Praise the LORD!!!
As of yesterday, I'm being led to start another new branch for the ministry. This one will be international in scope. Vine Ministerial Network International (V.M.N.I.) will be its name. It will be multifunctional in actions. There will be evangelism outreaches to many countries around the globe, discipleship training schools, along with the standard disaster relief operations.
This has me a bit stifled. Because currently I'm living in a host family's home, with a backpack full of clothes, a few hand tools and this ancient computer system (that freezes up typing emails:)) You can count on the fact that I've been talking a great deal with the LORD over this matter and the answer keeps coming back, 'trust in ME!' If there is one thing that I truly do, that is trust GOD!!! All the things HE's done throughout my life are amazing, it boggles my mind to think I waited so long to turn the controls over to HIM! I was 39 and had lived 26 of it in heavy drug use and all sorts of sinful behavior. More details on this can be found in my book "Out of the LIGHT" at the ministry's website, so I'll not go into it all here. To say the least, I wasn't one that you'd think would ever be successful, let alone running an international Christian helps ministry. GOD can surely amaze us at times.
Since the LORD opened my eyes to HIS calling in '95' I've totally given HIM the control over what I do. The results can be seen by doing a online search of my name or that of the ministry. Ever little detail of it has been at the LORD's leading, even the prayers and the few games I play to relax. Now I'm no computer guru, not even close, but I've been highly blessed to produce the ministry's website, all by myself. To date almost everything I've done has been 100% done by these hands and feet that the LORD has blessed me with. All moneys, well 98% of, have come from my own pockets through work that I've done outside the ministry.
Yet with all this being said and done, there are three people at this moment working on translating my book into a foreign tongue. I've been asked to come to two nations, Liberia and India, to preach and evangelize. Through one of these two men has come the formulation of this branch of the ministry, to open the door for it by having it legalized before his government. Now the fact that VCM was going to be a world reaching ministry isn't new to me, but when I've not even yet begun to break ground on that part of it here in the states!
There are hundreds of details that have yet to be taken care of here, let alone those that will come with the addition of an international branch.I spent several hours today, walking around the house talking with GOD, bearing my soul to HIM (there's no one home but me.) I talk to GOD like I would my earthly father, with respect and straight from the heart. If something has distressed me, I let HIM know it and this has me a bit stirred up. As I said though, the answers keep coming back the same, "Trust in ME." There is truly only one that I trust anymore, for I don't even trust myself, that is GOD and GOD alone. So I guess what I'm saying is, Vine of CHRIST Ministries is going international, with it's branch Vine Ministerial Network International !!!
Showing posts with label help and helps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label help and helps. Show all posts
Monday, December 28, 2009
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!!!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Doing whatever I can...
Praise the LORD!!!
Though not able to help at this time, due to lack of funding, I'm doing whatever I can to help those in need, both physically and spiritually. Truly this should be the stance of all those that call JESUS both LORD and SAVIOR! There are thousands of organizations out there that are crying out for help. Whether through donations or physical assistance. Why is this?
Even though I can't help through donations or physically going to help, I am spending my time online drawing as much attention to their causes as possible. Through blogging, clipping and amplifying, starting up fundraisers, whatever, I'm putting the time and effort into doing it. I could be spending my time playing games or watching videos, or maybe just reading or listening to music. But I'm not!
As CHRIST is my LORD and SAVIOR I just can't sit back and watch the world go by. I've got to do something. I've been working on VCM now for twelve years now and am still doing it all by myself. Not one person has caught the dream and vision of a Christian helps ministry that truly brings the glory of CHRIST to the front of all they do. Not just a "self' named ministry, like so many today, but one that has CHRIST at its heart and in the center of all that it does and represents.
Years back when I first brought VCM to the internet, I began asking the big 'self' named ministries tor assistance in any way possible. Of about thirty that I contacted, only one responded with any substantial action. This ministry responded with over $300 worth of their books and teaching tapes. Not that much, but better than the rest and I'm very thankful for them, though they've been lost by the wayside through my travels. Most of the others, though considered "Mega" ministries, just offered up their prayers for the ministry and me. If I could run my Bible programs and enter this at the same time I'd give you the verses that call this a sin before GOD, but I can't. Look it up, if you even have to, but it isn't right when we can help others when they ask and don't.
In VCM's first newsletter, last months, the 'Modern day Parable' was a true story. This happened to me on my first attempted trip down here. All the events show that the church and Christians of today focus more on their own needs instead of those needs of their 'neighbors.' In the name of JESUS this has to stop!!!
Though not able to help at this time, due to lack of funding, I'm doing whatever I can to help those in need, both physically and spiritually. Truly this should be the stance of all those that call JESUS both LORD and SAVIOR! There are thousands of organizations out there that are crying out for help. Whether through donations or physical assistance. Why is this?
Even though I can't help through donations or physically going to help, I am spending my time online drawing as much attention to their causes as possible. Through blogging, clipping and amplifying, starting up fundraisers, whatever, I'm putting the time and effort into doing it. I could be spending my time playing games or watching videos, or maybe just reading or listening to music. But I'm not!
As CHRIST is my LORD and SAVIOR I just can't sit back and watch the world go by. I've got to do something. I've been working on VCM now for twelve years now and am still doing it all by myself. Not one person has caught the dream and vision of a Christian helps ministry that truly brings the glory of CHRIST to the front of all they do. Not just a "self' named ministry, like so many today, but one that has CHRIST at its heart and in the center of all that it does and represents.
Years back when I first brought VCM to the internet, I began asking the big 'self' named ministries tor assistance in any way possible. Of about thirty that I contacted, only one responded with any substantial action. This ministry responded with over $300 worth of their books and teaching tapes. Not that much, but better than the rest and I'm very thankful for them, though they've been lost by the wayside through my travels. Most of the others, though considered "Mega" ministries, just offered up their prayers for the ministry and me. If I could run my Bible programs and enter this at the same time I'd give you the verses that call this a sin before GOD, but I can't. Look it up, if you even have to, but it isn't right when we can help others when they ask and don't.
In VCM's first newsletter, last months, the 'Modern day Parable' was a true story. This happened to me on my first attempted trip down here. All the events show that the church and Christians of today focus more on their own needs instead of those needs of their 'neighbors.' In the name of JESUS this has to stop!!!
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