Praise the LORD, for HE has blessed us with another day, one bringing to and end a week of toil and gracing us with several days of down time !!!
How often..., oh this could lead in many directions :))), but for this day the LORD has only one in mind. How often do we go out into the world, wearing, let's say a Christian t shirt or pin, or drive around with a Christian bumper sticker ??? If you're like me, this is a constant, for I'm either wearing a Christian t shirt when out and about on personal chores or wearing a ministry related one when out doing the LORD's work !!!
If you're familiar with my writings, you'll know, that they all are multifaceted, many times taking in a whole score of differing issues :))) Believe me, this isn't my doing, but the LORD's, for I am but a simple man when it comes to things, but the LORD, HE deals with things on multiple levels of detail. (Just take into account nature and it's many levels of interaction, all weaved together into a perfectly operating system !!!) Opps, point proven, I'd say :))) Back to that at hand.
Here we are, out taking care of business, either personal or pertaining to our livelihoods. We're sporting the latest in Christian fashions, letting all whom come across us know we're a Christian. When suddenly we tend to forget this fact of life and are moving around totally unaware of that which we're doing and those around us. Let's say, we're shopping in the local market, and anything could fit here. We're moving around, maybe shopping list in hand, child in tow (or maybe not), oblivious to everything else. We may cut off a person with our shopping cart, not being forgetful to excuse ourselves, yet speedily we continue moving along. Item after item we add to our carts, until the list is fulfilled and it's off to the checkout line. Here, we find line after line of people, all seeking the same thing, to finish our shopping and get on with our day.
OK, here's where things get interesting, let's take a look at all that has just happened, and compare it with that which we're representing in life(remember that t shirt, hoodie or pin :))) and it doesn't even need to be any of these, just those around us, that know the fact that we're a Christian will suffice.) We've sped thru the store, unaware of those around us- would JESUS of done so ??? We've interacted with people in an inexcusable manor(for even though we excused our actions, is it really CHRIST-like to place ourselves before others???) These are just two things that may of happened, there truly could of been many more. The issue here, is the fact, that in all that we do, whether we announce the fact that we're a Christian or not, we "ARE" representing JESUS 100% of the time,or are supposed to be. Whether at work, in the store or wherever, we represent JESUS in all that we do and say !!! A truly important fact, especially in this fast paced world of ours, where it seems as if everyone is out for themselves, caring little or none at all for the welfare of others around them !!!
Though JESUS, being GOD in the flesh, HE had a much keener incite into the needs and emotions of people(while here on earth), it doesn't take a 'rocket scientist' to know something about a person, without asking. If one is truly going thru life as we should, shouldn't we be caring about all those around us, to a higher degree then ourselves??? Shouldn't we be looking into people's eyes, the windows of their souls, and getting an incite into the intensity of that which they're going thru??? How often do we also forget, that while out in the world, others that see us, even from a distance, who may know we're a Christian or know from that which we're wearing that we are, are watching !!! Watching and learning, just to what extent we truly are that which we proclaim to be !!! So, the next time you're out and about among the world, think about just "How often", you, as a Christian, are truly representing JESUS !!!!!!!
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
*** please don;t forget, if you've a prayer need, the ministry has an email account to which you can send your request to : prayers@vineofchrist.org
Showing posts with label saints. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saints. Show all posts
Friday, November 4, 2011
Monday, December 21, 2009
Something to think about during CHRISTmas!
Praise the LORD!!!
I've not been blogging much in the last week because GOD has laid upon my heart a little side job. It is a little something we as Christians should think about during out CHRISTmas. If anyone has been keeping track of my activity on Facebook or several of the other sites that I frequent, its likely they'll know these subjects. Homelessness and Human Trafficking.
Recently I've started posting bookmarks to several sites and articles that have been working on or focused on the elimination of or at least the knocking down of the statistics relating to these two topics. Since the beginning of time we've had both of these around and at times had began to get them under control. In the last part of the 20th century, with the advent of the internet, investigations into both of these began to expose some startling figures and practices. As the world has become more civilized, or supposed to of, we have more and more people becoming trapped in one or both of these webs of indecency.
We as Christian are supposed to look out for and if possible supply the needs of those in need. Yet it seems that we forget this, especially during the CHRISTmas season. That time of year when we celebrate the birth of our LORD. This year I ask that while you're preparing for this festive celebration, that you think about one or both of these groups. These people are our neighbors, as pointed out in the parable of the 'Good Samaritan.' We should not look down upon them with disgust, but lift them up with love and compassion. Trying to figure out a way to improve their lives and possibly lead them to a saving relationship with JESUS. Could a few leftovers be gathered up and taken to some homeless person? Or maybe a young prostitute plying her trade on the streets? We don't know the conditions that brought these people to either of these lifestyles and shouldn't stand in judgment. What we should do is our best to bring about a change within them, not through a gospel tract or preaching to them, but through a compassionate and loving spirit.
There are so many ways we can change peoples lives, if we but take those first steps to actually do something. You've obviously a computer, or you'd not be reading this, so do a little research into these topics. Swing by the local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Maybe even lending them a hand or supplying them with the needed provisions. Pray for them, but also pray for the LORD to open your eyes and heart to what HE wants you to do and then go and do it! Believe me, there is no greater feeling than seeing the smile on someone's face or hearing a thank you from someone that you've just blessed in some way by showing them the love CHRIST has for all of mankind!!!
GOD bless all and may you have a Merry CHRISTmas and a happy New Year. Better yet, may you bless someone else with these same blessings!!!
I've not been blogging much in the last week because GOD has laid upon my heart a little side job. It is a little something we as Christians should think about during out CHRISTmas. If anyone has been keeping track of my activity on Facebook or several of the other sites that I frequent, its likely they'll know these subjects. Homelessness and Human Trafficking.
Recently I've started posting bookmarks to several sites and articles that have been working on or focused on the elimination of or at least the knocking down of the statistics relating to these two topics. Since the beginning of time we've had both of these around and at times had began to get them under control. In the last part of the 20th century, with the advent of the internet, investigations into both of these began to expose some startling figures and practices. As the world has become more civilized, or supposed to of, we have more and more people becoming trapped in one or both of these webs of indecency.
We as Christian are supposed to look out for and if possible supply the needs of those in need. Yet it seems that we forget this, especially during the CHRISTmas season. That time of year when we celebrate the birth of our LORD. This year I ask that while you're preparing for this festive celebration, that you think about one or both of these groups. These people are our neighbors, as pointed out in the parable of the 'Good Samaritan.' We should not look down upon them with disgust, but lift them up with love and compassion. Trying to figure out a way to improve their lives and possibly lead them to a saving relationship with JESUS. Could a few leftovers be gathered up and taken to some homeless person? Or maybe a young prostitute plying her trade on the streets? We don't know the conditions that brought these people to either of these lifestyles and shouldn't stand in judgment. What we should do is our best to bring about a change within them, not through a gospel tract or preaching to them, but through a compassionate and loving spirit.
There are so many ways we can change peoples lives, if we but take those first steps to actually do something. You've obviously a computer, or you'd not be reading this, so do a little research into these topics. Swing by the local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Maybe even lending them a hand or supplying them with the needed provisions. Pray for them, but also pray for the LORD to open your eyes and heart to what HE wants you to do and then go and do it! Believe me, there is no greater feeling than seeing the smile on someone's face or hearing a thank you from someone that you've just blessed in some way by showing them the love CHRIST has for all of mankind!!!
GOD bless all and may you have a Merry CHRISTmas and a happy New Year. Better yet, may you bless someone else with these same blessings!!!
Monday, December 14, 2009
May the LORD meet our needs!!!
Praise the LORD!!!
With this being the CHRISTmas season, things are tough all around. Many have had to focus on personal needs only with the current state of the economy. With the relocation and reformation of VCM beginning just months ago. This has become a very tight time within our budget. With the ministry's state of currently being funded only through my income, it has been extremely hard. Especially with all the new increases in 'branches' to it's operational umbrella.
You see, for all of the twelve years of this ministry's existence, it has been almost totally dependent on the works of my hands alone. There were those that made donations of clothing and food items when I first set it up in Springfield, MO. But after I made a move to another section of town, this even disappeared and it was all out of pocket. Then with the move to Louisiana this became even more so a truth. With relocation to MS. after being hit by the hurricanes of '05', this became a greater reality. All the works done in the ministry's name, and CHRIST's, were totally out of pocket. Even though while there, for almost two full years, I worked on over two hundred homes, some from the ground up, others just renovations and repairs of existent structures.
I don't know the reason for the ministry not receiving acceptance from the Church and public in general and really don't care. The LORD has called me to this ministry and I'll work it until the day I die, alone if need be, but whatever happens through it's name will be in the name of JESUS!!! I've promised to not make pleas for donations. This being a personal dislike of mine, because when I've watched or listened to Christian programming, it seems as if this is most of what you see and hear. So I've promised the LORD, this will not come out of my mouth.
What I will ask for, are your heart felt prayers!!! I know the power of prayer firsthand and trust that if the needs of this ministry are going to be met, this is the way that it's going to happen and this way alone. I've totally placed my life and the life of this ministry in JESUS' hands, as of April this year. When I started to walk from Utopia, Ohio to Kingsville, Texas on foot. (You can find out details on this at the ministry's website, in the November newsletter (of sorts.))
Since making it to Kingsville, I've been hosted by two marvelous families. One even setting me up with a donated computer and the internet, this is where this is being entered from at this time. With the LORD's blessing upon this old ('01') computer, I've been blessed to do far more then I thought possible. Even though I've fought 'tooth and nail' at times to keep it from freezing up, by running only one program at any time. Though progress has been slow, the ministry's web presence has grown, now being tied to numerous Christian and social sites online. One just has to do a search of the ministry's name or mine to find this out. This all has come about because the LORD has blessed me with a great faith and perseverance to put in twelve to fourteen hours a day in doing thus. If I have to, I'll continue this way until my last breath, but I truly don't believe the LORD wants it to come to these ends.
I'd tell y'all the full vision of the ministry, what the LORD has shown me, but you would call me 'nuts', because believe me this isn't just a little one man operation. I'll say this, that if you took the world's top ten helps organizations, ball them all up together, the combined mass wouldn't hold up to a part of VCM. I can hear some of you now, 'this guy is nuts!' or 'he's totally lost it.' Well if I am in this state, let me say it clearly, JESUS has been in my life to such a great extent and changed the man that I used to be to such an extent, that I'm crazy for JESUS and have given my life totally to HIS glory and HIS alone!!!
As I said earlier, I just want your heart felt prayers on these matters. If the LORD effects your heart to help in other ways, so be it, but all I want is for the prayers of the saints to fill heaven with prayers for this HIS ministry through me, and this alone!!!
With this being the CHRISTmas season, things are tough all around. Many have had to focus on personal needs only with the current state of the economy. With the relocation and reformation of VCM beginning just months ago. This has become a very tight time within our budget. With the ministry's state of currently being funded only through my income, it has been extremely hard. Especially with all the new increases in 'branches' to it's operational umbrella.
You see, for all of the twelve years of this ministry's existence, it has been almost totally dependent on the works of my hands alone. There were those that made donations of clothing and food items when I first set it up in Springfield, MO. But after I made a move to another section of town, this even disappeared and it was all out of pocket. Then with the move to Louisiana this became even more so a truth. With relocation to MS. after being hit by the hurricanes of '05', this became a greater reality. All the works done in the ministry's name, and CHRIST's, were totally out of pocket. Even though while there, for almost two full years, I worked on over two hundred homes, some from the ground up, others just renovations and repairs of existent structures.
I don't know the reason for the ministry not receiving acceptance from the Church and public in general and really don't care. The LORD has called me to this ministry and I'll work it until the day I die, alone if need be, but whatever happens through it's name will be in the name of JESUS!!! I've promised to not make pleas for donations. This being a personal dislike of mine, because when I've watched or listened to Christian programming, it seems as if this is most of what you see and hear. So I've promised the LORD, this will not come out of my mouth.
What I will ask for, are your heart felt prayers!!! I know the power of prayer firsthand and trust that if the needs of this ministry are going to be met, this is the way that it's going to happen and this way alone. I've totally placed my life and the life of this ministry in JESUS' hands, as of April this year. When I started to walk from Utopia, Ohio to Kingsville, Texas on foot. (You can find out details on this at the ministry's website, in the November newsletter (of sorts.))
Since making it to Kingsville, I've been hosted by two marvelous families. One even setting me up with a donated computer and the internet, this is where this is being entered from at this time. With the LORD's blessing upon this old ('01') computer, I've been blessed to do far more then I thought possible. Even though I've fought 'tooth and nail' at times to keep it from freezing up, by running only one program at any time. Though progress has been slow, the ministry's web presence has grown, now being tied to numerous Christian and social sites online. One just has to do a search of the ministry's name or mine to find this out. This all has come about because the LORD has blessed me with a great faith and perseverance to put in twelve to fourteen hours a day in doing thus. If I have to, I'll continue this way until my last breath, but I truly don't believe the LORD wants it to come to these ends.
I'd tell y'all the full vision of the ministry, what the LORD has shown me, but you would call me 'nuts', because believe me this isn't just a little one man operation. I'll say this, that if you took the world's top ten helps organizations, ball them all up together, the combined mass wouldn't hold up to a part of VCM. I can hear some of you now, 'this guy is nuts!' or 'he's totally lost it.' Well if I am in this state, let me say it clearly, JESUS has been in my life to such a great extent and changed the man that I used to be to such an extent, that I'm crazy for JESUS and have given my life totally to HIS glory and HIS alone!!!
As I said earlier, I just want your heart felt prayers on these matters. If the LORD effects your heart to help in other ways, so be it, but all I want is for the prayers of the saints to fill heaven with prayers for this HIS ministry through me, and this alone!!!
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