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December 2022

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.” Philippians 3:13-15 ESV

Here’s the link to the old website, which will be available as the new site is being built. Thank you once again for your patience while we are in the building process!

Home | Vicky and Chuck (vickyadkins.wixsite.com)

Below is the message I mentioned in the video above. Seems like ages ago…and it was only a bit over two years ago. So much has changed in our world, but our God has been and will forever be faithful to His Word!!!

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 11:24

When you pray, believe that you receive. Sometimes it will happen quickly. Other times it may take a while....sometimes a long time. Don't go by the way things look or the way you feel. Keep believing no matter how long it takes.

When I was 35, I had a problem with my knees. I couldn't bend them or kneel on them. I prayed the healing promises over them and believed I was healed. Long story short.... I held on and did not doubt. It took 2 months and one day. The pain was gone. I know other people that prayed for years about things and never gave up. They believed the promises of God's Word and did not doubt in their heart. They persevered and in the end, they won the victory. God is good!

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MESSAGES FROM OUR MINISTRY TEAM

“I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.” (Phil.3:13-14 AMPC)

I am constantly reminded of the warning of Jesus when He said "Remember Lot's wife!" (Luke 17:32) and WHY He said it. There were issues with her that she was not willing to let go of that drew her to look back at Sodom, not because of her fear of the evil there, but because there were things, even people there she loved that she grieved leaving behind. Perhaps it was the marketplace where she could buy lovely things, delicious goodies for the table, beautiful clothes and all the tempting perfumes and jewellery that adorned her sensual body. Perhaps it was her friends she missed and feared for their safety, even though they lived debauched lives and had no time for God. Perhaps it was the creature comforts of her home and the things in it she loved that gave her much pleasure....we may never know WHAT it was. Whatever it was it became the stumbling block that drew her attention away from her future BACK into the past and the regrets that she had.

The point of Jesus' warning was for us who have been granted the GRACE of God's mercy in calling us out of the world, and the destruction that awaits it, is that we must have no regrets that will make us stop moving forward into the unknown but glorious call of God on our lives. Jesus said, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62) The past can be very heavy baggage to tote around in our lives, and those relationships, and things that we have loved and accumulated over the years he calls us to hold onto them lightly as they can be obstacles that can cause us to stumble on that narrow and difficult path that leads to life. "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15) Our love for the Lord must hold precedence over everything this world offers. He has forgiven and forgotten our past and the sins, and the wounds of it are covered by the shed blood of our Lord and Savior, cast into the sea of GOD'S forgetfulness. We must let go and move on.

"Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes." (Matt.10:21-23)

His love, His grace, His provision, His protection, ALL the promises of God's are our for the taking when we step FORWARD and respond to His call.....He who endures to the end SHALL be saved! Hallelujah!

This Summer, after many months of allowing GOD to work on my heart, I finally found myself in a place in which I had no choice but to bring my broken heart to The Great I AM and trust him completely. This trust was developed through many months of firey trials, in which I would have rather not had to painfully walk through. Those months GOD was preparing, and teaching me how to fully and completely trust HIM. Knowing myself, I wouldn't have been able to walk out the next few months if I hadn't had to go through the difficult experience. My faith needed to be put to the test by The HOLY One.

In February of this year, my husband & I came to a big decision that would have me test my faith once more. This time the LORD was having us pull up our tent stakes,and head out to new lands, like the Israelites leaving Egypt or Abraham being told by GOD to leave his country, his people, his fathers' house and go to the land He instructed him to go. In the same manner it felt like we were being prompted to do the same. Leave what we know for the unknown, and trust GOD to lead the way. That has had to be the hardest decision, and yet the most rewarding spiritually, to let GOD physcially & spiritually lead, and truly follow in loving obedience.

I had seen enough times and gotten to know My Lord enough these last 2 years to know that HE IS FAITHFUL! That what he has in store for our lives is much greater than we can ever imagine. I had to fight back the feelings of being homesick, doubt and fear of what would be waiting for us as we moved forward, and leaving everything else behind. I had to mentally coach myself with GOD's truth to snap out of the "emotions" that would easily make me freeze in uncertainity and fear. I feared taking a wrong step, and following my flesh instead of the spirit. Yet, HE would remind me that He was in control. I just needed to be obedient in taking the first step. He would provide the rest.

As the last days came around in our old home and we boxed up the last of our belongings in the garage, each room echoed the emptiness I was feeling. Each noise was amplified on the naked walls; every inch was exposed and striped of life. I felt like those alls. Then GOD in HIS WORD took me to Isaiah and said,

Isaiah 46:3-4

3“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob,

all the remnant of the people of Israel,

you whom I have upheld since your birth,

and have carried since you were born.

4Even to your old age and gray hairs

I am he, I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you;

I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

That was enough for me. I would go!

LORD,

As we step out of 2022 and step in to 2023, may we run confidently and boldly proclaiming THE GOOD NEWS, knowing that you have called us to you.Even when we were sinners, you loved us. You who made us will sustain us till the end.

THANK YOU LORD FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO! LEAD THE WAY! WE WANT TO FOLLOW YOU! WE PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME!

Amen

Come Away

by Vivian Worley

Come away My beloved like the doe upon the mount

Let us go down to the Gardens I’ll release to you My fount

Come away and I will teach you what’s revealed can’t be taught by man

I will dress you with garments of meekness give power to fulfill what I’ve planned

My voice falls quiet like the dew in stillness you shall hear

As you grow comfortable with quiet I’ll draw ever near

I am here My bride to quench your thirst to refresh and restore your soul

I’m here to soothe your bruises with My peace I’ll make you whole

I am meek and lowly I shoulder your weariness

Just come to Me and lay it down just come and find your rest

Lay your sackcloth in My hands wash in the myrrh of my Grace

I’ll heal and fill your dryness and restore to Me the waste

1Kings 19: 11-15 NIV "The Lord said,"go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by. Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. after the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave."

Much like us Elijah had a problem. People were out to get him and kill him because he was zealous for the LORD. The Father, knowing Elijah's heart, told him to go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD - to come away. How often do we cry out "Father, show me Your Glory." We want to see His glory in the midst of our situation, but yet we don't put ourselves in the position to see it. Some of the most magnificent things in the heavens cannot be seen unless we leave the city and get away from the lights and crowds and get into the cave of the heart - where He is. He invites you today to come away - into the secret place of your heart where he dwells as He wants to pass by you.

If you are interested in joining Dave and Amelia’s ministry “Created for His Glory” zoom meetings on Sunday afternoons, please email vineyardconnections@outlook.com. We would love see you there!

LOOKING FOR PAST ISSUES OF THE VINE? Coming in March…the previous issues will once again be available…we hope! As some of you know, we are in the process of rebuilding the website on a different server, and hope to have The Vine in place by then. Thank you for your patience as we make the move! Blessings from all of us to you!

Vicky and Chuck