In everything give thanks

I hope your week was blessed and you considered yourself as highly favored by God. This is not just cliche but it is a reality when we think of all the seen and unseen dangers that we escaped, because of God's grace and Mercy.

 Did you realize that Thanksgiving is less than a week away? Yes it is. I know that most of us will be spending time with family, eating and drinking and having a good time.  As is the tradition for many we will share something for which we are thankful. This custom did not start with your family, but in the bible we are told by God to give thanks. As a matter of fact He tells us that we should give thanks in everything with prayer and supplication (Phil. 4:6)

  This is certainly not an easy thing to do when we face hard times and encounter some difficult situations. How do you give thanks for the bad things? As we ask this question I cannot help but thinking that we give thanks, because everything works together for our good- Roman 8:28.

In case you were planning to boycott "giving thanks" remember that this is something that God desires of us to do at all times.

Have a happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

In His Service,

Vilma

You are known by your conduct

This week has gone by so quickly I hope it was a very productive one for you.

What impact did you have at your job, within your family or your neighborhood this week? Don't get too frustrated if you cannot think of what that was.

As much as we would like to think of ourselves as being quiet and unassuming, we really do not go through life un-noticed. We are always making an impact, leaving an impression. The question is what kind of an impact or impression are we making? Many times we are not aware of the many lives we touch on a daily basis.   

 This reminds me of Proverbs 20:11-Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

 As I think about this verse I am keenly aware of my conduct or things I do around my family, my co-workers and my neighbors. I realize that someone is watching and patterning my every move. Our children take note of how we raise them, how we deal with crisis, how we speak to them, how well we listen, how we speak to their fathers, how we treat our neighbors and what we say about others when they are not around.

My encouragement to us his weekend it is to be mindful of how we make ourselves known to others.

  

  In His Service,

 Vilma

Praying for our Children's Salvation

I hope that you and your family are in good health. After all that is what God wants for us to be in good health and to prosper as our soul prospers (3John: 2). The question then becomes how healthy do you want to be? Well this is something that together we can perhaps work at achieving.

 

For this week I would like to once again focus on us praying for any unsaved family members especially our children. As I have mentioned before, this is something we must do continuously. Just as we make every effort to provide for them and to make sure that they receive a good education, we also need to make sure that they have the opportunity to know who Jesus is and what He has done for them. I am not suggesting a sermon, but find a way to introduce Him in your everyday conversation.  Jesus taught his disciples and others by using parables depicting things they were familiar with. Let us learn from this, we can use nature such as the weather, the trees, the birds, or even a butterfly. You can do it.

 Our children's success and education is only useful while on earth, lets prepare them for the long haul.

 

In His Service,

 

Vilma

Turning back the hands of time

This year has been going by so quickly. Can you imagine that it is already November! I am not sure where it went, but in case you had a project you planned to start for 2013, you had better get going because soon the year will be over.

 Well one positive thing this weekend you will be able to get an extra hour sleep as we turn our clocks back one hour this Saturday night.

 

 As I think about turning the clocks back, I cannot help but think about some situations and things that have happened in our lives that we wish we could turn the clock back and do it differently. Some wrong decisions or choices we made, or some hasty As I think about turning the clocks back, I cannot help but think about some situations and things that have happened in our lives that we wish we could turn the clock back and do it differently. Some wrong decisions or choices we made, or some hasty words that we may have said, oh if only we could go back, we would have done it differently. This is why it is so important to think carefully about the things we do or say so we have little or no regrets in the future. We wish sometimes we could even go back to happier days, times, and relationships, but we will just have to rely on the memories instead.

 

 I am so glad that God never wants to turn time back or even go back on His promises to us. They are forever-they are ours to grab a hold of. That's good news!

 

 

 In His Service,

 

Vilma

You are Special to God

How was your week? How are the children? I trust all is well with the family and you are looking forward to a great weekend together- physically and spiritually. I find it such a privilege and honor every weekend writing to you. I want you to know that I do find you all very special.

 

As a matter of fact I am not the only one who finds you special but so does God. Here is what He says about you.

In Psalm 139:14 - God says," You are fearfully and wonderfully made." In Psalm 17:8, we are reminded that "we are the apple of His eye." In Deuteronomy 7:6, God is saying that you are "His treasured possession." In Isaiah 43:1-5 He says "He has redeemed us, named us, will be with us through our rivers and our fires. When He looks at us He sees precious, He cannot help saying how much He has loved us and reminds us that we should not worry because He will bring our children from wherever they are.

 

Every time I read these verses I have no doubt in my mind of how very special a person I am. The faults others and myself see in me and are quick to point out God calls unique.

  

  In His Service,

 

Vilma

Did you know God reveals Secrets to us?

 I pray you had a productive week, at least more productive than our government is at the moment :).

 As we pause from all that is going on around us let us continue to encourage ourselves with the promises that God has for us and for our children. 

 This week let us look at Deut. 29:29 - The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the Words of this Law.

 Did you realize God has secrets? Yes He does, however, He does reveal some of these secrets to us. God does not reveal these secrets just because He wants to impress us but because He has something very important He wants us to know. These secrets are not just for us but they are tran-generational and they last for ever. The other thing we need to understand is that these secrets are meant for us to live a better life.

There are times when we miss what God is saying to us because we have not developed a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. We fail to spend quiet time with God and most times when we go to Him we keep talking rather than listening. So why don't we try listening more and talking less. There is no better time than starting this weekend.

 In His Service,

 Vilma

 

God will contend with those who contend with you

This has certainly been an interesting week to say the least. I pray you have not allowed what is happening to make you question the presence of God. Just remember when your heart gets overwhelmed simple ask Him to lead you to that Rock that is higher than you are where you can find shelter.

 I trust that you will stay empowered by continuing to learn the promises that God has promised both you and your children in His word. A Christian who is armed with God's promises is a dangerous one to the enemy.  

Let us look at Isaiah 49: 25b- for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

The word contend also means to resist, oppose, struggle , and put up with.

 I don't know about you but I am ecstatic, knowing that God has promised to struggle with those who struggle with me and save my children.

When we spend our time and effort in struggling with our enemy we get distracted and don't even realize that the enemy has taken our children. Keep declaring these words over your children this weekend.

Lord I thank you for your promise that You will rise up to defend me against those that come at me and that you will save my children.

 In His Service,

Vilma