Making Plans for 2015

I hope you had a great Christmas and you were able to spend some quality time with your family as well as get some well needed rest.

  Can you believe 2015 is almost here? You only have 5 more days to accomplish your goals for 2014.  I is very easy to make plans for what you want to do but it becomes much more difficult when the time comes to execute those plans.

At the start of 2015, as many of us usually do, we will again be making plans. Some of these plans will be elaborate and others will be very simple.  Whatever the degree of complexity please make sure that they are similar to the plans that God has ordained for you?  

 

I have often heard it mentioned that the grave yard is the richest place on earth as many have died with their potential never realized.  We must always remember that none of us are accidents here on earth but that we were all created for a purpose. Do you know what this purpose or plan is? Have you thought about people whose destiny may be dependent on your obedience to what God is asking of you?

 

According to Jeremiah 29:11  God does have a plan for you, so why not consult Him for 2015 to make sure that you are on track? It is better to be unsuccessful doing what God has planned for you to do, than being successful at what He did not ask you to do.

 

For 2015: It is my prayer that as mothers we will operate in the will of God and according to the word of God. It is my hope that we will not do what is popular but instead will do what is righteous. It is my hope that we will love not just our children more, but our neighbor's children and the nation's children. It is my hope that we will remain steadfast, and will not give up easily, that we will exemplify the fruit of the spirit in our homes and everywhere we go. It is my hope that any broken relationships with our children in 2014 will be mended for 2015 and that your children will rise up and call you blessed. It is my hope that you will maximize your potential for 2015

 

Have a Happy New Year!!!!

  

 

Vilma

 

Some significant players in the Christmas story and why?

Mary:  Risk her engagement to Joseph and public shame to fulfill the scripture about Jesus being born of a virgin.

Joseph: He did not divorce his wife Mary after learning of her pregnancy, but believed the angel that this was of God.

John the Baptist: He leapt in his mother's womb as a confirmation that she was indeed carrying the Savior of the world

The Innkeeper: He gave Mary and Joseph all that he had- a room instead of turning them away.

The Shepherds: They left their sheep and went with haste to find and worship baby Jesus as soon as the angels announced his birth.

The Wisemen: They saw the same star that the shepherds did. Instead of debating what they saw or waste time deciding how to act, their obedience was immediate.

You: Spreading the good news of Jesus's birth giving hope to everyone

In His Service,

Vilma

Day 8th of the Christmas story- a must read

As we continue with highlights from the Christmas story- I am pleased to share one of my favorite scriptures - John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

In His service

Vilma

Day 7 of the Christmas story

Today's passage highlighting the Christmas story is Mathew 2:1-12

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

In His Service,

Vilma

Day 6 of the Christmas story

 Luke 2:15-20 is the passage for today's highlight

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

An...d when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

In His Service

Vilma

Day 5 of the Christmas story

Tonight our scripture is from Luke 2:1-14
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

In His Service

Vilma

The Christmas story- day 4

Today's passage is found in Mathew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

In His Service,

Vilma

Day 3 of the Christmas Story

 

Today's passage highlighting the Christmas story is also from the book of Luke

Luke 1:67-79

 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

In His Service,

Vilma

Continuing the Christmas story- The good news

Today's passage highlighting the Christmas story is
Luke 1:39-55

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

In a loud voice she exclaimed: ...“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

In His Service

Vilma

The Christmas Story

As the Christmas season approaches, let me encourage all of you to become familiar with what I love to call the "Christmas story" It is also important that your children become familiar with this epic story. If as parents we push the Christmas story, our children will understand that Christmas is not about them and all the gifts that they can get. Instead they will have a better understanding of why Christians make such a big deal about Christmas.

 So what is the Christmas story? It is a "good news Story" a "glad tidings" story a story of love, hope and compassion. It is the ultimate story of a Savior who redeemed us from a life of destruction and gave us eternal life. Well, don't just take my word for it. Starting today and for the next 9 days I will post a passage of scripture that very nicely unfolds the Christmas story. Please take a few minutes to read these daily. Today's passage is from Isaiah 40:1-11

In His Service,

Vilma

Happy Thanksgiving

 I wish for all of you a great and HAPPY thanksgiving day. I do realize that for many of us the holiday season can be extremely difficult especially for those of us who have lost loved ones- spouses, children, parents. The pain for some is still very piercing, as this may be the first, second or third holiday without our precious loved ones.

However, let us make the best of today and:

Give God thanks for those that are still with us and for a chance to still let them know how thankful we are for them.

Give God thanks for a place that you can call home, where you are sheltered from the cold and wind.

Give God thanks that He woke you up this morning and that you are in your right mind.

Give God thanks for the food that He has provided for you today, whether in your own kitchen or in someone else's kitchen.

Give God thanks for all the leftovers you will have for days and the creative ways that He will allow you to use up your left over.

Give thanks that He keeps His word and the spirits of your loved ones are secured in His arms until He returns when you will all be united once more.

In His Service,

Vilma

Get out of the boat

Yesterday, pastor preached from the story about Peter walking on water at the command of Jesus which is found in Mathew 14:22-30. I have read this story numerous times, and have heard several sermons preached from this text and each time I listen in amazement at how the events unfold.

Jesus actually compelled his disciples to get in the boat without him, telling them that they were going to the other side. While the boat was in the midst of the sea there was a storm, the boat was being tossed around because the wind was blowing the opposite direction of where the boat needed to go. Jesus turns up walking on the sea and the disciples thinking he was a spirit, cried out in fear.

Jesus reassured the disciples that it was Him and they should not be afraid. Peter promptly responded "if this is You, allow me to come to you on the water. Jesus responded by telling Him to "come". Without hesitation Peter proceeded to walk on water, amazing!!!  However as the waves continue Peter took his eyes off Jesus concerned about the waves and started to sink. He criedut to Jesus who promptly came to his rescue.

It is just reassuring to know that if Jesus tells us that we will accomplish a task or goal that we should believe that it will happen. As you can see, the disciples were told about their destination, but not about their journey getting to that destination. I am sure that if most of us knew the journey, we would hesitate or refuse to travel the path.

We must understand that our journey through life will have some contrary winds, large waves and rocky boats, however we cannot focus on these things, instead we must keep our focus on Christ and keep walking. Whenever we feel afraid, it’s OK to call out to Him, He will come to your rescue.
Sometimes we question our decision to get out of the boat, we think we may not have heard correctly when Jesus has called us, and at times we become afraid thinking that we won’t make it to our destination.

What is God calling you to do, that you have not done because you believe you can’t do it?  Be a” Peter” step out of the boat- and do the impossible- walk on water. Put your faith in action and Trust His judgment. He already knows the journey; nothing along the way will surprise Him. He is equipped for whatever storm will come upon you.

Make it happen for you- step out of your boat!

In His Service

Vilma

Do you have 15 minutes??

I realize how busy our lives are, especially those mothers with younger children. At this very moment you are probably wishing you had an extra hour in the day to be able to get done the very many tasks on your “to do” list.

Believe it or not I do understand as you try to get the children situated, keep the house looking clean, and at the same time making sure that there are healthy meals for all to eat.  As busy we are however, we must find the time to pray. If we spend the time first thing in the morning before the rest of the household is awake truly will set the tone for our day.

Giving God the first 15 minutes of our day can give us an extra 1-2 hours in our day.  As we commit our day to God, He will tell you the way to go about getting done the things you need to do. We simple need to listen and follow what He tells you.  God has a way of working out the kinks in our day and making it run so much more smoothly.  He has a way of anticipating and providing all the resources that we will need to accomplish what is necessary for each day. We find that things that looked so insurmountable to us was really “a piece of cake” after given it all to Him.

I also realize that spending the first few minutes of my 15 minutes of prayer in just worshipping Him for who He is before even asking Him for anything, makes my day even more successful. I also find that when I take some of the focus off myself and start to pray for other people causes even more surprises and unexpected blessings throughout my day. Why not give up those 15 minutes, or perhaps 10? What about 5 minutes?  If that is all you have, that is a start you can gradually build on it.

There is so much happening around us that we cannot afford not to pray.  In case you cannot find anything to pray about-here are a few things-

1.      Start by just thanking Him for being a good God and for loving you in such an incredible way that despite your shortcomings He is still full of compassion and is merciful to you.

2.      Check out our September Calendar as we continue to pray for 100 cities over 100 days. We are almost at the end.

3.      Continue to Pray for those affected by the Ebola virus in West Africa and let us pray for the protection of all those who have volunteered to work in these countries

4.      Pray for protection and the safety of our children as they return to school and college. The semester has just started and there have been tragedies already.

5.      Let us pray for a solution of how our leaders can deal with ISIS- this Islamic militant group that gets enjoyment in the barbaric things they do- such as beheading the 2^nd American person in about a week.

6.      Let us pray that our young people will not be drawn to join this group but will instead find validation in themselves through Jesus Christ. We have many young men from Canada, England and the USA who have been recruited and have joined ISIS.

Your prayers do make a difference

In His Service,

Vilma

 

 

Have patience your character is being built

This has been an incredible hectic week, leaving me very little time to do much including my daily posts on face book. As a matter of fact things did not start getting crazy just last week. If the truth be told various situations have just being bombarding me as well as my family continually since 2010.  As if God was not aware I started to recount to him all that I was going through and then began to wonder what he was up to. I began to ask God when is "enough" enough.   To me complaining was certainly justified.

Well so it seemed until God reminded me of I Thess. 5:18-give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

 Before I got through meditating on this scripture He brought another one to my remembrance- Romans 5: 3-5
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Another verse that the Holy Spirit brought to my mind was Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 Ok God what are you trying to tell me? Well I quickly readjusted my thinking and began to allow these words to minister to my spirit. Here are some of my take away points which I hope will bless you also especially if you are going through a difficult period in your life.

        1.      We should give thanks for the good and the not so good things that happen in our life
              in obedience to the word of God
 

 2.      We should go further than giving thanks to “Glory” – (boast, rejoice) in our suffering (Tribulations). As Andrew Womack reminds us - Tribulations exist, not because God creates them, but because there is a battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the devil. And when we operate in faith, God can grant us such victory that we are actually better off because of the battle
 

      3.      Suffering brings perseverance- patience (a fruit of the spirit), in other words it is a building up
            of  our Faith

4.      Faith and Hope works hand in hand and is a result of the love God has for me

5.      Instead of protesting my tribulations, I should start praising my way through them.

 

Whatever you are going through this evening, give God thanks, give Him a sacrifice of praise and show Satan that he is a defeated foe and through Christ Jesus you are guaranteed victory because “all things” work together for good to them that love God.

In His Service,

Vilma

P.U.S.H (pray until something happens) for our Men

This morning I would like to implore you to join me in prayer for our men. It remains very disturbing to me all that we see happening in Ferguson Missouri as a result of the shooting death of 18 year old unharmed Michael Brown. I can imagine how many mothers of young men are presently living in fear and uneasiness as they worry about their safety every day that they leave home until they return home. 

The truth is we cannot watch them every step of the way. We see them as precious and unique, but not everyone will have that same opinion and have that love and compassion towards them. We can teach them what is righteous, and lovely and pure, but they will eventually make their own decisions with or without your advice. We may try but cannot determine the friends they chose or the places they go especially when they are grown.  

Having said all this let me remind us that things are not hopeless and we still have a weapon that we can use that is very effective and this is the weapon of prayer.

This morning I call on you all to pray for our sons, grandsons, nephews, uncles, brothers, significant others and for our husbands. Let us pray for their protection and wellbeing. Let us pray that they will walk upright and will conduct themselves in a manner that is pleasing to God. Let us pray that they will not depart from the biblical teachings they received. Let us pray that others will see them as not “just another black person, or Hispanic or white person, but as a person that was created in the image of God and is special and full of worth.  Let us pray that no harm will come near them and thank God for His angels who are constantly watching over them just in case they stump their toe against any stone that may be in their way.

Please continue to pray for our various cities in our 100 cities in 100 days marathon. Today we pray for Tokyo, Japan and tomorrow we pray for Sydney, Australia. Please check out www.mpush.org to see the calendar

 

In His service,

 

Vilma

 

Going through your storm

 

 I feel compelled to write a word of encouragement to all of you mothers who may be going through a difficult time at the moment.
Whenever we are going through something we tend to withdraw from others, question our faith, question God or we start to question what we may have done to cause these things to happen to us.
Here are some things to remember if you are a child of God.

 1. God loves you unconditionally- that means that He has no intention to hurt you, to cause you pain or make your life unbearable

 2. God is a forgiving God-The scripture tells us in I John 1:9 that-If we confess our sins He is Faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Not only does God forgive us but He also forgets about the wrong we have done. Our past is not a factor in our present or our future unless you decide to hold on to it.

 3. God wants to see you prosper and do well and hence He has a well thought out plan for your life. Just trust Him.

 4. Some things we go through are purely to bring God glory and not because of something we or our parents did wrong.

 5. God promises never to leave you but will be with you as you go through your dark valley and will sustain you through your journey

 6. Take your eyes off your problem and instead focus on God. In doing this we minimize the problem and magnify God

 7. Praise your way through your situation until you get your breakthrough.

In His Service,

 Vilma

May there be peace and Justice

It is very sad to hear of all that is going on in St Louis, Missouri, stemming from the recent killing by the police of 18 year old un-armed Michael Brown, a black teenager. Things have gotten so bad that the Missouri highway patrol has seized control of the St Louis suburb- Ferguson, stripping local police of their law-enforcement authority.  It would appear that this community is in a state of disarray as one group fights against the other finding no solution.

 Words cannot begin to express the grief and pain that this mother and the rest of Michael’s family must be going through. This incident is a tragedy of immense proportions and this family’s life will never be the same again.

  Emotions are high in this city as people no doubt are remembering quite vividly the Trayvon Martin case, not so long ago. I can imagine the frustration and helplessness that some may be feeling as they are perhaps convinced that there is no justice for some. However our protest and outrage need to be handled in a more civilized manner.  I cannot understand what looting and destroying other people’s property has to do with justice. The individuals whose properties were destroyed and things stolen I am sure had nothing to do with Michael Brown being killed.

 What is the answer? Yes we should peacefully make our dissatisfaction be known, but we should also seek God’s face that justice will prevail. As Hagar said of God in Genesis 16: 13 “You are the God who sees me" we can also say today-He is the God who is seeing what is happening to us. God not only see’s what s happening, He knows who is right and who is wrong and He has a way of turning situations around if we just let Him. Please continue to pray for this family that they will find comfort and peace in this very difficult time.

 

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?  See more

http://www.mpush.org/#!mpowerment/cmfg

Palm Sunday

The Lenten season is almost over. Today is the start of the final week of Lent known to many as Palm Sunday. It was the day in which Jesus made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. This was the beginning of His last few days before His crucifixion.  As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, people strewn their coats and palm branches along the streets for the donkey to ride on as they shouted Hosanna (Save)- Mark 11:10 -Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

Jesus knew what was before Him, but He did not shrink back, he did not sneak into town in the middle of the night or early morning, He rode triumphantly on a donkey- an animal that was not of the greatest caliber. Jesus did not ask for accolades but the crowd recognized His worth - He was coming in the name of the Lord. Jesus entered Jerusalem as one who was assured of victory over His enemy not as one defeated. He knew that dying on the cross was His mission to give us Salvation forever.

Here is something that we can learn from this account: When we meet opposition and is being attacked by the enemy, do not retreat. When you realize the enemy is coming after your children or your family stand your ground. We must move as a person with a mission and one that is victorious. We have the victory over the enemy so there is no reason to be afraid. Just think of you averting the enemy’s plan to abort your children’s future, dreams and purpose.

The disciples did not really understand what this moment meant until much later- John 12:16. People won’t understand your actions when they realize that you are marching into the enemy’s camp, but after you have been through and come out victorious they will realize why you did what you did.

Start this week by reflecting on what God did for you through His son Jesus Christ and repay Him by walking in that victorious life He gave to you.

 

In His Service,

Vilma

Period of Lent

We are presently in the season of Lent- which started 2 days ago a day known to Christians all over the world as “Ash Wednesday. The season of Lent ends at Easter. Sundays are usually not included in the 40 day count for Lent.

What really is lent?  Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ, His suffering and His sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection. Although very special it should be noted that not all Christian Churches observe Lent.

Some churches will celebrate the start of Lent by serving Holy Communion and by placing ash in the form of a cross on the foreheads of their “Parishioners’.”  Although popular the Bible does not mention the custom of Lent, however the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes is found in several scriptures in the Old Testament and one scripture in the New Testament- Mathew 11:21.

 Lent and Fasting seem to go together, however this is a personal matter and people should not feel guilty if they choose not to fast. Fasting is a good practice, but it should always be done with the right heart. It is not just to join others to say you have fasted but there should be a real sincerity of the heart when we participate in fasting. Some churches like the Catholic Church will fast on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday and will abstain from meat on those days as well as all the Fridays during Lent.

 Remembering Jesus Christ, His death burial and resurrection although emphasized at this time should be something that every Christian constantly keeps in mind throughout the year. Giving of alms or acts of kindness is also something that we should strive to demonstrate not only during Lent but at all times. 

 If you want to make this season special, choose a day to perhaps give up 30 minutes of watching television and instead choose to spend  this time reading a passage from the bible with your children and then discuss what you have read, by the end of Lent it will become a habit you will not want to break.

 

In His Service,

 

Vilma

 

Celebrating a Legend

Today we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Dr. King’s message was one of non-violence and hope. Dr. King was a great orator and very often, we hear others quoting excerpts from his many speeches. His 1963 “I have a dream speech” appear to be one of the most quoted of his speeches. Dr. King did not live to see his dreams become a reality but so many of us have witnessed and are the recipient of what Dr. King was only able to dream about. I believe that as was said of Abraham in Hebrews 11, we can say it of Dr. King that “this was a man of great Faith”

 Dr. King could have sat back not wanting to get involved, he could have come up with many excuses. "I am a pastor I need to focus on my congregation, and saving souls" perhaps he could have said "I have my beautiful wife and four young children to think about, let the government do something." I am also sure that Dr. King also knew that what he was doing was potentially dangerous, however he took the opportunity to make things happen not just for himself and his family but for so many of us. Dr. King saw injustice and could not sit idly and do nothing.

 Dr. King promoted non-violence, to show that arguments and disagreements do not have to be settled with guns and knives. This great but I am sure difficult stand earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Ironically the very violence he fought against ended his life in 1968.

As we celebrate Dr. Kings life and legacy let us do so with the pride and integrity of which he lived his life. Do not just sit around as another day to rest but volunteer to make it happen for someone else. There is so much more to Dr. King, than his speeches, just as there are so much more to whom Jesus Christ really is beyond being a "good man". He is not just our Savior, but a father and brother. He is the great healer, provider, protector and friend. To sum it all up He is the "I am that I am. " These are things we would never know unless we do some research. Just as we should do more research, and listen to the testimonies of those who knew Dr. King; we must also dig deeper in God’s word, and spend more time with Him in prayer to get to know more of Who He is.

 In the same sense mother, there is so much more to you than what you and other people see on the outside. You are not just a mom washing clothes and cooking the dinner,(as honorable as this may be) you are full of potential. Unfortunately you won’t find it until you tap into that greatness within you as is revealed in God’s word.

 In His Service,

 

Vilma

 

A New Perspective for 2014

Today marks the beginning of a New Year and a time for reflection, reprioritizing replacement and rebuilding.

 Reflection: What were you able to accomplish in 2013? Were they things that you planned? Were they things that brought you closer to your goals? Were these things a part of God’s purpose for your life? Were these accomplishments beneficial to others? Was your family adversely affected? Did you lose or gain some friends along the way? Did these accomplishments make you happier? Did these accomplishments strengthen your relationship with God? Did your faith grow stronger?

 Reprioritizing: Instead of starting the year talking about the many things that you would like to do, take a minute to write down at least five things that are most important for you to do. From your list of five -think of that one thing that you must attend to for 2014. This is the thing that you know without a doubt that God is calling you to do. This is the thing that if you are able to accomplish, it will open doors for the fulfillment of other things in your life. Now that you have gotten it, make that your number one priority. Organize the remaining four according to importance. What were the things or who were the people you took for granted in 2013?  How about changing that attitude for 2014?

 Replacement: What are the things in your life that need replacement for 2014?  Do you need to replace your many hours of watching TV, talking on the phone, or being on the internet with perhaps more time reading and studying the word of God, praying, exercising, or doing community service.

 Rebuilding: Is there a wall that got broken down in 2013 that needs to be repaired for 2014?   Can you think of any area of your life that may need some rebuilding or overhaul for 2014?

 Is it Spiritual, physical or psychological? Can you think of someone else that you may have passed broken down along the way that you could help get rebuilt?

 Rebuilding these broken areas may mean that you need to remain on the Potter’s wheel a little longer and allow the Potter to do His job.  Rebuilding may mean that you need to let go and Let God have his way. Rebuilding may even come after you have reflected, reprioritize and replaced-and find that you now have a new image.

 

In His Service,

Vilma