Dear “Beloved of the Lord”,
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart and a humble mind.” (I Peter 3:8)
How is that for a living description of who we are called to be in a time where none of those things are valued? We are living in a time when everyone has their own “truth”. When “truth” is malleable. (“A. capable of being extended or shaped by beating with a hammer or by the pressure of rollers. B. capable of being altered or controlled by outside forces or influences; C. having a capacity for adaptive change.” Merriam-Webster). How can we possibly live as Peter suggests when the news is full of accusations, when anger is the first response, when love is all about sex, when hardness of heart is a necessity, and when the one who dominates wins? It would seem that anyone who is sympathetic, has a desire to love others, has a tender heart, and walks in humility is not going to get very far in this world. Which is absolutely true if one only sees the kingdom of this world and is bound by the things of this world. This however is not the case for us. We do not live under the power and authority of this world. We are part of a different kingdom and hence are not subject to the bondages of the kingdom of this world. We have been set free to live in the Kingdom of God now, which requires us to allow the King to give us His mind; to cause us to have His sympathy; to share His love with one another; to break the hardness of our hearts and replace them with His tender heart; and to empower us to live in His humility. He invites us to be “malleable” under the hammer of His Spirit so He can mold and shape us into His perfect image. This will cause us to be accused, as the early disciples were, of – “These are they who have turned the world upside down have come here also.”(Acts 17:6b)
Jesus did not come to make our lives easy. He came to set us free and to allow His Holy Spirit to transform us into being just like Him. He empowers us to be forgiving to others and ourselves. He gives us His mind so we can think like Him and then to act like Him. Since we have experienced His love and acceptance, we are free to love others even when they are not particularly lovable and don’t understand how they are making it so difficult to love. We are not bound to old habit patterns, because He makes all things new. His life in us helps us to be gracious and humble, even when those whom we are having to live with are not. Jesus has set us free. Let us walk in His freedom so these words of Peter will be true of us: “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart and a humble mind.”
If this is not a letter you have time to read, or you just throw it in the wastebasket, would you be a good steward and email me that you are no longer interested in receiving the “Faith Promise Letter” anymore, and I will remove your name from our mailing list. My email address is: [email protected], and be sure to include your name.
Uganda just finished its first school as a member of VMTC International. They had 65 who attended the school, + a team of 29. They also had 230+ who attended the “Freed to Live” seminar. Kenya had a school this week with 400 coming to the “Freed to Live” seminar and 42+ coming to the school in Solai. Through your generosity we are helping to cover the expenses of those schools as well as work in Cameroon and a school to be held later this year in Tanzania.
February 1-3 we will be having a School of Prayer Ministry at the “Lighthouse Worship and Retreat Center” in Shingletown which is east of Redding, California. We are expecting at least 40 to attend. Little Country Church in Redding is once again hosting this school. If you have not registered and are moved by the Spirit to come, call the church at: 530.222.4092 for information.
Our Board of Directors will be meeting at the San Pedro Spiritual Development Center here in Winter Park, February 13-15. Please be in prayer for us as we seek God’s direction for VMTC-USA in 2024 and beyond. At our year end “zoom” meeting we joyfully welcomed Rusty Richter to the Board of Directors. He and his wife Pam live in Wyoming, Michigan and have been involved in VMTC for many years. As we move forward, we are expecting to add additional members to the Board of Directors. Ask the Lord to raise up new people who will help us expand this Ministry into new churches and states. There is such a need for people who are wounded and bound by hurts of the past to be set free so they can know the “Truth” and be set free by Him. You are experiencing that freedom, encourage others to join you.
Thank you for being a vital part of this Ministry, for all your prayers and generosity which make it possible for us to reach around the world with God’s Word that sets the captives free.
Love and blessings,
VICTORIOUS MINISTRY THROUGH CHRIST – USA
P.O. BOX 1804, WINTER PARK, FLORIDA 32790-180404