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December 2022

“If you have raced with men on foot and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan? Jeremiah 12:5 ESV

Everywhere! It’s everywhere! Challenges are facing all of us every single day of our lives. We all know it. We have been around enough to know that the challenges we will face while we’re still in these clay vessels will not end. The questions we are faced with daily lay out the choices we have in every circumstance. Will we follow Father God? Will we choose our own paths? Will we say ‘yes’ to our flesh or ‘yes’ to the Magnificent One - The Creator of Heaven and Earth? Like I said…challenges, choices…every single day.

My heart’s desire and prayer for you and for all of Father’s children is that we will SEE the victory that is set before us and choose to let go of those temptations that whisper to us…that we will quit believing the lies that come from the filthy one who will go into eternal punishment because of his rebellion against The Most High, The Almighty YHVH. And that prayer will continue to rise, on your behalf and mine. Our All Consuming Fire GOD calls to us from His Throne in Heaven, encouraging us to keep going, keep following, keep trusting, keep conquering those things that are of this world. This world is not our home. And He knows…we can do this. We CAN overcome!

Back in the 1990’s, my brothers, sisters, uncle and I had a family ‘band’. We played the original music I wrote, but also music by other (christian) artists. Just as I’ve been so blessed to be married to Chuck (who is an amazing musician), I am also blessed to be in a family full of musicians and artists. It was pure joy to perform with my family, even though we were a family like most other families with all of our family problems. We loved one another (still do, of course), and when we picked up our instruments and stepped up to the mics, all of the struggles we were each dealing with at the time seemed to completely fade away. We were musicians and we were in our element! And as I said, joy HAPPENED!

All of that was over 20 years ago. Seems like an eternity has passed since then. So many new challenges for each of us. Lots of failures and successes along the way. Sicknesses that knocked some of us off our feet at times as a family…Cancer in my brother Joe who was the drummer in our group, and the loss of our sister Cindy to cancer about 10 years before that. Like many of you, we have seen cousins, uncles and our mother die. And just like you, we can all attest to the fact that we’ve been on (and perhaps continue to be on) journeys in the mountains and in the valleys, with Father GOD holding each one of us all along the way. There have been lots of tears, lots of - challenges - and a Faithful Father to see us through the hard things as well as the times of great refreshing and joy.

But beloved Family - precious brothers and sisters in Christ - Father is calling us to leave that all behind. It’s time for us to saddle up our horses and get ready to ride! It’s time for a refreshing for the weary and a boldness and fearless faithfulness to rise up in His people! We ARE His people! We ARE the workmanship of His hand. We are not weak, frail, failing, falling, hopeless dust bombs on the earth! We are the sons and daughters of The Most High and we are His warriors in this hour! We have His angelic host who have been assigned to ‘the heirs of salvation’! We have the enormous blessing of Holy Spirit with and in us, if we are being faithful to remain in Him. And that is the key! Remain in HIM… Abide, live, breathe, move in HIM! We don’t have to accept the downcast attitude that the enemy wants us to carry around. We don’t have to cower in fear, if we’ve been doing that! It’s time to run with the horses!

Some of us don’t know that, so we haven’t lived as warriors. Some of us have been overwhelmed by the circumstances that have surrounded and even overtaken our lives. It’s time to cast that stuff aside! It’s time to say ‘NO MORE!’

While I was praying about what to write to you this month, this song and the man who wrote it so many years ago came to mind. It is also one of the songs my family did in our concerts back - way back - then. I’m including two videos below. One is to the youtube video of the original artist’s video and the other is to an interview he did a number of years later on a christian show. If you have a problem with the kind of music, or the performer, or the show he shared his testimony on, you’re going to miss the point and the powerful message Father wants you to receive. So please listen, because it isn’t about the music style, the man or the show. It’s about the goodness and faithfulness of GOD. It’s about changing the way we ‘walk’ through this life and learning to run with the horses… It’s about embracing a whole new perspective of where we are in time and who we are called to be. His people. Broken. Strengthened. And on fire for HIM!

So…saddle up your horses, family. We’ve still got a lot to do here, and it’s time to ride!

Sharing lyrics from one of my original songs. We’re in the production stage (my son and I) and it may be a while before it’s available to listen to, but just wanted to share the words with you in this issue of The Vine.

I'm Free

I'm free

As free as an eagle

I'm free

Free as the sky above

I'm free

As free as the deep blue sea

'cause I continue in His word

And it makes me free

Well I'm free

Free as the wind blows

I'm free

Free as the clouds in the sky

I'm free

As far as the eye can see

'cause I continue in His word

And it makes me free

Once I was bound in pain and affliction

Didn't know which way to go

Then I heard about a man named Jesus

Who died on a cross so I might know

I'm free

As free as an eagle

I'm free

Free as the sky above

I'm free

As free as the deep blue sea

'cause I continue in His word

And it makes me free

”If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

Have you SUBSCRIBED to Chuck Adkins Music on YouTube?

MESSAGES FROM OUR MINISTRY TEAM

“For God has NOT given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.” 1 Timothy 1:7

I am hearing more and more today of precious brothers and sisters in Christ who are overtaken and BOUND by the spirit of fear. So many different aspects of it that are ALL little foxes that WILL spoil the vine if they are not dealt with. Anxiety, fear, torment, worry, depression, every manifestation of this insidious mental torment God can and will help us to overcome. You see, WE would respond, and so many do, by saying, "Well I have prayed about it and it's still there.” But NOTHING is impossible to God. NOTHING. If it was, He would not BE God. He would not promise us to set us free if He were not able to do so. And Jesus said, "Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!"

NOTICE that Scripture calls it a SPIRIT. And it is. Over the last 3 years we have seen a massive number of people succumbing to its power, and this should not be in the body of Christ! As Christians we are to be overcomers, not overcome, we are to be victorious, not victims, we are to be the revealers of God's power in our lives, not the influence of Satan's power over our lives. Someone I love is in bondage to "panic/anxiety attacks." She loves the Lord but declares chains, satanic bondage over her life by stating that these panic attacks have been with her since she was a small child and therefore she's stuck with them. The Word of God is our weapon of warfare, the sword of the Spirit and when spoken into a situation can deliver us. FAITH as a grain of mustard seed. PLANT IT! GROW IT! A mustard seed has no power unless it is PLANTED and WATERED and tended! Watch it GROW. There is POWER in the name of Jesus! Faith is useless until it is ACTIVATED!

Many years ago I had two "panic attacks" and I knew immediately WHERE they came from. I was standing in the house one day during a stressful time in my life, and all of a sudden out of the blue, I felt myself falling, falling, falling into oblivion, into "space"! I felt HELPLESS and it was a terrifying feeling. I SCREAMED out "JESUS!! JESUS!! JEEESUSSSS!!!!!" in my spirit, and immediately it stopped. I broke out into a cold sweat and KNEW that Satan had tried to bring me down. I was shaking! I praised the Lord for His deliverance! He had heard me and responded immediately to my need! Some 3 or so weeks later the same thing happened again when I was out late afternoon on my prayer walk. Once again I called on the name of Jesus, because there is POWER in His NAME and at His name the enemy MUST flee! And he did. These panic/anxiety attacks are no fun. I have never forgotten them. However, I KNOW that God is able to deliver us.

A couple of years later God also delivered me from my fear of heights that was paralyzing. He told me to climb a local mountain, not to take the safe track up it but to go straight up the side to the top. The thought terrified me, but the desire to be free from this thing that controlled my mind and my emotions, I did. AS I STEPPED IT OUT I could FEEL the oppression of fear and anxiety leaving me as I called on the Lord to protect me from falling and to help me to accomplish this desperately NEEDED victory over the spirit of fear! I reached the top with JOY in my heart, and by the time I got back down to the bottom the fullness of the joy of the victory was overflowing in praise and worship! Thank You Lord!

If we believe that we are "stuck" with fear in its various forms because of this or that reason, God will not intervene. Not until we are WILLING to let Him deliver us from this demonic power that is so crippling - IF we let it, and WALK IT OUT, will we be completely free. There is SUCH a powerful message for us in Scripture that if we will take on board, and SEE God's deliverance in it, that Satan will not be able to penetrate this barrier. "Do not fret or have any anxiety about ANYTHING, but in EVERY circumstance and IN EVERYTHING by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison [a fortress, a military defence post,] and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil.4:6-7 AMPC).

We HAVE NO excuse to live in fear. As Christians we claim we are saved by faith. Faith is not PASSIVE, it is ACTIVE and learning to trust God in EVERY situation and with our lives is not optional. It is putting into PRACTICE the declaration of faith in God. If the enemy is having power over our lives we must examine WHY and WHERE he got entrance and we need to clean it out. Understand that "there is NO fear in love! But perfect love CASTS OUT FEAR, because FEAR INVOLVES TORMENT, but he who fears has NOT been made perfect in love."(1 John 4:18) The Lord makes us to lie down in green pastures, He leads us beside STILL waters. He delivers us from ALL evil. He allows no plague to come near our dwelling. He sees and knows our going out and our coming in. He calls on us to TRUST in HIM with ALL our hearts, NOT to lean on our own understanding, in ALL our ways acknowledge Him and He WILL direct our paths. He is our SAVIOR! If He is our Savior, why do WE limit His power in our lives to the point where we say we believe Him for this and for that, but NOT to deliver us from Satan's fiery darts. Understand that if He can deliver ME from Satan's attacks, He can deliver ANYONE. But we have to say, "I BELIEVE!" and then WALK IT OUT in FAITH and TRUST in GOD! NOTHING is impossible to Almighty God, but we can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens us. Amen. AND DON'T LOOK BACK! - Luke 9:62.

PSALM 23

A Psalm of David.

1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

3He restoreth my soul:

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:

for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Teresa = Harvest

Hebrews 8:10

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

Why the Red bird sings

(A Christmas tale)

We sat out side the Old church just to hear the Christmas bells

Their heavy iron ringing out the red birds’ story to tell

Long ago there were some travelers lost in a blinding snow

The blizzard came so hard and fast that they’d lost the way to go

They hid beneath some pine trees to weather out the storm

Hoping it would soon clear up at the break of morn

But the air was cooler than they thought, they drifted off to sleep

Unaware that as they slept the temperatures fell too deep

But hidden in the branches two red birds made their nest

They saw the weary travelers neath them as they rest

They knew they would not last the night, so off to the church they flew

To tell the chapel caretaker he’d know just what to do

Farly sat beside the stove drinking some Christmas tea

When much to His amazement these two red birds He did see

He watched them fly to the steeple heard them try to pull the rope

He had the feeling in this silent night someone was loosing hope

He hurried to put on his jacket and scampered up the stairs

Trembling as He reached the top so frigid was the air

The birds were tap tap tapping as if to sound the alarm

Farly heard his heart speak someone’s in grave harm

His hands were stiff as he grabbed the rope He pulled till the bells rang out

He thought he could hear the angels joining them in their shout

The sleeping couple woke in a daze they scarcely could get to their feet

Groggily they became aware of the red birds singing sweet

They flew ahead as if to lead through the snow towards the ringing bells

Each year at Christmas they return, salvations tale they tell

Many hearts are cold, asleep in this world’s snow

Won’t you ring the bells of His love so they’ll know the way to go?

Vivian Worley

"He came to seek and save that which was lost." Luke 19:10. There are many who have drifted off and are lost in the snow today. They're covered in a blanket of white that numbs them from the pain of life and the sting of death and hides the things they can't cope with. Their hope lies buried waiting to be awakened from its slumber. We are the birds who've been clothed in scarlet (the blood of the Lamb) sent to alert, to wake, to ring the bells of the good news of Jesus the Hope of the lost. The time is now to draw them in. Can't you see it? Oh, the field~ it is "white unto harvest"
Sow

An Experience in the Secret Place

In this next portion of this lengthy article… I felt led to share with you what my prayer time in the secret place can sometimes look like.

I had been contemplating what the Secret Place was all about. I realized throughout my walk with the Lord there were many times when I had created "habits" and had "religious mindsets" about how much I prayed, read the word, or worshipped. Much of what "I Did" was about my actions to gain His approval to feel worthy instead of believing that I was right with Him and my trying to earn righteousness did not bear fruit!

I know that I am not alone in this because it seems the spirit of religion drives many of the children of the most High God to ‘Perform’ or use a ‘Formula’. I had been hearing the voice of the Lord for many years, but I also knew I was often dealing with feeling condemned when I ‘hadn’t spent enough time’ so I wanted the truth and started my prayer time by thanking and believing my Father for loving me, for desiring me to come into the secret place with Him. I knew the Father wanted to speak to my spirit… He began like this.

The rituals that man create come from the need to control outcomes. The relationship with me is always flowing, it doesn’t dry up or disappear because you haven’t spent enough time praying, singing, or worshipping....my love and relationship with you is not based on what YOU do - My Love is based on who I AM!

You can never do enough to earn my attention or love - Never! You are only able to come to me at any time because you are ‘in my Son’ and His atoned blood paid for the privilege of our relationship. I planned this to happen, so that you would never not have a reason to come and be with me.

Child, if you can only let go of your predisposed ideas of love and fear of not being enough, you would grasp the intensity of my love for you. It is Not measured by what ‘you’ do, it is only ever measured by the paid blood of my precious Son.

Child, His blood - His body - His Life is my assurance of my Love for you. Whenever you doubt this, look at the cross, look at the marred and painful death of my Son and then DO NOT doubt how much I love you!

You believe in His death and His suffering, now believe in this way, my Love for you.

Child, I know you are carrying worry that you should not be carrying - there are many things that hover in your heart and mind about the future and what may be. You hear of rumours of war, suffering and pain and your heart winces at the very thought. You become afraid of what may be.... yet you know my word says be anxious for nothing but in ALL things present your requests before the Father, who is able to hear you.

Don’t allow the ‘unknown’ the distractions and the fear to take root in your heart and mind, at this moment release it to me and allow me to carry it. You do not have to try and ‘plan’ what is to come you are asked only to abide in me today.

You were not given grace for tomorrow; you were given it for today!

Child, have I not always provided you all that is needed at precisely the right time?

If I have need of you to make some changes, I am able to lead you into this. The key in all of these things that are presented before you, is BE NOT anxious for anything but in ALL things through prayer and thanksgiving present your requests before your Heavenly Father ... who REMEMBER, He cares for you!

In choosing to stay transparent and vulnerable to my readers and to express and give example of how I engage in the secret place, this is my response to my Father’s words to me.

(Note: Always be honest and transparent with your Heavenly Father, He knows all things anyway and knows already what you feel, but by expressing your heart in truth to him is really your expression of trusting Him.)

Me: Father I do feel condemned at times because I deserve to be... I wonder why I am not walking in the revelation of your healing. What must "I do" to have my eyes and heart aligned with your word in truth to see the manifestation of your Healing power in my body - in my daughter Ashleigh’s body and her life and indeed my whole family? What am I doing wrong? Lord you must be so disappointed in me and your body as we are still not where you would like us to be. Forgive us and help us by your spirit to move into who we have all been called to be.

The Father’s response to my heart:

Child, you say you deserve to be? To deserve to be, would be someone, who is not righteous, they are not standing before me covered by the blood of my Son.

To deserve to be… is someone, who is not concerned about or desiring to be in relationship with me or trying to do their best to walk with me. Do you see?

For every time you affront yourself with guilt and shame and condemnation you are failing to recognize that the relationship you are longing to have, is the very one you are working towards and my desire is to always be in communication with you. It is my delight to be fellowshipping with you. Do you understand my joy is in you, my reward is in you -the one that says My Son who paid the price for you has ransomed you unto Me!

My delight is in your heart that desires to do right by me!

My longing is that you learn to abide and come and sit with me and delight with me in this fellowship of sweet communion of our hearts that you may know you are beloved - you are not rejected, nor are you cast away when you fail to fulfill a promise or desire you made.

I never turn my back from you child - I am always watching over you to bring you into a deeper and stronger relationship with Me! Oh, how my heart longs for you to see me as I am. With each day and passing year I am leading you to greater knowledge of who I am and greater delight in your ability to trust me and abide with me!

Time is not the issue as you place such a large amount of importance on this, but for me the ‘heart’ and its direction is all that I am looking at. Your heart is moving towards me Child and yes, the greater the surrender, the more you draw into me and my plans.

Be joyful that you are being led closer to me each day. Keep your eyes on my word and your heart desiring me and truth will always lead you home to me!

Sons, and Daughters – may His words stir your hearts and cause you to be free to ENTER into the Secret Place with your beloved King!

Amelia

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!

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