Benefits Galore

It is such a pleasure every time that I get an opportunity to connect with you. I do hope that your week was good and that you were able to accomplish all or most of what you had set out to do. 

  

For this week I would like to share with some and remind others of some of the fantastic benefits that we and our children can enjoy - Psalm 103:2-5: Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's (NIV).

 

Sometimes we tend to look at benefits as something tangible, but think of how powerful these blessings are that we can so very easily overlook. I don't know about you but my family and I look forward to enjoying these blessings.

In simple words we have the benefits of salvation, health, wealth, love, compassion and youthfulness. So regardless of what things may look like let us keep the main thing the main thing and get in position so that we are able to access these benefits.

 

 

Please remember to join us as we continue to pray for the various cities as indicated in the calendar for the month of July.  Have a great weekend!

 

In His Service,

 

 Vilma

Making it happen Monday

Have you ever found yourself being constantly reminded of a wrong that you have done in the past? Sometimes it appears that you keep paying over and over and never can vindicate yourself. It is like your past is keeping you a hostage so that you are unable to move forward.

Perhaps you may be the one who like to hold on to the wrong that someone has committed against you. The person has apologized, tried to make it right but you insist on holding that offense against them, reminding them of it every chance you get.

This evening I want to make it happen for you. I need to share with you some good news. Romans 8:1- There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. What does Paul mean when He says there is no more condemnation to those of us in Christ Jesus? 

Let me take you back to the beginning. God created mankind in His image. Man was perfect and without sin. However before long, we became tainted with sin through the disobedience of Adam and Eve and became separated from God. 

Each year the high priest would now have to go to the inner sanctuary of the temple also known as the Holy of Holies to make atonement for our sins. The high priest had to first cleanse himself and make sure that he was in right standing with God before he went behind that veil into the Holy of Holies. If the Priest did not meet the standard God required he would be struck dead inside and the sin of the people would not be forgiven. They would have to wait for another whole year to have their sins forgiven. Over 2000 years ago Jesus changed this pattern. He became the final High Priest by shedding His blood, not that of goats and lambs, to atone for our sins once and for all.

At the moment of Jesus’ death the veil (very thick curtain) that separated the inner sanctuary (Holy of holies) from the rest of the temple was split from the top to the bottom.  This signified that there is no further separation between us and God. We no longer need to rely on a high priest to make a once a year atonement for our sins.  Jesus paid for our sins in the past, present and future.  All we need to do is to confess what we have done wrong to God and He immediately not only forgives us but He completely forgets about it.

Satan can no longer accuse us or condemn us. You and I are free to move on with our lives not stay stuck in the past.  Accept this freedom that Christ gave to us. Just as God through Jesus Christ has forgiven us, do likewise to that person who may have caused you wrong. Is it your child, your spouse or a friend? Won’t you make it happen for them today?

In His Service,

 

Vilma

 

 

Summer is here

Summer is finally here. The grass is all green, the trees are bountiful, the flowers are blooming and everywhere we turn we can see the handiwork of God. With summer however, there are some other things that some of us may need to deal with- finding summer camp for our younger children who we cannot leave alone at home, there are also our college students who have come home, some may have a job, other's of them do not have a job or frankly speaking want a job. All of a sudden food that would usually last for 2 weeks is now barely enough for one week- our college students love home cook or parents bought food :)

  

Here are  some tips to bear in mind

 

1. Drink Plenty of water- at least 8 glasses daily

 

2. Use sunscreen lotion when out in the sun and reapply every 2 hours- all skin types are subject to get burned

 

3. Use insect repellants that are safe

 

4. As much as possible provide shade for your eyes- use a baseball cap for younger children when they are outside to provide some shade for their eyes if wearing sunglasses is a problem.

 

5.The sun is hottest between 10am and 2pm as much as possible avoid being outside.

 

6. Be aware of poison Ivy, poison oak or poison sumac- if you don't know how to recognize them- just stay away from all 3-leafed green plants.

 

7. Take advantage of those fresh fruits and vegetables they are usually cheaper in season than out of season.

 

8. Frequently check on elderly relatives to make sure that they have air conditioning available.

 

9. Visit the park, take walks and enjoy your surroundings- good habit to lose some weight.

 

10. Use your grill as much as possible- grilled foods are healthier than fried.

 

In His Service,

 

Vilma

Walking in Victory

I hope you are taking advantage of remembering what this very special time of year means in the life of Christians. For the entire week, I have been posting daily on face book the events that took place during this Holy week.  The story about Jesus' crucifixion, burial and Resurrection never gets old. It is a stark reminder of how much God loved us sending His son to endure what He did to save you and I.

    Our Salvation is free to us but was costly to God and His son Jesus. As I think about all that Jesus had to face, I am more determined to enjoy all the privileges He afforded me. I just cannot take what He did for granted.

Most of us are satisfied with just salvation, that is critical but there is more. I see salvation as the access door to a world of endless blessings.

  Here is how I look at things: After what He has been through- I cannot allow the power He has given me to just sit there and not activate it. I cannot allow fear to keep me from speaking to situations in my life that are trying to create havoc. I cannot hold on to what others have done to me and not forgive and pray for them. I cannot allow sickness to get the better of me. I cannot allow people to remind me of things I have done wrong and feel condemn. I must believe His word when He says my children are a blessing and a heritage. I must act as if He knows more about me than even I know about myself. I must never forget the unchanging love He has for me and I MUST ALWAYS WALK AS ONE VICTORIUS AND NOT AS ONE DEFEATED. What about you?

 In His Service,

Vilma

Gone too soon

Can you believe it tomorrow March 22nd will be two years since my son passed away. I guess time does fly whether you are having fun or not. For me this is just like yesterday. It is so incredible how a person's life can change so suddenly and so dramatically. The journey has been difficult, but I keep going because I know that I am not alone. Every step I take I can feel God's presence around me and hear His voice saying "I will never leave you nor forsake you".  I will not even pretend that I understand what God is doing but with a blind Faith I Trust Him.
 Here are some truths that I know about God;

1. He loves me with an everlasting love and would never do anything to cause me pain.

2. He knows the plans He had for me and they are plans to prosper and not to harm me, they are plans to give me a hope and a future.
3. I loved my son immensely but it did not even come close to how God loved Him.
4. God will use me and my experience to minister to others who may go through similar situations, so that they know that they too will make it.  
   
As another year comes to a close, please continue to pray for me , my husband and my daughter that we will allow ourselves to be cradled and rocked in God's arms.

 

 In His Service,

Vilma

He has Keeping Power

 A wonderful Friday evening to you and yours. I hope your week was productive and you were able to achieve your goals. I realize that it sometimes takes a lot to stay focused and get things done. We all have very good intentions, which may not become realities because of us getting distracted by "things" even when they may seem legitimate.

For this evening I would like to share a verse of scripture from Psalm 121:3 I will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

This verse reminds us of the preserving power of God. If God keeps our feet from slipping we can translate this to mean that He will enable us to stand. There are situations that come upon us that will cause our feet to become shaky. But understand that God will not allow you to slip or fall. His keeping power is available to us. Do not give in to that temptation in your moment of weakness; remember He has given us a way of escape. When these hurdles come along especially those high one that you are not able to jump over- do not panic- Allow God to take you over them.
There are times when it would appear that we cannot even see where we are going, we get thrown into valleys and unfamiliar terrains, know that God specialize in creating pathways for you that will keep you from stumbling. Psalm 37:23-24 is a good affirmation of this truth- this is what it says: The steps of a man are established by the LORD and He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the LORD is the One who holds his

hand. I Love this. Even when I fall, because I stray from the path He has created for me I will not be hurled- or thrown headlong- That is brain damage!!!!

The psalmist continues to remind us that: He who keeps (protects, guards) you will not slumber. In other words your guardian will not fall asleep-not even a light sleep or even doze off. His watchful eyes are never closed.

Guess what if He does that for you, He does the same for your children. God has no grandchildren; our children are also His children. So Keep Pushing for them.

In His Service,

Vilma

Standing Firm

 How are you doing today? I trust that all has been well and that you are standing firm not allowing anything to make you lose a foothold in your walk with God. 

       I do understand that there are those days that make us question  our faith and make us want to take a break as we do get tired of fighting, tired of starting over, tired of doing the right thing, tired of transformation instead of conformation.  Maybe if we just take a break .....then we will feel better.  Well as tempting as this is we cannot let our guards down, we must stand and having done all we must remain "standing" Yes we must continue to PUSH knowing that God's strength will be made perfect in our weakness.

       We must remember that as the light of the world we cannot hide "undercover" but instead shine our lights so that we and others can see more clearly. It is important to understand that you are not alone and that you have a helper in the person of the Holy Spirit who is waiting to step right in as  soon as you ask him to. What I have come to realize is that when we get tired and overwhelm we are usually trying to do things on our own, rather than trusting God, we are trying to figure out things logically rather than Spiritually, and we are trying to please men rather than God.  

       So let me encourage you today as I encourage myself- Stand firm, stay focused, let go and Let God. The seeds you are planting today at home, in your children, in your community or at your jobs will be the fruit you will reap tomorrow and be able to feed a nation if you faint not.

   

 In His Service,

Vilma