Worship beyond compare and being an Optimist….

What a glorious opportunity I had Sunday night as I attended church with my Pastor’s daughter that attends NLR First Assembly of God church. Their Choir and Worship Team took us straight to the throne room of God!! It was a glorious time in the LORD!

Well, today I was accused of being an eternal optimist by my dear friend, Patty. Being the optimist that I am I even took that as a compliment! (chuckle)

A little later on in the day I found this story on the web and couldn’t resist….

Optimist vs. Pessimist
A family had twin boys whose only resemblance to each other was their looks. If one felt it was too hot, the other thought it was too cold. If one said the TV was too loud, the other claimed the volume needed to be turned up. Opposite in every way, one was an eternal optimist, the other a doom and gloom pessimist.

Just to see what would happen, on the twins' birthday their father loaded the pessimist's room with every imaginable toy and game. The optimist's room he loaded with horse manure.

That night the father passed by the pessimist's room and found him sitting amid his new gifts crying bitterly. "Why are you crying?" the father asked.

"Because my friends will be jealous, I'll have to read all these instructions before I can do anything with this stuff, I'll constantly need batteries, and my toys will eventually get broken." answered the pessimist twin.

Passing the optimist twin's room, the father found him dancing for joy in the pile of manure. "What are you so happy about?" he asked.

To which his optimist twin replied, "There's got to be a pony in here somewhere!"

Now that is what I’m talking about!

However, I am trying to find some balance in my life regarding this optimism. But, that balance usually only last about an hour or so because I believe God wants us to see the good in every situation. Granted it can take me a while to get there some times but He is Faithful and I do get there!

Whether you are in the room with the toys or you are in the room looking for the pony you can be sure of this, “our Abba is with us, don’t miss the opportunity to talk with HIM.

Continue to pray for the Venezuela retreat and the missionaries that will be attending!

Lipstick kisses...

Well, I had a ‘first’ requested of me Tuesday evening by a 1st grader. I had made a trip up the road to Jonesboro, AR to meet with some of the ladies going to Venezuela with us in October of this year. As is my custom I spend the night in the home of some very dear ministry friends Jeff and Wendy Stotts, Jeff serves on staff at Central Baptist in Jonesboro, and Wendy, his wife, is going with us on the Venezuela trip. They have three children, Wade, Will, and Melody. Please note that Melody, while the last in the litter, is by far not the least. She would for sure be considered their strong willed child! Ever noticed how sometimes these little darling’s also have this cleverness and wittiness about them that keeps you torn between bringing harm to them or just trying not to let them see you laugh at how clever and witty they are! That would be Melody.

As usual when I arrived in their home Melody made her way to me. We have had a special bond for some time. I always know that from the time I hit the door until she goes to bed I will be Velcro and she will be stuck to me. Tuesday night was no exception. However, when it became bed time she made a very interesting request, “ Ms. Vickie will I see you in the morning? “ Answer, “No honey, I will be up and gone by 5:30 a.m. and you will still be a sleep.” “Well then would you leave a lipstick kiss on my forehand in the morning before you leave?” Hmmmmmmm “Ok” I replied. So, she went to bed with that promise tucked away in her mind. When I spend the night with Jeff and Wendy I get Melody’s room and she gets to sleep with mom and dad. I suspect she does that a lot no matter if someone is using her room or not (chuckle). Ok, making plans to prepare for this event the next morning I went to Jeff and Wendy and said, “Just wanted you to know I will be coming into your room in the morning before I leave to give Melody a lipstick kiss.” When I did this I noticed that they had a blow up mattress beside their bed and Melody was in it. Good, I thought. I can slide in, give her the lipstick kiss and slide out in the morning and not bother them. Jeff and I sat up and visited a while longer and then off to bed I went. At 4:30 a.m. the alarm went off and I got up, getting ready so I can make the 2 ½ - 3 hr. drive to Morrilton. Just before I get ready to walk out the door I put on my lipstick for the task. I made sure it was on good and thick. You know the Lord wants us to do all things with excellence. Why would a lipstick kiss be any different!
So, I opened the door to Jeff and Wendy’s room and it was soooooooo dark I couldn’t see a thing. Since I knew the general area of the blow up mattress from the night before I flipped open my cell phone to get a tad of light and horror of horrors Melody was not there! Of course it only took my brain less than a blink to know that the child was on the bed with mom and dad somewhere! Sooooooooo, I walk to the end of the bed and sure enough there she is, smack dab in the middle of mom and dad in this BIG KING SIZE bed! I ask you, should an almost 54 year old women have this kind of decision to make this early in the morning: Honor the lipstick kiss and for sure wake up both parents because I WILL HAVE to climb onto the bed to reach her or slip out and call it even? Right! Of course you can’t break a lipstick promise! Sooooooooooo, I climbed up in the bed and as I am trying to find her forehead amongst the blond locks of hair, Mom and Dad both are awaken! How stupid can I feel? Pretty stupid! However, I did finally get enough hair out of her face to put a lipstick kiss on her cheek. Mom and Dad smiled as much as you can at an intruder in your bed at that time of morning and I, finally having finished the task, head home. Now the big question is was it worth it? The answer came when later on in the day Wendy called me about some details for our Venezuela trip and also informed me that Melody went to the mirror when she got up to see if I had kept my lipstick kiss promise. Not seeing the lipstick kiss on her forehand she told her mom I hadn’t given her the kiss but then Mom pointed her in the direction of her cheek and there it was.

And there you have it…all is well that ends well! The lipstick kiss is what I call real ministry!

Keep praying for our 50 missionaries that will be attending the Venezuela retreat and the team as it continues to come together.



His,
Vickie

The two C's in my life ...

As, I pen this blog this morning I am chuckling at myself. The two C’s in my life this weekend have been reminders of my journey with Breast Cancer and my journey with being technically challenged, Computers!

Over the weekend our community had its annual Relay for Life Event at our local High School Track. Many of you Survivors or Over-comers as I like to call us will know what I am talking about because many of your communities do some of the same things.

It started on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. with the opening ceremony of the Survivors and Caretakers taking the first lap around the track, then from that point on someone on our team from FBC Morrilton had to be on the track until 7:00 a. m. Saturday morning. Since, my breast cancer journey in 2006 I will have to say walking that lap stirs up more emotion in me than I can even share. It reminds me of what I went through and it reminds me of my mom (Caregiver) and others that ministered and prayed for me during the time of surgery, Chemo, and radiation. It also, brings home to me those that were taken by the killer (Cancer) and those that are fighting for their lives even as I write this blog. It is a place where you can talk with those that really understand your journey. Many of you, like myself, continue to be on medications such as Tamoxifin for your cancer treatment which brings on a whole other set of issues in the Surviving and Overcoming category. So, this ‘C’ this weekend has again been a reminder.

The second ‘C’ computer stirs up many emotions in me as well. Not good ones I might add. In fact, my words to Patty earlier this morning went something like, “ I have tried everything I know to do (regarding my wireless connection failure). I found my self mostly frustrated because I could not for the life of me get a ‘real person’ on the service repair line. It wasn’t even an option. And please tell me how I can type in their information to resolve the problem by internet when I CAN”T get on the internet!
Is it just me or how hard is that one to figure out? Hmmmm. I might still have some strong feelings going on about it all, still. Anyway, after a little over an hour of trying to figure it out on my own and sensing in me the feelings welling up to want to toss my laptop out on the front lawn (did I mention through the pane glass window). I did the rational thing and called Patty. Shared with her my mind set about the lap top and the window. She offered to come and help. However, the minute I hung up the phone my wireless connection made its appearance. I feel confident that my laptop and the phone company that handles my wireless heard me mention her name and poof it was working!

For the remainder of this day I would like to be reminded of only one ‘C’. Christ Jesus my Savior! That trumps all other ‘C’s!

Speaking of the weekend, the team that went to Costa Rica got together for food, fellowship, sharing and prayer! It was a most wonderful time in the LORD and a great opportunity to continue to see and hear the fruit of Pure Joy in the life of the team and the ladies in Costa Rica. God is soooooo FAITHFUL to HIMSELF!

Please continue to pray for our Venezuela missionaries and the Team that will be going to Venezuela. We have to lock in names and numbers by the end of this week. Pray that the team will be exactly as God desires and that every missionary that God intends to be at this retreat will be there!

Love you all much!

His,
vickie

Blog Entries...

Ok, so like I thought I would get a jump on Patty being on me about blogging this week. And unless I hear from her in the next 20 minuets I will have succeeded, because it takes me about that long to figure out what I’m saying here. You know I must admit there are times I envy (yes, I know it is sin, forgive me!) some of my friends that are capable of writing so very well. There are days I am not sure I am communicating well in real life much less in writing! I get tickled at some of my friends that just think blogging is so much fun. That must be a portion in my brain that is missing. The only thing that motivates me (beside Patty giving me the “you need to blog statement and look”) is all of you! I do like talking with you, and sharing with you.

So, speaking of sharing, we are doing a major big garage sale to raise money to help sponsor some of our missionaries that are coming to Venezuela. I want to challenge some of you to have a garage sale and pave the way for a missionary to come to the retreat. And then I would like to hear some of you on this blog sharing what God did through your effort. Pure Joy has scheduled our garage sale for June 14, 2008. And I can promise you we will be blogging about it! Did I tell you I’m not big on garage sales and the like? However, my Mom and my Aunt can leave you in the dust when it comes to a bargain! I actually see women and men take great joy in preparing for garage sales. Hmmmm, guess that portion of my brain is missing too. I better end this blog before we figure out I’m missing my entire mind! Ha,ha,ha,

Blessings,
His,
vickie

Clovis, New Mexico ... Sweet Time

Well, there are not really enough words to say what a sweet time that was had in Clovis. Patty went as my Asst. to keep me out of trouble and do some music I had asked her to do for me during the message. God is always so good to surround me with gifted people where I am weak. Sometimes, I think I must be a total weakling because I have a lot of gifted friends on all fronts!!! As for keeping me out of trouble, that is for sure a God job!!

The theme for the conference was “Get a Job”. As you suspect it was about getting on with the work of the kingdom in the body of Christ. The morning message was “Are you qualified to be a worker in the kingdom”? Hmmmm… good question. We have to have qualifications to work in the secular world. We also talked briefly about what happens when a person gets a job where they aren’t qualified. How does that affect those that work with them, etc.

So, in case you are curious about what those qualifications were, Jesus identified them for us in the Book of John chapter 3:5-6. “Truly, Truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” So physical birth (your mom gave you that no matter the circumstances). Spiritual birth (only God can give you that no matter the circumstances).

In the afternoon message we talked about things that keep us from working in the kingdom. We had fun looking at some of the excuses people come up with in real life about why they aren’t working and or missing work. It is equally as interesting to see why we some aren’t working in the kingdom. We looked at many different angles. We talked of the enemy’s hand to keep us unavailable for work, etc.

As we sought Him together, some became qualified workers, some got free to start showing up for work, some really begin to see that God has a ministry for all of us and I suspect some finally were able to settle the issue that they may be serving in the wrong area and need God to direct them to the right position.

Spiritual Seekers put on this conference and the Team from Clovis headed up by Mati Tharp was absolutely wonderful.

Lot’s of fun with girls that love Jesus! We had a very good praise and worship band. Truthfully, it was an example to the ladies that attended to see the body of Christ working together to minister to them through hospitality, administration, serving, worship, teaching, etc.

Thank you Clovis, New Mexico and all you precious Saints of the LORD for loving on us while we were there. God spoke very boldly to me while we were ministering at the end of the first message. Believe it or not it was to make sure I understood my job position. I got it loud and clear!

Please remember to pray for Venezuela as we have almost 20 missionary women that have signed up for this so far and we are not even close to our dead line for registration. God is so good. If you would like to become a prayer partner and personally be praying for some of these women by name please go to www.purejoyinternational.org and click on the Register as a Friend button to become a prayer partner.

Well, we continue at our church to do the study by Beth Moore on “Stepping Up”. I tell you it is a great study and it is killing me!! In a good way!! You have to love how God uses others to mold and shape us to be able to minister to others. I’d have to say that this study has for sure been a sculpting knife in my tool box. Praise God again for all of you that use your gifts for the building up and edifying of the body of Christ!

His,
vickie

Spring has sprung ... NOT!

Ok, so I don’t know what is going on where you are but I am suppose to be comfortably wearing Capri’s and sandals, etc. But noooooo… Today, again I had to throw on a turtle neck under my blouse to keep me comfortably warm. And for those of you that can relate the most annoying thing is that you seem to never have a hot flash when it would be convenient for you. It is always when it is convenient for the hot flash. Hmmp. There is something to be said for those places some of you live in where the temperatures steady year round. But, then again you are probably missing the snow, or spring flowers, or something. Figures, doesn’t it.

Things continue to keep coming together for the Venezuela retreat. God is so good to have given us a wonderful contact person on the field there. He has been a blessing in working diligently with our team here to work out details. The dates of the retreat are fixed Oct. 7-9, 2008. Right now we are praying though our days on the front and back of the retreat. It is going to be a pretty tight trip as far as travel. Prayer warriors stay strong in the battle, (yes, battle), because any work that is done at His direction is under attack! Remember, along with others around you, that you are about the business of kingdom work, as I know God is keeping perfect watch care over each pair of eyes reading this blog.

I want to encourage you ladies out there concerning 2009. We have 4 potential retreats coming up. That means the opportunity for many of you to be a part of this ministry through your church is great. Please contact me if you are impressed by God’s leading to be involved in GOING. Send me contact information so we can talk.

Don’t forget to pray for our missionary women stationed all over the world, their marriages, family, health, friendship, needs, and above all else their hearts as they serve our Risen Savior for His Glory and kingdoms’ sake.

His,
Vickie

Egypt forever in my Heart and Venezuela on the horizon…

Greetings friends of Pure Joy from this small corner of the world.
I apologize for the silence for so long. Truthfully, soon after our trip to Costa Rica I left on a trip to Egypt to minister with a ministry called Rock International that ministers to street children. Ruth McWhite one of our Pure Joy board members accompanied me on the trip so I would not be traveling alone and to bring her expertise to ministering to others as well. I had the privilege of providing some training for some of the nationals that have a heart to work with the street kids. Please remember the nationals in prayer for we have NO clue what they are up against in their journey to reach these kids for Christ. And trust me when I say Christ is their only hope. Christ is our only hope too, but you actually get that when you are among this culture! This is my second week since returning from Egypt and I can gladly say that I am finally beginning to rise up out of the depression that set in on me after my return. I am still gleaning from the LORD things I saw and was exposed to while there. On the brighter side I met some absolutely wonderful people that love our Lord and Savior and are serving Him diligently. Praise God for the opportunities to see Him at work throughout this world!!!

Changing gears ………Calling in all prayer friends:
Details are coming together as we prepare for our next retreat which will be in Venezuela. Please begin to pray as the sponsoring churches, team members, and details begin to unfold on this side. Also, pray for our ladies in Venezuela to hear of this opportunity and register on line at www.purejoyinternational.org. Our theme for Venezuela is “Love Story” The Power of the Cross. Our verse is 1 Cor 1:18, for the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Please begin to pray as God brings the speakers for this retreat, the praise and worship team, hospitality persons, activity persons, etc. Pray for all our arrangements in Venezuela to continue to fall in to place and pray that God will give us favor at every turn. Pray about if you are also to help sponsor a missionary to this retreat. Our cost per missionary this trip has gone up $50 dollars due to the economy of the country. Cost per missionary is $400 to provide for their room and board in a nice environment, materials for the conference, gifts, etc. for three days two nights. I encourage you to pray about teaming up with some of your girlfriends and sponsoring a missionary for this trip. See the web site above to learn how to be a part of this ministry through giving.

I am headed to Clovis, New Mexico in a few weeks to minister with a ministry called “Spiritual Seekers”. I have had the opportunity to minister with them in the Oklahoma/Texas area in the past. This will be my first time with the New Mexico girls! Please pray as I continue to prepare messages based on their theme, “Get a Job!!” The topic has to do with the obvious ‘servanthood’ in the body of Christ. Yes, God did prepare in advance those good works He intended us to do. Pray that as a result of our time together the ladies will realize that God is intentional and He has gifted us each for his purposes. Meaning, no one has ever invited me to head up their hospitality ministry! To know me is to know why! However, God does intend for me to have a heart of hospitality. He just doesn’t really want me decorating the table or anything else. He has however taught me many things over the years about hospitality from some of you Martha Stewarts that I really appreciate!

Keep checking the blog for updates on the Venezuela retreat.

His,
Vickie