Thinking

 Praise the LORD!!!

   Today's entry will be something totally different from the past. Not that which will become a standard practice, but a once off the cuff type of deal (maybe? you never know with GOD!!!) This has happened because I've had a good bit of time to reflect on things here in the last several days. The weather, though it's warmed up, has also become wet and electrified, not good for computer time. I've had short spurts of time online due to this and have had plenty of time in the WORD hardcopy style.

    As many of you know I'm working on setting up Vine of CHRIST Ministries first office and DROC in Kingsville, Texas. Doing this totally on my own, though I've several people assisting via the internet. Totally out of pocket as far as expenses. Currently not working for anyone but the LORD, so I've no income but that which comes into the ministry. Which to date, has been slim pickings, under a thousand dollars. This kept me in a motel and feed during my early days in Kingsville and has supplied my personal hygiene needs since being taken in by a host family, 6 months ago. With this money I've also purchased the basic tools needed to the work that I've done to date.

   As I was sitting here thinking, the thought came to mind of "what would I do, if someone came up and gave me say $100K, or more." Now with the size of that which the LORD has shown me VCM will someday be, this could be spent in minutes when the ministry is at it's peak, but for now, it'd have to be spent reasonably and with much thought invested!!!

•    One of the first things that would be done would be to find housing of my own. Not to purchase, but to rent for the mean time. Not something grandiose, but simple and efficient. Maybe in one of the smaller neighborhoods or apartment complexes. I've been very blessed to have the host family that has taken me in. Not many people would take in a total stranger and house them for over six months. Not many at all. This is why this would be the first thing done, so I can lift this burden from upon their shoulders and take it on myself. I never intended and didn't think the LORD was either, for this to of lasted this long, but it has and does need to change in some way. With this move there would of coarse be those needed items of living that would have to be gathered. I think most of my readers are old enough to of lived on their own at sometime or another and would know all these items.
•   A form of cheap transportation and insurance for it. This would have to be a used truck. Something pretty good on gas, but big enough to do some hard work if the need arises. There would also be the need of a small enclosed trailer, something to transport and protect the additional tools that would be purchased . Because there would be a definite increase in works being done in the area and people to do these also.
•   Then there would be a building for the ministry to begin setting up operations out of. There are several that I've looked at, and money dependent on which of them would be taken into consideration. For a rental, would be the one next to Bay Area Fellowship, if not the two of them there. These would be to set up an office and a thrift store/food pantry and general operations center up in. This would have to be stocked with a large amount of items. Everything from computers, office supplies and furniture, to the items need to start the thrift store/food pantry functioning. Once this was done these would operate totally off of donations, with an occasional boost to keep it well stocked. If the funding was great enough, there would be the purchase of buildings or land with the construction of new buildings upon it.

    Now, just in case you've not noticed, but most everything listed here has to do with the ministry. Rightfully so, because my life is about the ministry and nothing but!!! Sure I've personal needs and besides the fact of wanting to remove the burden from upon my host family's shoulders there is little else that I really care about. I've no family that wants to be part of my life, because I focus "to much" on the LORD and not those things of the world. Some day, LORD willing I may have a helpmate to walk beside me in the ministry but she'd have to be soldout on the LORD first and foremost also. Few people understand what it is like to open their eyes and only think about or see that which you can do to bring glory to the name of JESUS,  this not just a once in a while thing, but a day in day out 24/7/365 until the LORD calls you home life. This is that which I live and only that!!!

    I can hear people now, I wasn't born yesterday and have been online since 99, "ya right, he'd be living high on the hog and none would get spent like this." Well to any that are thinking this, all I can say is this, "the LORD knows my heart and that which HE's called me to and let this happen and you shall see the fruit, just as I've stated.!!!" All I need are the funds to prove it. Any takers?

    Now since this is a devotional blog, though I'm being led to post it to other sites, what would you do with that kind of money being given to you? Where is your life focused and could you prove it?



Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org

My other blog site: "Blogs from the Vine"
GOD bless and good day,

Rev. Marshall Barth

Vine of CHRIST Ministries

Vine Ministerial Network International