Word Filled Wednesday

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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