Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Same Kind of Different as Me….

One afternoon last week I came home to find my mom watching the movie Same Kind of Different as Me on Netflix. The movie is based on the book, which is based on a true story. I bought the book when it came out many years ago, but never read past the first couple of chapters. The movie was half over when I sat down to watch it. The story revolves around a struggling marriage, struggling father and adult child, and a kitchen for the homeless community… and a homeless man.

What part I saw of the movie was good. Slow moving but good. However, the ending of the moving was absolutely soooooooo powerful to me and such a reminder. A reminder that I think we could all benefit from as we head into the Christmas Season and the New Year. Before I comment on the reminder let me share with you the words at the end of the movie, spoken by Denver Moore, the homeless man, as he shared the eulogy at the funeral for Miss Debbie.

“I used to spend a lotta time worryin that I was different from other people, even from other homeless folks. Then, after I met Miss Debbie and Mr. Ron, I worried that I was so different from them that we wadn't ever gon' have no kind a' future. But I found out everybody's different - the same kind of different as me. We're all just regular folks walkin down the road God done set in front of us. The truth about it is, whether we is rich or poor or somethin in between, this earth ain't no final restin place. So, in a way, we is all homeless - just workin our way toward home.” Welcome home, Miss Debbie, welcome home.”

Did you catch the reminder? In a way we are all “homeless” as believers. Just working our way toward “Home.” So, as you celebrate or struggle and/or both through this Christmas and/or the New Year remember, Jesus came into this world to show us the way “Home.” Remember Denver Moore’s last statement about Miss Debbie? “Welcome home, Miss Debbie, welcome home.” Out of all the people in that church she was “home.” The rest of them were homeless. Dear ones, until we pass from this world into eternity may we begin to understand that we are living homeless… and being homeless is HARD!

1 Peter 2:11 (MSG)
Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.

Homeless but His,
Vickie

Merry Christmas from the Staff, Board, and Advisors of Pure Joy International to you and yours!!

Friday, December 14, 2018

GREETINGS….

We have received our first Christmas Story. Remember to share your short stories and humorous moments regarding Christmas. Just send to me at vickie@purejoyinternational.org We will make sure they get posted to the Facebook, purejoyinternational.org web site (click on blog), and email for those of you that have signed up to receive it that way.
 
Enjoy this story from a missionary family that was stationed in Czech Republic. For others of you that are overseas and/or back in the states or your country of origin get those to us in the next 10 days please.

His,
Vickie

Remember the Joy of why we celebrate Christmas to help you overcome the craziness of it all!!


First Christmas in the Czech Republic
We were all so excited - Christmas was only a short time away.
Once again, we would hang our stockings awaiting all those small, yet hand-picked trinkets, but wait! We decided not to bring our old stockings, but had decided we would buy new ones in this new county. We searched and we searched for stockings, not finding them brought discouragement and longing for home. What could we do? We could let this spoil Christmas considering the true meaning had nothing to do with hanging stockings, but giving to others – 
Jesus being the greatest gift ever given to mankind.
So, we all agreed to find a container that would say the most about us. This would make Christmas even more personal than before. Since then, we have gone back to our traditional stockings, and now those stockings hang in the home of each of our adult children. 
As for Jeff and I, only two stockings will hang this Christmas.

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Please consider …

As the end of the year rolls around many will be looking at ways to donate to 501 (c)3 ministry organizations. I would like to ask each of you that know someone that is interested in donating to tell them about Pure Joy International and its ministry to our missionary women and families on the field. Money donated at the end of the year contributes to our general budget that keeps the ministry in working order to provide for office/office supplies, traveling to network churches that partner with us, travel to meet with team members for conferences, counseling services free of charge to missionaries overseas and at home for themselves or their family. It also provides for resources needed for overseas conference, along with so much more. So, share with others that may be prayerfully seeking God about a ministry to give to this end of the year. Through His resources we can make a difference. Click here to access our support page. (Scroll to center of page to find various ways to give,)

Recently, I had the great opportunity to be the speaker for the Women’s Christmas Celebration at West Chicago Bible Church. Such a sweet time with the ladies there. The hospitality was wonderful, the men served the meal (that was great), the local High School Acapella group sang, and God’s word challenged, affirmed, and convicted us. Thank you to all the men and women of West Chicago Bible Church for coming together to celebrate the Savior of the World.

Last Christmas Season, I asked you to share pictures of your Christmas trees to share with others on the blog. This year I thought it would be fun to share some Holiday stories. They may be laugh out loud funny or serious or anywhere in between. Can’t wait to share them with the readers. Let me hear from you. I’m confident our missionaries can share some interesting ones with us. Send them to me at vickie@purejoyinternational.org

Praying for all during this Christmas Season.

His,
Vickie
P.S.  We are headed to Quito, Ecuador in April of 2019.   More details to come.