Beloved of God,
I share the scripture that God put on my heart
for this month by telling you that He gave it to me before March 14th,
but for some “reason” I never seemed able to sit down and write.
Then came the
news that on March 14th our own dear sweet Nicole, wife to Pastor
Ade of our “forever home” church Victory Christian Fellowship in Dover,
DE. had suddenly moved to Heaven.
Pastor Ade, you and Nicole have always been
true friends to Tom and myself and avid supporters of the ministry. We love you both dearly, and our hearts are
with you! I write this newsletter as
tribute of her beautiful smile and gentle love that was always there; a giving
heart so full of love for others. Quiet
and unassuming I remember her sharing the shock and surprise when Pastor June
contacted her one day to say she had missed her in church that Sunday. It just never dawned on her that people
looked for her smile and her presence! I
imagine even more so her surprise in Heaven, to see the lives she touched while
down here and HOW MUCH she is missed!
When I told my son Ben in Uganda of her sudden departure, he cried,
remembering her kindness to him. His
words, “Oh noooo, my sweet Nicole!”
Sweet indeed, emptying out her closet to send clothes home with him for
Grace! Cleaning out the kid’s closets
too! Hosting a dinner at her house in his honour… So loving.
So, I debated whether to even send out the newsletter, but have been
encouraged that yes, I should. Then I
asked, “Lord, is this still the scripture I am to share?” He assured me it was and began to finally
unfold to me what He wanted me to share.
To those outside of VCF, the message is just as relevant as it is to the
home circle. Please read it and be
strengthened, encouraged and uplifted.
Know it comes from a heart of love- God’s own heart and mine too!
Gal 6:9 (AMP) And let us not lose heart and grow weary and
faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed
season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
There are many things that can come our way to cause us to lose heart,
to grow weary, for some it can cause them to even faint. A sudden transition of a loved one to Heaven
is shocking and painful, confusing. We
thank God that we know they are in Heaven, but still there is a hole in the
place they filled down here! Likewise, a
kind act or deed done for someone with no strings attached, only to have them
turn to attack you?… A business launched
that fails. A business deal that goes
awry, even though you thought you had covered all the bases! Kids that walk away. Betrayal from those you trusted… Muggings, theft, accusations, criticisms…
The list goes on. Each has its own hurt and devastation. Pain and loss
hurt! And then there are those who
seemingly prosper, and yet do not serve God or His kingdom! King David asked why on that one! Paul himself certainly had his share of
sorrow and pains, even listing some as shipwreck and beatings. I recently read an article, whose author
escapes me at the moment. But something
they said explains so many things; “Satan is a lawbreaker!” And so he steps across the boundaries and
like the thief he comes in to wreak havoc in people’s lives. Jesus said so, in John 10:10. And so, because we live in a world that is
subject to Satan’s tantrums and lawlessness, bad things happen to good
people. But it is not the end of the
story! We are not left alone, or without
hope or comfort. For we have a High
Priest and His name is Jesus!
Heb 4:15-16 For we have not a high priest which cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like
as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in
time of need.
Jesus when here on earth in the physical, did
something that the Priests of the Old Order, could not, or would not do; he was
touchable! The Pharisees drew fences and
borders and had so many “rules” and were
so “holy” that none dared touch them,
and they themselves did not touch any one!
But Jesus was approachable and touchable and still is! He feels our
pain, sees our sorrow and IS interceding for us!
Reach out to Him today and be touched by the
touchable One who cares for you so!
No matter “what” the painful season is that you
are in, or the disappointment, or trouble that you face, you are not
alone! And there is a “due season”
coming! That word “due season” means a
time that is your own, belonging to you. It’s a time of recompense, a time of
restoration, a time of healing and of blessing.
God will bring hope even in the midst of despair, His Peace in the midst
of trials, a Joy and a Strength that is not connected to anything here, but
draws its source from the wells of the Spirit and the portals of Heaven. Due season is coming, for though the one you
are in is severe, it cannot last! Let us
hold on fast to His Hand of Mercy and Grace and seek His Face. Keep your eyes on Jesus, He IS walking with
you through each and every stormy season of your life. He is catching every teardrop and putting
them into bottles. He alone knows how to
read the writings of our hearts that are contained in those drops! But be assured, read them He does. He alone can lead us to that place of sweet
rest, green pastures that are safe, still water that is deep and sweet. And
like the shepherds of old, He is singing over you! Songs of deliverance, of healing, of love, of
hope, of His own Delight in you. Drink deep and let Him caress you with His
Love, soothe your heart, ease your mind, take you to that secret place in Him
that He alone can find. He’s holding you
now. And Your due season is coming. God Bless You. Amen.
Mission news I will keep brief, however it is very
exciting! God has opened a door,
not just a little, but wide open in Gambia!
I am preaching on the radio every Sunday Morning! I started out at the 6:30 am slot. The cost of a month of programming is
$150.00. But after the very 1st show, God spoke to a minister there
and he is personally sponsoring my programme!
Gambia is 98% Muslim, and the radio station owner is Muslim also! But he allows 4 hours on Sunday for Christian
programming! The sponsor has recently
moved my spot to a better time of 7:30 am to reach more people. Because of the time difference, I have the programs archived and available free of
charge at these three links: The ministry page on Facebook www.facebook.com/HeartnHandsMinistry or at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/55Grace4MefrmGOD/videos or http://www.heartsnhands.org under the "What's New" on the front page. I hope you will check them out! If you visit our brand new Facebook page,
please “Like” us! Thanks!
The mission trip in April has been cancelled,
although the Leadership Conference is still happening, I just did not have a go
ahead for attending it. I have requested
time from work for a return to Nigeria in middle May and then from there a trip
into Gambia as my first time of setting foot in the land. I am praying for God’s perfect will and
timing and the finances to support this endeavor! There is much happening that is still in the
womb, but I will be sharing as I am released to do so!
Please know Tom and I appreciate and love each
and every one of you! I encourage you:
Keep on loving, keep on praying, keep on doing good where ever you find
opportunity to do so! You are making the world a better place by your being in
it. I leave you with two quotes: “I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing
God, who is sending a love letter to the world.” “Not all of us can do great things. But we
can do small things with great love.” ― Mother Teresa
Much, much Love, Nancy & Tom and the Board
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