Praise the LORD!!!
I've been blessed to be doing the LORD's works for me over the last several weeks and currently have a day off from the physical aspects of it. Today, I'm taking a little time to handle some of the updates to the ministry's web site, as to the recent projects, and taking a little time to relax and draw closer to the LORD.
The basic form of the updates, were the addition of several photos, provided by the home owner herself. These came as a surprise to me in an email from her. I'd tried to use my $20 digital to take them, but for some reason, it just wouldn't capture and hold them. Maybe this was due to my inexperience with it, or a malfunction of the camera itself, but the LORD has blessed me with them, through the hands of one thankful for the work rendered. I'm very thankful to the LORD and her for them and post them so others can see that which I'm blessed to accomplish!
Why, do I say "blessed to accomplish?" Well if you knew the shape my body is in, you'd realize these simple jobs are a large blessing. I've a herniated disc in my lower back, thanks to working with a "storm chaser(rip off contractors who follow storms)" and knees that have gone through hell and back. There are many currently on SSDI that suffer less pain in a week, then I do in a day, but I go on in the power of the LORD. I draw each day a bounty of blessings from the LORD and most are one's most take for granted. The simple fact that I'm alive and breathing is one of them. Another is that I can actually do the things I do and continue to carry onwards and upwards.
Tomorrow, though I know I'm not guaranteed it, I'll be continuing onto others works (these posted on web site(current business page)). All the while, counting my blessings and praising the LORD for each and everyone of them!!!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
4.17.11
Praise the LORD!!!
Right now, I wouldn't be a very good person to be around! Let me explain. Over the last several days the central plains states, gulf states and numerous states along the east coast have been ravaged severe storms and tornadoes. Thousands of people's lives have suddenly been turned upside down, many having lost loved ones and/or everything they own. Since you're reading this I presume you're familiar with the ministry that I've been working to develop, so I'll not go into this.
With one of the branches of the ministry being that of disaster relief, my heart is torn over these events. It's been thirteen years since I began working on the ministry. To date, I'm the only one that has shown any interest in bringing the love of JESUS into the lives of the suffering through it. From the collecting and distribution of food and clothing in Springfield, MO., to the rebuilding homes along the gulf coast, to the current attempt to set up it's first fully functional office and D.R.O.C., I'm still alone. Yes, I've receive many a donated item from people around me, all of which I'm very thankful for, but all the labor and all the cost, have come directly through that which the LORD has blessed me with or enabled me to do.
I'm sitting here this morning with a heart torn open, pouring out my prayers and petitioning the LORD about all that could right now be taking place for HIS glory. V.C.M. could be on the ground right now in many of the effected areas, working to reveal the love JESUS has for all of mankind to those suffering from great loss. It's not and I'm not! I'm sitting here, behind a single 'outdated' computer, attempting to stir up the love of JESUS within the hearts of those around the country. Those that have the means. Those that have the abilities and equipment. All those that could, right now at this moment, be helping their neighbors to recover from these disasters. If I'm doing any good, only the LORD knows, but I will continue.
If I were at this moment leading a church, there would be no Palm Sunday service! I would be gathering all the man power and supplies the congregation could gather and be sending them off to the front lines. Many were the times that JESUS HIMself broke the Sabbath, all to enrich the lives of those suffering. Would HE expect and different from us? NO!!! HE'd expect us to be doing the exact same and be revealing HIS love to those that are in need. Not gathering inside the 'four walls' and putting on a great show of pomp and circumstance, but doing the very labors HE HIMself would be preforming. It could be as little as 'giving a cup of water' to one thirsty, providing a meal to a worker, or getting out there and helping cleanup the debris. JESUS set the example and it is our calling to fulfill it. It doesn't have to be great or news worth, like many seek! (you hear their names already on the news, for it's what they seek.) But even the most basic of need met in the name of JESUS, would suffice to bring glory to HE that is truly worthy!!!
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Your prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
Right now, I wouldn't be a very good person to be around! Let me explain. Over the last several days the central plains states, gulf states and numerous states along the east coast have been ravaged severe storms and tornadoes. Thousands of people's lives have suddenly been turned upside down, many having lost loved ones and/or everything they own. Since you're reading this I presume you're familiar with the ministry that I've been working to develop, so I'll not go into this.
With one of the branches of the ministry being that of disaster relief, my heart is torn over these events. It's been thirteen years since I began working on the ministry. To date, I'm the only one that has shown any interest in bringing the love of JESUS into the lives of the suffering through it. From the collecting and distribution of food and clothing in Springfield, MO., to the rebuilding homes along the gulf coast, to the current attempt to set up it's first fully functional office and D.R.O.C., I'm still alone. Yes, I've receive many a donated item from people around me, all of which I'm very thankful for, but all the labor and all the cost, have come directly through that which the LORD has blessed me with or enabled me to do.
I'm sitting here this morning with a heart torn open, pouring out my prayers and petitioning the LORD about all that could right now be taking place for HIS glory. V.C.M. could be on the ground right now in many of the effected areas, working to reveal the love JESUS has for all of mankind to those suffering from great loss. It's not and I'm not! I'm sitting here, behind a single 'outdated' computer, attempting to stir up the love of JESUS within the hearts of those around the country. Those that have the means. Those that have the abilities and equipment. All those that could, right now at this moment, be helping their neighbors to recover from these disasters. If I'm doing any good, only the LORD knows, but I will continue.
If I were at this moment leading a church, there would be no Palm Sunday service! I would be gathering all the man power and supplies the congregation could gather and be sending them off to the front lines. Many were the times that JESUS HIMself broke the Sabbath, all to enrich the lives of those suffering. Would HE expect and different from us? NO!!! HE'd expect us to be doing the exact same and be revealing HIS love to those that are in need. Not gathering inside the 'four walls' and putting on a great show of pomp and circumstance, but doing the very labors HE HIMself would be preforming. It could be as little as 'giving a cup of water' to one thirsty, providing a meal to a worker, or getting out there and helping cleanup the debris. JESUS set the example and it is our calling to fulfill it. It doesn't have to be great or news worth, like many seek! (you hear their names already on the news, for it's what they seek.) But even the most basic of need met in the name of JESUS, would suffice to bring glory to HE that is truly worthy!!!
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Your prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
Monday, April 4, 2011
Rolling Away the Stone...
Praise the LORD!!!
Currently I'm watching a Joyce Meyer video and I do mean currently(though it's not playing at the moment), but the LORD has led me to post this! For many years I've never made a statement about the direct needs of the ministry. I've made many indirect ones, but never out and out said "this is the need!"
Well, this morning I'm 'rolling away the stone' and doing so. I've operated this ministry for around twelve years, alone and completely out of pocket. From the small basement clothing and food pantry in Springfield, Missouri, to rebuilding works along the gulf coast. All this was done by my hands, though others donated most of the items donated or used to do the work, my hands were the ones doing it. You won't find a list of all that's been done and that is one big difference between V.C.M. and others. We're not here to glorify ourselves, but JESUS CHRIST alone. Sure you'll find many references to areas and some work, but never the details.
The stone that I'm rolling away, is this, Vine needs others! Whether through donated items, your coming on board with the ministry(either directly,by coming here, or indirectly), or support of some other means. It needs other people willing to go to the ends of the earth to bring glory to the precious name of JESUS through the works of their hands and the words of their mouths. If you're a BAC and tired of seeing secular groups getting the glory for people doing those works that Christians should be, then maybe you should consider V.C.M. Pray and ask the LORD and then do only that which HE leads you to!!!
Currently I'm watching a Joyce Meyer video and I do mean currently(though it's not playing at the moment), but the LORD has led me to post this! For many years I've never made a statement about the direct needs of the ministry. I've made many indirect ones, but never out and out said "this is the need!"
Well, this morning I'm 'rolling away the stone' and doing so. I've operated this ministry for around twelve years, alone and completely out of pocket. From the small basement clothing and food pantry in Springfield, Missouri, to rebuilding works along the gulf coast. All this was done by my hands, though others donated most of the items donated or used to do the work, my hands were the ones doing it. You won't find a list of all that's been done and that is one big difference between V.C.M. and others. We're not here to glorify ourselves, but JESUS CHRIST alone. Sure you'll find many references to areas and some work, but never the details.
The stone that I'm rolling away, is this, Vine needs others! Whether through donated items, your coming on board with the ministry(either directly,by coming here, or indirectly), or support of some other means. It needs other people willing to go to the ends of the earth to bring glory to the precious name of JESUS through the works of their hands and the words of their mouths. If you're a BAC and tired of seeing secular groups getting the glory for people doing those works that Christians should be, then maybe you should consider V.C.M. Pray and ask the LORD and then do only that which HE leads you to!!!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Vine of CHRIST Ministries, what is the vison
Praise the LORD!!!
This is going to be something I've never been led to do and is only coming about because I've been getting promptings to do so all day!!! I'm going to try and keep this as short as possible, but this like all things within my life are in GOD's hands alone.
Due to the depravity of my early life, when the LORD showed me all of my wrongs and HIS grace awaiting me, I didn't make a half-hearted choice, but a complete, petal to the metal decision. I was never known for doing things to a minor degree, but always stepped in with complete devotion to whatever it was. My giving my life to the LORD, was none the less.
It maybe easier to state what the ministry won't cover, than what it will, because of it's total reach of Christian ministry. That might defeat the purpose of this post though, so it will not be the case. Early on in my walk for the LORD, which you all should know by now took place in prison, I was beginning to see many great needs in the body of CHRIST. Having at one time making a confession of belief, age 16, I was soon to fall away. This due to a lack of proper mentor-ship. You can see then that there will be a focus on discipleship training, not just conversion through a GOSPEL message, but the follow through that is needed after wards.
During my prison time I was beginning to see how the families of the incarcerated were cast into a deeper pit than the incarcerated themselves. Shunned by those around them, even when these weren't any great saints themselves. Children being ostracized by their once loyal classmates. Churches and ministries that are supposed to reach out and assist those in need, turning a deaf ear. This because they weren't members of their 'out standing community.' What? Here I am having just been a Christian for a short while and I hear my wife(X) say she was told this! From this you can see there will be a section of the ministry that deals with the needs and cares of the families of the incarcerated. This should also allow you to see that with this would also come a focus on those within the confines of prison too.
Since so much of my life was spent wasted on drugs and alcohol, there will be a CHRIST-centered drug and alcohol intervention and recovery program. I've become familiar with a number of good systems over the years through research and this may be a combination of several, working together under one 'roof.'
Other areas that we'll have services in will be those related to sex. Yes, you heard me right, sex. Since I was molested at an early age by several of my sister's girlfriends and the way my life was presumed after wards, there will numerous groups of focus here. Some may be porn addictions, the sex trades and those effected by them(sex slavery included), pregnancy consoling and assistance, a men's responsibilities group. This list could go on to encompass most of the current social services programs, but truly as Christians we should focus on EVERY ASPECT of life. Part of loving your neighbor as yourself!!!
Of coarse there will be the normal Christian fair of 'soup kitchens', food pantries, clothing and housewares recycling, job training and procurement services and the list could go on for some time:), but for brevity purposes, I'll stop with these.
OK now, let me go onto an area of the ministry you may of seen more of, the disaster related one. Maybe the best way to describe this branch of the vine would be, an army. Not a defensive one either, but one that actually assaults the disaster. Going into areas, when most are waiting for the problem to settle down. This is not going to be a little branch either, but a massive one with over 15 DROC's located in the continental U.S. alone. As I was shown, by vision, in the beginning, this will be like taking ten of the largest world spanning disaster relief agencies and clumping them together. A massive undertaking in the least and one I take very seriously. For I've been involved in numerous disasters, from the flooding of my hometown in the mid '70's' to Katrina and Rita in '05.' I've witnessed firsthand the shoddy example man calls relief and it isn't good at all. Kind of like defending against a rogue elephant with a fly swatter. Far from effective.
Here there will be a massive computer network set up. For the monitoring of weather and earth related issues. These will be tied with every known source for the gathering of the needed information and where there isn't one, it will be created. Then there will be the stores of equipment and supplies needed to begin an almost immediate response to any need. Not the gathering of the items when needed, as we currently see, but the items already on hand and readied for distribution to an area, if not their being in transport already. The goal, as I was shown, is to be on site within 24 hrs. of a disaster.
So far, this sounds like an impossible feat, for man, it would be, but for GOD nothing is impossible. Though I've worked on developing this ministry for 12 yrs. now, with but the leadership of GOD and it is myself alone at the helm. I know that HE would not have kept me working on it, going through almost every different division of it, for it not to happen. I'm no businessman, great logistic coordinator, or computer guru, I'm but a simple man that has humbled myself before GOD and realized that HE has called me to do this. An though I've done a lot of charity work along the gulf coast, because I'm a carpenter and work with my hands, I've not the slightest ideal as to how HE'll bring this all about. The only thing I do know, is that this is my calling, GOD has chosen me for and I'll work it until the day I die, alone, if need be!!!
(I don't know the reason for this posting, I'm just doing as led, for most of this can be found somewhere on the ministry's web site. I pray that the LORD will open the ears and hearts of those that HE wants this to come to and they'll pray and follow that which HE leads them unto. My life is GOD's and in HIM only I trust!!!)
May GOD bless you and lead you,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
This is going to be something I've never been led to do and is only coming about because I've been getting promptings to do so all day!!! I'm going to try and keep this as short as possible, but this like all things within my life are in GOD's hands alone.
Due to the depravity of my early life, when the LORD showed me all of my wrongs and HIS grace awaiting me, I didn't make a half-hearted choice, but a complete, petal to the metal decision. I was never known for doing things to a minor degree, but always stepped in with complete devotion to whatever it was. My giving my life to the LORD, was none the less.
It maybe easier to state what the ministry won't cover, than what it will, because of it's total reach of Christian ministry. That might defeat the purpose of this post though, so it will not be the case. Early on in my walk for the LORD, which you all should know by now took place in prison, I was beginning to see many great needs in the body of CHRIST. Having at one time making a confession of belief, age 16, I was soon to fall away. This due to a lack of proper mentor-ship. You can see then that there will be a focus on discipleship training, not just conversion through a GOSPEL message, but the follow through that is needed after wards.
During my prison time I was beginning to see how the families of the incarcerated were cast into a deeper pit than the incarcerated themselves. Shunned by those around them, even when these weren't any great saints themselves. Children being ostracized by their once loyal classmates. Churches and ministries that are supposed to reach out and assist those in need, turning a deaf ear. This because they weren't members of their 'out standing community.' What? Here I am having just been a Christian for a short while and I hear my wife(X) say she was told this! From this you can see there will be a section of the ministry that deals with the needs and cares of the families of the incarcerated. This should also allow you to see that with this would also come a focus on those within the confines of prison too.
Since so much of my life was spent wasted on drugs and alcohol, there will be a CHRIST-centered drug and alcohol intervention and recovery program. I've become familiar with a number of good systems over the years through research and this may be a combination of several, working together under one 'roof.'
Other areas that we'll have services in will be those related to sex. Yes, you heard me right, sex. Since I was molested at an early age by several of my sister's girlfriends and the way my life was presumed after wards, there will numerous groups of focus here. Some may be porn addictions, the sex trades and those effected by them(sex slavery included), pregnancy consoling and assistance, a men's responsibilities group. This list could go on to encompass most of the current social services programs, but truly as Christians we should focus on EVERY ASPECT of life. Part of loving your neighbor as yourself!!!
Of coarse there will be the normal Christian fair of 'soup kitchens', food pantries, clothing and housewares recycling, job training and procurement services and the list could go on for some time:), but for brevity purposes, I'll stop with these.
OK now, let me go onto an area of the ministry you may of seen more of, the disaster related one. Maybe the best way to describe this branch of the vine would be, an army. Not a defensive one either, but one that actually assaults the disaster. Going into areas, when most are waiting for the problem to settle down. This is not going to be a little branch either, but a massive one with over 15 DROC's located in the continental U.S. alone. As I was shown, by vision, in the beginning, this will be like taking ten of the largest world spanning disaster relief agencies and clumping them together. A massive undertaking in the least and one I take very seriously. For I've been involved in numerous disasters, from the flooding of my hometown in the mid '70's' to Katrina and Rita in '05.' I've witnessed firsthand the shoddy example man calls relief and it isn't good at all. Kind of like defending against a rogue elephant with a fly swatter. Far from effective.
Here there will be a massive computer network set up. For the monitoring of weather and earth related issues. These will be tied with every known source for the gathering of the needed information and where there isn't one, it will be created. Then there will be the stores of equipment and supplies needed to begin an almost immediate response to any need. Not the gathering of the items when needed, as we currently see, but the items already on hand and readied for distribution to an area, if not their being in transport already. The goal, as I was shown, is to be on site within 24 hrs. of a disaster.
So far, this sounds like an impossible feat, for man, it would be, but for GOD nothing is impossible. Though I've worked on developing this ministry for 12 yrs. now, with but the leadership of GOD and it is myself alone at the helm. I know that HE would not have kept me working on it, going through almost every different division of it, for it not to happen. I'm no businessman, great logistic coordinator, or computer guru, I'm but a simple man that has humbled myself before GOD and realized that HE has called me to do this. An though I've done a lot of charity work along the gulf coast, because I'm a carpenter and work with my hands, I've not the slightest ideal as to how HE'll bring this all about. The only thing I do know, is that this is my calling, GOD has chosen me for and I'll work it until the day I die, alone, if need be!!!
(I don't know the reason for this posting, I'm just doing as led, for most of this can be found somewhere on the ministry's web site. I pray that the LORD will open the ears and hearts of those that HE wants this to come to and they'll pray and follow that which HE leads them unto. My life is GOD's and in HIM only I trust!!!)
May GOD bless you and lead you,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
WHAT???
Praise the LORD!!!
WHAT??? You may ask and it is my intent to tell you. I'd been working here at the apartments for eight months. Asked at first, while still working at another complex, to fill in until they could find a full time person. Two were hired and both were short lived. One for a whole day and the other, didn't even make it to lunch. With both of these I was allowed to give them a several hour 'briefing' as to what their job would entail and then given the boot:) From what I've written you should be able to see that the boot wasn't on the foot for very long and I was asked to come back and take over my work. Now I didn't mind doing this, because I saw it as doing that which JESUS would want me to. Helping someone out that was truly in need, which they were.
This began to wear on, to the point that they removed their adds from the paper. They also began to add more work to my already heavy work load, even requesting that I do works to which I'd already to them that I wasn't qualified to do; plumbing and electrical. Have grown up with an old fashioned craftsman, I can do much in many fields, even plumbing and electrical, but there are limits that I set as to how far I'll go in these fields. Personally, I'd rather see a job done correctly and not have to return and redo it, than to jury-rig it in the first place. It is a much better profession attitude than what they were wanting, but one I'll not give into!
Most of you are familiar with my online postings and if you've not noticed, most were made in the mornings, while a few were made during the lunchtime break. These though were beginning to become more and more scarce. The reason behind this is that as the day wore on, I was falling deeper and deeper into a state, for lack of a better word, depression. A deep foreboding fog would envelope me by mid day. Something which was causing me to spend most of my day in prayer for relief from it. I was sinking into a mire of mud so thick, that I could barely be removed from it's grasp. My personal hygiene was beginning to suffer, there was a total lack of desire to do much of anything and this began to take a toll upon my relationship with the LORD. It was getting to be the norm that besides early morning time with the LORD, was the only time spent with HIM and I don't like that. Even my practice of being constant in prayer was faltering and this is one asset that I consider primary in my walk. Everything and anything that I undertake is put before the LORD, before it is done. These kind of conditions should be a 'red flag' to any Christian and one where a reaction is needed.
My reaction to this was along the lines of what I'd normally do, prayer and lots of it. It started on Friday and continued all weekend. Monday morning I'd yet to receive a viable response to my prayers, so I continued to go to work, but also poured out my heart even more so. By quitting time Monday things had only gotten worst and I continued to increase my level of prayer. I was so deep in the quagmire by this time that I didn't even grab a bite to eat until almost eight PM. and then ended up going to be just after nine. When I awoke in the morning my heart was full of but one thing, that was the fact that the only way to get out of this problem was to get out from under that which was causing it, the job. I didn't just jump up and quit though, for I've learned to 'try the spirit' of a message, never just going with first impressions. For the adversary can use this manor to side-track us quickly and I wasn't going to fall for it! After two hours of trying this solution it was clear to me that it was of the LORD and my action was quickly to follow. I went to the office and told the manager that I quit and the reasons behind it. In short time the deep foreboding fog that had been covering me, was replaced with an unbelievable peace. Sure I don't know where my next months rent will come from. Or where I'll get the money to purchase food and other items. But to once again be at peace within and with GOD far out shadows any of these problems. I've faith that the GOD that got me here from Ohio with but twenty dollars in my pocket,, will be same one that will carry me through, through to the fulfilling of that which HE brought me here for. The set up and bringing to full operational status Vine of CHRIST Ministries' first fully operational office and D.R.O.C.!!!
May GOD richly bless you and guide you this day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
WHAT??? You may ask and it is my intent to tell you. I'd been working here at the apartments for eight months. Asked at first, while still working at another complex, to fill in until they could find a full time person. Two were hired and both were short lived. One for a whole day and the other, didn't even make it to lunch. With both of these I was allowed to give them a several hour 'briefing' as to what their job would entail and then given the boot:) From what I've written you should be able to see that the boot wasn't on the foot for very long and I was asked to come back and take over my work. Now I didn't mind doing this, because I saw it as doing that which JESUS would want me to. Helping someone out that was truly in need, which they were.
This began to wear on, to the point that they removed their adds from the paper. They also began to add more work to my already heavy work load, even requesting that I do works to which I'd already to them that I wasn't qualified to do; plumbing and electrical. Have grown up with an old fashioned craftsman, I can do much in many fields, even plumbing and electrical, but there are limits that I set as to how far I'll go in these fields. Personally, I'd rather see a job done correctly and not have to return and redo it, than to jury-rig it in the first place. It is a much better profession attitude than what they were wanting, but one I'll not give into!
Most of you are familiar with my online postings and if you've not noticed, most were made in the mornings, while a few were made during the lunchtime break. These though were beginning to become more and more scarce. The reason behind this is that as the day wore on, I was falling deeper and deeper into a state, for lack of a better word, depression. A deep foreboding fog would envelope me by mid day. Something which was causing me to spend most of my day in prayer for relief from it. I was sinking into a mire of mud so thick, that I could barely be removed from it's grasp. My personal hygiene was beginning to suffer, there was a total lack of desire to do much of anything and this began to take a toll upon my relationship with the LORD. It was getting to be the norm that besides early morning time with the LORD, was the only time spent with HIM and I don't like that. Even my practice of being constant in prayer was faltering and this is one asset that I consider primary in my walk. Everything and anything that I undertake is put before the LORD, before it is done. These kind of conditions should be a 'red flag' to any Christian and one where a reaction is needed.
My reaction to this was along the lines of what I'd normally do, prayer and lots of it. It started on Friday and continued all weekend. Monday morning I'd yet to receive a viable response to my prayers, so I continued to go to work, but also poured out my heart even more so. By quitting time Monday things had only gotten worst and I continued to increase my level of prayer. I was so deep in the quagmire by this time that I didn't even grab a bite to eat until almost eight PM. and then ended up going to be just after nine. When I awoke in the morning my heart was full of but one thing, that was the fact that the only way to get out of this problem was to get out from under that which was causing it, the job. I didn't just jump up and quit though, for I've learned to 'try the spirit' of a message, never just going with first impressions. For the adversary can use this manor to side-track us quickly and I wasn't going to fall for it! After two hours of trying this solution it was clear to me that it was of the LORD and my action was quickly to follow. I went to the office and told the manager that I quit and the reasons behind it. In short time the deep foreboding fog that had been covering me, was replaced with an unbelievable peace. Sure I don't know where my next months rent will come from. Or where I'll get the money to purchase food and other items. But to once again be at peace within and with GOD far out shadows any of these problems. I've faith that the GOD that got me here from Ohio with but twenty dollars in my pocket,, will be same one that will carry me through, through to the fulfilling of that which HE brought me here for. The set up and bringing to full operational status Vine of CHRIST Ministries' first fully operational office and D.R.O.C.!!!
May GOD richly bless you and guide you this day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Joy
Praise the LORD!!!
Since June of '99' I've personally worked alone on the set up and formation of V.C.M. Though every cent has come out of my own pocket and every hour has not been for pay, I've loved every moment of it!!! From the earliest set up in the basement of my rental house in Springfield, Missouri to my current rental in Kingsville, Texas, it has all been an awesome experience.
Now it all hasn't been by my own hands, because there were a great deal of goods that were donated. These for the bulk went out to others along my way, though there were those that were specifically given to the ministry for it's operations(like this computer, which was frozen by a virus.) From those in need of food or clothing, to those whom had their homes destroyed by disaster, it was a combined effort afforded me only by the grace of GOD through my belief in JESUS CHRIST. It is a great joy to see a smile on a person's face when you can provide the needed food for their families table for the week, or that from helping do the labor of repairing their home after it has been ravaged by storm. It is a greater joy to see this smile when you tell them that the reason you've done these things isn't for personal glory, but because you want to show them the love GOD has for them, through your actions.
This joy is really unexplainable. It's so intense and lasting that human words and feeling can't fully express it. I guess the best way to say it would be, that JESUS loves you and wants to share eternity with you, because HE is what it is all about anyway, now isn't it!!!
Since June of '99' I've personally worked alone on the set up and formation of V.C.M. Though every cent has come out of my own pocket and every hour has not been for pay, I've loved every moment of it!!! From the earliest set up in the basement of my rental house in Springfield, Missouri to my current rental in Kingsville, Texas, it has all been an awesome experience.
Now it all hasn't been by my own hands, because there were a great deal of goods that were donated. These for the bulk went out to others along my way, though there were those that were specifically given to the ministry for it's operations(like this computer, which was frozen by a virus.) From those in need of food or clothing, to those whom had their homes destroyed by disaster, it was a combined effort afforded me only by the grace of GOD through my belief in JESUS CHRIST. It is a great joy to see a smile on a person's face when you can provide the needed food for their families table for the week, or that from helping do the labor of repairing their home after it has been ravaged by storm. It is a greater joy to see this smile when you tell them that the reason you've done these things isn't for personal glory, but because you want to show them the love GOD has for them, through your actions.
This joy is really unexplainable. It's so intense and lasting that human words and feeling can't fully express it. I guess the best way to say it would be, that JESUS loves you and wants to share eternity with you, because HE is what it is all about anyway, now isn't it!!!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
VINEnotes January 2011
Praise the LORD!!!
I pray the LORD has blessed you with a pleasant transition into the new year. It's been a while since I've been able to afford the time to post a newsletter, but this is it, though a bit brief. There has been little accomplished along the lines of the ministry in the last several months. This due to the fact that I've been having to work at the apartment complex and haven't had the funds or time to do much else. As most of you know, I am basically all that the ministry is. I'm the soul person involved in it's make up and the only contributor to it's works, Anything that has been accomplished over the years has come about by my hands and financial support. I'm not complaining, just stating simple facts. Much more could of been accomplished if there had been others involved, but this hasn't been the case.
There have been those that have told me that "if it were truly the LORD's will for the ministry to be, it would happen." True, but people tend to forget, that all things happen according to GOD's timetables and not our own. You can believe me when I say I've spent many hours in prayer over this and I know without a doubt that eventually(in GOD's timing) it will happen. I'll not stop working at it, or even waver from that which the LORD has shown me. I'm that sure that the visions shown me will be as they were given!!!
Over the last two months I've been led to spend a good bit of my time on Twitter. Joining in with the Christian community there, uplifting the LORD and the GOSPEL to the best of my ability. I've had interactions with many great folks, and a few contrary ones, and yesterday posted the highest visits to the web site ever. Though only twenty visits and page views it is a 'milestone,' for it shows the word is getting out. Now I've had many offers, like most of you, of all kinds of methods to boost web site traffic. These though are all worldly and I'll not operate the ministry in that way, EVER!!! The same goes for asking for donations. As stated numerous times, this ministry doesn't do this and people shall be led by the LORD alone to contribute. The constant battering by ministries for money, was one of my biggest 'pevs' before I was Born Again and one I'll not repeat with this ministry. This means no matter what happens. Now there are fliers out at the two complexes at which I work, but these just ask people to pass on those things that they're already getting rid of, so they can be passed along to those in need. No 'give, give, give', just asking to allow us to assist in passing along usable items they're disposing of. With these and my gathering of items left in apartments, an inventory is beginning to grow. Slowly, but it is growing and I've already been blessed to pass some of these items along.
Where and what the ministry will be doing in the next month, I don't know, but I trust that the LORD will continue to bless it, so I can pass these blessing onto others!!!
I pray the LORD has blessed you with a pleasant transition into the new year. It's been a while since I've been able to afford the time to post a newsletter, but this is it, though a bit brief. There has been little accomplished along the lines of the ministry in the last several months. This due to the fact that I've been having to work at the apartment complex and haven't had the funds or time to do much else. As most of you know, I am basically all that the ministry is. I'm the soul person involved in it's make up and the only contributor to it's works, Anything that has been accomplished over the years has come about by my hands and financial support. I'm not complaining, just stating simple facts. Much more could of been accomplished if there had been others involved, but this hasn't been the case.
There have been those that have told me that "if it were truly the LORD's will for the ministry to be, it would happen." True, but people tend to forget, that all things happen according to GOD's timetables and not our own. You can believe me when I say I've spent many hours in prayer over this and I know without a doubt that eventually(in GOD's timing) it will happen. I'll not stop working at it, or even waver from that which the LORD has shown me. I'm that sure that the visions shown me will be as they were given!!!
Over the last two months I've been led to spend a good bit of my time on Twitter. Joining in with the Christian community there, uplifting the LORD and the GOSPEL to the best of my ability. I've had interactions with many great folks, and a few contrary ones, and yesterday posted the highest visits to the web site ever. Though only twenty visits and page views it is a 'milestone,' for it shows the word is getting out. Now I've had many offers, like most of you, of all kinds of methods to boost web site traffic. These though are all worldly and I'll not operate the ministry in that way, EVER!!! The same goes for asking for donations. As stated numerous times, this ministry doesn't do this and people shall be led by the LORD alone to contribute. The constant battering by ministries for money, was one of my biggest 'pevs' before I was Born Again and one I'll not repeat with this ministry. This means no matter what happens. Now there are fliers out at the two complexes at which I work, but these just ask people to pass on those things that they're already getting rid of, so they can be passed along to those in need. No 'give, give, give', just asking to allow us to assist in passing along usable items they're disposing of. With these and my gathering of items left in apartments, an inventory is beginning to grow. Slowly, but it is growing and I've already been blessed to pass some of these items along.
Where and what the ministry will be doing in the next month, I don't know, but I trust that the LORD will continue to bless it, so I can pass these blessing onto others!!!
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