Vicki Pooley

Moving Mountains

Should we pray? Does prayer change anything? Many examples in the bible testify to the fact that prayer does change things. Think of the three men in the bible who were thrown in the fiery furnace!! They prayed that God would deliver them, and He did. Can you imagine having flames lapping at your feet, and then completely engulfing your body, and in the midst of this crisis seeing God in the fire with you, and not even being burned!Too difficult to even comprehend. However, I think it is a good reminder that God is with us when we are in the middle of our crisis...our fiery trials.

Last night at our women's bible study Beth Moore was talking about how Daniel bowed on his knees, three times a day in front of his window. During Daniel's time, a window was a hole in the wall.  Beth Moore said that she felt God showed her that when we pray, we make a hole in the wall of our problem(s).

I do believe that prayer makes a difference, but I also believe that our prayers have to be mixed with faith. Many times Jesus wanted to do miracles, but He said that He couldn't do many miracles, because there was so much unbelief.

God responds to our faith. Faith is an active thing! Satan doesn't care if we pray! He cares if we pray and believe!!

Sometimes the things we are facing seem like mountains. God is not afraid of the size of the mountains in our way. Our problems are not a problem for God. Every challenge we come across is an opportunity for God to show himself strong.

I feel a call to deeper prayer...will you join me, and let's see what God can do!!

Family Unplugged!

Ever watch those shows where the band plays..."unplugged?" Well, I have a new take on the whole "unplugged" theory.

It's like directing a plane into the parking spot, after it lands, to get anyone's attention these days. Someone's always hooked up to the head phones for the computer, the phone, the ipod.

We have to have signals to let the other person know that they are needed for anything that's not hooked up to some form of technology. I didn't know I was going to have to learn sign language...good grief!

Well, here's the thing I am technology challenged, but I have many teacher's to help me along. Guess what?? This stuff is too cool...you see...I've eaten the bait. Now they are having to land my plane. Can't tell you how good that feels! :) If you can't beat em', join em'.

I do love all the new technology, but I do like when the whole family goes somewhere where all of us have to be unplugged!

Miracles Happen on Ordinary Days!

Ever think you should give up believing God for something? When we pray and pray and it seems like the heaven's are brass. We aren't getting in! God has turned a deaf ear?

There are times when we pray and we know that God is really saying, no to something, and we continue to keep hanging on...hoping we can get God to change His mind. Then there are times we know we need to keep praying and trusting God for the answer...even when it seems like our answers are millions of miles away.

Faith requires perseverance, and it will draw trust out of you, too. God wants us to trust Him. We even have to trust Him when we don't understand or we are believing God for things that seems SO big that it will take a miracle.

Miracles happen on ordinary days! I'm believing God for BIG things, and I know without Him it won't happen, but I've decided that the devil isn't in control. God is in control! A couple of the things I'm trusting God for will take a divine intervention. I can't grow weak in believing or trusting that the answer is on the way.

When we know that without God these miracles could never happen....well, I think we're finally thinking the right way. God knows that we need Him, and He knows that some doors only open with keys that are on God's key chain. Need a key to unlock your prayers? Extend your faith, and truly believe that miracles still happen!

A Strange Aspiration

This is going to sound like the strangest thing to get excited about...but I was SO excited to look at the cover of my bible and the binding that holds it together, and see that it is beginning to have a "worn" look.

I have an aspiration that is odd to some. When a bible begins to get old, most people want a new one right away. Not me, I want to see that it is showing it's age...a worn look, marked passages, special notes in the margin, highlighted scriptures, and a cover that can barely do its job. That's my goal!! To me, it signifies that I have been spending time with God. I pray it will reflect a "changed life!"

I have several bibles, but I also have my all time favorite. When I die, I hope one of the things that someone will want is my bible. One of my most cherished possession's. I've seen bibles that look tattered and torn, and it brings a tear to my eye. I know God has a special place in their life.

In Old Testament times, many worshiped idol's. God asked them why they worshiped idol's. He told them, "they have eyes, but cannot see, they have ears, but cannot hear, a mouth, but they cannot speak!" If we want a relationship with Christ, we must spend time with Him, and not have other God's before Him.

I've experienced a range of emotions while reading my bible, I've heard God's voice speak to me SO clearly when I wasn't sure what my step should be, I felt His love, and been challenged to go to the next level, and so much more.

I have a friend who often says, "You are only as close to the Lord as you are to His word!" He got that from a couple of scriptures that tell us that the Lord is the "Word."

If you are feeling a bit disconnected from God, take a moment and meet with Him in the quiet moments you spend with Him in the Word. I hope you will also aspire to this "strange aspiration!"

New Every Morning

Just a short blog for today. Life has been busy...hopefully, I will get back on track soon.

When Robert was a Youth Pastor, one of the things he said over and over and then over again was, "garbage in...garbage out!"

Some of the ladies at Coast are doing a Beth Moore study. Beth Moore talked a lot about spending time with the Lord. She encouraged us to have a time of confession. A time where we "pour out!" Once we pour out, then the Lord has room to "pour into us!"

I am forever grateful that the Lord's mercies are new every morning. We can have a day where we don't feel like we did everything right, but every day God gives us another opportunity to live for Him more fully.

Pour your heart out to God, and allow Him to pour into you today. Put good things in your heart and it will produce good fruit.

A Father's Love

I can still smell the wonderful aroma of the coffee floating through the air in our car. Dad would ask me to pour him cup after cup, as we traveled across country. Flying was out of the question. Two adults and four children; not economical.

We did a lot of bonding during those long drives, and us kids did our share of fighting. "I get the window!!" A car is a small space for so many children, but there was nothing we could do about it, but "deal with it!" However, as I look back on those times, I have memories that still cause me to chuckle.

I miss my Dad. He's gone now. He died of a massive heart attack; one minute he was here and the next minute he checked out of life. Totally blew me away. Dad has been gone for a number of years now, but his memory lives on.

My Dad made a career out of being in the military. He was in for 30 years before he finally retired. I can still see him dressed up in his uniforms. The memory I love the most is when Robert and I got married, and my Dad was dressed up in his uniform. He looked so brave and strong. When he put my hand into Robert's, there was this look of, "I like you, but don't ever hurt my baby girl"...take good care of her I'm trusting you to do that.

I've been missing my Dad, but we can't have some things back no matter how much we cry or how much we want it. We have to love other's while they are here. My Dad was a man of few words, but I never doubted his love.

I guess there are always times I wish I would have done some things differently or showed my love even more, but Dad never doubted my love either.

One can never put these deep feelings in words, but the one thing I do know is there's nothing like a Father's love.

I love you and I miss you, Dad.

The Gift of Time

The other night I went to dinner with my Mother-in-law. As we walked into the place where we were going to eat, and as we were walking to our table to be seated, I noticed groups of people sitting together.

I was struck by the fact that people were spending time together. Most of the people I saw looked like they typical family, but then I saw that same typical family, but it also looked as if some extended family members were sitting there too. As I looked closer, I could see that friend's were having dinner together, and couples were having dinner together, and so on.

The busyness of life often keeps the family from spending time together. So, it was a precious thing to see people enjoying each other's company. I heard people kidding each other followed by laughter, I saw people nod their head's as they agreed with what the other person was saying, I saw people sharing their food with each other, and in general having a good time. I noticed all of this in a very short time, but it left a deep impression on me...the importance of family.

My Mother-in-law and I had a great time. We took the time to share our hearts and thoughts with each other. We also laughed and had a great time talking to one another. I was thinking...we need to do this more often.

As I have gotten older, I try to find different ways to spend time with the people I love and are close to me. Time has become one of my most valuable possession's, and there is no way to put a price on being with people we love. When we give of our time, it's a gift.

If you can't remember the last time, or a recent time that you spent time with someone you care about, get out the wrapping paper...it's time to give the gift of your time. Loving each other, making memories, comforting, encouraging, and listening is one of the best gift's we can give or receive.

Root of Bitterness

I guess I am always amazed at how deep the root of bitterness can actually run. Believe me, it runs deep in a lot of people.

The root of bitterness is one of the greatest hindrances to the flow of God in a Christian's life.

After a certain amount of time, we have to let our differences go, and if we don't the root of bitterness is all to happy to set in for the rest of our life. I've purposed in my heart to live as peaceably with everyone that I can. It's not always easy, and sometimes I have to pray and then pray some more.

Have you ever been judged, misunderstood, or come to the point where you just had to agree to disagree with someone? Me too!! It's awful. Then maybe you are casually shopping at the grocery store or out to lunch and you see that person(s), and they stiffen up, act cold, or half-heartedly say hello. It's not a good feeling.

Again, I have chosen to live, as much as possible, at peace with anyone that I have ever offended or those who have offended me. Our bitterness quenches the Spirit of God. I don't ever want to quench God's Spirit, if I can help it.

If God lives in our hearts, He will speak to us about bitterness. You may not feel this way, but bitterness to me is a form of hatred and unforgiveness. These are quite the opposite of the attributes of God.

When we get hurt, we may feel "justified" in our feelings, but it's not pleasing to God no matter how you slice it. Every slice has been laced with that form of hatred and unforgiveness. All I can say is...Lord, I beg, plead, cry out to you, for the heart to forgive. Lord, you forgave us for every sin and put them as far as the east is from the west.

Casting Crowns has a song out called: East to West. One part says, "Jesus, can you show me just how far the east is from the west? Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again in the arms of your mercy I find rest cause you know how far the east is from the west? One scarred hand to the other. I know you've washed me me white, turned my darkness into light. I need your peace to get me through. To get me through this night. I can't live by what I feel, but by the truth your Word reveals. I'm not holding on to you, but you're holding on to me. You're holding on to me. Jesus, you know just how far the east is from the west. I don't have to see the man I've been come rising up in me again. In the arms of your mercy I find rest cause You know just how far the east is from the west. One scarred hand to the other.

There's only one question that puts it all into perspective for me...If Jesus forgave us, the way we forgive others...how would that be?

RE: PLEASE PRAY FOR KENYA!

Because the format of the letter from Nairobi, and the format of typepad is different the punctuation and some of the wording is out of order, but you can look past that to the heart of the writer of the letter. My heart is breaking for Kenya.

PLEASE PRAY FOR KENYA!

Hi! This is some of the latest news Robert and I received concerning the situation in Kenya. By now, even some of this news will be old, but this is has a lot of information about what to pray for...please pray! This situation is SO serious!!

Dear Family and Friends,

No doubt you have seen or read the reports in the news of the tragic events that have followed elections on December 27^th here in

Kenya

.  The two top contenders for President have come to a political standoff with the support of their political parties.  President Kibaki had himself sworn back into power while the Honorable Odinga claimed a rigged election and is threatening to instate himself as the Peoples President.  There is much clouding the whole affair and efforts are being made by the international community to find an equitable solution with which both parties can agree. 

This has caused violent clashes and left more than 300 dead, the most horrific being the death of over 40 villagers, near the town of Eldoret (a town 185 miles from Nairobi), who fled to a Kenya Assemblies of God church in an attempt to escape vigilante gangs roaming the streets.  The church was torched as they were seeking shelter there and those who died were mainly women and children.  Over 70,000 have been driven from their homes since this past weekend.   

During our 32 years of serving in

Kenya

, we have experienced unrest and turmoil from time to time in various cities or areas of this nation, but never have we seen this beloved land gripped nationwide in such ongoing ethnic violence.  We believe God has strategically placed Kenya to be a powerful light to the nations in central, east, and southern Africa and the enemy has greatly risen up to diminish that light.   

Due to the unrest and insecurity in the city of

Nairobi

, our congregation was unable to gather last Sunday (Dec. 30^th) at the stadium where we meet.  However, we have been reaching out and ministering to our congregation through the leadership base in our cell group structure, which is once again proving a vital way to care for the needs of those affected by this difficult situation.

As a family, we are safe and we want to thank so many of you who have been in touch with us either by phone or email.  It means so much to hear from you and we are deeply grateful.  Several have enquired as to what they can do and our greatest need is prayer.  We are asking God to have mercy on our land, to turn the tide of evil that has flooded this nation through hatred and tribalism.  This coming Monday we begin our annual season of prayer and fasting, as a congregation, and will focus our hearts together in crying out for God to heal our land and bring revival to us as a result.  Here are a few Prayer Points in which you can join with us in agreement;

·    A ‘Million Man March’ has been reorganized by ODM, the main opposition party, for Tuesday, January 8th in

Nairobi

.  It was to be held today (3^rd) and even though declared illegal by the government, thousands tried to turn up and were dispersed by riot police, thus its been postponed now for Tuesday.  Pray for divine intervention.

·    Pray against the spirit of tribalism that is holding this nation hostage and is being fought out among the nations’ poor and young unemployed.

·    Pray for the thousands of displaced peoples who are fleeing to churches, schools, and police stations.

·    Pray for the spirit of humility to come to our political leaders; that they will heed both the local and international pleas to reach out one to another in dialogue. 

·    Pray for justice and truth to prevail in

Kenya

during this critical season of establishing a new government for the next 5 years.

·    Pray for the restoration of daily life, which has put the transport of even the basics such as vegetables, bread, and milk out of reach for many of the common folk, especially in the cities.   

·    Pray for our economy that has been losing about 2 billion shillings a day (apprx $31 million), for banks to return to normal work.

Again, thank you for standing with us in these most trying of times and we assure you that we feel so privileged to serve alongside our precious Kenyan brothers and sisters.  We say Jesus is Lord of this nation and our greatest days are yet ahead!

Don & Amy Matheny

Nairobi

,

Kenya