Weep no more

If we take the time to study the word of God we can find so much comfort and reassurance. Here is a passage of scripture that I think will be reassuring to most mothers.

Jeremiah 31:16-17.

This is what the LORD says: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the LORD. “They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your descendants,” declares the LORD. “Your children will return to their own land.

This is so fantastic! Are you weeping over your children’s choices at the moment? God is saying that your work – (raising your children,) will not be in vain, you will be rewarded. God is not saying that your children “may” come back but “shall” come back from the land of the enemy.

He continues to reassure us that there is hope that your children and their children will return to their own border (place of peace and safety and well-being).

So dry your tears and stop focusing on how bad it may be now, instead look to what God has promised in His word. Don’t worry how He is going to do it, just believe that He is going to bring them back.

The power of God is greater than that of their enemies. So lets us start to give Him some Praise- THEY ARE COMING BACK!!!!!

In His Service,

Vilma

Spiritual Fast

Many of us welcome the month of January to shed the many pounds that we accumulated over thanksgiving and Christmas. Some of us join the local gym and work out, and many will participate in various types of "Fasts" depending on how quickly they want to shed those pounds.

  Many Christians individually or collectively with their churches also participate in a Spiritual fast at the start of the New Year. For many of us it is the 21-day Daniel Fast.  

There are approximately 99 verses in the bible that refer to "Fasting" and hence it must be of great importance.  Although God commanded fasting by the Israelites in the Old Testament, we do not see Him commanding fasting in the New Testament or as a matter of fact forbidding it. Many early Christians did however practice fasting and prayer as a part of their spiritual lives and so should we. Having said this we should not participate in a Fast just to say we did a fast, but we should do so with a purpose of gaining spiritual strength, a deeper understanding of God and a closer relationship with Him. Sometimes we need clarity from God concerning our next steps, sometimes we need a breakthrough concerning situations in our lives (our health, issues with our children, our marriages or our career).

When we fast it is not about the length of time fasting but it is the effectiveness of it. Although fasting is generally abstaining from food, you can also fast from other things that will require some sacrifice such as watching television.  If you have never fasted before and want to try it, you should start with a partial fast- such as abstaining for a few hours each day and not an entire day at once.

  

 In His Service,

Vilma

A change in direction

I trust you had a great Christmas with your family and friends. The holidays are usually a very special time for many. For some it is a time of fun, food and fellowship. It's a time to exchange gifts and to catch up on family members you may not have seen or heard from in a long time.

 

Unfortunately for others the holidays are anticipated with fear, heartaches and a sense of loneliness especially if they have lost a loved one or if they are going through a  major relationship break up or experiencing conflicts within their families.

 

It is important that we reach out to those people who fit in the latter category. These are people that need hope by being reminded how much they ae loved by God.  This brings me to some exciting changes in my ministry that I need to share with you.

 

Having been through many tough situations in my life- I feel that God is now calling me to expand my ministry from simple Empowering mothers to pray for their children- to one which will help people in general who have lost their faith in God reconnect with Him. This new ministry is now called: "The Turning Point" and will incorporate MPUSH, SPARK change for high school girls and the praying wives.

 

It is very exciting and at the same time daunting, but I know that many will be blessed through this ministry. Regardless of what we go through in life we must understand that God is a good God and that He would not do anything to cause us (His children) pain.   So stay tuned for a new and exciting year ahead.

 

Let me also take this opportunity to wish you and your family every blessing that God has in store for you for 2016.  Make 2016 your "turning point"

  

In His Service,

 

Vilma

Make it happen Monday

In Mathew 19:16-22 we read the story of a rich young ruler who went to Jesus to ask what he should do to inherit Eternal life. As the conversation continues with Jesus we find that this young man was living an upright life, and had kept the law from a young child.

He was very pleased with himself and must have smiled thinking t “surely I have this all together”. Jesus however, surprised him by telling him that he was lacking something. Jesus told him "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.

Unfortunately this young man became sad and walked away from the opportunity of having eternal life. His love for God somehow did not translate to having love for others. I often marvel at this young man - he was willing to lose his soul rather than share his earthly treasure.

This rich young man could have made it happen for him- “Eternal life” He could also have made it happen for a lot of needy people by giving them some money from the sale of his vast possessions.

What can you do today to make some other person’s day? As you make your last- minute shopping and wrapping of gifts, think of someone in your neighborhood, your church or work that you can buy a gift for. Let us spread our love a little further than our homes this Christmas.

In His Service,

Vilma

Foolish, weak or both?

I am so fascinated by this verse of scripture in I Corinthians 1: 27. This is what it says:

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

There are many times that God chooses us to do some things and we don't for the simple fact that what He has asked looks and sounds down right foolish. However if we are obedient in the end people will be simple amazed at what you are able to accomplish, and the lives that have been touched. 

God requires our total dependence on Him, when He does things through us there should be no mistake that it is God. He opens doors for jobs that you are not qualified for and make you excel.  He brings people into your path for you to encourage and strengthen that blows your mind as well as theirs

Take a look at the story of Noah building an ark for many years in anticipation for rain that he has never seen or heard of before.  To everyone around him, this was absolutely foolish, but in the end his family and a number of animals were saved- it took him 120 years.

What of Abraham picking up his family and telling people that he was going somewhere, which he really had no clue about? Look at Abraham and Sarah so far pass the age for conception- how foolish Sarah must have looked pregnant in her 90's.

What of Moses with a little staff to part the red sea, what about the feeding of the five thousands with two fish and five small loaves? To the natural mind and through our physical eyes these things look and sound foolish, but check the end of each of these stories and see how God manifested His greatness.

Be that foolish weak person and just do what God is calling you to do and see how the wise and the strong get confused

In His Service,

Vilma

Prayers of a Mother: 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Children | Ar...

This is awesome- check it out. Great guide of what we can pray daily for our children



Prayers of a Mother: 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Children | Ar...: This is awesome check it out 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Children | Articles | Revive Our Hearts

Uplifting words

Jesus and Paul are examples for us in their use of uplifting words to encourage.

We find Jesus always offering us hope and encouragement even at very difficult times in our lives or times when we know we had blown it. Can you hear Jesus saying- "be not afraid for I am with you" Can you hear words like I have come to set the captive free, to deliver those who are oppressed, to give a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness etc.(Isa.61).

In his many letters to the various churches we see Paul encouraging and uplifting the saints. As much as he rebuked them for things they were not doing right, he never left them without encouragement.

Today we find that many people are bowed down under heavy emotional loads and are weary of life's struggles. They crave an uplifting word. Let us not turn away- instead follow the example of Jesus and offer some words of encouragement. Pleasant words not only encourage but can lift us up to high places (Prov. 22:11).

In His Service,

Vilma