Writing While Walking

How great is the Father's love

2011-04-22T15:53:00.000-04:00

How great is the Father's love,
That He lavished on us,
Through His Son Jesus,
And how great was Your sacrifice
You exchanged Your life for mine.

I can never ever put into words the gratitude I feel towards God for sending His son, nor can I ever thank Jesus enough for being obedient to death, even the death of the cross. I can't and so I won't. I just want to stop here today and in my own feeble words, say 'thank You, thank You, thank You Jesus!!! Not only did you provide salvation, but You provided healing, deliverance, wealth, and whatever else I could ever need. You did it one time, for all time. You did it before I ever thought of You and I can't say how much this overwhelms my heart today. So.....in view and in light of God's mercy, the least I can do is to present myself as a living sacrifice, wholly and unacceptable unto You Lord. Thank you for sending Your son Jesus. Jesus thank You for sending the Holy Spirit Who makes this all so real to me. Thank you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thank you.

With the right shoes on

2011-04-06T17:04:00.001-04:00

That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God (with fuller, deeper and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition). Colossians 1:10

With the right shoes on you can go anywhere!

This was the theme of our women's convention last weekend. It was such a glorious time, one of refreshing, renewal and a lot of Holy Spirit impartation. I thank God for the opportunity to be there and for removing all the challenges and hindrances that seemed to be in the way of my going. I realize over and over that whenever we do what's possible with us, God always does what He does best and that's the impossible. Left to do it on my own, I have little doubt that I would have made it to the convention, but God in His great mercy and faithfulness, provided all that I would need so I could be there to hear what He had for me.

We were encouraged by some wonderful women of God in many different ways, but all with the same thing in mind: Walk worthy of the calling you have received.

Our pastor's wife exhorted us to put on our shoes of peace knowing that we have peace with God and we have the peace of God within us.

She also encouraged us to put on our shoes of praise because, "praise is the bridge that brings us to our dreams." Especially in the face of trying circumstances we should give thanks and praise, for this is His will concerning us. She then strongly impressed on us to put on our shoes of power since we have been given authority over evil. Everything we are contending with, we must do with a consciousness of victory. The victory is already ours through Christ Jesus.

The next speaker highlighted the difficulty of walking in another persons shoes. She wore some size 12 boots on her size 7 feet. Though this was quite funny, the point was clearly made. Wear what fits you. Be yourself. It is better to be a first class version of yourself, than be a second class version of someone else. You stumble more often when you wear someone else's shoes. It's better to be the you God created. She talked about the many time she tried to fit into the shoes of another bible teacher. She tried to sound like them, she tried antics like them and failed dismally. God has created each of us unique, and even though we admire others, it's always best to be our authentic self.

Our hearts were challenged by yet another wonderful woman of God to step into new shoes. She told us it was time to put on our big girl shoes, take the risk or the plunge and do what we know God has called us to do. One of her key points was renewing our minds to what God says about us, so we can see ourselves as He sees us. It is only with His picture in our minds that we will step out.

Some of the bullet points of the convention:

The journey of life requires different shoes for different situations.

One type of shoe for protection, another type gives more in the way of support and comfort, and still another type of shoe has more traction than others for those hard and difficult times.

Wearing the right shoes makes the journey more enjoyable.

Step Up, Step In and Step Over into what the Spirit has for you.

Keep moving, Keep walking

I was truly blessed and encouraged to step out into what I know God has called me to. I have to get moving. NOW!!!

Still in His Word

2011-03-24T14:23:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone, I can't believe I haven't posted anything here for the year, but I pray you are having a blessed year so far. I have been around on Facebook and busy with other stuff but just didn't find the time to put together some posts for here. However, the word of God is burning on my heart and I am still in His Word. I have been reading the parable of the Sower in Mark 4 for a very long time now and recently I have been blown over by the truths in the book of Romans. I am excited to share what the Holy Spirt is sharing with me.
Hope all is well with all of you.
Blessings

Merry Christmas

2010-12-22T08:52:00.000-05:00

Just want to wish everyone a very very Merry Christmas and a most blessed, prosperous and Jesus-filled New Year.

Love and blessings always
Vickie

Blessed Thanksgiving

2010-11-23T18:30:00.000-05:00

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. Ps. 95:2

Hope everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends, giving the most thanks and praise to God, the Lord Most High.

Blessings,
Vickie

What do you do with the Word?

2010-11-05T12:36:00.001-04:00

For the past few weeks I have been reading about, thinking about and talking about the Word.

Any of you that happen to read my blog would know that I love the Word with all my heart. I truly believe that the answer to any problem or issue we could ever have is found in the Word of God. I have made a new commitment to the Word of God to give It the priority and the first place It deserves in my life.

This renewal came when I read the familiar parable of the sower in The Harmony of the Gospels.

I have read this many times and heard it preached on many times, but recently I 'saw' something I had never seen before. Thank you Holy Spirit for enlightenment.

After Jesus gave the parable of the sower, the disciples asked what did He mean when He gave this parable. Jesus' answer was an eye-opener for me. He basically said, if you don't know the meaning to this parable, then how can you expect to know the meaning of any other parable? If you can't understand this one, then you won't be able to understand any other. (Mark 4:13) I was like, wow!!!

So, I decided if Jesus said that this parable was the foundation, the launching pad for all other parables, then I had to spend some time with it. Therefore, I have been spending time with this parable and meditating on what it really means.

I would invite you to do the same. It could change your life forever, if you let it. It certainly has shifted some things in my life.

Immediately after telling them this was the most important parable, Jesus said, in Mark 4:14 "The sower sows the Word."

That's all the verse says.
It just stands out among the other verses.
Nothing else with it so you can't misunderstand it.

Jesus said this parable is not about a farmer, its not about seed, its simply about the Word. So if Jesus says this is the most important parable and without understanding it we are in darkness about other parables, then HE is saying the Word is the most important thing and if we don't understand the Word and what it does then we are in trouble.

He goes on to tell us about the different kinds of soil, meaning the difference in the hearts that receive the Word. One thing I noticed is that HE keeps saying seed/Word of the same kind. I see it in verses 5, 7 & 8. To me that says, the Word or the seed that was sown didn't change. It's the kind of heart that was different.
It explains why two people can hear the same word from the same teacher or preacher and it changes the life of one and not the other.

What kind of heart are you receiving the Word of God with?
Do you have a heart like the soil that was full of rocks?
Do you have a heart like the soil that was full of thorns?
The kind of heart that we have determines what the Word will be able to do in our lives. A heart that's stubborn will reject the Word right away, a heart that's self-sufficient will hear the Word but doesn't think It can affect any change in their life.
I believe all of us want to have the kind of heart that receives the word of God and allows it to bear fruit in our lives. It's what God wants for us too.
Hearing and receiving the Word is just a start. The Word must be watered so it will grow and produce.

Prayer, fasting, fellowship etc are all forms of fertilizers for the seed of the Word.
I hear many people talk about praying all the time but they hardly read the Word. Prayer is vital, it's important but without the Word to stand on, then prayer is in vain. When we spend adequate time in the Word, then we pray the Word and change comes.

For a long time I was wondering why it is that some people pray so much, they are always in prayer and fasting but nothing seems to have changed or is changing in their lives. I know now it's because there is no root of the Word in their heart.

Jesus said in verse 24, "Be careful what you are hearing. The measure of thought and study you give to the truth that you hear will be the measure of virtue and knowledge that comes back to you - and more besides will be give to you who hear."

The more attention we pay to the Word, the more we meditate on it, the more we speak it, the more it will be evidenced in our lives.
I have often heard that prayer changes things. Prayer doesn't change things, I believe PRAYER OF THE WORD is what changes things. If prayer just changed things, then it would be different for many of us who have been praying all the time.
When we pray the Word we are in agreement with what God says and therefore HE is obligated to answer His word. Why is it that James says we receive not because we ask not? Many of us would say, "I have been asking for the longest time, but I haven't received." It's because we haven't been praying His word.
Psalm 138:2 says, " I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy name."

Can you imagine, that God has magnified His word above His name, knowing all the power there is in His name?
Let's make our way back to the Word of God. God's word is a seed, and if it is sown, it will grow to bring about any change in our lives.
In my next few posts I want to look at our hearts, the soil that we sow the word into. The word never changes, its incorruptible,(1 Peter 1:23) so therefore the problems lie with our hearts.

I want a heart that is always sensitive to the touch of God, a heart that the Word can be rooted in and produce even a hundred times as much as had been sown. Mark 4:8

I pray the Holy Spirit open our eyes to these truths and that they find a lodging place in our hearts.

Blessings,
Vickie

Seek His Kingdom First

2010-10-09T23:08:00.000-04:00

"The earnest, (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available (dynamic in its working).

Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have (with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours): and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and no rain fell on the earth for three years and six months.

James 5:16 & 17 Amp.

It's quite a while that I took a break from blogging, but it's been on my heart. I truly believe that God has directed me here to use this forum as a means of lifting Him up, encouraging myself in Him, and encouraging anyone who would choose to read.

However, at the start of the summer, I really felt as though blogging wasn't a priority anymore and honestly, it wasn't. It had become a chore and sometimes felt like a burden. I didn't have the joy like I did before.

So I pulled back and plugged in to God more.

I felt unfulfilled and restless in my soul. I wasn't walking in disobedience that I knew of, but my life didn't seem to be going in any clear direction either. I know what God has called me to do but there were so many obstacles in the way of following and fulfilling it.

So I just went back to foundation of my faith.

I went on my knees in prayer and the Holy Spirit led me straight to the answer: "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given up besides." (Matthew 6:33)AMP

I was getting diverted from seeking God's kingdom first.

I had to look away from seeking to be used by God and look towards just being close to Him. Everything else could follow.

During that time, He confirmed a few things that were troubling me.

He confirmed the local church where we should be planted as a family. (This was a huge thing because we had been searching for a while and just didn't feel like we really belonged anywhere)

He revived my dream and my gift of teaching, but doing a phenomenal thing and leading me to start a college course towards a teaching degree.

Not just a teaching degree but one in Early Childhood Education. This was my hearts' desire for as long as I knew myself, but over the years it was as though it had disappeared. Then I heard a message and God used it to stir my heart and awaken that dream that I thought had probably died.

Now it is totally confirmed in my heart and with the help of the Holy Spirit everyday I see that christian pre-school that will lay a foundation in the hearts of the young ones.

Even as I am working towards this college degree, I am being grounded in the Word at Bible School in preparation.

I found myself on my knees day and night throughout the summer crying out to God, because I saw in His word that earnest, heartfelt and continued prayers brought results, so I decided I would be obedient to the Word.

I also read about the example of Elijah.He was an ordinary person, who prayed earnest, heartfelt and continued prayers that it might not rain, and you know what? The word said he got what he asked. It didn't rain for three years and six months. He was no different than you and I.

I am taking God at His word. He is the same God that answered Elijah's prayers, so why wouldn't he answer mine? Sure enough He did.

You know why? Earnest, heartfelt, continued prayers keep us in the presence of God. Just what He wants. When He sees us seeking His heart, then His hands open freely, then our spirits can hear from Him more clearly where He wants us to go and what HE wants us to do.

I just needed to take the time to seek Him out. He promised that if I commit my way to Him, He would give me the desires of my heart.

For you as well. As a child of God, these great and precious promises are also for you.

I don't know where you are at in God today, but whatever your heart's desire, look away from that and look to God.

Draw closer to Him, focus on Him and He will focus on you. There is no other way around it, no short cuts.

Seek His Kingdom first.

Blessings

Vickie

Taking a break

2010-07-14T11:25:00.000-04:00

Hi friends, just wanted to let you know that I will be taking a break from blogging for the rest of the summer. It's not so much the season of the year as it is a season I am passing through and I find that blogging is not a priority right now. I am learning some new programs that I believe is necessary for where I know God wants to take me and this break will give me more time to concentrate on them.

I will still be around on Facebook sometimes to say hello and I may comment on some blogs occasionally. However I desire to spend some time in prayer and fasting as I am at a crossroad in my life looking for new direction from God.

I pray each of you have a great summer and even in the lazy days of having fun in the sun, please don't neglect your time with God and most importantly time in His word.

blessings,
Vickie

What am I doing?

2010-06-30T12:34:00.001-04:00

Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people).
Making the very most of the time (buying up each opportunity), because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:15-17 Amp.

These verses are some that I have read often. I've read the book of Ephesians too many times to count and know a lot of them from memory. However, it seems like when reading this morning, these words practically jumped out at me: vague, thoughtless and foolish. Then there's purposefully and worthily and accurately. As I read them I started to think of my life and honestly, it feels like if I am wandering around in the desert or something. I believe I know what God has called me to do. I know He has equipped me but somehow I still can't seem to get things materialize and it feels pretty frustrating.

When I read these verses over and over I see that even though I am serving God with my heart, I can't leave my head out of it. Verse 15 says live wise, be sensible and intelligent, then verse 17 tells me not to be vague, thoughtless or foolish, but to firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is. It is important to look for opportunities because they won't just appear out of nowhere. Looking back I believe that some opportunities came to me, but since they weren't labelled and wrapped up the way I would have liked, I let them pass by.

No wonder the word says be sensible and intelligent. I would also believe alert and sober can be inserted here.

A thoughtless and foolish person is one who doesn't understand what the will of God is. I don't want to be thoughtless or foolish anymore when God's will is available to me. I want to firmly grasp it so the understanding doesn't slip away from me. The Holy Spirit is there 100% to show me God's plan and path for me.

Praying is of the utmost importance, but I need to take physical steps to cooperate with God so that His plans for me will bear fruit.

I am getting up off my knees and putting some feet to my faith.

blessings,
vickie

Pieces from Proverbs 5

2010-06-13T22:27:00.000-04:00

Now then my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say.
Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house, lest you lose your honor to others and your dignity to one who is cruel, lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich the house of another.
For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all your paths.
Proverbs 5: 7-10 and 21 & 22

Even as we find a lot of spiritual insight in this Wisdom Book, we find some great practical advice. Here Solomon gives advice against adulterous living. It is great to speak the Word when we have strongholds in our lives or we are faced with tempting situations; however after praying and fasting, after speaking the word, after confessing, we have to live it out. The writer says, 'keep to a path far from her/him, do not go near her/his house.' In other words, do your best not to pass on that street, lest you be tempted to go in. If you do have to pass on that street, walk on the other side. Keep far from the thing or person that could cause your downfall. Be careful, the enemy is out to steal, kill and destroy. Let him that think he stand, take heed lest he fall. Don't trust in yourself. Take heed to the word.

For your ways are in full view of the Lord and He examines all your paths.

When we sin, we sin against God. Our deeds may not be in view of others but they are in full view of God, and He is watching.
I want my life to be an open book. I so want to be transparent before God and others. I haven't reached yet and I struggle in certain areas, but I am learning to work the word. I don't want to just know the word and continue to battle the same things over and over. I am learning to practically apply the word in situation after situation.

None of us may be facing the temptation of adultery now, but what will we tell the person who may come to us with the problem? Will we just tell them to pray about it? That's not enough. We need to employ certain practical strategies, and sometimes drastic ones for our soul's sake.

Let's hold on to this word. Let's work this word. Let's prove this word.

We see Jesus by faith, a faith that is often times silly to this world. How will they ever know that God is real? They will know when we practically apply this word and allow it to bring change that they can see.

That is the desire of my heart as I seek the wisdom of God; that men may see Him and know that He is real and He is alive.

Work the word and it will work for you.

blessings
Vickie

WFW - Pieces From Proverbs 4

2010-06-09T09:56:00.002-04:00

5.Get wisdom! Get understanding!

Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

⁶Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;

Love her, and she will keep you.

⁷Wisdom is the principal thing;

Therefore get wisdom.

And in all your getting, get understanding.

⁸Exalt her, and she will promote you;

She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.

⁹She will place on your head an ornament of grace;

A crown of glory she will deliver to you."

Proverbs 4:5-9

In all your getting, get understanding.

I don't know if it could be any clearer or plainer. We are encouraged today in this piece from the proverbs not to neglect getting wisdom, not to neglect getting understanding.

Look at the benefits of getting the wisdom of God: promotion and honor just to name a few and a crown of glory she will deliver to you.

I just want to simply reinforce what I've said the last couple of days. Let us get back to the word of God and do what it says. This word is spirit and it is life. Wherever you are in life today, whatever is lacking, find the answer in the Word. Whatever decisions you face today seek the wisdom of God and you will have the peace of God in all you do.

Have a blessed WFW.

To find more post visit the home of WFW at the Internet Cafe.

blessings
Vickie

Pieces from Proverbs 3

2010-06-04T15:00:00.000-04:00

My son do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and humankind. Proverbs 3:1-4

I want to live a long life. I want to live to see my children and my grand-children grow and live long lives too. I've changed my eating habits over the last 8 months or so, I now go to the gym a couple times a week and recently I've started walking for an hour between 5.30 and 6.30 in the mornings. After years of struggling to discipline myself, I now take my vitamins daily and all in all I have lost a total of about 13 pounds fitting better in my clothes. I've done all this to help improve the quality of my life and hopefully the length of it. However there's one other thing that's more important than all of these. There's one other thing that will profit me more than any of the things I've mentioned above, and that's keeping God's commands in my heart.

The book of Proverbs plainly states that keeping God's word hidden in your heart and applying it, leads to long life, peace and prosperity. Which of us wouldn't want to live until Jesus came? Which of us wouldn't want to live that life in peace? Which of us wouldn't want to live long, peacefully and prosperous as well? I would, for sure I would. The word promises not just length of life, but quality of life. There's the absolute assurance of favor with both God and man if we would wrap ourselves in the His word.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

I never for one moment think that my feeble attempts at eating better and exercise etc is all that's sustaining me. Everyday I thank God that He is the One Who is giving me life, health, breath and strength to even do these things. It's the word of God applied to our lives, it's His wisdom when we use it that will bring nourishment to our bones. As good as our vitamin D levels may be they're no match for a steady dose of the refreshing, life-giving word of God.

Friends it is never too late to start. It took me years before I got to the point of making it a habit to eat healthy and take supplements to make up for what I wasn't getting in my food. Start now. If your health is poor, if your life is lacking, if you need a boost, take God at His word. His commands will not only give you quantity of life, it will give you quality as well. If your priority has been your physical man reset your priorities and concentrate on your soul. Paul tells us bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. (1 Tim. 4:8)

As I mentioned yesterday, it is no good storing up treasures for this life only because they get corrupted and the thief will come and steal them. Wisdom was one of the first of God's created works. He used wisdom in creating the heavens and the earth. HE used wisdom in setting this worlds' order and He is willing to give us that same wisdom. That wisdom will revolutionize our lives.

Just ask for it, receive it and use it.

Have a blessed weekend. Don't forget to fill up on the Word of God.

Vickie

Pieces from Proverbs 2

2010-06-03T12:28:00.000-04:00

My son if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding - indeed if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 2:1-5

We hear a lot. There's a lot of information that comes at us daily from various sources, whether it be from a loved one, or we read it in a book or read it on the web. There's no denying it, we hear a lot, but how much of it do we really listen to? The writer of the Proverbs pleads with us to accept the words of wisdom and store up the commands of the Lord. Accepting the words of wisdom is not just hearing them, but receiving them and applying them. When we are encouraged to store up God's commands, it tells me we need to get a whole lot of it. There's no storing up if we just take in a favorite verse here or there, or a chapter once a week. Storing up speaks to me of getting a regular supply to put away. A regular supply that we can draw from in times of tests, in times of need and in times of lack.

We put ourselves at a great disadvantage when we seek after everything else more than the Word of God. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19 & 20, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Treasures on earth are our own desires and goals and plans without His wisdom. No one can steal the insight and the understanding that comes from the Word. A store of the Word of God provides us with a guard for our path in life and protection for the way we would walk.

When we don't have the Word as a garrison around us, the enemy is able to come in and steal our peace and our joy.

indeed if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Understanding the fear of the Lord is not an automatic thing as a believer. We are called to be purposeful and intentional about seeking the wisdom of God. Calling out for insight, crying out for understanding, searching for it like searching for hidden treasure all involves a lot of effort. To find hidden treasure calls for digging deep. It involves more time studying the word than reading other novels, as good as they are. It involves more time in prayer than a quick morning devotion. God's wisdom is His word and if we are diligent about seeking it He promises that we will find the knowledge we desire.

It's my desire to know more of Him but how can I do that if I don't get more of His word? How can I write or speak for Him if I don't spend adequate time with Him?
He is generous in His giving to those who are willing to receive. His greatest gift is more of Himself, His ways and His thoughts.
He made known His acts to the children of Israel, but He made known His ways to Moses. I want to be known as a friend of God. I want to know His ways.

His Word = His Will = His Ways

I encourage all of us today, lets be more fervent about seeking after God, put Him first.

Blessings,
Vickie

WFW - Pieces From Proverbs

2010-06-02T15:25:00.000-04:00

The Purpose of Proverbs

¹These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel.

²The purpose of these proverbs is to teach people wisdom and discipline, and to help them understand wise sayings. ³Through these proverbs, people will receive instruction in discipline, good conduct, and doing what is right, just, and fair. ⁴These proverbs will make the simpleminded clever. They will give knowledge and purpose to young people.

⁵Let those who are wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. And let those who understand receive guidance ⁶by exploring the depth of meaning in these proverbs, parables, wise sayings, and riddles.

⁷Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline.

²²"You simpletons!" she cries. "How long will you go on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools fight the facts? ²³Come here and listen to me! I'll pour out the spirit of wisdom upon you and make you wise. (Proverbs 1: 1-7, 22 & 23 NLT)

I so love the book of Proverbs. I am grateful to God that He didn't leave us here to fend for ourselves. I am thankful that God in His wisdom is willing to help us in any area that we ask of Him. The book of Proverbs as the first few verses so rightly stated has something for all of us. It is available for any human alive, any size, shape, age,color, race or height. The purpose is to teach all who is willing, wisdom, discipline and good conduct. If you are simple minded the wisdom of God will make you clever. If you are young you will gain knowledge and discover your purpose in life. If you are wise, adhering to the truths in this Book will make you even wiser.

Only the fool would ignore the wisdom and discipline of the Lord.

I have made so many mistakes in life by failing to apply God's truths and His wisdom appropriately. Over the weekend as my husband and I read and meditated on these verses, and saw the admonition in verse 22 & 23 we repented before God. We repented for remaining in a simple and foolish place many times when the wisdom of God was available to us. We repented of ignoring promptings from the Holy Spirit when we were about to undertake certain projects. We repented for being emotional so often in our decision making and never truly changing our way of thinking.

The wisdom of God is available to each of us, all we need to do is ask. He is a generous and willing God. Why stumble around in the darkness when light is offered to us? Let's take Him up on His offer. In verse 23 He says, "Come here and listen to me! I'll pour out the spirit of wisdom upon you and make you wise!" Isn't He a great, big, wonderful, awesome God?

There are so many wonderful truths in the proverbs. It's not just a book with nice, cute sayings, it has very practical application for life. The quality of our lives can be enhanced greatly if we would hear and heed the cry of wisdom. I want to take a piece from proverbs as often as I can and hear what God is saying. For this month of June, I will challenge myself to write a daily piece from this wonderful book. Feel free to join me and share your thoughts. This is my birth month and what better way to celebrate advancing in age than by advancing in God's wisdom?

Have a great WFW.

For more WFW visit at Internet Cafe Devotions

Blessings,

Vickie

WFW - By His Stripes

2010-05-26T15:13:00.000-04:00

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5

For about a year and a half now I have been having some terrible issues with my right ear. It first started off with my ear being stopped up right after I woke up in the mornings. It would stay like this for over two hours everyday. It was so frustrating and annoying, I had a lot of trouble hearing, everything seemed really dim. Trying to listen to the news or so before I left for work was a waste of time. Everything seemed so far away. The kids had to repeat themselves to me over and over, uggghhhh!!! Eventually my ear would kinda 'pop' and all would be fine. This went on for a long time but after it did the 'popping' I almost forgot how it was until the following morning again.

I realized that if I lay on my right side while sleeping that it would cause my ear to be stopped up so I started sleeping on my back. This helped a lot but since I loved sleeping on my right side I would eventually find myself in that position in the morning and there goes the problem all over again.

Now during these first months I really don't remember praying about it. I think I felt each day that it would probably just go away or I could control it if I learnt to sleep on my back. Big mistake. Pray about everything.

Then early this year the same ear started ringing and I mean ringing terribly. I would hear bells all day long. Sometimes I looked around to see if anyone else was hearing bells but it was just me. I did some research on the internet and saw something called 'tinnitus' that sounded like it could be what I was experiencing. I hadn't told anyone other than my family about this, but they didn't seem too concerned, and this thing was making me crazy. I thought of going to the doctor a couple times but never made the appointment, but I increased my times of prayer about it. I started speaking the word over it several times a day. I started to really believe God for complete and total healing from this thing.

While all this was going on, I took a class in bible school on healing and it really stirred my faith up to believe God for what I needed. The teacher made a comment about God using the doctors along with our faith in His word and that encouraged me to really go see if I could get a diagnosis. I saw the doctor and she said the first thing she would do was to clean my ear out. So I got the drops she prescribed and used them for a whole week before I saw her. In the meantime I am speaking the word and I am praying the prayer of faith fervently over my ear. Seems like it was getting worse. Now it's all day and all night. No relief whatsoever. Well I went back to the doctor and she pumped about 3 huge tubes of water in my ear. I felt like I was on a roller coaster. The room spun around and around and my ear felt horrible. She said, go home and hopefully in a day or so the pressure I felt would ease up and if there was any wax in there it would come out.

For two weeks or maybe more, my ear hurt so much. It felt congested or compressed, I don't know, but it was bad. The pain was something that I had not experienced before. Now it kept 'popping' all day but no relief. I could hear bells plus other sounds. My ear was worse than when I first went to the doctor, so I decided this was definitely one for the word. I asked my husband to pray for it and we got some oil and anointed it and we prayed. I got someone at church to pray for it and I kept praying daily for healing. I quoted the scriptures of healing over and over and over and over again.

I woke up one morning and my ear was normal. I said praise the Lord. Another morning and another morning and another morning and another morning and my ear was still normal. I said thank You Jesus. This has been about two months now and I believe my ear is completely healed. BY HIS WORD. I sleep on either side of my body and no problems. No popping and praise the Lord, no ringing.

This has been a long post, but I wrote all this to encourage anyone today who is sick and in need of healing. Christ bore our diseases in His body. Our healing was secured a long time ago and sickness has no right to stay in our bodies. The answer is in the word. Stay in God's word and believe that what He says He means. God's word is not a toy, It is spirit and it is life.

Just because healing doesn't happen right away doesn't mean we are supposed to live with sickness in our bodies. Health and wholeness is the right of every child of God.

BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED!!

Rise and be healed, in Jesus name.

For more WFW visit today's hostess SUSAN.

blessings,
Vickie

WFW-The Fuel Of Praise

2010-05-12T11:33:00.000-04:00

My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise His Holy Name for ever and ever. Psalm 145:21

One cold November night 2009, while waiting at a bus stop my husband decided to spend his time praising God. During this time of praise and worship he stopped and asked God, ''What fuels praise?" and the answer that came back to his spirit from God was, "Testimonies fuel praise, while praise is the foundation of worship."

When you look at it praise and worship may seem to be the same thing, but actually praise is all about what God has done for us. Our testimonies of His provision, His faithfulness and His goodness causes us to praise Him over and over. As we spend our time telling about all that He has done we can't help but worship Him. Worship is all about Him. Worship is talking about His character, His integrity, its all about who He is.

Some stop at praising.

Some stop at just talking about the doors He has opened, which is good.
Some stop at just talking about the healing they have received, which is good.
Some stop at just talking about Him shielding them from accidents, which is good.

But today I want to encourage us all to go to another level, to go even deeper.
Let's worship Him for worship is all about Him.

If He never healed us again still lets worship Him for He is Jehovah Rapha.
If He never provided food or shelter again for us, still let's worship Him for He is Jehovah Jireh.

Wouldn't it be awesome to get to that place where we worship Him as much or even more when everything is dark and dismal around us?
What a way to confuse the enemy of our souls when we can lift our hands in trying times and say, "Lord, You are altogether lovely, There is none as equal to You Lord, I worship you Almighty God."

Even though we love receiving from His hand, He wants us to come to that place in the inner court where we worship Him just because HE IS. Not because of anything that He has done for us but just because He is God. When we seek His face and only His face we can be assured that His hand will be open to us. He loves us and if He so graciously gave us His only Son, there is no way that He wouldn't freely give us all that we need.

Thank you Jesus for an open invitation to come to know You for who are. We thank You for revealing Yourself to those who would diligently seek after You. Give us hearts of gratitude that would lead us to a place of consecrated worship. We bless you Lord, we honor you Jesus, we magnify and glorify You, we welcome Your presence O Holy Spirit. With every breath we breathe may we enthrone You. In Jesus name.

Have an awesome Word-filled-Wednesday

Join today's hostess Lori here for more WFW posts.

Blessings
Vickie

WFW - A mighty oak

2010-05-05T15:19:00.002-04:00

IMG_0747, originally uploaded by AnooCre8ion.

The oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called mighty oaks, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. Isaiah 61:3

Today, I am making a choice. I am making a conscious choice to become a mighty oak for the display of God's glory. Today I am casting all my cares aside and leaving my past behind. I am setting my heart and mind totally on Jesus. I choose this Wednesday to become a tree of praise for His honor, His glory and His splendor, because this is His will concerning me.

If you want to walk in the will of God, choose to praise Him, choose today to give Him thanks, in spite of your circumstances.

Join today's hostess for more WFW.

Have a blessed Word filled Wednesday.
Vickie

Word-Filled-Wednesday.......Lord, to whom shall we go?

2010-04-28T11:49:00.001-04:00

From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him.
"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God."
John 6:66-69

Jesus had been teaching on eternal truths that hit the Pharisees and other religious people really hard. He had basically told them their ancestors ate manna in the desert and died but whoever fed on His bread will live forever. The disciples murmured among themselves about the difficulty of accepting this kind of teaching. After all, it was totally different from all the religious rhetoric they had heard before. So many of them turned back from following Him.

Jesus looked at the Twelve asking if they too wanted to leave Him, and Peter answered that question with a question, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

Today, even as I face many issues in my marriage, in my finances, in my home, and I search for solutions, my heart asks the question too, "Lord, to whom shall I go?" While I pause, waiting for an answer, my heart replies, "You Lord, have the Words of eternal life." My hopes, my dreams, my desires, all that I ever want and will ever need is found in Christ.

I have found no other to be as trustworthy.
I have found no other to be as faithful.
I have found no other to be as willing.
I have found no other to be as loving.

There is no one in life that's equal to Jesus. It took me a long time to stop depending on family and friends for help in time of need. I know that should I need them, there are people in my life that's willing to be of help, but my heart has resolved not to trust in chariots or in horses but in the name of the Lord my God.

His Word of eternal life is my complete source today. I find the answers to every question I have right in the word. His words are more precious to me than counsel or advice from the most qualified person. His Holy Spirit guides me, comforts me, leads me and teaches me what I should do.

Jesus said, "These words I speak, they are full of Spirit and life." (John 6:63)

Today some of us are experiencing loss of jobs, loss of homes, divorce, death of loved ones, sickness and disease, depression, fear of the unknown, unfulfilled desires among other things. These are things that cause people to turn their backs on Christ sometimes because they blame Him or sometimes because the answers are too long in coming. As we wait on Him, Jesus asks of us too, "You do not want to leave too, do you?" I pray we all answer like Simon Peter, "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

My eyes and my heart are fixed on God.
My prayer today is that no tribulation, peril or disaster will cause any of us to look away.
May we stay faithful to the One who is forever faithful.

You can join Susan our hostess for other WFW posts.

Have a blessed WFW
Vickie

Word-Filled-Wednesday.......The kind He seeks

2010-04-21T13:10:00.000-04:00

Yet a time is coming and has now come, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit and his worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. John 4:23 & 24

I love this word Jesus gave to the unsuspecting Samaritan woman. She still had the mindset of worshipping on the mountain as a Samaritan or for the Jews worshipping at Jerusalem, but Jesus wanted to let her know that a new day had come. Hallelujah!!
A new day has come. I walked about 15 minutes from home to a bus-stop this morning, and I spent that time worshipping and praising God. I am so glad that the day has come when I don't have to be in the church building, I don't have to be in a special chair in my home, I don't have to be in a particular service to worship God.
God's word is no longer written on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts/or spirits. Our spirits/hearts are with us wherever we go. What a privilege it is that we can wait in line somewhere, go out for a walk, go for a run, be on an exercise machine and all the while we can be in praise and worship.
What an absolute delight to connect with the Living God all day and all night.
Friends, take advantage of what Christ accomplished on Calvary. He tore down that middle wall of partition between man and God so we could come to the Father anytime.
God is looking around and He is seeking those who don't wait until its Sunday 9am or 11am to worship Him.

Thank You Jesus, that you now dwell in the hearts of men. Thank you Lord that you are right with me and in me, so I just give you praise even now, I worship You Lord for there is none like You, there is none equal to You, O Lord. I give You glory, praise and honor. In Jesus name. Amen

Have a happy WFW. For more you can visit today's hostess Christy.

Blessings,
Vickie

WFW - He is coming back

2010-04-14T10:59:00.000-04:00

But do not forget this one thing dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like a day.
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar: the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and Godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. 2 Peter 3:8-12

The Holy Spirit impressed an idea upon my heart that I carried out last weekend. I had a group of ladies over to my home that didn't know each other, but knew the Lord, to have dinner, watch a DVD and then have a discussion on it. We watched a Dvd about the first few moments after the rapture of the church. Even though the food was good and the fellowship even better, the most important part of that evening was the fact that many of us were reminded that JESUS IS COMING BACK, SOON. It sent us into a session of worship that was unbelievable.

It has been on my mind since then and so today I want to encourage all of us to focus on that fact. Whatever life looks like for you now, set your affection, your heart, your very being on the fact that Jesus will soon return. Whatever you do for your self, your family, friends and even strangers, let that be the filter you do it all through. It may seem like a long time coming, but He is waiting since He doesn't want anyone to perish. He promised it and HE is not slack concerning His promises.

JESUS IS COMING BACK, SOON.

Blessings,
Vickie

Have a great WFW everyone.

Find more beautiful WFW post here at www.allyouhavetogive.com

I Wasn't There

2010-04-02T04:02:00.000-04:00

In honor and recognition of the death, burial and resurrection of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I want to share a poem with you that I wrote a while ago.

I Wasn't There

I wasn't there that first Easter,

When He prayed, God's only Son,

When He said to His loving Father,

Thy will, not mine be done.

I wasn't there when the soldiers,

Came and arrested my Lord,

When they falsely accused my Savior,

Of preaching a heathen word.

I wasn't there when they nailed Him,

To a cross He had to bear,

When they spat and mocked in anger,

And it seemed like no one cared.

I wasn't there when that cross got heavy,

The heaviest ever it seemed,

When by the plan of the Master,

Along came Simon of Cyrene.

But in faith I saw when they cast lots,

As the word had said they would,

And they laughed at Christ our Savior,

As He gave His precious blood.

By faith I saw when they pierced Him,

And the blood came from His side,

And He looked in love, not anger,

On those for whom He died.

I wasn't there to see the lightning,

Or the temple's veil rent in twain,

But by faith I heard the thunder,

As each clap echoed His pain.

By faith my heart that was broken,

Was glued together and healed,

That day He went to Calvary,

My future and fate was sealed.

No one who says they love us,

Would ever do such a thing,

Open your heart to the Savior,

Who just longs to come in.

By faith He asks us to trust Him,

To let Him keep us from strife,

Take His hand, walk beside Him,

And experience abundant life.

©Vickie Thomas

Have a blessed Resurrection weekend everyone. Stay secure in the knowledge that you have eternal redemption through the blood that Jesus shed on Calvary. Thank God He is alive!!

Blessings,
Vickie

How are we representing?

2010-03-13T13:26:00.000-05:00

A couple days ago my husband met an old friend of mine on his way to the gym and they had a short but very interesting conversation which he relayed to me by text. After her initial greetings and stuff about him and how I was doing and how long ago we/they had seen each other etc, he went on to tell her about a book of poetry I had published. He asked her if she wanted to get a copy and her response was, "I don't want any book that has anything to do with God". I thought that was very sad, but the question he asked me opened my eyes to the responsibility that's been given to us and how often we don't live up to it.
He asked me, "Why is it that so many people seem not to want anything to do with God?"

I know that there are those out there who have blamed God for everything. They look at all the wars and earthquakes and all the senseless ways that people lose their lives and they ignorantly blame God for all of it. People also carry a lot of deep-seated hurts from their own experiences and feel like God has forsaken them and many times they ask themselves why should I serve a God who wasn't there to rescue me when I needed Him?

However when I look into the Word of God I see a responsibility that we carry as christians but we drop it so often. Jesus once walked on this earth as 100% man and God. Now seated at God's right hand He can no longer be seen here on earth. So how do people know that He is still alive? How do people know that He cares? How do they know that He is mighty to save and strong to deliver?

The only way that they will know is through our lives.

Why would someone who is hurting not want a pain reliever?
Why would someone who is drowning not want a lifesaver?

We represent the Great Physician and the Life-Giver, but are we portraying Him as such? Do people see from our lives that Jesus is really the answer or are we so unsure ourselves that we dare not take the chance in case He doesn't come through. Are we taking the time to present Jesus the Comforter or are we just leaving them to draw their own conclusions based on their own religious outlook? Do they just see us as people who abstain from this and that or do they see a transformation in us that compells them to seek the Source of it?

Many times we say "Jesus is the Light of the world" so follow Him and that's true, He is the light of the world as He said in John 8:12. Do you also know what Jesus said?

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (John 5:13-16).

Why is the world so turned off about Someone who turns us on? Are we really representing and presenting Him the way we should? We have been entrusted with the very Life of God inside of us. If we put our light on a stand that the world could see they would be drawn to IT not repulsed.
In a world of darkness why is our light so dim? Why are we so afraid to say and show that we represent not one of many answers for this world but the only real Answer?

I became friends with this young lady when we worked in the same area some 5/6 years ago and we kept in touch for a while. She had issues in her life that I knew about but I remembered she also had a family tragedy when her only brother was senselessly killed by a drunken man. He was in her home country and she was not able to even go say goodbye to him. She shut herself off for weeks and would not answer her phone. I remember at the time calling her and leaving a message saying how sorry I was about her loss and that I was praying for her. When I eventually got to talk to her I sympathized with her but I never took the time to present Jesus as the healing balm to the pain in her soul.

My friends' response could have come from a variety of places. It could have come out of her own internal issues or possibly it could have come out of that same tragedy, but the only way she could have reached out and taken what Jesus had to offer that she needed (even if she didn't know she needed it) was through me or through another christian.

How are we representing Christ? We are His ambassadors (2 Cor.5:20). Paul says it is as though God was making His appeal through us. He even went on to say we are God's co-workers. Are we doing our share of the job presenting Jesus as the answer to a fallen world? Am I telling my family about Christ even as I pray for them? Am I showing them what He is able to do with their lives by the fruit in mine?
It's easy to invite them to church or to a conference or to a concert and hope that they take that step of salvation. Its also easy to get caught up in our own lives and our own needs and desires that we forget what God really desires and that's to reconcile with man.

Jesus is no longer here on earth, but He sent His Holy Spirit to work in and through us to rescue a dying world. Will you purpose today to share more of Him so that others taste His goodness and smell His sweet aroma?
It's not easy but thankfully we are not called to do it on our own. He is there at the right Hand of the Father, interceeding for us even as His Holy Spirit enables us.

Thank You Jesus, for Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for being all that we need, for Your love, care and compassion. Lord help us not to be selfish or shy with your goodness, but may we boldly share what You have done and all that You are capable of doing. We pray for Your strength as we take this step of faith, in Jesus name. Amen

Blessings,
Vickie

We are sealed

2010-03-04T12:50:00.000-05:00

For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. What then, shall we say in response 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, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:29-32

I read this portion of scripture some weeks ago and found it astounding. I remember thinking on it for a while and almost finding it hard to comprehend how God could do such a thing. My husband brought it to my attention again yesterday as he was thinking on it and all those feelings came rushing back again and even more.

When I look at the complete work that God has done through His son Jesus for us, I am truly amazed. These verses make me think of being sealed or sealing something. As a child growing up I lived with my grandmother and my mother lived in London (still does). In those days when a parcel or so came for you, it was brought directly to your house and you didn't have to open it in front of the officers at the port or so like you had to in later days. When my mother sent a parcel she really sealed it. It would be taped down over and over. They usually came by ship so it took a couple weeks before we got it, but she wanted to make sure that whatever tossing there was nothing could happen to that parcel. Sometimes it was a little dirty I guess from the tumbling or the storage but it was always intact because she made sure and sealed it really well. We even struggled to open them sometimes because she did a very good job securing what she sent.

2 Cor1:21 & 22 says Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ, He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, gurarantee-ing what is to come.
Before the Creation of the world we were chosen in Him (Eph.1:4). We were not afterthoughts nor were we random selections or quick picks.

God foreknew us. He knew that you and I would be unfaithful to Him many times. He knew that our hearts would turn away when life got too tough. He knew how often we would promise to serve Him but then go back on that promise. He foreknew us but yet He predestined us to be conformed to the image of His son.
O God you knew what I would be like and predestined me to be shaped in to the image of Your Son Jesus? How gracious are You Lord?

He could see way ahead to this day and time and still He didn't just predestined me, He called me. He called me. He knocked on my heart's door when I wasn't looking for Him nor was I thinking about Him. He reached down when I was lonely and lovingly drew me nigh. When I couldn't go to where He was because of the gulf of sin, He came to me. He came to you and I.

As if that wasn't enough, He didn't just call us, He justified us. With the precious blood of His son Jesus he announced to the world that nothing they did or said about you and I meant anything in His eyes. To Him it was just as if we had never sinned, because He only saw the blood on the door post of our heart.
O my Lord and Savior there's nothing I could do that could ever merit Your Love for me.

You not only called and justified me, but You glorified me. You raised me up out of the dung hill. You took me out of the miry clay, and in spite of all that you knew about me You glorified me.
Friends He didn't wait to see how I would perform, He sealed me with His love right from the start. Notice that the word is all in the past tense. He's already done it. We are already sealed unto the day of redemption (Eph.4:30).
This was not a plan that God formulated as time went on, this was God's plan before the beginning of time to last through time and eternity.

"What then shall we say in response to these things?" Paul asks in verse 31. All I can say is "hallelujah!"
My heart is so overwhelmed at the love of God. The voices of a million angels could never ever express my gratitude to Him.

"If God is for us - how could we question it, after He predestined us, He called us, He justified us and He glorified us - who can be against us?" The enemy can come after us and he does with all his demonic forces, but we are sealed. All the tossing and tumbling and all that he throws at us cannot ultimately prevail because we are sealed unto the day of redemption. God is for us. No weapon that's formed against us will prosper. We are safe in His Hands.

Thank you Jesus. May my heart always be tender before You. May I never ever take Your love for granted.
I pray for those who read this post, that their hearts be encouraged today as they see with new eyes the love that You have for them. In Jesus name, Amen.

blessings,
Vickie

A High Praise

2010-02-25T11:27:00.000-05:00

Every now and then I have to stop and give God a high praise. I often use my own words in my own feeble way but I am so blessed when the very word of God fills my memory and my spirit and I am able to praise God with His own words. I love it when I am able to say exactly what He says. So today I just want to share with you a portion of the Word that I've been thinking on. This wasn't what I originally was using for my devotion but when it was referenced in another portion of scripture and I saw the full context I had to just read it over and over again.

So today's blog post is taken from Isaiah 40:18-31 (NIV). I hope it blesses you as it has me. I pray it stirs your spirit up like nothing else can and I pray that as I am doing, you meditate on it so that the very life it represents becomes a part of you.

With whom then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken Him?
As for an idol, a metal worker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it.
People too poor to present such an offering select wood that will rot. They look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God?"
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Jesus, I thank You for Your Word. It is spirit and it is life to me. I pray Your Word never becomes dull to me. Lord, I have put my hope in Your Word for I know Your laws are righteous. May it always be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. May I always, always find comfort in Your Word. In Jesus name.
Amen

Have a Wonderful Word-filled Day friends.
Vickie

That incomparably great power

2010-02-12T11:17:00.000-05:00

You, however, are not controlled by the sinful nature but are in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you.
Romans 8:9-11

The bible is a fascinating book. It is full of stories of miracles, of lives changed, of healings. It's full of wars, killings, name changing and name calling. The bible is truly a wonderful book. It is full of poetry and romance and awesome promises. I just love it all, but what I absolutely love is the life there is in the word. Somehow I find it difficult to understand - and please forgive me if you're in that place now - how people read the word feel no different. The word is so vibrant, its language so elegant. The connection between the Old and the New is mind-boggling to me. Those that say the word contradicts itself have no idea what they are talking about.

The Psalmist David said, "the entrance of God's word brings light." It makes me think of the sun shining outside, brilliantly displayed, but the windows and doors of your house are all locked. You get up and open the blinds just a tiny bit, at least, and the sun enters through that small opening bringing an immediate difference with it.

When we open up our hearts to the truth of God's word, we see ourselves in such a different light it is absolutely astounding. To think that for 30, 40, even 50 years as a christian you could be looking at yourself in one way. Oh, you're just a sinner saved by grace, you're only human, you're just a man/woman. Seems like forever you've been praying 'Lord build me just a cabin in the corner of glory land.'

Then by the Spirit your eyes are opened to your true place in Christ and you see that Jesus has gone to prepare a mansion for you (not a teeny cabin). You see that by having Christ in your life, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. You see that you're a peculiar person, from a royal priesthood, an heir and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. You are not just here dragging your feet along hoping to make it through another day. You are seated with Christ in heavenly places. You're not just hoping to win another battle with the enemy over what is rightfully yours, but you know that thanks be to Jesus you are always triumphant.

Seeing yourself through the eyes of God- and He only sees us through the blood of Jesus- puts a whole new spin on things, as they say. Since I know that to be true, I want to keep my face buried in the word, because I want to see me as God sees me. His view is so much better.

As I read and mediated on the word this early morning, I got another glimpse of God's view and oh how wonderful it is.

Paul reminds us that because of the Spirit of Christ living in us we are no longer controlled by our sinful nature. We have a new nature. It's not an old one that's been fixed up. We have a new nature. "If any man be in Christ he is a new creation, old things have passed away and all has become new." (2 Cor. 5:17) We now have a righteous nature. So Paul says, yes you have a new nature, a new spirit, but your old body is still there and that old body is still subject to death because of sin.

That's something many of us know but don't let us stop there. Paul says, even though that old body is still subject to death, because of righteousness, because of right standing with God, the Spirit will now give life to that once decaying body. He lives there but He just doesn't care about our spirits. He wants to give life to our bodies.

He is the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. Let that sink in. Remember the cross and all that happened? The lightning, the thunder, the veil of the temple torn in two? Remember Jesus taking the keys of death and hell? All that power that was on display is available to us.

A whopping hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lord thank You for a new spirit, but what a joy to know that you give life to my body as well.

God is working from the inside out. With a new spirit there is hope for this body that is subject to death because of sin. The righteousness of Jesus makes it all possible, so therefore sin no longer has control over me or control over you.

Because of the righteousness of Jesus, sickness no longer has any rights to our bodies.
Disease even though it may come, has no right to stay in our bodies.
Stress no longer has control over you or I.
Depression no longer has any mastery over us.
Fear has to leave because the same Spirit, get that? The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in me.

The power available to us is that same mighty strength God exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right Hand far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that can be invoked. Remember we are seated with Christ in these heavenly places.

Sickness, disease, poverty, lack, financial ruin, stress, depression, worry, fear, none of these is allowed to reside in heavenly places.

Let's take our place in Christ.

Get to know who you really are in Christ.

2 Peter1:3 says "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness."

I want to break that down quickly.

His divine power............the same power that we talked about earlier that raised Christ from the dead.
Has given us everything......everything includes freedom from depression, stress, worry and healing in our bodies.
Through our knowledge of Him who called us..........That's our secret. That's our key. It's our knowledge of Him. It's our knowledge of knowing who we are in Him and what He really did for us that will set us free.

So we have everything that we need to live this life here, not just in heaven, but here, and its through our knowledge of Him.

I am on a quest to increase my knowledge of Him. I want to walk in that abundant life that I see in the Word. I beg you to join with me and let us diligently seek Him out because He promises to reward those that do.

Blessings,
Vickie

The Promise

2010-02-02T11:41:00.001-05:00

Therefore the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring - not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. Romans 4:16

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead - since he was about a hundred years old - and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why it was credited to him as righteousness. The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness - for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Romans 4:18-25

I know I may have said it here a few times already but I have to say it again. I absolutely love the Word of God. I love the hope, the promise, the uplifting, the refreshing and all that you find there, when you can find it no where else. As a family we have been trusting God for an open door in a situation for quite a while now. It's one that will literally change our lives. We know the promises of God and we know the plans of God according to His word, but many times when we look at the actual facts around us, sometimes we do feel a bit of despair.

We felt that way yesterday. We felt as though we didn't have any hope. We felt as though we've been waiting so long that it probably will not happen. But I am thankful to God for His word and His promises.

As I spent some time in the word this morning, He spoke so clearly to my heart. He showed me Abraham, who had a promise that seemed like it wouldn't come to pass. He showed me that Abraham's hope was not in the promise but in the One who made the promise.

Verse 16 of this Romans chapter 4 tells us that we, as children of faith, are guaranteed the promise. What is that promise? It's the promise first of salvation and all that it encompasses. The promise of healing, the promise of deliverance, the promise of prosperity, the promise of dreams fulfilled, the promise of receiving the desires of our heart. The word says this promise was not just to Abraham but also to his offspring. We are Abraham's offspring. He is our father.

My heart is so charged up from the reminders in God's word that I don't even remember how it felt before.

Friends do you see the importance and the necessity of a regular dose of the Word of God? No wonder it says that we should not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

As if that wasn't enough to let me know that I too am an heir of the promise, the Holy Spirit went on to show me that even though Abraham faced the facts that were before him, he did not let them deter him from the promise God had made to him. If he didn't why should I, why should you?

He looked at the fact that yes, his body was as good as dead, for after all he was almost a hundred years old. He looked at the fact that Sarah's womb was also dead for she was pretty old at that time too. But who today know that facts have nothing to do with the promises of God? God is the One who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. (Vs 17)

The Word says, despite all the facts before him Abraham knew that God had the power to do what He had promised.

O thank you Jesus! Lord thank you today that I can hope against all hope. Lord thank you today that my hope that is in You is hope that is not ashamed.

I think you can tell by now how excited I am at the possibilities presented in the Word of God.

It doesn't matter what your circumstances say today.
It doesn't matter how long you or your spouse may have been unemployed.
It doesn't matter how long you or your loved one may have been facing illness.
It doesn't matter how long your marriage might have been on the rocks.
It doesn't matter how long it looked as though your home was going into foreclosure.
It doesn't matter how long you have been waiting for finances or resources for that small business you dream of.
It doesn't matter how long your children have been outside of the will of God.
It doesn't matter how long that friendship has been broken.
It doesn't matter how long you have been waiting for answer to that prayer.

Friends, lets plant this truth deep deep deep in our hearts from this moment onward and don't let go of it. Let's BE FULLY PERSUADED THAT, GOD HAS THE POWER TO DO WHAT HE PROMISED.

Don't let go of the truths in God's word. God is not man. He does not lie. It's not His nature. He will do what He said He will do.

The promise came by faith. Have faith not in what you see but in what God sees. He sees all good and perfect things for us.

I encourage you to look to the Word. If you feel as though you are getting nothing from the Word, ask the Holy Spirit to show you. Let Him lead you and show you the wondrous things God has promised you and I.

Father, thank you today that we have faith in Jesus. Thank You for a complete work that was done at Calvary allowing us to rest in that finished word. God you are well able to do all that You have promised. Our job is to trust in You. We rest in the truths of Your Word this day, knowing that when we don't waver in our faith, we will see Your Mighty Hand at work in our lives. We receive by faith right now all the inheritance that is ours. In Jesus name. Amen

Blessings,
Vickie

Oh The Grace of God!

2010-01-25T22:37:00.000-05:00

For the past couple of weeks thoughts on the grace of God has been swirling around in my head. In part because of a class taught at bible school and after that more and more as I read Romans Chapters 5-8 and the book of Galatians over and over for two weeks.

So often I have heard that grace is getting what we didn't deserve which is absolutely true, and also there's the acronym God's Riches At Christ's Expense which is also true but I am coming to realize that grace is so much more.

Actually, grace is everything to us.

Ephesians 2: 4 & 5 tells us "But because of His great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved."
also
verses 8 & 9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.

We have been saved by grace, not just by faith, but grace through faith.
Interestingly Colossians 2:1 says, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
How did we receive Christ Jesus? By grace through faith. How should we continue to live? By grace through faith. Therefore we don't just need grace for special occasions, we need grace just to live. If all we rely on is faith, we are so losing out. We must acknowledge the grace of God. We need grace to sustain our homes, grace on our jobs, grace in maintaining relationships.....we need the grace of God always.

Grace is not a theological concept or idea to a believer, grace is an experienced reality. Grace is our life, its is what flows from God. Grace is Jesus personified. Grace is the life Jesus lived and the gift He gave us when He went to calvary.

Remember what Paul said to the church at Galatia? "Are you so foolish having begun in the Spirit are you now made perfect by the flesh?" 3:3 Why do we start off with the grace of God but then try to live by our works? The work was done by Jesus, we are to receive it and walk in it. Nothing we could ever do could save us or change us. It has to be the grace of God.

We can't read our bibles enough.
We can't pray enough.
We can't give enough tithes and offerings.
We can't go church often enough.

It's not our works, it's the grace of God. Would we dare to acknowledge the need to rest on His grace and grace alone? The revelation of God's grace delivers us from a performance mentality to total trust and reliance upon His goodness and His grace. The amazing grace of God is what sets christianity apart from every other religion in the world.

Our salvation as we said above came by grace through faith, but it's not just a ticket to heaven, it's a package deal for the time we have here on earth. Our salvation is not just forgiveness of sins, that package includes; deliverance, healing, prosperity and whatever else we need. The grace of God is the power of God for all those things.

Grace is the gift of God.
We should receive it.

Why do we struggle day after day to receive from God what He has already placed before us? Why do we work so hard to earn acceptance from God when His grace covers it all? We work hard at studying the word, fasting, praying and still wonder why we have not received our breakthrough or why not our healing. But if we look at it closely, it's the same thing Paul wrote about: doing, doing, doing, to get God's attention. Our deliverance is not based on what we do, but on what Jesus did.

Man is no longer under the law. The law was truth but it could not bring about change. As the word said, if we offended in one point of the law we offended in all. Basically the law came so that we might see how much we really needed God, but it did not give us the ability to transform. Jesus did. He came to give us grace.
John 1:17 For the law(truth)was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the source of God's ability.

Our ability continues to cause us to fall flat on our faces. The word encourages us to trust God and let go of all that we hold on to.

If while we were enemies of the cross, Jesus died for us, now that we are saved why wouldn't He continue to extend His grace towards us? How is it that we were able to trust God's grace 100% for our salvation but not 100% for our healing or for our prosperity? Remember Paul said, continue the way we started out....by grace through faith.

Again, it is the gift of God and not of ourselves. It's not our works.

In our own strength we might do a bit, but would it last?
In our own strength we probably may get a book deal, but without His grace, will it really be right for us?
In our own strength we may drop some bad habits, but will there be total transformation without the grace of God?
In our own strength we could ace that interview and even get the job, but without the grace of God will it satisfy?

Let's receive the grace of God that came in the person of Jesus. Not just a nice saying, not just an acronym or a grand concept, but let's receive the reality of grace in our lives.

God doesn't move in proportion to our performance. He moves when we apply what Jesus did on the cross.
I know this is a lot to take in, but I so hope that you like me, will start to take steps away from what you are doing and completely rely on what Jesus did.

He did a finished work, for whatever you or I need.
It's a gift, let's accept it.

Blessings,
Vickie

Word-Filled-Wednesday-Jan 13th 2010

2010-01-13T12:11:00.002-05:00

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38 & 39

Oh hallelujah!!! I don't know about you but my mind is swirling, my heart is leaping for joy, I feel like I am on cloud 10 if there is such. I have read this word so many so many times, but this morning - maybe because I felt like getting out some dark candle and having a pity party on my own - as I read some chapters from Romans, O how the Love of God grabbed a hold of my heart and would not let me go.

These verses affirm the presence of the love of God in such a way its absolutely amazing. It does not matter what we are going through, it does not matter what we face, if we are in Christ Jesus we are loved, we are loved, we are loved. There's nothing that we can do or can be done to us that can separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus.

No sickness, no death, no angels, no demonic powers, no recession, no financial worries, no marital problems, no broken friendships, no terrorist attacks, no broken government systems, no unemployment, no depression, no weight issues, no broken dreams, NOTHING, NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, can separate us from the love of God. Whatever we can think of or anything else in all creation can come between us and our God.

Let's relish in that fact today, and realize that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us, because we are in the Love of Christ.

Friends we are loved!!!!!

Thank you Jesus!!!

For more Wonderful-Word-Filled-Wednesday posts go over to the hostess Lori @www.allyouhavetogive.com

Blessings,
Vickie

Fully Committed

2010-01-09T01:03:00.002-05:00

With the start of a new year and everyone or almost everyone doing it, it almost feels out of place if in real world you don't make a new resolution or in blog world you don't have a theme or verse for your blog. However, even as I felt the leading of the Holy Spirit to have some verses for a theme this year, I am also being compelled to really look at what I have chosen.

The verses that I used in my previous post have been beckoning me ever since I read and posted them. I have been reading them over and over and over again and I found out why. God is calling me to carefully observe His decrees and laws with all my heart and with all my soul.

As I meditate on these verses I see that it will not be enough to just have these nice sounding verses on my blog nor will it be enough to memorize them. In order for God to set me in praise, fame and honor, I have to fully commit to keeping His laws.

I have had awesome times in the last year reading, studying and meditating on the word. I have had days on end when I would wake up very early to have time with the Lord and didn't even want to stop to get ready for work. All day long I would be swamped with the word, either reading or listening to it.
I just couldn't get enough. All my conversations would be about what I felt the Lord was saying as I read, listened or meditated on the word. I bought so many journals and couldn't stop writing all that was bubbling up in my spirit.

But......I have also had many times when I would wake up with just enough time to get ready and off to work. No time for devotions. Too busy sometimes to get in any praise during the day and sometimes, many times, just didn't feel like it. Then there came those many nights when I just felt like watching television even though I knew He was there waiting for some quiet time with me.

I was not fully committed. I wasn't carefully observing His laws and decrees with all my heart and all my soul. Some of my heart was in it sometimes and some of my soul was in it sometimes. I didn't put aside my feelings.

Often I ignored the cry of my heart.

Over and over again His word calls for us to be fully committed and to carefully obey His laws.

1 Kings 8:61 "And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by His decrees and obey His commands, as at this time."

2 Chron. 16:9 "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him."

Psalm 119:4 "You have laid down precepts that are to to be fully obeyed."

1 Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Exodus 23:13 "Be careful to do everything I have said to you."

Deut 6:3 "Hear Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you."

Joshua 23:6 "Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left."

Joshua 23:11 "So be very careful to love the Lord your God."

The good success that I want will elude me if I don't fully commit to the Lord. The peace that I so crave will slip away if I am not careful to do everything He commands me to.

God seeks my whole committed heart not my sometimes on fire heart.
He patiently waits for me to come into His presence and stay there for a while, not rush in and out with five minutes of hot praise.
He so longs for me to seek His face and not His hand.

To carefully follow and love the Lord, I have learned that I must be deliberate and intentional. My feelings must take a back seat to His commands. My plans must be set aside for His purposes.

I desire to commit more to writing what I know He has called me to write, and I desire to minister to young women in the way He impressed on my heart. I absolutely know He has called me to teach His word and that's why I am in bible school right now. I desire to build this ministry "Seek First Kingdom Ministry" that He birthed in my heart when I wasn't even thinking about it. I desire to do great things for God, but I am putting all that aside first and foremost to desire what He most desires and that's for me to love Him with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my mind.

Everything else will follow.

This is a new year friend, what is it that you desire?

Lord, you see my heart. You've searched me and you know me. Help me to follow through on my commitment to you. Thank you for your unconditional love and Your ever present help. I need you Lord. I need You to help me need You even more. Help me to translate my love for you into obedience no matter what I face. Thank you Holy Spirit for stirring my heart and for not giving up on me even though my heart has looked away from you many times. Thank You Jesus, thank You Jesus, thank You Jesus.

I love you Lord
Vickie

P.S Just wanted to add a praise note to say God provided a new computer over the weekend. I can't thank Him enough for His faithfulness and for all that I have learnt over the last 10 months as I waited on Him.

Following the Lord's command for 2010

2010-01-02T18:38:00.000-05:00

The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to Him, that you will keep His decrees, commands and laws - that you will listen to Him. And the Lord has declared this day that you are His people, His treasured possession as He promised, and that you are to keep all His commands. He has declared that He will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations He has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as He promised. Deuteronomy 26:16-19

We have just started a new year and I am so grateful. Not necessarily grateful to see 2009 go-even though it had its share of heartaches-as much as I am grateful that I am still in the hands of the Lord.

I could stay here all day and night and talk about the faithfulness of God. He has shown Himself to me in so many ways. Every time I open His word He has revealed a bit more of His amazing self. Even though I am appreciative of all He has done in providing for myself, family and friends who share about His goodness, I am most humbled at learning more about Him.

I love that He is a provider and a protector among other things, but I so love knowing God for who He is and that has been my path of 2009. With that I continue to look forward to learning more of Him and His ways.

As I spent time in His word the last day seeking His face and direction for 2010 the above portion of scripture was so impressed on my heart by the Holy Spirit that I commit to using it as a theme for my life for 2010 and beyond.

I truly commit to following God's commands, knowing that as I do He will keep His promises to me. He has declared that He will set me in praise, fame and honor.

Lord, I humble myself under Your Mighty Hand this day, knowing that in due time you will exalt. Holy Spirit, thank You for your help as I seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteous. In Jesus name.

blessings,

Vickie

The birth of something new!!

2009-12-25T17:56:00.000-05:00

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called "The Son of God.

Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail."

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me according to your word." Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:34-38

A very blessed Christmas to all of you and God's richest for the New Year ahead. I pray that we will take example from Mary and not be hesitant to believe the word of God, knowing that His word will never return void. I encourage us all to let the power of the Holy Ghost overshadow us and birth something new in us.
God's ways are awesome and His paths beyond tracing out. He does things exceedingly, abundantly above anything we can ever think or imagine. All He needs is a willing soul. I want to be that willing one and I pray the same for you.

Love to all
Bless you
Vickie

Right Now, He waits

2009-12-13T15:29:00.004-05:00

I don't feel the way I felt last year this same time. My circumstances really haven't changed. Physically I live at a different address. However, my thoughts, my perspective and outlook on things have totally changed. I am realizing that, "He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ. Phil 1:6"

I have found that I am facing some similar things that I did in past years, but now I am making different choices than I did before. I have made the choice not to go around that same mountain again and again and again because, "I am being transformed by the renewing of my mind. Romans 12:2"

In reflecting, I remember how spiritually dry I felt at times. I remember how many times I didn't feel like praying, didn't want to pray and didn't know what to pray about, but.......I pressed on, I buckled down, I read the word, I persevered and God met me. Now I'm encouraged by the word to, "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12.11"

I fed my body daily but I starved my soul often. I ate as best as I could but my soul wasn't given much to delight in. I wondered why I didn't have as much to say about God as others did. I wondered why I could read novel after novel easily, but only had a small appetite when it came to God's word. The word of the One whom I said I loved so much. But........I made a choice. I made up my mind and kept it made up that I would seek Him out. I did and now I can say to my Lord, "With my lips I recount all the laws that come from Your mouth, I rejoice in following your statutes as one that rejoices in great riches. I meditate on Your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your word."

I thought I need something else. I thought if I had certain needs met, for sure I would be better equipped to serve God. I thought I needed other connections with different people to get me going in life. I thought there couldn't be change in my life until God answered some of the prayers I had on my heart. That was until I read the word that said, "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2Peter 1:3 & 4"

Now I realize, I have no excuses. All I need is Jesus and the knowledge of Him. He has all that I need. Today is New Year's Day for me. I am off to a brand new start. I have great and precious promises just waiting for me to walk in them. I have come to the place that He's all I have and so I find He's all I need. My search and my wait is over.

Maybe you are at the place I was before. I want to encourage you to start now. His word is true and He is faithful to that which He has promised. Do your part wholeheartedly no matter how you feel right now. His promise to you and I is that, "If from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all Your heart and with all your soul. Deut. 4:29"

Right Now
He waits.

Blessings,

Vickie

The life is in the Word

2009-11-23T19:53:00.004-05:00

May my cry come before you Lord; give me understanding according to Your word. May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to Your promise. May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me Your decrees. May my tongue sing of Your word, for all Your commands are righteous. May Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.(Psalm 119:169-173

God's word is so delightful. It is full of life and fills you with so much hope. I have found that no matter what situation I face, God's word has the answer. When I am feeling down or like I have no hope there is refuge in His word. If my body doesn't feel 100% His word lifts me up. When I feel like I have messed up over and over again and without anyone's help start to walk in condemnation, His word is right there to turn me in the right direction. When I don't want to talk to anyone about a situation He hears the sounds that come from my heart and answer them with His word.

I never want to stray or be far away from God's word and like David said in the Psalms, " My heart is set on keeping Your decrees to the very end." (Psalm119:112 NIV) It means more than life to me. It is my compass when I have no idea the direction I am heading. When I have no vision other than what's right in front of me, His word leads me.

Literally His word fills every void there is in my life and it will be the song I sing every day of my life.

I want to encourage you today not to let any book, any counsel, any conference, any therapy take the place of God's word in Your life. Seek His word first for in it is the very answer that you have searched all over for.

If you have neglected His word, run to it as quickly as you can. If you have devalued it, restore it to it's rightful place immediately. Whatever need there is in Your life right now, replace the thought of it with the word of God and see your needs met.

If your prayer life is lacking, get into His word.
If you feel hopeless, let His word become your hope.
Get to know Him through His word.
Let His word become your biggest resource.

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. (Ephesians 1: 17-19)

Blessings,
Vickie

The Promise of Harvest

2009-11-10T19:34:00.008-05:00

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined - and everyone undergoes discipline - then you are not legitimate children at all. Hebrews 12: 7 & 8

Our parents disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12 10 & 11(NIV)

For a long time I envisioned discipline as a consequence of doing wrong. As children we experienced it from our parents and when we became parents we administered it. Not to say that viewpoint is wrong, discipline does come as a result of disobedience. However during my devotional time this morning, in reading the passage of Hebrews mentioned above, my heart focused on the very first part of verse 7 : Endure hardship as discipline. I saw that even though I may sin and need to chastened by the Lord sometimes, there was another form of discipline I was called to endure. It was the discipline that came not from my sinning but from the hardship that life sometimes throw at me.

God never lets our situations go to waste and the writer of Hebrews was saying to me, even in the midst of hardship that you didn't necessarily bring on yourself, God is working, so endure. God can take the unfortunate circumstances of our lives and use them to shape us. He can take them painful though they may be and teach us how to become men and women of holy character.

My family is facing some hardships now, as many families are, but God spoke to my heart this morning and said, Vickie this may be painful now, but if you would endure, this same hardship will produce a harvest of righteousness and peace. This is your training ground for the new level I am taking you to. Don't grumble, don't complain, there is better waiting for you. If I didn't love you, I would just watch on the sidelines, hoping that you all make it out in one piece. Instead I am Your Lily of the Valley, right there with you, using this time to perfect you.

My encouragement to you today is to endure. Endure whatever hardship you are facing now. Endure it as discipline. See it not as punishment but see it as discipline from a loving Father, for He disciplines us for our good.

Blessings,
Vickie

Acceptance

2009-09-28T21:34:00.003-04:00

For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will - to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. Ephesians 1:4-6 (NIV)

We may never receive the full acceptance and approval of the people in our lives. But God has already given us His approval and His acceptance. He chose us. What a thought! He chose us. He didn't have to, nor was He forced to. He loved us before we even loved Him or thought about Him.

Would we dare to even think of living our lives without acknowledging Him?

I know me and I know God knows me. Yet it amazes me that He would still choose me. I struggle so much, I start and I stop. I fight to discipline myself. I have a lot of insecurities and am very self-conscious most of the time. Yet, God predestined me to be used of Him.

Unbelievable!

Mind-boggling!

Humbling!

Lord I thank You for not giving up on me. I thank You that despite my many many faults, You still saw fit to choose me to be a part of Your Kingdom. Thank you Jesus for Your unconditional love. Thank You Lord, for working with me, working on me and by Your Holy Spirit working through me. In Jesus name. Amen

Blessings,
Vickie

Book Review....Max Lucado's "Fearless"

2009-09-08T22:57:00.004-04:00

I have heard of Max Lucado, read a few articles by him, but I have never read any of his books. This was my first and I was not disappointed. I first of all was very impressed by his style of writing. It is so captivating that I could hardly put it down. He really has a way with words. This book is so timely. With all that's going on in the world everyone is full of fear. Those who have are afraid they will lose what they have and those who don't have, fear they will never get what they dream of. Many people are living with secret fears and life seems so hopeless for a majority of them.

This book "Fearless" does an excellent job in exposing fear and then showing the way out. It shows how baseless some fears are and even if you have legitimate fears, Max Lucado is not shy in pointing you to Jesus. I really
love the fact that He doesn't hide Jesus behind positive thinking or the likes. His use of the Word and his trust in it encourages you to look to faith in God as the only way out, with numerous supporting examples from the word itself, from his own life, those of his friends and others.

I've already recommended this book to others and am in the process of rereading it
as there are some very valuable things I want to remember.

A very good read.

..............................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................

FEARLESS
Max Lucado

We fear being sued, finishing last, going broke, the mole on the back, and the
sound of the clock as it ticks us closer to the grave. Every season seems to bring fresh reasons for fear.
And it feels dreadful. Fear sucks the life out of the soul, curls us into an embryonic state, and drains us dry of contentment.
Wouldn't it be great to escape it? What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats?
According to Jesus, this is possible. The one statement he made more than any other was this: "Don't be afraid." In this book Max Lucado invites you to consider Jesus' invitation to courage.
Fear will always knock on your door. Just don't invite it in for dinner. And for heaven's sake, don't offer it a bed for the night.
The promise of Christ and the contention of these pages are simple: we can fear less tomorrow than we do today.

Blessings,
Vickie

Offering Our Best

2009-08-26T19:19:00.005-04:00

Hi friends, it's been a while since I have been here so I thought I would drop in and let you know I am still around, still waiting on God but in the meantime getting closer to Him and learning more and more of Him even as I read His word.

In all my years of serving Christ I have never read the Bible all the way through from cover to cover. I've read a lot of it, but never actually read it through so I decided over the last couple months that I would and it has been a very interesting time. Having knowledge of the Word, the birth of Jesus, His time on earth, death, burial and resurrection, the Holy Spirit is really opening the eyes of my understanding as I focus on the how the law was instituted, the different ceremonial acts, the responsibilities of the priests and so on. It's like...well actually it is....reading a book knowing the ending of the story even though I am now at the start.

With this awareness, I totally see how necessary it was for Jesus to become the perfect sacrifice. In Hebrews it is summed up this way. "Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the sacrifice, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God and since that time He waits for His enemies to be made His footstool. For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."(Hebrews 10:11-14 NIV)

It makes such a difference to read from the beginning and continue reading. I remember trying before to read a portion of the Old and a portion of the New at the same time, just to get through it, but I think reading it from the start, chapter after chapter is much better. I am enjoying the way it all unfolds.

However what I really wanted to share today is that as I study the book of Leviticus I see one common thread over and over again. God gave us His best and so He expects the best from us.

Every offering made to God from the Israelites had to be the best.

For a burnt offering it was a male animal without defect.
For a grain offering it had to be an offering of the finest flour.
For a fellowship offering, an animal without defect.
For a sin offering, a young bull without defect.
A leader who sinned unintentionally had to bring a male goat without defect.
In the case of a member of the community sinning unintentionally, it was a female goat without defect. And so it went on and on......

God is Holy and so demands holiness through Jesus Christ our Lord. In giving His life on the cross, Jesus paid the ultimate price by giving the best He had to offer.....His life. From the beginning of time God prepared His very best for us. When He placed man in the Garden of Eden it was filled with the best. Gen 2:9 says, "The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground, trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food."

It is always His intention that we receive good from His hand. Psalm 84:11

As I encourage myself I want to encourage you, in view of God's mercies and Him giving us His best, offer Him your very best in every thing at all times.

Give Him the best of your life, your youth, your energy, good health and soundness of mind.
Give Him the best of your day when it's early and fresh, not when you are tired and worn out.

All that we have, we owe it to Christ. Whether we live or die, we are His.

Blessings,
Vickie

I've made a choice.......while waiting

2009-06-12T23:30:00.004-04:00

Well friends it's been a while, a long while since I have been here.

I am happy to stop by and see everyone still pressing on. Unfortunately I am still computerless at this point, but in the face of it all and in the midst of my disappointment at not being able to replace or repair my laptop, I have made a choice........

I have decided that I will not sit around hoping and waiting for God to bless me with a new computer, instead....

I have made a choice, like David, that I will wait patiently on the Lord, and,while I am waiting I will relentlessly pursue Him in communion.

I have made a choice , while waiting, to praise my Lord.
I have made a choice, while waiting, to seek the Lord with my whole heart.
I have made a choice, while waiting, to recount His laws with my lips.
I will, while waiting, rejoice in following His statutes.
I will, while waiting, delight in His decrees.
I have made a choice, while waiting, not to neglect His word.

I realise that waiting on God is not easy, but I don't have to sit idly by thinking this could be the day or this could be the week.

As I wait on Him, He promises to renew my strength so that I could mount up with wings as eagles.

David said in Psalm 40:1 "I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.

He is faithful. Be encourage today to wait patiently on the Lord for whatever you need. He will turn to you for He hears the cry of your heart.

Blessings,
Vickie

God is faithful....nevertheless

2009-04-14T18:26:00.003-04:00

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does. Psalm 145:13

God truly is a faithful God. I have seen Him keep His promises and fulfilled many of them in my life over and over. He is a trustworthy God, which is why even at this time when 'out of the blue' my computer broke, I can still trust Him. I know He is interested in my everday battles as well as my spiritual walk. He said in Matthew 6 that if not one sparrow falls to the ground without His knowledge, there is no way He wouldn't look after you or I who is worth more than they.

It has been pretty frustrating not having my laptop, with all my writing, my poetry, all kinds of articles, my graphics, my itunes, my podcasts.....it is not easy, but it also has given me a chance to re-evaluate and see maybe I was depending on it too much. I carried it around with me all the time and was forever writing. However with a not too good report from the repair shop that it isn't worth it to fix it, I am reminded of a devotional I wrote about two years ago. Could my setback be a setup (by God) for something greater?

Many times we feel as though everything that comes against us is from the enemy, and true, a lot of it is, but could we ever dare to think, that once, maybe just once, our setback could be a setup by God for something greater than what we have? Just think about Joseph's life and the sequence of events.

As I consider what is happening now, I am reminded of God's sovereignity. He knows everything and has it all in control.

I don't know what will happen with this computer. Realistically it may not be worth it to fix it, but financially a new one doesn't seem to be in sight.I just don't know about that, but I do know that..........
No matter how big or small our troubles are, we can rest assured that God sees our hearts and He sees our need. The word says "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." Isaiah 65:24

I am going to patiently wait on God and let Him work His plan out. How about you? How about you taking a good look at your life right now and see where God could possibly be at work?

He is our God and we are His children. His desire is to give us the best. All good and perfect gifts come down from our Father above.

blessings,
Vickie

Computer Troubles

2009-04-01T18:34:00.002-04:00

Hi all, just stopping by to let you know that I am having some serious computer problems. Since Sunday my laptop has been without any life at all. As some of you may remember I had to buy a new electrical cord a few months ago and now it seems to be kind of the same problem. However I do suspect that it could be the computer and not the electrical cord, so I will be getting it checked out in the next few days.

I am making a quick post here on another computer. I don't know if I'll be able to blog before I get my laptop working but I may drop by some of your blogs to comment if I do get a chance.

Blessings,
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday

2009-03-25T10:54:00.003-04:00

Then He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, "Dry bones hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you and you will come to life. Ezekiel 37 4&5

Ezekiel was a prophet of God who had a vision one day about a valley of dry bones. In the vision God led him back and forth among the bones that were very very dry. Then God asked Ezekiel, "Can these bones live?" To which Ezekiel replied wisely, "Sovereign Lord, you alone know."

Then God told Ezekiel to do a very powerful thing. He said speak to those bones and tell them to hear the word of the Lord. He told Ezekiel to send His word to those dry bones so that they may live.

God is telling us the same thing today on this Wonderful Word Filled Wednesday. Whatever areas in our lives are dry and practically dead we should speak the word of the Lord to them.

If we are sick, we can speak God's healing. By Christ stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

If we're in lack, we can speak God's provision. The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. (Psalm 23)

If we are weak today, we can speak God's strength. The joy of the Lord is my strength.(Nehemiah 8:10)

Whatever you and I face today, whatever area of our lives is dry we can prophesy to it.
"You shall live and not die to declare the glory of God."(Psalm 118:17)

The word says in Ezekiel 37:10 "So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet - a vast army." God doesn't just give life, He gives abundant life. You can trust and rely on His word for all that you desire today.

Get in agreement with God and His word and see your life start to turn around.

Blessings,
Vickie

Visit our gracious hostess Amydeanne for more wonderful Word-filled Wednesday posts.

First day of spring......still no life.

2009-03-20T12:11:00.003-04:00

Today March 20th signals a new season. Today is the first day of spring. However looking out the window at the huge cluster of trees on the opposite side of the road, all thoughts of spring are far far from my mind.

The trees are so dry, they have no leaves whatsoever on them, no blossoms, no flowers, they move slightly as if groaning when the breeze touches them. They just have no life at all.

I look at them and I think, you know, even though these trees look so lifeless, in a few weeks they will be unrecognizable. They will start to blossom almost overnight, then leaves will come, then flowers will come and pretty soon they will be a sight to behold.

I see my life like that sometimes. There are times when it seems like nothing is happening in me. I feel a bit disconnected from God, I don't feel as though I am bearing any fruit and my spirit just seems to be dry.

However we serve a God that's always at work. Even as we look at those trees and hardly see any life, something is going on. There's a process that's going on deep down in the roots of every tree. A process that causes life to literally spring forth.

The word says that God clothes the lilies and the grass of the field. He causes the trees to bear fruit. He causes to snow to fall in the winter to help prepare the earth for the beauty of spring.

How much more is He at work in us, even when nothing seems to be happening?

Even in the bleakness of winter the trees look up to Him. They continue to declare His glory.

God is never idle. As we continue to draw close to Him, commune with Him daily, He does His work. His word is alive even when we don't feel it, and so as we read and study, it starts to renew our minds, it starts to cut and mold and shape every area that we give over to God.

We must go through dry seasons to come into the spring of our lives.

Keep your head looking up to Jesus and keep your hand firmly in His. Winter is about to pass and spring is in the air.

Blessings,
Vickie

In love with The Word

2009-03-12T14:57:00.003-04:00

I am so amazed at God and His word. I am absolutely thrilled when I read the scriptures. There is so much truth, so much reality, so much awareness. I feel when I read like I never want to stop. I just want to study every area of it, I want to sometimes just read it like a novel since there's so much drama in it. I tell you I just love the word of God.

Sometimes I get mad with myself that I wasted many years just skimming the surface of The Word, not really knowing who God is. I am just so thankful for His faithfulness. I am grateful that He promises if I seek Him, I will find Him.

And seeking Him is what I am doing, day and night.

I've struggled over the years with issues like insecurity, loneliness, abandonment, approval addiction and time and time again I would try to work on them, getting nowhere. I tried in my own strength over and over again to no avail. I had a rocky marriage for years and each time I would try to work things out and after a while, same thing again.

All this, until I got to the point where I started to allow the word to renew my mind. I looked into the mirror of the Word and saw myself as I really was. I was reading the word but not fully digesting it and so I wasn't allowing it to work in me.

After listening to teaching by Joyce Meyer some years ago on the battlefield of the mind, I started to get a glimpse of how things could be if I would allow God's word to penetrate the deeper recesses of my mind and heart.

I started to open up more and more and more and I tell you friends, it has been marvelous the things that He has done in me.

I have seen God do some wonderful things in my life and that of my family, but my greatest satisfaction is the personal change that has come about since I have become more intimate with Jesus.

He truly has become the lover of my soul. He reveals things to me, He speaks truths to my heart that I couldn't know otherwise. I am growing in His wisdom in ways I could never imagine before.

This Word of Life has become my life and my everything.

I sum up this post in the words of the Psalmist David, " I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have preserved my life." Psalm 119:93

Thank you Jesus, for being the Living Word to me.

Blessings,
Vickie

We sang and we testified

2009-03-05T10:33:00.004-05:00

We sang and we testified!! To God be the glory!!!

I want to say thank you to those who remembered in prayer and who encouraged and supported the Evening of Song and Testimony. Despite a snow storm that started on Sunday and continued throughout Monday, and despite attacks of the enemy on almost every member of my group, God met us there and covered us in His awesome presence.

Throughout the week leading up to the event, which was held on Sunday evening, 4.30 March 1st, almost all the members of the small group came under fire from the enemy. One person sprained an ankle and could not move around for the week, another one 'mysteriously' lost her voice for one full day without any warning, my husband suffered bad stomach cramps and vomiting for a whole night, and then spent almost the rest of the week in bed, and another member seemed to be 'under the weather' not really sure what caused her to be.

Realizing that the enemy was on the attack because he knew what we had planned, we got together on the telephone a few early mornings, and spent some time praying over everyone, and really petitioning God for a move of His Holy Spirit as we came together.

By Saturday it seemed like everyone was on the move again, getting more excited, but ready for the time of fellowship.

Then he decided he would try just one more thing. Saturday evening, walking the street, on a sidewalk, clear of snow and ice, an evening cold but bright, I had the fall of my life. I was stunned. Out of the clear blue, I saw my face and the sidewalk coming together. It was scary. I was able to break my fall with my hands, which hurt for many days after. I really busted up my right knee and was in terrible pain for a long time. I was the one co-ordinating the program for the evening. I was the one who would have to be on her feet more than anyone else, and here was I, one evening before the program, hardly able to walk.

I thank God for praying people. We spread the word to everyone and got into some very serious prayer as we realized, how serious the enemy was about taking out one of us.

Praise God, despite the pain, I was able to stand before Him and His people and testify of His goodness, I was able to stand and encourage others to sing praises to Him among the nations. The testimonies were amazing and very uplifting. There were testimonies of healing, of God's provision and they all spoke of His faithfulness.

1Peter 5:8 says, "Be alert and of a sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." He is not kidding, he is out to destroy us, but thanks be to God who ALWAYS causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus.

I am not backing down. His attacks have only made me more determined to go on in God.

I encourage you today that no matter how much it seems like the enemy is after you, "Greater is He that's in you, than He that is in the world.

God is able to keep you, just make your mind up that you will stay the course with him, and after you have made your mind up, keep it made up.

Bless you
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday

2009-02-25T10:36:00.004-05:00

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15: 5-7
I want to stand on these verses today and tell all of you my friends that in honor of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I accept you. I thank each of you though I don't know you personally, for being one in the Lord with me.

I appreciate each of you for you were created by and is loved by God. I value you and appreciate all you do to help spread the message of Jesus Christ.

I thank God for giving me the attitude of mind toward you that Jesus had, which is one of love and acceptance.

It is a privilege to stand on this stage of life with each of you and proclaim that Jesus is Lord.

Bless you
Have an awesome Word-Filled-Wednesday.

Vickie

For more Word-Filled-Wednesday posts visit our gracious hostess Amydeanne right here.

Thank you again for your prayers and support for the Evening of Song and Testimony here.

I am His

2009-02-23T11:06:00.005-05:00

I am who I am because of God. I have what I have because of God. He is the One who makes the difference in my life. It is because of the work of His Holy Spirit that I am different.........not better.....than others. I realize that the gifts and abilities I have are not of my own doing, nor because of my family's DNA, but it's because of God.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:7 "For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?" (NIV)

So I ask myself, "Is there anything at all that you have that you did not receive from God? Are you shaped and formed in anyway that is not attributed to God?"

All I searched my heart and all I examined my life, I could find no part of me external or internal that was not of Him.

That same verse above from 1 Cor. 4:7 quoted in the message bible says, "Isn't everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God?" (MSG)

The conclusion of this whole matter for me is that, "Whether I live or die, I belong to the Lord." (Romans 14:8)

In light of all this reflection this morning, knowing that I am not my own, that I am a prisoner of the Lord, I have to submit myself wholly to Him. I am a slave to His will and His desire. My calling and my life is not a matter of if I feel like doing what He says or when will I do it. I belong to Him so I have to heed His voice and obey.

Today, I have to obey His voice, whatever it is He calls me to do. My life has to reflect His, because I belong to Him. There are times when I feel like I would shift my writing in a different direction, but I am not my own, so I have to follow His leading.

I belong to Him.

Lord Jesus, I submit my heart afresh to You. I am not my own. I belong to You, for I was bought with a price, Your precious blood. I renew my commitment to obey Your word whatever the cost to me. Thank you for speaking through Your Holy Spirit, to remind me today, of whose I am. I give you my all, whatever state I am in. I thank You for continuing to mold me and make me worthy of Your Presence in my life. In Your wonderful name. Amen

Blessings,
Vickie

P.s Thank you for the support and prayers offered here for An Evening of Song and Testimony.

Supporting Prayer

2009-02-13T22:33:00.004-05:00

Sometime last year God impressed on my heart to form a ladies book club. After a lot of setbacks, and false starts, the Holy Spirit gave me an idea one day how to just jump start this club. I bought a whole lot of books, gave them to the ladies making sure that they knew I didn't want any reimbursement and I set a date for the start. Whoever could make it, was encouraged to come. Well, with the help of God, it took off. It was so exciting that those who made excuses and gave reasons every week why we couldn't start, wanted to know when would we meet again. We grew not only in numbers but we grew spiritually. Eventually we moved on to Bible study meeting every Saturday and God has really been doing an amazing thing.

A couple months ago while reading Psalm 40, in my mind, I saw people standing, singing and testifying about the goodness of God and I felt that we needed to have an Evening of Song and Testimony. So I presented it to the group and everyone was very enthusiastic about the idea. We started to plan and things started to happen.

During that time our studies continued to center around seeking God's kingdom first and His righteousness, and it was confirmed in so many ways that this was what the Holy Spirit was saying all around. We would go to church on Sundays and hear the same things we talked about on Saturdays. Programs on television, phone conversations all pointed to seeking God's kingdom first. It was during that time I sensed the leading of the Holy Spirit to start a ministry called Seek First Kingdom Ministries. I don't know where God will take it and what will happen, but I am following the leading of the Holy Spirit in what I believe He is saying to me.

So Seek First Kingdom Ministries is having An Evening of Song and Testimony in a few weeks on March 1st.

I am asking all you powerful praying bloggers to lift this event up in prayer. Please pray that God's name be lifted high. Pray that His people would be strengthened and renewed as they hear of the goodness of God and those who don't know Him would be drawn to Him. Pray for me as I lead this ministry with the support of my husband that I would seek His face for direction and be open to His leading.

I created a flyer for the event and will post it here asking you as you look at it, to lift it in prayer as often as possible between now and March 1st. Thank you very much.

Blessings,
Vickie

Word-filled-Wednesday...His Presence

2009-02-11T11:14:00.003-05:00

Then Moses said to him, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless You go with us? What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" Exodus 33:15 & 16

Wow! When I read this yesterday and then again today it really made me stop and think. I do not want to go anywhere without the Presence of God. I do not want to teach a Bible study, sing a song, usher at church, unless God's presence goes with me.

I have to constantly seek out the Presence of God, invite Him into every area of my life. It is a scary thought going on in life and working for God but without His presence.

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power, His presence.

Moses asked, "What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" What will let others know that we are different? What will let them know that we belong to God? His love, His Presence in our lives.

I pray this Wednesday, that you not take another step, unless you invite the Presence of the Holy God in.

I dare not serve God without God.

Lord, show me Your glory, let Your Presence be always with me. In Jesus name.

Have a great Word-filled-Wednesday
For more Wonderful Word-filled-Wednesday posts, visit our hostess Amydeanne.

Blessings,
Vickie

At The Well.........My Motives

2009-02-09T11:23:00.004-05:00

Are my motives pleasing to you, Lord?

Today, At The Well, the discussion centers around motives.

Questions are asked like......

~Why do you sing in the choir?
~Why do you teach a Sunday school class?
~Why do you give in the offering?
~Why do you visit the sick in the hospital?
~Why do you call a discouraged friend?

This is my first time participating in these discussions and it's funny that the topic is motives. This whole weekend my communion with God has found me focusing on my motives.

I went for a short walk to the store on Saturday, and while walking, I started to talk to God about finances and then about giving. I prayed as I walked asking God to help me to grow into a person who loves to gives and not one to give just to be able to say I gave. I asked God to help me to pay my tithes and give my offering out of obedience to His word. I said to Him as I walked, "Lord, I know you are a God who keeps Your word and who loves to bless. I know that when I give, you will give back to me, but never ever again let that be my motive in giving. Lord let me give out of a pure heart of obedience to you." I prayed that my heart, my hands and my spirit would would be clean and pure before Him.

Later on in the day, I met with my study group and we finalized plans for an Evening of Song and Testimony that we are having in a few weeks. After my group left, once again I went before God with my motives. I prayed and asked God to help me to have pure and clean motives before Him as I planned this event. I truly want all that I have and all that I do to be honorable to Him. I desire not to do just to be seen of men and get their praises, I sincerely want to do as Paul says, to find out what pleases God and to do it.

I am purposing to bring my heart's motives constantly before God. I don't want to be deceived or deceive myself into thinking that I don't want others to see me and to compliment me. It would be a lie to say otherwise, but with God's help I pray that as I put my heart in His hands, He will increase as I decrease.

Pauls says in 2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Impure motives contaminate my body and my spirit. Lord, today I am asking You to create a clean heart in me and renew a right spirit within me. In Jesus name.

You can join other women Gathering At the Well for more on today's discussion.

Blessings,
Vickie

Thomas Nelson Book Review............Billy

2009-02-06T20:29:00.005-05:00

I have read books and many articles on the life of Billy Graham. However this book Billy is one of the best. Written from the memory of his best friend Charles Templeton as he lay on a hospital bed, we see Billy Graham portrayed in a light that we've never seen before. This book tells of a friendship that was rooted in Christ, the two young men ministering together as evangelists for Youth For Christ. Seemingly on the same road, heading towards the same destination, but with different styles, they both faced their own personal crisis, making choices that helped changed not only their world, but the world around them.

Even as he lay on a hospital bed, Charles Templeton could still remember that simple though he was, there was always something different about Billy Graham. Though they took completely different paths in life, Templeton never forgot the profound impact Billy Graham had on those he came in contact with.

Billy was a very good read to me. It is a true story but was like a good novel that I wasn't able to put down. Billy Graham's life is somewhat of an open book, but reading this one, gives you insight into his youth, the start of his ministry and his family life.

I highly recommend reading Billy.

.........................................................................................................................................

Billy
by WILLIAM PAUL MCKAY & KEN ABRAHAM
The untold story of a young Billy Graham
and the test of faith that almost changed everything

A remarkable friendship.
An agonizing betrayal.
The true story of a crisis of faith.

Charles Templeton was one of the greatest preachers of the mid-twentieth century and a friend and mentor to a young Billy Graham. He was also in the early stages of becoming an atheist.

Based on the remarkable true story, Billy is the untold account of the early years of Billy Graham and the relationship between these two extraordinary men told from the perspective of a dying Charles Templeton.

Reminiscing to a reporter from his hospital bed in 2001, the haunted Templeton recounts Billy's simple beginnings, the moving love story of Ruth Bell, the moves of 'chance' and diving blessing that brought him success, and the growth of their friendship.

Together they had envisioned plans to win the world for Christ. But life brought them both to a crisis of faith.

You already know how the Billy Graham story turns out. Billy tells of a moment in history when things might have turned out very differently.

Blessings
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday

2009-02-04T15:24:00.003-05:00

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow Your righteous laws." Psalm 119: 105 & 106

While trudging through another batch of snow today that graced us with its presence all day yesterday and all last night, I started to think of this verse. I felt at one point like I just couldn't find anywhere to walk in the midst of the snow and the ice. My feet needed some direction.

It was then that I thought of God's word and I really understood what this verse meant. I saw that when I just needed to see right in front of me, when I couldn't understand what was happening to me and I wasn't able to see too far ahead, God's word became a lamp to my feet so I wouldn't stumble.

Even though it's dark all around me, His word becomes my step by step guide.

However, when things got a little clearer and the path became a little brighter, His word then became a lamp for my path. When I could see my steps but still needed direction for the road, I could truly depend on God's word.

When I can see the paths that lie ahead, but still don't know which one to take, I have the privilege of being led by His word.

It is truly amazing that when we meditate on God's statutes, the eyes of our heart becomes enlightened (Eph. 1:18) we are made wiser than our enemies, have more insight than our teachers, and more understanding than the elders. (Psalm 119: 97 - 100)

I love the Word of God.

I love Word-filled-Wednesday.

Visit Amydeanne for more wonderful Word-filled-Wednesday posts.

Blessings,
Vickie

We have a hope

2009-01-31T20:54:00.003-05:00

This past weekend was the funeral for my friend's mum. My two very dear friends lost their mum after heart surgery and a stint in rehab. We really thought she was recovering, but she went home to be with the Lord a few days ago.

It was sad of course knowing that she had passed on, but bless God for the hope that we have in Jesus. Her funeral was a total celebration and to some it almost looked incredulous that we could raise hands, sing and praise God in the midst of a situation like that.

But............God's word............

1 Thessalonians 4:13 & 14 says, "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him."

Isn't that a glorious hope that for those who know Jesus as Lord and Savior, that death no longer has a sting and the grave no longer has victory over us?

I am so grateful for God's word, that in the midst of sorrow, we can find joy.

In the midst of turmoil, we can find peace.

In the midst of death, we can find life.

Friends, never, ever stray from God's word.
It will fulfill every need that you can ever have. It is power, it is spirit and it is life.

Blessings,
Vickie

A Praise Break

2009-01-26T12:38:00.003-05:00

Today I thought I would take some time just to give God praise. I just want to use God's word to give Him praise. This Psalm testifies of the beauty,mercy and also the judgment of God.

Today I put my own words and my own thoughts aside and present to you: God's word.

Psalm 50 (NIV)

The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.
He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that He may judge His people:
"Gather to me this consecrated people, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."

And the heavens proclaim His righteousness, for He is a God of justice.

"Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God.
I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.

I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,
for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.
If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?

"Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor Me."

But to the wicked, God says:
What right have you to recite my laws or take My covenant on your lips?
You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.
When you see thieves you join with them;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.
You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.
You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother's son.

When you did these things I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you.

But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you.
Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue:

Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor Me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.

Praise God.
If you have never read this Psalm before I encourage you to read it a few times. I had to read it a couple times the very first time I came across it. It portrays a powerful loving God, but a God of justice as well.

Blessings,
Vickie

He is...........

2009-01-22T11:24:00.002-05:00

"Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor." Exodus 6:23

God had spoken to Moses about asking Pharaoh to let His people go. Moses, after a lot of questions and objections, went to Pharaoh along with Aaron. Over and over again he refused to release the Israelites from their labors. In fact he made things worse by insisting they collect their own straw to make the bricks and in the same time frame they were still supposed to produce their full quota of bricks.

As instructed by God, Moses and Aaron had brought together all the elders of Israel and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses, who also performed the signs before the people and they believed . When they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshipped.

However, when Pharaoh hardened his heart and made their lives even worse, they got really mad at Moses and Aaron, blaming them for what was happening to the people of Israel. Moses returned to the Lord and God gave him a word to take back to the people that in essence said, I am the Lord, who will bring you out of this enslavement by my mighty acts. He reported this to them but they wanted to hear none of it. They were so discouraged by their harsh treatment, that they refused to acknowledge what God had said.

Today, just like them, so many of us still choose to believe our circumstances over what God says in His word.

Many times we throw our hands up in despair and panic when things go wrong, even though God has said He is a present help in our time of trouble.(Psalm 46:1)

Even though God has met our needs time and time again, whenever it seems like an impossible situation is before us, we often choose to worry first forgetting that He promises to supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philipians 4:19)

According to 2 Cor. 5:7 we walk by faith and not by sight. Our hope is in God and not in how our circumstances look, no matter how dire they may be.

Today I want to encourage you to look away from whatever would burden you and look to God. He is a covenant making and a covenant keeping God. He will keep His word. He has never changed and He will not fail you.

Find Him in His word and see that He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides if that's what you need.

He is Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our banner, if you need covering.
He is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals, if you are sick today.
He is Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our peace, if you are troubled today.

Whatever you need Him to be, He is willing to be to meet your every need.

Blessings,
Vickie

Be ready, be prepared

2009-01-18T08:21:00.005-05:00

There are many many times in life that we just don't know nor can we ever be truly prepared for what will happen next. We may make all kinds of plans and anticipate certain things but we can never accurately predict what the next day, the next moment or the next year will bring.

Saturday is the day for my bible study group to meet. So we prepared to meet yesterday. The difference was that instead of morning like usual, we would meet in the evening to accommodate one of our group members who had to work. Yesterday's meeting was a very important one as we were looking to compile a list of all the talents, gift and abilities God had given to each of us so we could find some commonalities in our efforts to give back to Him as a team and help build the kingdom. Even more important we were preparing to acknowledge our strongholds, those things that held us back from using our God-given abilities to bring Him glory. We were preparing to use the powerful Word of God to demolish these strongholds so we could move forward.

Since I have just moved and we are still unpacking and settling in, we had made plans to meet at another home. However, an incident at the home threatened to derail the plans we had for the evening. But God.........

While preparing dinner for the event a rice cooker malfunctioned and a roommate at the house was burned with the hot water that came from it on two/three of her fingers. This happened about 10/15 minutes before we arrived, but when we got there she was in a lot of discomfort and some of the skin had even started to peel off a portion of her fingers. Obviously this was a great concern and somewhat unsettling. The meal was put on hold and the study as well, so we could deal with the unexpected. We spent a few minutes praying and declaring the word over her asking God not to let it get any worse and for complete healing and restoring of her hand .

She eventually went to the emergency room and after about an hour and a half we had dinner and got things going.

We were so excited about yesterday's meeting. We had called each other throughout the week, talked about it and was really looking forward to spending a few hours together.
In the end we got to spend just about 45mins to an hour working on it.

Reflecting on it this early morning, I saw that while we don't know what can or will happen next, we can be prepared in God.

When sickness comes unexpectedly we can have the word of God to declare by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

When we are challenged about our beliefs, we should always be prepared to give a reason for the hope we have in our hearts. 1 Peter 3:15

When disaster strikes and panic wants to wrap itself around our very hearts, the word says as we bring it God with thanksgiving, His peace will guard and rule our hearts. Phil. 4:7

When nothing seems to be going right in your life and that of your family, the weight of it all keeps depressing you, be ready to 'put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness'. Isaiah 61:3

We are privilege to have the word of God. When we don't know where we are going, His word becomes a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Psalm 119:105

The next few minutes may be unknown to us, but if we know the Word of God, we can be prepared for anything that life or the enemy throws at us. We can get prepared by always wearing our full armor so that we can take our stand against the devil's schemes. Ephesians 6:3

We may not be able to change all the situations that we come up against, but we can work at changing our response by using the Word as our first aid kit.

This year my focus is more and more on the Word. I have started a method of memorizing more of the Word so I can hide it in my heart and I am increasing my study time.

I am walking with God as He leads me day by day and step by step. He knows what's next, I don't. So when I get more of His Word, I am able and prepared somewhat to brace myself in anticipation of the challenges ahead. His word becomes my shield and my fortress.

We couldn't have anticipated what would happen yesterday, but armed with the Word of God, we were able to deal with the situation and went on after some time in prayer to have a short but fruitful evening. If we had not had God's word to be our refuge and our peace, the evening
probably would have been one of chaos, panic and most likely postponed.

My encouragement to you today is -in the face of all that has happened already, and in light of all the bible prophecies - don't get caught unprepared, arm yourselves with the Word of God. It is our only hope and our only solution for anything that we could ever face.

Have a blessed day
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday

2009-01-14T10:35:00.003-05:00

When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?
The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth; His eyes examine them.
Psalm 11: 3 & 4

This portion of Psalm 11 brought such consolation to my soul when I read it today. There is so much assurance in it. In these times of uncertainty, economic upheaval, recession, terrible job losses, men hearts failing them because of the pressure and the stress, wars going on that seem to have no end in sight, there is hope for the one who put their trust in God.

David asks the question, "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" When all that has been stable for centuries are now being shaken and destroyed, what can we do? He gives us an answer in the next verse." The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord is on his heavenly throne." We can hide in God. He is our shield, He is our fortress and He is our rear guard.

The word reminds us that the name of the Lord is a strong tower and the righteous run into it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10 We don't have to fear, we don't have to worry, even when we get affected by all that's going on -which is possible since we live in this world - we are anchored safe in Jesus.

Keep your trust and your hope in Him and His word.

Heaven and earth shall pass away but God's word will stand forever. Matthew 24:35

Fill your life and your heart with God's word, not just today Wednesday, but every day.

Have a Wonderful Word Filled Wednesday.
For more WFW posts visit Amy here.

Blessings,
Vickie

Some Changes With Moving

2009-01-11T21:43:00.004-05:00

Well, as many of you know, I was in the process of moving for a few weeks now. Since it was a financial strain to us, God used some very dear friends to help us move most of our stuff over the last two weeks. They would come whenever they could and we would move whatever we had packed and that would fit into their vehicles. We moved in the same city so the distance was no problem at all. Finally yesterday we were able to just rent a small truck and move the heavy stuff, like tables, beds, chairs etc. I am truly grateful to God for how He provided throughout this time and I can already sense that this move is all in line with God's plans for my family. So we are all moved, now facing the unpacking. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support.

However, with the prospect of moving, there came some hard decisions that had to be made. Due to the lack of storage space at our new home we had to get rid of some of the things we had accumulated over the years. Some of them were things that we wanted to hold on to, but wisdom said, get rid of it, give it away, something. So along with those kind of decisions, also came the decisions to use this time to get rid of stuff that we had for a while and wasn't using, some that we were using, but it wouldn't hurt us if we didn't have them, so in essence we used this time to do a big bit of spring cleaning.

In the midst of all this moving, I almost forgot that we were into a new year. God reminded me when He caused me to think of not just moving to a new home but moving higher in Him. However, He said, "Vickie, you have to get rid of some stuff. You have to do some spiritual spring cleaning." Not easy at all.

Even though we want to move to a new place in God, and we truly would like to do all that that entails, it is very hard to give up some of the attitudes and habits that we have been holding on to for a long time. 1 Peter 2:1-3 says, "Therefore, rid yourself of all malice, and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."

To enjoy my new home, with it's different layout and location, I had to get rid of some of the things I had. My new bathroom is smaller than my old one, so some of the things I had in my old one won't work in my new one. It will cause problems. I can't go higher in God if I keep holding on to some of my habits, even though they feel a part of me, having had them for a long time.

Most of the stuff I got rid of or gave away was good but it wouldn't be good for where I am now. Some of the things we have in our lives are not bad, but they won't be good for where God wants to move us to. Spending a few minutes in the word, or praying on the go, may work for where we are at now, but for God to use us more effectively to speak into the lives of others to help bring some change, means we need to set aside time for regular study, prayer and fasting.

Some of the people in our lives may not go with us as we climb higher in Him. We may have to sacrifice some friendships as we reach for the standard that God has set. Some of the things in our lives we know are not of God and we have hesitated to deal with them, but Peter says rid ourselves, so that there may be room to grow in Jesus.

It is not easy to move at all. We felt good when we thought of our new apartment, but almost felt disgusted when we looked at all the drawers and closets and cupboards that had to be emptied. Same it is with our spiritual walk. We are excited when we think of growing up in our salvation, but it takes a lot to get there.

It's worth it though. As we look around we are so happy we made it through this move and likewise I know there is a release for us and there are so many rewards awaiting us as we push past all that will keep us back and move forward in Him.

I am excited about the prospects. I have already challenged my Saturday study group to get up and step out there. Every single day is a new day to begin with God. Every day can be like the beginning of a new year, because He provides new mercies day after day after day.

I challenge you today to do whatever it takes, drop off whatever you have to, get rid of whatever you have to, give up whatever you have to, to go to a deeper depth and a higher height in God.

The results will be phenomenal!!!!!

Blessings,
Vickie

A Move For the New Year

2009-01-05T22:32:00.004-05:00

Hope everyone has been doing well since the New Year started. I pray a continual overflow of God's presence in your lives everyday of this year.

Sorry I haven't been around much, just to make a comment here or there. We are in the process of moving, a very big job, and so I have not been online much at all. We have already started and are expected to complete our move this coming weekend. Unfortunately we wont have internet there for about two weeks, but Verizon is offering complimentary dial-up for the time - even though the high speed I have now feels like dial up - so maybe I will be able to post a bit.

Anyway your prayers would be appreciated for a smooth transition from here to there and God's grace as we settle in. We will be moving within walking distance of school, so the kids are excited about that.

Thank you for your concern and your best wishes.

Blessings,
Vickie

Blessed Christmas To All

2008-12-22T11:46:00.004-05:00

I just want to take this time to wish all of you wonderful people out there in blogland a beautiful Christ-filled Christmas. I pray that even as you enjoy this season with your family, that you be the example of Christ in all you do. May He be glorified through you as share Him with those you come in contact with.

We're so grateful that even though we celebrate His birth, Jesus didn't stay as a baby. He went all the way to Calvary, died, rose on the third day and is coming back again for those who know Him as Lord and Savior. That's the Christ we celebrate and who we share with others.

It is wonderful to know this Jesus and to serve Him this Christmas.

So, in case I don't make it back here until the new year, a very wonderful Christmas to you and a bountiful New Year in the Lord.

Blessings,
Vickie

Taking God at His Word

2008-12-16T11:12:00.003-05:00

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had see him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Luke 2:15-18

The story of the birth of Jesus is so fascinating. It is such a beautiful story with so many pieces that all fit together. It has such wonder, such planning, such amazement in it, that you can't believe people could look away from it, especially during this Christmas season.

The story here of the angel appearing to the shepherds is another great part of the first Christmas story. They were as we say 'minding their own business' of tending to their sheep, when the angel of the Lord appeared to them and told them of the birth of our Lord and Savior. Shepherds, who were like insignificant in those times, were chosen by God as one of the first set of people to know about this wondrous event. God truly does take the base and foolish things of this world to confound the wise. (1 Cor. 1:27)

After one angel appeared and gave his message then the bible says, there was a great company of angels appearing praising and giving glory to God. There was celebration even before the shepherds could confirm what the angel was saying. We don't have to wait to see if what God says is going to happen. We can take Him at His word and rejoice while waiting to see the manifestation.

As soon as the celebrations were over what did the shepherds do? They said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that the Lord has told us about." When all the fanfare was over they acted on God's word. They didn't hesitate. The Word says, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph. Oh that we would just take God at His word. Oh that we would not be slack in moving when God gives us a word. When all the praise and worship music is over, when all the clapping and singing in church is over, Oh that we would act hastily on the word that we have received from God.

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (vs 17 & 18) What if the shepherds had doubted what God said through the angel? What if they had been disobedient? If they had, it is probable that some people would never have heard about the birth of Jesus. How will people hear if we don't tell them? When we hear the word on Sundays, when we receive a word from God, when God speaks a new truth to us during our devotional times, how will people hear of His love, His goodness, His mercy, unless we tell them?

We that know the real meaning of Christmas, how will people know the truth about it, unless we tell them?

God is true to His word friends. Just like He said it would happen through the mouths of the prophets, the birth of Jesus came to be. Just like He said Jesus would die for our sins He did. Just like He said Jesus would comfort us when we are lonely, feed us when we are hungry, clothe us when we are naked, just as He said, so it has been. We have to share with the world around us that there is hope in Jesus. We have to share that He came as a baby but now He is our Lord and Savior and He can be for them too.

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Romans 10:14

Don't celebrate this Christmas without Christ and don't celebrate it without telling someone about the Christ of Christmas.

Blessings,
Vickie

It is with great delight.............

2008-12-12T10:02:00.003-05:00

It is with great delight that I announce the two winners of my Cool Christmas Giveaway. My dear husband was gracious enough to pull the names out of a pretty pink bag, after we filled it with strips of paper containing the names of those who entered.

So, thanks to his pulling skills, our two winners are: Teri Tiffany a wonderful blogger and encourager and Debra a new friend in the Lord.

Congrats to both winners and as soon a I have your addresses I will post your prizes for you.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and entered the contest. Don't forget to leave your congratulations for the winners. You can visit their blogs by clicking on their names.

A blessed Christmas to all of you
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday

2008-12-10T18:49:00.004-05:00

But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and a delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born." Luke 1:13-15

The stories of the births of John and Jesus are stories that I have read countless times in my years of being a christian. However, since I started to develop a habit of asking God to give me fresh revelations and insights every time I read His word, it is amazing the new truths I see coming out.

The angel spoke words to Zechariah that so continues to reveal the true nature of God. He said, "He (the baby John) will be a joy and delight to you and many will rejoice because of His birth for he will be great in the sight of the Lord." This child was going to be a blessing and and bring great joy and delight to many people. Isn't that so like God? In Proverbs 10:22 the Word says,' the blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it." He was going to be the forerunner for Jesus and yes along with that, he would be a great joy to not only his parents but to many people. What a privilege and an amazing blessing indeed.

Another thing the angel said was, 'he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.' God has plans for us even before we are born. Before our mothers and fathers even came together He already had an appointed way for us. This could only be the work of a truly awesome God, to fill a child with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. His plans to prosper us and to bring us to an expected end were in place before we even opened our eyes. All the days ordained for us were written in His book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:16)

My heart is so overwhelmed when I think of the great big God putting a plan in place that is so beyond my human mind, to prepare this world for His Only Begotten Son. He then humbled Himself and took on the form of a man so He could identify with my pain and my joy, my ups and my downs.

Lord thank you for caring so much that You would take the time to go over every detail in Your plan to reconcile me unto Yourself. Lord, thank You for Jesus.

For more wonderful Word-Filled Wednesday posts please visit Amydeanne.

A reminder of my Cool Christmas giveaway. I'm giving away to two wonderful bloggers, a copy of my book "A Celebration of Praise' and two of my personally designed bookmarks with orginial poetry on them. Visit here to enter.

Blessings,
Vickie

Cool Christmas Giveaway

2008-12-05T11:26:00.010-05:00

Hi everyone, in the spirit of the season, Lysa TerKeurst is hosting a Christmas contest in which other bloggers are hosting giveaways as well. I have never had a giveaway so since this is the season of giving I thought I would join in and offer something also.

I have nothing 'christmassy' :) to giveaway but I would like to bless two of you who leave a comment on my blog. So I will be giving away a copy of my small collection of poetry book "A Celebration of Praise" and two of my personally designed bookmarks, with my original poetry on them.

Please leave a comment on this post anytime between now and Friday December 12th. It could be just a hi or hello or it could be about your effort to make Christmas more Christlike. That would be great.

I will choose two names on Friday and those two bloggers will get a copy of A Celebration of Praise and two bookmarks, shown below. How cool is that?

Don't forget to stop by Lysa's blog to check out more bloggers' giveaways.

Between now and Friday 12th, I will add a link to any new blog post to give everyone who stops by a chance to win.

Blessings,
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday

2008-12-03T10:50:00.001-05:00

I proclaim Your saving acts in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know.
I do not hide Your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of Your faithfulness and Your saving help.
I do not conceal Your love and Your faithfulness from the great assembly.
Psalm 40:9 & 10

These words from the Psalmist David are so important. They are words that literally speak of the faithfulness and the love of God.

A few things to note; David never kept his mouth shut about the goodness of God. In the midst of his friends, his family, at work, at church, wherever he was, David spoke about the goodness of God.

He did not just praise God in his heart. He opened his mouth and made known to the world about the healing he received at the hand of God. He opened his mouth and let the world know Who was his provider. He opened his mouth and let the world know Who was his deliverer in time of trouble.

Wasn't David the one who said, "I will bless the Lord at all time, His praise shall continually be in my mouth?" (Psalm 34:1)

To give God continual praise requires deliberation and effort on our part. There are so many things that we could find to complain and grumble about, which is why praise becomes a sacrifice.
To make a decision to speak of God's saving help and His faithfulness means that we don't just think of His goodness in our hearts, even though there is nothing wrong with that, it means that we speak, we testify, we tell all who would listen; how great is Our God.

Faith comes by hearing the word of God. (Romans 10: 8-10) Our faith grows when we hear ourselves speak His word and tell of His goodness.

Today, tell someone who has been disappointed by others over and over again about the faithfulness of God.

Today, tell someone who is afraid about the current economy about Jehovah Jireh the provider.

Today, tell someone who is lonely about the Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Don't seal your lips. Let Your voice be heard today giving God praise and glory.

Blessings,
Vickie

New

2008-12-01T20:25:00.001-05:00

December 1st, a new month, taking us to the end of the year and into a new one.

I love new things. Whenever I buy new shoes or new outfits, I wear them almost immediately. If I get a new bag I want to do away with the old one and put all my stuff into the new one.

Everyday with God is a new day. Whether or not it's the end of the year, everyday is a chance to start afresh with God. New mercies are showered on us every day. Even though we may have been blessed yesterday we need a brand new touch for today.

I still don't have use of my laptop yet so I am limited in my time online so each blog post could be the only one for the week. At first I felt really bad about it, but every day now I use the time I would have spent online to catch up on my reading, drinking in new information, and thanking God all along. I have more time to think on God's word and He is pouring fresh and new insights into me each time.

Spending so much time in God's word has given me a new appreciation for each day. I am eager to get into His word because I want to hear all that He has for me. My thoughts are being transformed by His word and I have a new perspective on things.

I don't know what each day would hold, but I know that whatever would come my way, the Holy Spirit is there with a new bout of strength and energy for me to make it through.

Treasure each new day with God. Guard every moment with Him as precious. He never changes but He continually exposes Himself to us in new and amazing ways.

Blessings,
Vickie

What if.....

2008-11-22T07:44:00.007-05:00

For the past week I have been without my computer as without warning the electrical cord for my laptop refuse to work. As a few people stated I seemed like a person without their right hand since my laptop is my constant companion. I honestly felt as though I had lost a part of me and many times throughout the week my thoughts were consumed with the internet, writing, blogging and all the fun things that come with having a working computer.
I almost went into withdrawal :) but by Wednesday or so I had resigned to the fact that I would have to wait a bit to buy a new electrical cord as more important things were beckoning my finances.

So I started to enjoy the evenings more with my family as I didn't have the distraction of my laptop. I got a few more hours of sleep as there was nothing to keep me awake or even if I had fallen asleep earlier there was nothing drawing me like a magnet anytime I awoke during the night.

The whole thing however got me to thinking about; what if I didn't have my bible for a whole week. Now I have more than one bible, but what if I either didn't have my bible or what if I didn't have access to my bible for a whole week, how would I make it? How would I fare?

In thinking about that I saw the value of hiding God's word in my heart.

If I didn't have my bible to read Psalm 27 would I remember in time of trouble that 'the Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?'

If I didnt have my bible to read Romans 8, would I remember when I felt guilty about failing God another time that "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus?"

If I didn't have my bible to read Philipians 4, when my heart became overwhelmed would I remember that He said "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God?"

It can never be emphasize enough how much we need to hide God's Word in our heart. Everything and everyone else is secondary to Him. Without Him I don't want to imagine where I would be today.

God's word is our fuel, it's our compass, it's our very sustenance. He even said that we should not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from His mouth. So for me His Word is life.

I am happy to know that even after a few days I can adjust without my laptop, but I don't ever want to live without the Word of God.

The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Psalm 119:72

Blessings,
Vickie

Sabbath-rest

2008-11-14T08:39:00.003-05:00

The last couple of days my soul, my spirit, my heart, my whole being has all felt pretty quiet. I am always going. Always on my way to work, or to the store, or to the supermarket. Always going somewhere. In the midst of all that, my mind is always going, always thinking, always reasoning, a song is always in my head or a passage of scripture, or a conversation.

However, for the last two days or so even though I am still going physically I feel as though I have slowed down on the inside for some reason. Not sure what is happening or why, I turned to the word of God to help me sort out what I was or wasn't feeling.

I have been studying the book of Acts for a new study we have coming up starting tomorrow, but then I decided to put it aside and go back to my study of the Pauline Epistles. I had started in the Hebrews and so I went right there, spent some time praying asking God for fresh insight and a clearer understanding of His word.

In reading Hebrews 3 &4, God showed me right away: its time for a sabbath-rest. Paul in these chapters was referring to the time when God's people hardened their hearts and rebelled against His voice even though they had seen His hand meeting their needs time and time again. God in His anger, had declared that they would never enter into His rest. (3:11)

They would never enter His rest but there was still a sabbath rest laid up for the people of God.

"There remains, then a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for those who enter God's rest also rest from their own work, just as God did from his. Let us therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience." (4:9 & 10)

God is calling us to a rest in Him. Yes we set aside a certain day or time for worship with the saints, which is absolutely necessary. If that was the only kind of rest we needed, we would not be so burnt out time and time again.

A Sabbath-rest is not just resting from work on the Sabbath day but laying aside all our worries and resting in God. I need a refreshing, I need a rest from going all the time, thinking all the time. God is saying to my spirit today, stop working so hard at worrying about life and food and family and just rest in me.

So one of my new intentions is to 'make every effort to enter that rest.'

I don't know what you are working hard at today, and it may all be legitimate, but I want to encourage you to pause and enter into the beloved rest of God. His hands are outstretched with peace and contentment for all who would take Him at His word.

Blessings,
Vickie

God is not only able, but He is willing

2008-11-10T01:02:00.005-05:00

Now to Him who is able to keep you without stumbling, slipping or falling, and to present (you)unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation (with unspeakable, ecstatic delight) Jude 1:24 (AMP)

One of the things I so love and appreciate about God, is that He is not only able but He is willing.

There are people in life who are able; people who are able to meet a need because they have more than you do. People who are able to open a door because they either have the keys or they know of someone who may have keys as well. The one big difference between God and these kind of people is that God is not only able but He is willing.

So many times in the word we see that God is willing for good to happen. He is willing to save us, willing to help us, willing to deliver us and willing to keep us.

An able person doesn't always equal to a willing person. People are able to help, but sometimes have no desire to help. They have in excess but are not willing to share with others who don't have. They have access to open doors and opportunities but are not willing to let others in. The position, status and resources they have at their disposal are in abundance but they are not willing to offer them to others.

Maybe you are one of those persons who are able to help but find yourself unwilling many times. Ask God to give you a willing heart. Ask Him to fill you with compassion, so that when you hear the sound of a need in someone's life, you don't look around for the next person to meet that need, you be the one used of God to meet it.

God's desire is to use each of us to meet one another's need. We have been blessed to be blessings. When we open our bowels of compassion to offer our hands, hearts and ultimately our lives for the good of others, He gets the glory and our lives become very fulfilled. This design is not by accident. God knows that when we allow ourselves to be used of Him, we draw even closer for strength and our relationship with Him blossoms.

Maybe on the other hand, you have some needs in your life, and find yourself surrounded by those who are able but not willing to help. Ask God to free you from any bitterness or resentment and pray that people would respond to His call and yield themselves as instruments of righteousness in His hand.

Let's take some time today and just thank God for His willingness to send us a Savior. We also ask Him to help us to be willing to bless others with what we have.

Father, in the name of Your precious son Jesus, I thank You for not only being able, but willing to save, to meet needs and to keep us. Thank you Lord for making us instruments of righteousness in Your hands. Where our hearts are hard, help us to yield and submit them to You. Where we have already been used by You, help us to yield even more so that we can relieve some of the burdens of others. Thank you, in Jesus name.

Blessings,
Vickie

A change, yet He is the same

2008-11-07T10:16:00.004-05:00

Tuesday evening, well before midnight, it was announced that we would be having a new president.

It was a time of change for many. For those who supported Barack Obama it was a time of rejoicing. For those who didn't support him there wasn't much to rejoice about.

With a change in government, there comes endless possibilities for change. Change in policies, change in offices, change in style. So much to look forward to. As with any new head there is always a bit of apprehension as well, since we don't know if we will like his method of operation.

We are hoping for change, good change as things have been in a slump for quite a while now. As we look forward to new things, I want to just take a minute and remind us of what God has said in His word.

In Malachi 3:6 He says,"I the Lord do not change.........." There could be nothing clearer than that. God says He doesn't change. People change, situations change, our goals, dreams and desires change, our government changes, but God does not change. It means that no matter how the new president perform we still have the assurance that God is in control. He will still look after us even if the country doesn't come out of its slump. He is still faithful to His people. He still loves us.

Our role now is to work with God. Do as He asks, pray for our nation, pray for our government. Recognize that we the body of Christ has been given the power and authority to effect more change by praying than we could ever do by voting. Voting is just one necessary, important part of it, but we need to pray. He ask us to pray without ceasing, devote ourselves to prayer if we truly want change. There is no way the President can make decisions that are beneficial to the country unless the people of God seek His face.

It's exciting to think of the things that can happen with a new leader who has new vision but let's never forget where our trust lies. Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

When we seek His face then we will hear from Heaven and our land will be healed.

We have more power than the government. We have the power of prayer to a holy, faithful, righteous and unchanging God.

Blessings,
Vickie

Probing the Proverbs 1

2008-11-02T23:30:00.003-05:00

As we noted in the introduction of Probing the Proverbs, they are natural sayings that reveal spiritual truths. Because they are obscurely expressed we need the Holy Spirit to give us deeper insight into the true revealed meaning. A first glance at a proverb or a parable seldom gives the real meaning.

Chapter 1 reveals many purposes of the proverbs. A few of them are:

gaining wisdom and instruction
instruction for prudent behavior
prudence to those who are simple
knowledge and discretion to the young
increased knowledge for the wise
guidance for the discerning

Any one of us can fall into any of the categories above, therefore we would all be wise in searching and seeking out the godly wisdom that is gleaned from the Proverbs.

Chapter 1:20 tells us that wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square, on top of the wall she cries out. God's common sense is speaking to us. He is not whispering, but calling out loud and clear for His children to seek Him. It is all throughout His word. It is not a secret: the church is called to be the moral mouthpiece in this fallen world. How can we not be conformed to this world? By being transformed in our minds through His word, through His wisdom. He wants His children to be the leaders, He wants His children to be the ones to give insight and offer sound advice.

1:23......
There is a rebuke to the child of God who continues to drink milk instead of moving on to solid food. He says 'repent'. How long will we continue to go to the ungodly for advice? How long will we continue to run to the self-help books and the wisdom of God is so freely available to those of us who would seek it out?

Repentance is never complete without a follow-up action(2 Cor. 7:10, Acts 26:20). In turning our ears to the call of wisdom, God says 'then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings." He is such a willing God. He is not willing that any of us should perish for lack of a vision. He wants to share confidences with His righteous people (3:32). How can we train our children in the right way, without the wisdom of God? How can we run successful businesses without the wisdom of God? How can we touch lives with our writing unless we seek the wisdom of God? How can we be the help-mates He intended us to be without the wisdom of God?

1:24-31
Unfortunately there is a price to pay for those who refuse to listen to wisdom's call. To those who would disregard her advice and not accept her rebuke, there is no shelter when disaster strikes. When calamity and tragedy overtakes or when distress and trouble overwhelms God will not be found by those who chose not to fear Him.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Be wise, for whoever listens will live in safety and be at ease without fear or harm. (1:33)

The cry of my heart is that we as the people of God would seek Him whole-heartedly. Nothing else matters as much as knowing Him in the most intimate way. Friends, family, jobs, possessions, hobbies, education, all pale in comparison to truly knowing God and then acting upon His word. Having His wisdom adds more meaning to our friends, our family, our education and all that we hold dear.

Lord Your word, Your wisdom is the most valuable thing I could ever have in this world. Don't let me be complacent about knowing the mind of Christ for my very life depend on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Forgive me for every time I went ahead and did it my way. Thank you for the wisdom You so freely offer to me, in Jesus name.

Blessings,
Vickie

I understand.......but do I really?

2008-10-31T13:22:00.005-04:00

Many times while facing crises in our lives, people often say, "I understand." They are well meaning and often do feel terrible for what we are facing, but the truth of it is that unless you have been through what I have been through, you don't really understand.

There is the mother who has lost a child and people say, "I understand."
There is period of time when you are in a depressed state and when you try to explain to others, they say, "I understand."

I was one of those people that would say 'I understand' when someone was going through a rough period. I felt bad for what was happening and needed to offer some kind of encouragement, so, "I understand" seemed to be the most appropriate thing to say.

These were the kind of thoughts that flooded my mind early this morning. Do I really understand even when I do say I understand?

Hebrews 2:18 tells me, "because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, HE is able to help those who are being tempted."

That is a God who understands. He Himself has faced what we are facing now, temptations, tests, trials, you name it and He knows what it is like. He has faced loneliness, He has faced ridicule, He has faced insults, He has faced desertion, His own Father turned His back on Him when the sins of the whole world rested on Him. He is a God who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.

What qualifies me to say 'I understand ?' Have I ever lost a child ? No. Have I ever been diagnosed with depression, apart from a few depressing days sometimes ?' No.

What qualifies me?

The word says Jesus shared in our humanity. Read Hebrews 2 and note what it says, Surely it is not the angels He helps, but Abraham descendants. For this reason He had to be made like His brothers and sisters in every way that HE might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God.

He qualifies in every way. He understands the highs and the lows. He can be trusted with our cares and our worries.

When you experience death, He understands.
When you experience sickness, He understands.
When you experience betrayal, He understands.
When you experience a broken heart, He understands.

Whatever your experience today, He understands.

I needed to read Hebrews 2 today to remember that it's not just lip service, God does understand. He understands my frustrations sometimes as a wife and mother. He understands my frustrations sometimes as a caregiver. He understands my frustrations sometimes as a sister and a daughter. He understands my frustrations sometimes as believer in my house of worship.
He understands my frustrations and struggles sometimes with this writing process.

I am guilty for sometimes carrying around my frustrations and then letting them weigh me down. Lord thank You for that reminder that you care and you truly understand.

Blessings,
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday

2008-10-29T11:33:00.003-04:00

My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times. Psalm 119:20

This verse so describes exactly the way I feel. My heart and my soul, my whole being is just consumed with longing for the word of God. I have a desire to know God's word like I never have before. I feel as though I could spend every waking hour just reading and studying God's word.

I have seen such a change in my life through the word of God. It has become a mirror for me and I now know myself better than I ever did before. My faith has become stronger and I am a bolder person because the word is at work in me.

God promised that if we search for Him we would find Him. He truly honors and keeps His word. I was a reader for years with my head, but God through His Holy Spirit has led me into deeper study and now I am reading with my heart and He is revealing Himself in ways unimaginable.

My heart's delight truly is in the law of the Lord and He is opening my eyes so that I can see the wonderful things He has there. His statutes have become my counselors when I seek direction and have become my hope in my time of need.

My encouragement to you today is to approach God's word with new zeal. God is anxious to meet with you. He takes the righteous into His confidence. He wants to share things with you. Make studying the word a priority, meditate on it, keep His commands with you always, and through the Holy Spirit God will make you wiser than your enemies. He will give you more insight than any of your teachers and more understanding than your elders. These are not my words they are His words......Psalms 119:97-100

A reminder to all of us today that we shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Let God's word be the fuel for everything we say and everything we write.

Lord thank you for your word that continues to be a light to our path and a lamp to our feet. Preserve our lives according to your word. In Jesus name.

For more Word-filled Wednesday post visit Amy here.

Blessings,
Vickie

Zealous for God

2008-10-27T12:53:00.002-04:00

Zealous...........(According to Meriam Webster Online Dictionary) filled with or characterized by zeal: marked by fervent partisanship for a person, a cause, or an ideal.

Zeal.......(According to Meriam Webster Online Dictionary) eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something......Other words used......fervor and passion.

Yesterday I unexpectedly visited a church and the sermon was based on Revelation 3:14-16. This passage of scripture was written to the church at Laodicea, a very lukewarm church. God said to the church there, "I know your deeds, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

I've read this and heard it read many times, but when I read it again yesterday, I got very concerned that God said "I wish you were either hot or cold, but not lukewarm." When I think of the times that I have served God in a lukewarm way. The times I went to church and I praised God if I felt like it, or if they sang a song I liked. The church I went to for the first 10 years of my christian life had more than one worship leader, so if I didn't care too much for one style, I didn't do much singing or for that matter, not much praising either. Oh what a tragedy! Oh what a merciful God to spare me.

God is a serious and a jealous God. He says if we don't give our all to Him He will vomit us out of His mouth. Many of us have favorite cold drinks and on the other hand many of us like some good hot tea. But can you think of your reaction when you think your tea is hot and it turns out to be lukewarm? I know for me I always feel like spitting it out right away. God says at least if you are cold I know where you stand. Being lukewarm is like flip-flopping with God.

He wants all of us. We are encouraged so many times in the word to serve God with all of our heart, our mind and our soul.

Romans 12:11 says, "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."

1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer.

King David said in 1 Chronicles 28:9 - "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever."

This is an invitation to all of us to give God every area, every part of our beings. Don't let us serve Him according to our feelings. Don't let us only be excited when our circumstances are good. He deserves all of our praise all of the time.

Many times my heart has looked away from God because things in my life weren't the best, but He always remained faithful. Today is a new day, it's a fresh day. I re-dedicate my life to God, to give Him my best always.

Oh God search my heart today. Wherever there are areas that I haven't given over to You, I release them now. Father I recommit myself to relentlessly pursue the things of God. I want to serve you with joy and with fervor. I wholeheartedly give myself over to You. Thank You Lord for accepting me this day and for forgiving me for the times I have been indifferent to You.
In Jesus name.

Blessings,
Vickie

A Praise Break

2008-10-24T08:38:00.003-04:00

My soul, my spirit, my whole being feels right now like just praising God. I had another post for today from my devotions this morning, but while I was getting ready to write, instead, I just had this overwhelming desire to forget everything else and stop and give God praise........so I am taking a praise break right now and I hope you too will stop for a minute or two and join in with me.

I will exalt You, my God the King; I will praise Your name for ever and ever, Every day I will praise You and extol Your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends Your works to another; they tell of Your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty - and I will meditate on Your wonderful works. They tell of the power of Your awesome works - and I will proclaim Your great deeds.

They celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and compassionate , slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made. All Your works praise You, Lord; Your faithful people extol You. They tell of Your kingdom and speak of Your might, so that all people may know of Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does.
Psalm 145: 1-13

My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise His holy name for ever and ever.
Psalm 145:21

Hallelujah, God is worthy to be praised, Oh what an awesome God He is.

Have a blessed day everyone,
Give God some praise
Vickie

Changing season.......Changing Weather

2008-10-21T14:03:00.006-04:00

For the last couple of days the weather here in New England has been really changing. As we all know, the fall season opened some weeks ago and along with it came the expected: leaves changing color, leaves blowing all around, plus some cooler temperatures.

I woke up this morning and felt the same way I did yesterday, very cold. The temperatures were in the lower 30's yesterday morning and I think this morning it was just about the same. I stayed in bed for a while wishing I didn't have to get up. It honestly felt like it was winter, but the harsh reality of it is that it's still fall and winter hasn't even come yet. The last few weeks were pretty nice, give and take one or two cool days, and I think the recent temperatures came as a shock to me because of that.

Thinking about the seasons caused me to think about the seasons of life. Sometimes the seasons of our lives change, but the weather doesn't change right away and it deceives us so that we are not fully prepared. The temperatures started to change Sunday night, but I didn't realize it and so when I went out I wasn't adequately dressed.

Sometimes we're in the season of tests and trials, a time when God is probably shaping or molding us for something ahead. Because the weather doesn't change or it changes gradually we are not adequately prepared. We may put on our helmet of salvation but neglect to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Most of the time we do recognize that something different is going on but might dismiss it not acknowledging that we're under attack. It is so important to remember that the enemy of our soul is like a roaring lion, he prowls around seeking whom he may devour.

I can remember a time in my life when the season changed and my family was under serious attack. It was so subtle at first that I didn't do much about it. I prayed a bit and I spoke the word over the situation, but time and time again I dismissed it as just 'going through something'. Boy was I shocked one day to wake up to some cold cold temperatures in my home. My husband and I were fighting constantly and my kids were starting to develop attitudes.
Fall was gone and winter had moved into my home, but the trail of fall temperatures deceived me into wearing my spiritual fall sweater even though it was winter. I knew we couldn't go on like before and it was time to put on the whole armor of God. It was winter, we needed our coats. It wasn't just time to pray, it was time to pray and fast. It wasn't jus time to read the word, it was time to read and confess the word.

1 Peter 5:8 & 9 says "Be alert and of sober mind, your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.......(TNIV)

Don't let the cool season deceive you like it did me before. Be alert, be vigilant, get your ears attuned to the devices of the enemy. Know that even as God has plans to prosper you the enemy has plans to destroy your soul. He doesn't give up. Get prepared. Dress yourself in God's word. Let it be a garland to grace your head as you protect your mind from assault. Let it be a chain to adorn your neck as you watch over your thoughts. Secure your feet by walking in the integrity of God's word. Keep a guard on your heart for out of it comes the issues of life.

Thank you Jesus for your word today. Thank you for opening the eyes of my heart and my understanding to see the season of life I am in. Thank you Lord for providing me with all that I need as I continue to fight the good fight of faith. In Jesus name, Amen.

Blessings,
Vickie

Probing the Proverbs.........Introduction

2008-10-19T22:25:00.002-04:00

This is the first part of a series I want to do on the Proverbs, a book that has totally changed my way of thinking, my approach to life and has given me great insight into making godly decisions.

These are thoughts and revelations from God as I read the book of Proverbs. I hope they will bless and challenge you to bring your thinking in line with God's word. I have found that using God's formula has lead to better quality of life for me and my family.

Proverbs have been placed by God as sayings that we can relate to in the natural to reveal a spiritual truth. Because they are obscurely expressed we need the Holy Spirit to give us deeper insight into the true revealed meaning. A first glance at a proverb or a parable seldom gives the real meaning.

They have been written that people may receive skilful and Godly wisdom, discernment, understand, insight, and the discipline of wise-thinking instruction in wise dealings. Proverbs 1:2

The **simple person** will learn prudence, good management of his life, so he doesn't operate in extremes, but have some balance. Proverbs 1:4

To those who are already wise, the wisdom of God causes them to increase in learning.
The one with understanding will acquire skill and listen to good and sound counsel so he will know the right way to go. Proverbs 1:5

**The Hebrew word for simple, generally denotes one without moral direction and inclined to evil.** (Note from TNIV)
Proverbs 1:22 How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?

There are many categories of subjects revealed in the Proverbs......personal relationships, business relationships, marriage, emotional issues, as well as many treasures of wisdom(the principle thing). We also find all kinds of people in the proverbs.....the wise, the lazy (sluggard), the fool, the strange woman, the proud....if we look long enough and hard enough we could all probably find ourselves somewhere in there.

Proverbs can truthfully be called the Wisdom Book. I believe the key verse (just my belief :) is 1:7"the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom(true knowledge)"

The fear of the Lord is the foremost (essential) key that opens the door to skilful and Godly wisdom. Wisdom is not a trophy placed somewhere with a certain race to run or a set of goals to reach. Having wisdom is having Christ. Paul says in 1Cor. 1:24, “Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God.”
Wisdom without Jesus is mere knowledge. To embrace Jesus is to embrace the wisdom of God. God has placed everything we need in Jesus. He is our wisdom, our understanding, our instruction. (He is the Life, the Truth and the Way. John 14:6)

Some final thoughts for this introduction

Benefits of finding the wisdom of God

For those who find the wisdom needed to follow God, HE has victory in store for you. He is a shield. He guards and protects you on your way, your path, your course. (Proverbs 2:7,8)

Wisdom protects and saves you from the trap of sexual immorality.(2:16)

It leads you to desire the company of good and upright people, and cause you to dis-associate yourself from those who practice evil. (1:10)

Wisdom is a sure and direct path to receiving God’s promised blessings.If we heed God's call, follow his instruction......then, He promises, "I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. 1:23

My soul's desire is to serve the Lord in spirit and in truth. I am tired of half-heartedly serving God. I am tired of going ahead with my life and then asking God to follow along. I am tired of making decisions and then asking God to bless them. The Lord gives wisdom and from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding(2:6) I want God to take me in His confidence (3:32). I simply want my life, my ways, my thoughts, my decisions, all that I do to reflect Christ.

Thank You Jesus for hearing the cry of our hearts. Thank you for revealing Yourself through Your Word. You promised that if we seek You, we would find You. Thank you for letting yourself be found. Change us by the power in Your word that we would reflect You and only You, in Jesus name. Amen

Blessings,
Vickie

Probing the Proverbs

2008-10-17T10:32:00.003-04:00

Over a year ago I started to take a good look at my life and was very very dissatisfied. I had been thinking for a while that God was not really answering my prayers, that some people that I had looked to for help failed and I wondered where was my life going. I wondered why my life wasn't as productive as it should be since the word alluded to the fact that life was supposed to have some kind of meaning.

In reflecting I found that I was actually to blame for my state in life at that present time. I found that my life then was a result of the choices I had made a while back. My finances weren't doing well, my family life was ok, nothing outstanding, my ministry was so-so, and God showed me that many of the choices I made often were not very wise choices. I really took a long hard look and I stopped and really listened to God when He spoke those things to my heart.

After God revealed to me that many of my life choices were made without much wisdom, I was led to study the book of Proverbs. Now I knew many verses from Proverbs and could quote them pretty easily. However I started this study with new enlightenment from the Holy Spirit. I was actually studying the book for the first time as opposed to just reading it. Time and time again when I didn't put aside time for the word, I would use the Proverbs as a daily read since it has 31 chapters.

This time however was different and with guidance and new understanding through The Spirit of Truth, my thought patterns and subsequently my life has been revolutionized. My biggest discovery in the study of the Proverbs was that it's not just wisdom as I often thought, but that it is godly wisdom. Huge difference. That's what I needed then and still need every day to follow after God.

My spirit is being drawn again and again to look into the Proverbs. I want to share some of what God revealed to me while I studied then and any new insights I gain as I walk through this wise book again. I hope you will come along with me and share what you have learnt or what might come to the surface even as you read some of the post. I hope to post on this series which I will call, "Probing the Proverbs" as often as possible and want to thank you for digging deeper into God's word with me.

I hope to post an introduction to the book sometime later today or at least over the weekend.

Blessings,
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday.

2008-10-15T22:08:00.003-04:00

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4: 7 & 8

These verses are so challenging to me. I was almost shocked to hear Paul say, "train yourself to be godly." That means I have to purpose to find out what pleases God and get to it. I have to invest time in christian growth, be determined in carving out time for prayer, bible study and devotions, not hoping to find some time for these very important things.

Physical training is good because it profits the body which is just for here, but the word says godliness is even better because it has value for all things, both here and for eternity. It profits both the body and the spirit. A greater investment in the things of God has eternal rewards.

Lord, thank you for highlighting these verses today to my heart. Help me dear God to rearrange my priorities so that as I put You first and make seeking Your kingdom my most important job, then everything else will fall into place. Lord help me wherever I fall short. Anything I have put in your place I ask you to remove it and come reign on the throne of my heart. In Jesus name, Amen.

Blessings,
Vickie

He's Alive!

2008-10-12T23:28:00.005-04:00

I thought I would give an update on my son as many of you have been faithful to pray for him and our family during his time of hospitalization. Also many of you have been asking about his recovery.

Today was exactly two weeks he came home from the hospital and also the first time we went back out to church. He stayed home one full week and a day recovering nicely and went back out to school last Tuesday.
We got up this morning and after a few initial struggles, got ready for church and made it there early, with lots of time to spare.
It was great to see him all dressed and ready for church and I kept saying, "thank you Jesus."
I was allowed to share our testimony of how God brought us through this dark hour and was grateful to know that many people were blessed and encouraged as I spoke of God's faithfulness.

We sang a song that said, "Hallelujah! Jesus is alive! Death has lost it's victory and the grave has been denied. Jesus lives forever. He's alive!! He's Alive!!

I know without a shadow of a doubt, my son is alive because Jesus is alive!!

I am so glad to know that Jesus keeps His word. He promises never to leave us or forsake us. He truly is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Blessings,
Vickie

Behind Those Eyes

2008-10-09T18:07:00.004-04:00

Is it hard for you to admit your vulnerabilities to others? To God?

This is the challenge question asked in the book study done at Lelia's blog.
The book being studied is called "Behind Those Eyes", by Lisa Whittle.

To say that it's been hard for me would be an understatement. This has been such an issue for me over the years. I have never wanted anyone to see the real me. It gave me nightmares to think that others could know I made a mistake or that I failed. Throughout my life I have always appeared to be doing okay, always appeared to be in control of things. When some of my friends confessed they had issues in certain areas I would counsel them, I would encourage them, never letting on that sometimes those very issues haunted me.

On many occasions my husband would say he doesn't understand how it is that I seem to have walls up all the time. I never understood where it all came from, but I know I pretended to be someone who I wasn't for a very long time.

Just the thought of being vulnerable to another person was always too much to bear. Many times I really wanted to open up to some of my friends about how I felt inside but after a while I would convince myself that it wasn't really necessary and that I would be ok.

There was a time during our marriage that I felt like nothing was going right and in a weak moment I opened up to a friend. I could not sleep at all that night, all I thought about was that I had showed my friend a different side of me. I felt like I would die, honestly. My friend was surprised of course because I had never let on that anything in my marriage bothered me.

On the other hand I wasn't too open with God either and I realised that's why it took me so long to get help and to get healed from some of my emotional issues.

I praise God today with the help of the Holy Spirit and with constant study of His word, God is helping me to be more open with my husband, my children, my family and my friends. After reading one of Joyce Meyer's book I saw the damage I was doing to myself and my relationships and that put me on the path to healing.

God has been so faithful that as I open up more to Him, He is showing me more of Himself and has been using me to help those around me heal.

It was not an easy place to be and it took a lot to maintain that hard wall, when many times I just wanted to break down and cry. I bless God for removing my heart of stone and giving me a heart of flesh.

Thank you Jesus.

Blessings,
Vickie

I've been tagged!!

2008-10-08T21:36:00.003-04:00

My beautiful cyber-sister in the Lord, Debra tagged me. So here are 7 random things about me.

1. I am originally from the beautiful Caribbean island of Barbados, now living in cold New England, USA.
2. I loved writing poetry as a young girl, but somehow (without explanation) lost that love until late in my adult years.
3. After rediscovering my love of writing poetry, I wrote a couple dozen poems in a few months, and published them in a book called, "A Celebration of Praise."
4. As a child I loved going to fairs just to get a hot dog. Didn't care about anything else, just wanted a hot dog. They tasted different :)
5.I have a great sense of humor. When I get a good joke, I laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh ......you get the picture:):):):)
6.I could sleep for 24 hours if given the chance.
7.Before I was married I always wanted to have 3 boys, absolutely no girls, now married for 19 years with 1 girl whom I could never imagine my life without, and 1 boy who makes it feel like I have 3........I wonder was I crazy or something?

I hope this helps in knowing me a little bit better, and I believe the rule of the game is to tag 7 people so I will try. If you have been tagged already, that's ok and my apologies.

Blessings to all.
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday.

2008-10-08T20:13:00.003-04:00

When I said, "My foot is slipping," your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.
Psalm 94:18 & 19

I absolutely love these verses. They give me such assurance that whenever I feel like I am slipping or a I think I can't make it, God is with me. When my heart gets heavy with the cares of life, in turning to Him, I enjoy great consolation.

My prayer today is that all who read these verses will know that God is there for you whatever it is that you are facing.

You can find more Word-filled Wednesday posts right here.

Blessings,
Vickie

A Call to Prayer

2008-10-06T14:21:00.003-04:00

I attended a prayer conference over the weekend that really challenged me to go deeper in prayer. It was well attended and even though I like women's conferences and such I am happy that it was a prayer conference. It did not disappoint. The call for more prayer,more intense prayer, renewed praying and to start praying if you don't was sounded loud and clear. It was a 3day conference and even though I was only able to attend one day it was worth it all.

Prayer is necessary for the believer. There is no way around it. It is our communication and His communion.

There are so many places in the bible where we are encouraged, commanded or invited to pray. Jesus Himself showed us by example the many times He separated from the crowd and went to meet with the Father. He gave us a model of prayer to follow so that we would know how to go about it(Matt. 6:9-15).

Prayer was Paul's lifeline and we see it so many times in his letters to the church. There was no way he could know the mind and heart of Christ like he did without a lot of prayer. When we open our mouths in prayer God opens His heart to us.

Paul encourages us to pray at all times, in all circumstances, for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus. One of our greatest desires is to know the will of God. Praying at all times is God's will for us.

Again in Phil. 4:6 we are told to bring our requests, our petitions, our cares and our concerns to God in prayer.

We are the branches and Jesus is the vine. We cannot survive without Him, prayer keeps us attached to Him, our source, our supply.

2 Chro. 30:27 says "The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, His holy dwelling place."

Is God hearing you, are your prayers reaching heaven? The only way God can hear is when we pray. He knows our hearts but He wants to hear our voices.

Many times we wish for God to do something about our situations, but we never actually go in prayer to Him. We hope in our hearts that He would meet our needs, that He would open new doors, but we don't take the time to stop and actually talk to Him.

How will our families come to Christ, unless we pray.
How will our marriages improve, unless we pray.
How will our gifts and talents be used for God, unless we pray.
How will our children grow in Him, unless we pray.
How will be more effective in our witness unless we pray.
How will we overcome the things we come up against and the strongholds in our lives, unless we pray.

Do the heavens know your voice? Or are you a stranger in prayer-land? Can you think of how long it has actually been since you talked to God?

An old favorite hymn of the church says,

"What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear,
What a privilege it is to carry,
EVERYTHING TO GOD IN PRAYER."

Pray without ceasing, pray continually: forget feelings and just pray. God waits.

I want to touch the heart of God. I want God's spotlight turned in my direction. I want the heavens to know my voice, I want my voice to reach the heart of heaven.

This is my heart's desire.

Hear my cry, O God, attend unto my prayer, from the ends of the earth, I cry unto to thee, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61

Blessings,
Vickie

Lord, thank You

2008-10-02T11:37:00.005-04:00

I thought I would share one of my poems today.

I wrote this poem some time ago when facing a trial. I started to look at my life wondering why I was going through some stuff over and over again.

Then I saw how God was shaping and forming me by my tests.

I started to see that since I didn't learn the lesson before, because He really wanted me to get it, He allowed me to face it again.

I cried when I wrote it and all I could say was 'Lord, thank You."

I hope and pray it blesses someone today, that you would look at what you are facing with new eyes. I pray someone who read this today would mount up with wings as eagles. Get above your circumstances, look down on them and see the work that God is doing in you.

Lord, thank You

Lord, thank You for my trials,
My tears, Lord, and my pain,
For they're the only reasons,
That so much I have gained.

Lord, thank You for every heartache,
And for each crushing blow,
That forced me to look deep inside,
And help me, Lord, to grow.

Lord, thank You for every midnight,
When darkness stretched so long,
Then the precious name of Jesus,
Became my one and only song.

Lord, thank You, for each promise,
You gave me through it all,
Your love became my cushion,
And a soft place I could fall.

Lord, thank you

©Vickie Thomas

Blessings,
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday.

2008-10-01T15:07:00.003-04:00

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothed yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12 & 14

These were some verses I meditated on sometime last week while my son slept in his hospital bed.

I felt the word saying, dress yourself with warm clothing of kindness and compassion. Wear humility like a badge of honor. Adorn yourself with gentleness and patience. Let them be like magnets drawing others to you and most of all to your Lord.

Showing kindness to someone sometimes or being patient once in a while is not wearing it. We deal with people based on how they look, how they speak, their position or status in life. When we are actually clothed with the fruits of the Spirit, we can be kind and compassionate to anyone because it becomes who we are as opposed to putting them on and taking them off as it suits the circumstances.

Verse 14 says put on love, for love binds all these virtues together in perfect unity. It's useless trying to be kind when we don't have love. It's futile working on being patient when we don't have love.

Let love be your belt to keep them all in place.
Let love be your sash announcing your walk with Christ, over your clothing of compassion and kindness.

Wear the Word, for it becomes you when you Love is your designer.

For more Word-filled Wednesday posts visit here.

Blessings,
Vickie

In the midst of suffering

2008-09-30T11:34:00.002-04:00

One of the hardest things to do is to smile in the midst of pain. It's almost incomprehensible that someone would rejoice during some of their darkest moments. The reality is that, often in the word, we have been encouraged to pray when we are in pain, to sing when we are suffering greatly.

Putting on the garment of praise when you are weighed down with a spirit of heaviness is no easy thing and is a deliberate act with the help of God. When everything in you wants to curl up into a ball of self pity and hide, it is only pushing past it all with the strength of God that you get a breakthrough.

While in the hospital last week, I said to my son one day, "I know you are in a lot of pain son, but I want you to try and still praise God. Remember He has been with you all the way and He will continue to be with you throughout your recovery and beyond." He said, "Ok mummy." I don't know if he wondered or thought it was unreasonable of me to ask him such. After all, sometimes he could barely talk, because of the pain, so how could I ask him to even think of God?

But I know that when the word says, to pray without ceasing, or be anxious for nothing, it means to do it even when we are in pain.

Later that same evening, I was reading 1 Thess. and this was what Paul said to the church at Thessalonica; "You welcomed the Message(0f the gospel) in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit."

One of my son's favorite verses is "The joy of the Lord is my strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)
I know it is only with the joy given by the Holy Spirit that he was able to join with me in prayer everyday that we spent at that hospital.

We don't always understand God's methods, but anyone who dare try them, will prove that they work. To get He says we should give, to live He says we should die, to be exalted he said we should humble ourselves.

My heart rejoices in the God of my salvation. I can't imagine my life without Him. I can't imagine going through my days without acknowledging Him.

I said to God at the beginning of this year that I will meet the conditions in His word no matter what it costs me. I will do my part in seeking His kingdom because I know He will keep His end of the bargain. I will draw near to Him and I know He will draw near to me.

I have purposed to praise God in spite of my circumstances.

I don't know your area of suffering today, it may not be as severe as my son's last week, but I encourage you not to hide behind your pain. Please don't turn away from God because you are depressed or because you are hurting. If anything we need to turn to Him more. If there is sin in your life, give it over to Him. He promises to forgive you when you do.

In the midst of your turmoil, welcome His message of peace.
In the midst of your loneliness, welcome His message of companionship.
In the midst of your financial burden, welcome His message of prosperity.
In the midst of your sorrow, welcome His message of relief.
In the midst of your pretense, welcome His message of reality.

In the midst of your mess, whatever it is, welcome Him.

Dear Jesus, thank you for welcoming me with open arms. Thank you that no matter how I suffer you are right there, waiting and willing to fill me with your joy through the Holy Spirit. Thank you for being my peace who has broken down every wall. Thank you that nothing can separate me from your love. I love and appreciate you so much. Thank you for loving me with a love that will not let me go. In Jesus name. Amen

Blessings,
Vickie

Praise God we're home!

2008-09-29T01:43:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone, just wanted to let you all know that my son came home from the hospital Sunday afternoon. I was pleasantly surprised, since the doctor had hinted that he may discharge him sometime Monday or so.

God has been truly working and he is healing nicely. He was up walking around the hospital. All his 'connections' were gone. No tubes, IV"s, nothing. He is still not allowed to eat anything too heavy duty yet, just some chicken soup and a few crackers, a bit of ice-cream for a treat. However he is absolutely happy to be at home in his own bed. He has been wearing a big broad smile ever since he was given the o.k. by the doctor.

Of course I will be keeping a close watch on him to make sure he is doing well, but it feels so good to be home. I didn't even realise how tiring it was being there with him a whole week. After settling him in and giving him something to eat, I crashed for about 3 hours or so.

Anyway, I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who posted inquiring about his well-being and most of all those of you who prayed for us. Please continue to keep him in your prayers for a complete recovery.

God spoke some things to my heart while being there with him and I do want to share some of them later.

Bless you all.
Vickie

Over and over again

2008-09-26T12:07:00.003-04:00

My son and I have been here at the hospital for one week now.

Since his surgery and even before in anticipation that he could have surgery, we have been hearing the same thing over and over and over again. We hear it from the nurses, the nurses' aides, the surgeon, the surgical team, the physicians' assistant and the physician himself. The message has been consistent. My son needs to walk, he needs to be moving, this is very very important to his recovery. Even if we tire of hearing it, they are never tired of saying it, because it is a message that needs to be heard.

Such is the message of the bible as I sat on my son's bed this morning, hearing the same message again, and thinking on it. We need the word of God all the time. We need to read it as often as possible, we need to hear it as often as possible. Hear it on our cd's, on our Ipods, we need to write it on our blogs, on our websites. We need the word of God all the time, from all kind of sources. It is not enough to talk about ourselves and how we are living, we must proclaim the Living God each chance we get. He must be part of our conversations. On our thoughts as we meditate.

It's important for the doctors to say it because the message is important. Sunday isn't enough for our souls. Reading it once in a while isn't enough either. We must be constantly filled with the knowledge of God.

Since every doctor and nurse on every shift has been saying the same thing over and over, Chad himself is now initiating movement. He is asking to walk instead of me having to ask him. He is recognizing the importance of the message.

We place more value on God's word in our lives, the more we read it and the more we hear it. It becomes a part of us. We are more prone to obedience if we frequently hear the word of God.

Colossians 3:16 "Let the message of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another..........

Being rich in something is not just having a lot, but having an excess. I want to be really really rich in God's word. Even as I stay by my son's side, I use every opportunity to read and study while he is asleep. Even if it's only a small bit at a time.

I encourage you today to get in the Word, get more and more and still more of it. Be determined to fill on God's word today.

Blessings,
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday.

2008-09-24T16:14:00.003-04:00

This is Word-filled Wednesday.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

For the last four and a half days my 13year old son has been in hospital. He has been there because of terrible stomach cramping and vomiting. After four days of no food or drink, hoping that what seems to be a bowel obstruction, would correct itself, nothing happened. Yesterday they performed a CT Scan and confirmed that there was a blockage in his small intestine, so surgery was scheduled for today at 3pm.

In reassuring him today, he asked that I read him something from the bible and we read Psalm 23.

Talking to him about the Psalm and who wrote it and so on, I focused on verse four, where it says, though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil. I explained to him what a valley in life was. We talked about the fact that this was a valley, a low point in his life. But his eyes brightened when I was able to say to him, Jesus is known as the 'Lily of the Valley', so that means even in your valley he is there. That gave him the peace he needed to have his operation without fear or worry, because God wasn't waiting until he came from the operating room, He was going in before him, he would be there with him, and he would be there when he came out.

Even in speaking to him, it reassured my own heart, because this was my valley too and even as I showed him the face of faith these last four days or so, I too needed to remember that God's rod and staff would comfort me.

For more word filled Wednesday's go here

Be blessed
Vickie

Ps. As I was writing this waiting in his room, the surgeon came in and said that the surgery was successful. There was a band around the lower part of his small intestine and he was able to successfully correct it. Praise God.

A Walk of Faith

2008-09-23T10:02:00.002-04:00

Since Saturday afternoon around 3pm my 13 year old son has been hospitalised. He had been vomiting with terrible stomach cramps all Friday night and Saturday morning. After taking him to the emergency room he was given some x-rays which revealed there might be some kind of small intestinal blockage that's causing this all. He had surgery at 10months old and they believe this could be some scar tissue from that surgery causing the blockage. He hasn't had anything at all to eat or drink for all this time as they are hoping that it would fix/heal itself naturally without any surgery. So far nothing is staying down nor is there any kind of bowel movements. His belly noises are few and sometimes nothing.

Through it all we've have been faithfully lifting him and the situation in prayer before God constantly. It is only the strength of God that is keeping us. I thankGod that he knows Jesus as Lord and savior and he trusts Him with his life. Just last night he said to me, Mom, I am praying to God in my heart all the time.

The first night he came in, after settling him down, I took out my bible and after a couple verses was reasurred by Philippians 4:6 & 7. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I was especially encouraged reading, "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard and rule your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

I know in these kind of situations how easy it is to let your minds and hearts run from fear to worry and worry to fear. So I truly bless God for guarding my heart and my mind so that they won't go the way of fear and worry and discouragment. With the help of God I am trying hard to shown my son what the face of faith looks like. We have talked about it often but I know it's more important that he sees it.

I am thankful for the medical staff, they are doing an awesome job, but my hope and my trust is in Jesus Christ. He died to give my son life so I know He will take care of that same life.

Blessings,
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday.

2008-09-17T11:03:00.005-04:00

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:13-17

I have been working my way through the Pauline epistles and today was the end of Ephesians. While reading and meditating on this final chapter on my way to work, God spoke some things I would like to share for today's WFW.

We are encouraged in these verses to put on all the armor of God that is available to us. As soldiers in a battle we know that if we put on some of our armor and leave off some, we are open for attack in certain areas.

Paul says, "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist". You and I know the truth, we know what a belt is for, but what good does that do us if we don't use it? Many times we go shopping and my daughter would say my pants is dropping off mom. My question is always the same,"Are you wearing your belt?" Nine times out of ten the answer is no. If we don't have that belt of truth, which is the truth of God's word buckled around our waist, our spiritual pants are sure likely to fall off. We need the word of God deeply entrenched in our beings. It's not good enough to just know where the verses are or just what they say, we really really need to cement His word deep inside of us. Have the belt of truth buckled, don't just wear it, make sure it's buckled for the times when harsh cold reality of life comes at us, it's only the truth of God's word that will keep us.

He also went on to say, "have your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." The peace that comes from God word, keeps us prepared. If we have turmoil and frustration in our lives all the time we will never be ready and prepared to go places with the gospel. Feet that are fitted properly can walk purposefully. I think one of the most uncomfortable feelings is wearing shoes that are not fitted, either too big or too small. Ugggghhhhh!!! It's a terrible feeling. Shoes that slip off as well are just as bad. How can we walk out the purpose God intended for us if we are not prepared and ready with the gospel? I don't want to drag my feet anymore in doing God's work. I want to have the peace that passes all understanding so I can be ready in body and spirit to do His will. Otherwise I won't be able to stand.

Finally I thought about the next two urgings that came from Paul. He said, "Take up the shield of faith." I have faith, we all have faith, because the word says God has deposited a measure of faith in each of us. That's a start for us all. God gives us something to build on, He hasn't left us defenseless. We have to take up the shield of faith Paul says. Move it from where it has been lying dormant. Activate the faith that God has given you. Use it to extinguish the flaming arrows that the enemy is throwing your way. This is such a challenge to myself as well to take up my faith and use it for the building of the kingdom. Stop using it as a decoration Vickie.

Take up the helmet of Salvation and the sword of the spirit. Get a new attitude of mind, through the word of God. Change your thought patterns and change the world around you. Jesus did a finished work on Calvary. He has placed all the tools and weapons we need to make it. Everything that we have ever needed to make it and to make a difference has already been provided. We just need to take up and put on our gear and get ready for the battle. Why be afraid? We already know the outcome. We are victorious..

Blessings,
Have a great day in the Lord.
Don't forget to visit WFW right here.

Vickie

O For a Thousand Tongues!!

2008-09-16T12:05:00.003-04:00

Lord if I had ten thousand tongues,
I could not praise You for what you've done,
And it would take eternity
To tell of all You've done for me.

This is a really nice song that we've sung a couple times at church. It's a song that I kind of remembered us singing mostly when all the churches in our district come together. Not sure why, but that's basically the only time I remember singing it. Anyway whenever I sing it, it reminds me of an old hymn of the church that says, 'O for a thousand tongues to sing, my great redeemer's praise." Another one that I also love from my days of going to the Moravian church with my grandmother.

These are both great songs, and they are based on the premise that we couldn't praise God enough even if we had ten thousand tongues. However in thinking on the words of these songs one day, I asked myself, but why ten thousand tongues? Why even a thousand tongues?

God has given us one tongue with so much power in it.

We can praise God over and over and over again with just one tongue. One tongue has the ability to do so much for God.

We have not even used up or explore the potential of only one tongue to effectively give God glory.

I believe one tongue, sanctified by God’s Holy Spirit, can bring Him so much glory.

One tongue armed with God’s word can do so much damage to the kingdom of darkness.

Only God can tame my tongue, but He has given me the power and the strength to discipline it.

I intend to work with God, become a partner with Him and let Him use my one tongue for His honor and His glory.

The tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever.
Proverbs 12:19&19

Lord, I offer my lips to you. Thank you for your help in keeping my lips from speaking guile. May I bless you Lord at all times and may Your praise be continually in my mouth.

blessings,
Vickie

Cleaning the heart valve

2008-09-15T11:03:00.003-04:00

My mother just came home on Thursday last, from 5 weeks of being in the hospital. She had heart surgery to replace a leaking valve. The doctor said there was a lot of bacteria there which was making her really sick in other areas of her body as well. According to her, he said that there is still some kind of bacteria hiding out in her body and there is a big possibility that it could happen again because it will find its way to her heart. He wasn't sure how it got there but he said sometimes our lifestyle causes these things to happen. We have talked about it and I have been praying for her a lot as well as encouraging her to give that same heart over to God.

While reflecting on our conversation this morning, I started to think about my heart and where it could be leaking. I thought about the valves of my own heart. I thought about the bacteria that forms in our bodies and hides out and when we least expect, it attacks our heart.

The doctor isn't sure of the source of my mother's particular bacteria, but my mind went to the things that God says could cause bacteria to grow in my heart. Ephesians 4 tells us to, "Put off falsehood, get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice, let there not be even a hint of sexual immorality or any kind of impurity among us, or greed, nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place." All these things I realize have the potential to cause a great stench in my life. In Proverbs 4:23 we are told to "guard our hearts, for everything we do flows from it."

I ask myself, "Am I guarding my heart? Am I allowing bitterness, and rage and slander, foolish talking, greed, selfishness, am I allowing these things a place in my life to form bacteria ?"
I noticed that the word constantly says to put off certain things. It also says don't do certain things or get rid of these things. The responsibility is mine to lay aside anything that could cause my heart valves to leak, anything that could spread to other areas of my life and cause contamination.

I want to live a life holy and pleasing to God. I want to be a sweet sweet smell in His nostrils and pleasant sound in His ears.

Lord I just thank you for Your Holy Spirit and for your cleansing blood. I thank you for your the mirror of Your word that shows me where I need to make adjustments. I thank you Jesus that if I confess my sins you are faithful and just to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Wash me today Lord and I know I shall be whiter than snow. Thank you in Jesus name.

Blessings,
Vickie

A heartfelt longing

2008-09-12T08:42:00.002-04:00

Shut in with God, in a secret place,
There in His presence, beholding His face,
Lord, give me power to run in the race,
I long to be shut in with God.

This is an old chorus, or part of an old hymn I heard my husband singing one day, many years ago. I had never heard it before, and there aren't many songs/hymns that he knows that I don't, but he said his mother used to sing it all the time when he was a little boy. Immediately I fell in love with it. The words brought such a longing and a desire to my heart then.

Recently, well within the last couple days, every time I woke up in the morning, this song just came straight to me. Not sure why, I haven't heard it sung, nor have I been singing or thinking about it. All I can say it is an accurate expression of what my heart has been feeling as I read the word and pray. So it has been in my spirit day in and day out for the past week. I went into my time with God in so much tears just singing this song. My heart so long to be shut in with God. I truly desire to know Christ in a way that I have never known Him before. I long to just kneel at His feet and behold His glorious face. I have physical needs in my life and that of my family, but God has brought me to such a place that I could literally just spend time praising and magnifying His name without even asking for one thing.

David said in the Psalms, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after you Lord. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God" Psalm 42.

My longing, my desire, and my thirst for God is so deep and so strong, that I have been reduced to tears, lots of them, every time I get into His presence. He is such a holy and righteous God.

Lord, I thank you so much that you are a God who knows the longing of our hearts. I thank you Lord that you promised if we seek after you, we would find you. Thank you Lord, for those who have that similar desire and how you are showing yourself to them in ways unimaginable. Thank you Holy Spirit, for fulfilling the longing in my heart to know the true and real God. Thank you Lord for giving me the desire to seek Your heart and not Your hand. You are holy Lord, and I love you. In Jesus name.

Blessings,
Vickie

Word Filled Wednesday.

2008-09-10T12:54:00.004-04:00

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor. 10: 4 & 5

This is my first Word-filled Wednesday post.

I meditated on these verses from 2 Corinthians yesterday while working on a poem about the word of God. Just thinking on them; seeing words like demolish, and taking captive, caused a fighting spirit to rise up within me. The word of God truly is spirit and life. I literally got so excited when I saw the authority and the power that God has placed at our disposal to destroy whatever the enemy would want to bring our way The word says "We demolish, We take captive." That means it is up to us saints to stand up, knowing that we have got the backing of heaven, to take back whatever the evil one has stolen from us. We are the ones with the authority to stand on the word of God and declare that we will not let the enemy run rough-shod over our family, our friends and our loved ones.

Saints, the word of God is sharper than any two edged sword. It cuts and it heals. It is our weapon of warfare. Don't just read the word, put it into action and see your desires fulfilled, see change in your situations, see others set free and delivered.

I encourage you today to take a fresh approach to the word of God. Look at it through new eyes, see what's really in your hand.

If you would like to become a part of Word-filled Wednesday, you can join up here.

Blessings,
Vickie

It's encouraging to be an encouragement.

2008-09-09T12:35:00.005-04:00

As the body of Christ, we are constantly invited in the word to bear each others burdens, to look out for one another, and even more to put others before ourselves. It is not an easy thing to do when life just seems to point you in the direction of yourself all the time. It's pretty natural to be selfish, especially when "I" am always in need of attention.

One of my heart's desires is to be a support to others however I can. I was very encouraged on Sunday when I received a note from an usher in church that came from a lady who attends a book club that I started in my home a few months ago. Her note was one that truly blessed my heart and gives me the desire to go on being a vessel fit for the Master's use.

In part her note said:"Vickie, I just want to say thank you. Before I met you I was a sometimes Bible reader and now I study my Bible daily. I never thought I could place notes in my bible (My bible is full of notes all over, whatever the Spirit speaks to my heart as I read, so I guess she noticed that). I think I have written a book in my bible. I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy the book reading club that you started. When I am at your house at the book club, I am at my most peaceful and I do not want to give that up. I want you to stay encouraged in the Lord."

I once had a desire to do things for God, and there was nothing wrong with that, but I thank Him for bringing me to the place where I now allow Him to work through me as He sees fit. What I desire to do for Him may not always be what He wants to do through me. It is satisfying when you see or hear of changes in the life of others because you allowed God to do what He wanted to do through you. This book club was formed because I felt God constantly impressing it on my heart.

Left up to me, I would have left it up to someone else.

Thank you Lord for helping me to be obedient to Your calling.

Whatever you know or believe God has laid on your heart, do it with all your heart.

P.s. I had thoughts recently of stopping the club, God. it appears and as always, had other plans.

Blessings,
Vickie

Faith on Sunday

2008-09-07T23:02:00.003-04:00

Today was a beautiful day. The weather co-operated nicely after an all night rain from Hanna. The fresh smell of the new day really made me appreciate the night rain........also appreciate the fact that I wasn't in it.............I took a few minutes to give God praise for using the rain to cleanse the streets we walk on, for watering the trees to make them greener, and just for watering the earth. I thanked Him for helping me not to see the rain as an inconvenience any more but truly as a blessing, a much needed blessing.

The message at church today was on faith. It was a timely reminder from the book of James. A few interesting things that my pastor said was that James doesn't argue about whether faith works or not, he tells you that it works. I like that. When you have proven something beyond a shadow of a doubt, you don't need to waste time trying to establish its existence all over, you can speak with confidence that yes it exists. Many of us have proven over and over again that faith in God works. We have trusted God when things looked impossible and He has come through for us over and over again.

Another thing he said that challenged my heart, was that faith must be tested. It's no use having faith and not putting it to the test. Where's the proof? I have been pondering that in my heart, because time and time again I say that I trust God but then I don't put my faith to the test, so how can I say with confidence that I have faith? Faith without works is dead.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Lord, help me to trust you not just in word but also in my actions. Help me Lord to put feet to my faith so that it would walk with me whereever I go, for your word says without faith it's impossible to please you. I want to please you Lord. I want to be so sure of what you promise me Lord, that I would not hesitate to step out. I confess I need your help Lord and I ask it in Jesus name. Thank you Lord.

Blessings,
Vickie

Walking together

2008-09-06T12:18:00.003-04:00

With the threat of Hurricane Hanna hanging over our heads this morning, my husband and I thought we would take an early trek to the supermarket to get some much needed food. It appeared that while we slept Hanna paid us a visit, so it was pretty wet outside already. We were planning on taking the bus the short distance, but I felt I needed to find some umbrellas for our walk to and from the bus stop, since we had no idea if Hanna would go with us the store or if she would wait until we got back and then pay us another visit. I did some searching hoping to find two small umbrellas and while I looked I saw instead a fairly big one that we had standing in a corner. Instantly I thought, I want this one. Having this one meant we would be walking together, step by step. That is an accomplishment when you have a husband whose long strides always keep him walking slightly ahead of you.

Even though we ended up not using the umbrella, it gave me reason for thought. Thoughts that drifted toward the body of Christ. What if each of us did whatever it took so that we could always walk together? What if each of us did whatever we could to make sure there was unity? What if each of us did our part, in our marriages, or with our relatives, to create a sense of oneness? What if each of us took the initiative to walk away from strife and arguments, instead of having to have the last word, even if you are right, just for the sake of peace? What if instead of provoking our children we encourage them, nurture and correct them in love?

Hebrews 12:14 says, "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."

That verse says so much to me. It tells me I can't control what any one else does, nor can I control their responses to whatever happens, but I can make as much effort as possible to walk in unity with them. God will step in because of my effort and obedience to His word.

Lord, help me to obey the conditions you set out in your word, no matter what. Lord help me to be determined in creating an atmosphere of peace where ever I am. This I am able to do with the help of Your Holy Spirit and because your word says I can. In Jesus name. I thank you Lord.

Blessings,
Vickie

Keeping watch, while waiting

2008-09-05T10:25:00.000-04:00

For the whole summer I traveled to work taking the bus on my own. Now that school has started again, my son, my daughter, and myself do what we normally do all throughout the school year; we take the bus together. They go for a short distance, just a few stops, one a little further than the other. I take it much further and transfer to another bus on my way to work.

However, starting out in the mornings is never an easy thing and so one of us is always a little ahead of the other. In order to make sure we all get the same bus, whoever has finished dressing, goes ahead and keeps watch at the bus stop. On any given morning one or two of us are at the bus-stop waiting and watching, ready to alert the other in case the bus is approaching.

This was the case this morning, two of us were there keeping watch for the one that wasn't. Isn't that how we're supposed to be in the body of Christ? Aren't we encouraged to look out for each other? Paul says, practice hospitality, especially to those of the the household of faith. We are even encouraged to give up eating certain foods if it would cause one that is weak or new in the faith to stumble.

While we wait for the Lord, we should have a watchful attitude. We are to be our brother and sister's keeper. Those of us who are stronger in the faith should watch in prayer and love. Paul says in 1Peter4:8-10, "To love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have to serve others."

God expects us to use our resources and our connections as much as we can to help meet the needs of others. Jesus said, by this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love one for the other. His word invites us older women to watch out for the younger ones, in love, in gentle correction, in direction, in advice . It also tells us to watch out for the widows and the orphans.

Today, my heart's reminder is that I will watch out for others while I wait for the return of my Lord.

Love is not self-seeking, it always protects. 1Corinthians 13:4

Blessings,
Vickie

Fresh and new

2008-09-04T13:55:00.000-04:00

I stood this morning and watched my 13 year old son go off to school. He loved the summer vacation and the leisure that came with it. He loved being able to play ball at the park with his friends and not have to worry about doing homework. But I know he was looking forward to going back to school. Not so much that he wanted to be in school, but there were the prospects of knowing who was going to be in his cluster this year. Who would be his teachers now he was going into 8th grade. He would get the chance to see some of his friends that he hadn't seen all summer long. He was wearing his new pants and shoes, an almost new book bag filled with new school supplies. He looked good. He had a new hair cut and he looked fresh.

I watched him walk off with his dad and I stood on the step and prayed for God to guide him through this new time of his school life. He was going back to his old school, but this was going to be a new and challenging time for him as this would be his last year in middle school.

While thinking of him again as I was on my way to work, I switched my thoughts to the newness and the freshness of it all. I thought of how everyday we get a chance to start anew and to start afresh with God. Everyday we wake up God is saying, come into my presence today since you didn't quite make it yesterday. The word says He gives us new and fresh mercies everyday. As good as yesterday's was, we are drenched from heaven with fresh mercies for a fresh day. Each day presents its own challenges so God knows we need a brand new touch from Him. The psalmist David invites us to seek God early in the morning because he discovered the benefits of starting a new day with God.

I want to encourage you as I encourage myself to value each new day that God gives you. Grab hold of the fresh opportunities He present to you every day. Areas that you have been holding on to, make a fresh commitment to turn them over to God. The old and the familiar is very comforting, but there's excitement in walking with God and giving Him all of you like you never have before.

Blessings,
Vickie