Friday, February 26, 2021

Great Week…

 

I cannot believe these words are coming out of my mouth it has been so long!!  But It has been a good week to have a great week!  And that has happened because I have spent most of my week visiting with missionary women overseas!  Recently, our ministry sent out an email to missionary women that have attended our conferences overseas in the past.  You were asked to contact me so I could share with you some ways we believe God is leading us to minister to you on the field even though we are not able to travel for now.  The response has been awesome.  In fact, if you have emailed me already please be patient with me as I am scheduling days and times to visit with each one of you individually.   That is what has made for such a great week!  I have seen faces and heard voices from the past 20 years along with several new ones.   It has been exciting to visit with so many of you from our ‘people group’.  The emails you have sent sharing about your hearts towards Pure Joy International Retreat Ministry and your stories of what is happening where you are right now are so impactful.

Many of you are in second and third lockdowns because of Covid-19.  And for those that are not locked down there is the inability to cross providence lines, country boarders, etc.  It is all so crazy!   So, if you did not get the email sent to missionaries please check your spam and or let me know vickie@purejoyinterntional.org and I will get with you.  But be patient with me. There are a lot of you and one of me.  (smile).

 Along, with the great week there have also been some tough spots in the road that happen for all of us as we are molded and shaped into his image.  But as God is good to always give us what we need at just the right time I came across this quote in a daily reading. 

“God has brought you through before, and He will bring you through again.  Make a decision each day, to choose faith over fear.”

I suspect there are many of us that need to be reminded of that truth. 

·       Those overseas in lockdowns and

·       Those here in the U.S. that have been severely hit by the recent winter storms in the southern part of the U.S.

·       Those of you just going through life and hitting some tough spots in the road.

 The list could go on and on.  Remember, choose Faith!

 

Have a good weekend.

 

His,

Vickie

 


Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Paying It Forward…


Jon and Phyllis Moore are long time friends of mine.  I met Phyllis when I started traveling with Great Hills Baptist Retreat Ministry out of Austin, Tx. 

Barbara O’Chester Founder of Great Hills Baptist Retreat Ministry usually allowed Phyllis and I to room together.  We both liked to get up early and do our quite times, so we made good roomies.  By the way we were anything but quite during those times because we liked sharing with each other the things the LORD was showing us.  She and Jon have since been lifelong friends to me. 

 

Recently I received the following email from Jon.  Jon is good to take time to encourage others that serve in ministry.   I wanted to share it with you because; (1) it gives you a link to their ministry www.Christfollowers.com and because it also gives you a way to connect with Jon to capitalize on the quotes that are meaty along the way.  I have never known Jon to just throw you a bone.  The meat always comes with it!  Phyllis will be no disappointment to us ladies as well.  So, contact them if you would like to be encouraged by the depths of older saints.  I will leave one of my favorites from this past week at the bottom with my sign off.  It is from A.W. Tozer.  I am quite sure he was supposed to be my husband but died 10 years after I was born.  Ha,ha,ha.

 

“Hello everyone,

 We trust you are all staying well during these hopefully last months of COVID-19 pandemic!  We personally received our first vaccine shot last week.  As our opportunities for ministry

(as we have always known them) decline, I want to point out two avenues we maintain.  First, we alternate in writing devotionals each month for our web site.  Be sure to click on www.Christfollowers.com and read Jon’s devotional for this month, “Praying for Revival!”

 Secondly, every couple of weeks or so, I (Jon) send out quotes by notable Believers from the past that deal with revival and related subjects.  If you do not currently receive those quotes and would like to receive them, let me know by return email.  IN the meantime, keep on believing the Lord for a God-sized miracle, and keep on praying to that end…

 Multiplied blessings,

Jon & Phyllis Moore”

 

May I encourage you to take advantage of the wisdom of the older saints.  I have received some wise counsel from my friends through the years.

 

His,

Vickie


“The one who has struggled to purify himself and has had nothing , but repeated failures will experience real relief when he stops tinkering with his soul and looks away to the perfect One.                 A.W. Tozer

          Are you tinkering with your soul?

 


Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Darkness…


I am sure we can all remember a time when we have found ourselves in darkness unexpectedly.  That happens to us several times throughout the year.  It happens if the weather is bad, someone hits a utility pole, and or my personal favorite the squirrel that gets caught in the power grid and knocks out the electricity on one whole side of town. If that happens in the daytime not so big a deal regarding light.  But at night when you are suddenly cast unexpectantly into the darkness, not so good.  It is a strange feeling for a moment.  Your brain goes to total overload for just a fraction of a second trying to process, no light, what happen, which gives way to a momentary flinch of fear.  Then you snap out of it. Find your flashlight, candles, lanterns, etc. Then you call the Entergy Company to find out what happened and when you can expect it to be fixed.

Today, it is easy to feel overwhelmed with the darkness of this world. And it will not do you any good to call the electric company to find out what happened and when you can expect it be fixed.  Because it is a darkness brought on by evil.  Evil are those things that stand in opposition to Gods Word, Truths, Ways, Will, Commands, etc.

But rejoice my dear friends because Gods Word has given us the tool’s we need to weather the darkness of this present world.  Here are just a couple of powerful verses to hold onto and believe!

Psalm 27:1 (ESV) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 18:28-30 (ESV) For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

So, the next time the darkness is pressing in on you remember; He is your light and your salvation!

His,

Vickie