, friends, for God’s people everywhere and trust God to act on His behalf. And I also love it that Joab says and may the LORD do what seems good to him. When is the last time in the middle of your circumstance did you just say to God, LORD do what seems good to you?

His,
Vickie

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Southeast Asia and a Good Laugh.....

Well, registration opened up last week for Southeast Asia and we already have 17 ladies signed up. Please continue to let your friends who live in Southeast Asia and the surrounding areas know about the conference. If they have questions they contact me at vickie@purejoyinternational.org. Please begin to pray alongside us for support for the M’s that will be attending this conference at no cost to themselves beyond travel. As always, we thank you in advance as we watch God move on behalf of His ministry.

My 3 yr. old great nephew spent last weekend with my mom, sister, and me. He commonly spends the weekends with us because his mom has to work. He has a lot of fun covering the distance between our mom’s house and my sister’s house on his little John Deere tractor as I tag along with him on the John Deere riding mower. It is quite the sight. Usually, before the day is over he has made his rounds through the neighborhood to visit all the neighbors, received his favorite Kit Kat candy from one of the neighbors, stopped at every stream and ditch possible to throw rocks and pretend to fish, sit on one of our neighbor’s John Deere collection of old tractors, etc., etc. Translated it makes for a long day for this older woman (ha,ha,ha,ha,ha) by the time bath and bed times roll around. Of course, I am ready for bed long before his body wants to shut down. Our usual routine is that I lay down with him, tell a few stories that recall our activity of the day, with flare of course! Ha,ha,ha,ha Then a couple of rounds of Jack and the Bean Stalk, David and Goliath, and Samson for good measure. Then theatrically he goes to sleep and I get up and go to my bed.

Well, one-night last weekend after we had finished our usual series of stories I rolled over on my stomach as I noticed he was playing with his little flashlight from one of our retreats. (Thanks, Deb and Carl). Anyway, I knew his pattern was to play a few minutes with the flashlight then turn it off and go to sleep. So, I just laid there half awake and half in a coma. (smile) All of a sudden, he crawled up on my back and leaned down as close to my ear as he could and said with the exact same inflection as Elsa from the movie Frozen, “You want to build a snowman?” Even as I write these words today, I am absolutely laughing out loud!
 
I pray those of you out there parenting the little ones all the way through the tweens (11-13) to teens (14-18) that you are able to capture some of these same unpredictable random moments of pure laughter with and at your kids. It may be the only thing that helps us to allow them to reach adulthood.

Would love to hear from some of you and your laughable moments with your children and extended family. We can all use a bit of laughter in our lives weekly.

Love You All,

His,
Vickie

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Are You In A Great Storm.......

Matthew 8:24-25
And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!" He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?”  Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.

Mark 4:37-38
And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"  And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.”  And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.  And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Luke 8:23-25
But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. And He said to them, “Where is your Faith?”

Many messages have been preached over theses verses in centuries past. So don’t venture to think I am about to have some new revelation from the Holy Spirit of God on these verses. I simply want to remind myself and any of you that need the reminder and are in the middle of a storm crying out ......

“Save us, Lord; we are (I am) perishing!”  “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” 

“Teacher, do You not care that we are (I am) perishing?”  “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

“Master, Master, we are (I am) perishing!”  “Where is your Faith?”

....... He hears if you are calling His Name!!! And in His perfect timing He will calm the storms of our hearts whatever they are! ......Exercise that “Faith” even if you don’t feel like it!!! 

Love You All,

His,
Vickie

Registration for Southeast Asia opens today.
Tell your friends that they can contact vickie@purejoyinternational.org for more information.