DILIGENCE in 2011

a couple of weeks before the end of the year, the Lord showed me to send out a newsletter letting people know what they would need to know for the coming year, 2011.

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well, 2011 is here.  in a couple of days Jessica and I will be sending out our January issue of the newsletter which will begin to talk about the year 2011.

when the Lord showed me this, I was able to see in my heart what He wanted me to talk to you about.  He also showed me to tell Jessica to write you on the same subject.  so the letter coming will be from both of us.

for 2011, the biggest word I had in me was DILIGENCE.  to succeed in 2011 you will have to make a decision to be diligent about God's Word; reading it, studying it, hearing it... but most importantly; DOING it.

diligently obeying and heeding the voice of God has always been the key issue to life.  in the garden of Eden, both Eve and Adam chose not to be diligent in heeding what He said, and so it all began:  sin entered into the world and death by sin.

God's Word is the basis of all creation and all life.  His Word is Life.  Sin separated us from truly knowing God anymore.  then came a promise that we would once again walk in the blessing one day.  the law came (a way of knowing His Word but only from the outside, not on the inside) that we could know what God says but ultimately it would only condemn us.  Christ came that we could be redeemed from death and once again have God on the inside of us.  He came that we could once again know God.  Christ in us, the hope of Glory.  Christ, the Word of God in flesh, in us; the hope of glory.

today, we can know God.  but we will never know Him apart from His Word.  for God and His Word are One.  you cannot separate them.  therefore diligently obeying His Word will always be the root of truly knowing Him.

when the Lord showed me DILIGENCE for 2011, He was giving me a sneak preview of what He had in store in 2011 for those who would obey.

the Bible says

'poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich'  Prov 10:4

'the hand of the diligent will rule,
but the slack hand will be put to forced labor' Prov 12:24

'the soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
but the soul of the diligent is made fat' Prov 13:4

for those who will fight to keep God's Word in the forefront of their thinking this year and be diligent to do it, God has increase in mind.

but know this saints and take serious note: there is a war on in the spirit.  you have an enemy who has not changed since the days of the garden of Eden.  he is still very subtle.  his tactics are still the same and so are his goals.  his goal is very simple: get you to ignore what God has said to you and do something else.  you must make a quality decision that you are going to be diligent to listen for God's voice, take note of exactly what He is saying, guard your heart against all other voices and then do what He has said at all costs.

we love you all and pray all of God's best in your life this year of 2011.  please begin to heed this word of warning and encouragement.  to ignore it would be disastrous; to heed it will mean glory.  time is short; life is even shorter.  what will you do with this one life God has given you?  will you make a difference?  will you live for God like He is worthy?  or will you neglect such great salvation.  let us live soberly as we ought, for the days are evil and the rewards to wonderful to miss.

-vincent  

Nursing Homes, Atlanta GA

We had the honor of ministering to some wonderful people in Atlanta, GA.

The first place we went. We were in a small room with 10-20 elderly people. The Word of God went forth. Vincent preached on 'Emmanuel: God with us'.  Christ in us is where real strength comes from.  We can have a strong and overcoming spirit regardless of our situation. Thank you Lord! I was able to pray with the people. It was an honor to join my faith in God with a lady.  She shared with me that she was believing that the nursing home was going to become a place filled with the anointing of God; where people would be healed by the power of God. Thank you Lord for desires and dreams you have given people.

Our second honor was ministering in a memory care center. We got straight to the Word after a couple of songs. I preached on the fact that God's Word is alive and full of power.  It is sent forth to accomplish the divine puposes of God. I encourged them that the Word was sent to them to accomplish specific purposes and to open their hearts to receive the Word. From the Word, we noted three things God had sent.  #1. Freedom from fear: we exhorted them that they have nothing to be afraid of (God is with them, God is for them).  #2. God is our Healer.  Healing is available to those who will believe.  #3. Jesus gave us peace.  Therefore we can have peace at all time and in all situations.

There is nothing more wonderful then the Word of God. He sent His Word and healed them; it was such an honor to be a vessel God used to share His Word and see people receieve it. Some will receive and some won't. We know that is not our concern; all we must do is what He has told us to do: "Preach the Word".

-jessica 

Harris County Jail, Houston TX

I had been to a jail one other time, to visit someone, but I had never seen the inside.  Yesterday Jessica and I had the honor of conducting our first service in a jail.  It truly was an honor.  We met the chaplain and he brought me into three different cell blocks to invite the inmates to church, while Jessica stayed in the office and prayed for us. 
I didn't know what to expect inside the jail.  I felt comfortable preaching because I have done lots of that but was not looking forward to visiting the inmates in their cells.  That quickly changed.  God's grace was present.  Now I am very glad that I did go into where they live to visit them.  It changed everything and made all the difference.  It caused me to walk with greater reverance for their need of God.  The first thing I knew when I entered their cell is that I would not want to have to be there, nor would I want anyone else to be.
Compassion for them quickly arose within me and I desired to talk with them.  We invited them to the service which would take place in an hour and then I returned to be with Jessica in prayer.
Between 30 and 40 men showed up for the service.  It was a wonderful time from the first moment.  We shared with them our sincere desire that God's Word for them come out clearly; that the time would be fruitful in helping them where they are at.
Jessica shared an encouraging word with them.  Everyone was very respectful and many were very hungry to hear from God.  It was a wonderful atmosphere to preach in.
God had given me a Christmas message for them.  But it was not your typical Christmas lesson.  He told me 'God sent us a Lord'.  Most people are glad to hear about a Savior.  But those wonderful old Scriptures that we hear at Christmas time very clearly point out that this Savior is a Lord and a Governor.  Everyone wants salvation, but the problem is not many people want a Lord.  But that's what we needed and so that's what God sent.  If you want all the benefits of the Savior, you must receive His Lordship.  And the Good News of it all is that He is a Good Lord.  Thank you Lord.
It was a powerful Word but it was without compromise.  It was what each one needed, but it demanded commitment, truth, honor and submission.  Wow.  They were glad to hear the Truth.
We also talked extensively on what it is to have a Lord and Master and then how to allow Jesus to come in and transform your life from the inside out; regardless of your situation.
Wonderful time.  Thank you Lord.  The anointing was strong and we definately left with a desire to return and continue to pour into their lives.
Thank you to all our partners that make it possible for us to travel and reach all these different types of people; all in such need of the Word of God.  We love you.

-vincent

memory care center, houston tx

We had the honor of sharing the Word of God in a memory loss care center.  What an honor to visit those who are afflicted.  We know that it is not God's will for people to be afflicted and in bondage. 

"He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions." Psalm 107:20

Thank you Lord.  He has given us authority to go, in His name, with His Word, to preach.  What a wonderful meeting.  The Lord honored us with His presense.  After the meeting we went and met each resident. I shook the hand of one lady. She grasped onto my hand, began to cry tears of gratitude, as she spoke to me.  She told me how the Word God shared through us was just what she needed.  And how grateful she was to be in a service where God was speaking to her and encouraging her; she had been struggling with lonliness.  Thank you Lord!  Another lady shared with me, from a sincere heart, how encouraged she was by the Word of God during the service.  Her mother had passed away recently and she had been struggling, but she received encouragement and hope from the Word of God during the service.  Thank you Lord. 

He knows each and every person.  He knows their needs and we reverence the fact that He sends us to specific people.  So each time we have the honor of sharing we realize it is an appointment from the Lord.  Thank you Jesus!                                                                                                      

-jessica

covenant House texas, Houston TX

we arrived at the home and it was dark out.  there were a lot of young people in the streets and having been mostly in small-town atmospheres the past months, I was admittedly tempted to be a little intimidated.  Jessica and I prayed and rebuked the spirit of intimidation. we had to go through a security booth to enter the youth shelter.  the woman at the booth seemed very kind and directed us to the chapel.  the chaplain, Pastor Martin, was also very kind and welcoming.  he has a heart to see the kids as well as the entire organization grow to know God's grace on a higher level.
we set up and I took out my guitar to tune it.  I sensed the Presence of God as I played through a few songs and hummed to warm up my voice.  I was grateful.  His Presence is always very assuring.  I knew it would be a good meeting.
when the young people arrived I began by sharing II Chronicles 16:9 with them.  God is looking to and fro throughout the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward Him.  I knew the Lord wanted to put out a gracious offer and that whoever would just have enough boldness to receive, could have it.  I sang a couple of old Johnny Cash gospel songs, as I like to do.  but I quickly handed the mic over to Jessica, sensing the anointing was more on the preaching than on the singing.
Jessica hit it hard as she does.  she encouraged the young people that God has a plan for their lives and that HE IS ABLE to perform it.  God is the great I AM and one of the things that I AM IS, is ABLE.  Good news to the hurting.  one young lady was very zealous to have Jessica write all the Scripture references down for her and pray for her. 
people are hungry for good news.  sometimes we can forget or doubt it because we assume no one cares or assume they already know.  but more often than not, the truth is that people don't know the Truth as much as they could, should and need to.  And, if you'll offer the Truth in Love, they will be so glad to hear it.  thank you Lord.
I finished it up with an exhortation concerning what I believe God wants to do in their lives and gave them three keys to attaining it.  when it comes right down to it, the main key is following Jesus.  but there are different ways to connect with Him and through which to maintain and build our relationship with Him.
it was a powerful meeting.  one of the young guys that the Lord is working on exclaimed how he wished we could just stay there all night and keep partaking of God's Word and His power.
they have a wonderful team of people ministering to these young people.  thank you Lord.  they also offer help with housing, food, school and jobs.     http://www.covenanthousetx.org/

-vincent