Photo ©2015 Rebekah Hamblett
When I read this Psalm, the Holy Spirit spoke to me about only the first verse with one word focused up-on - UP! All night I kept thinking, why is the Holy Spirit wanting me to focus on the very simple two letter word – UP? When I taught first graders to read, that was one of the first words they learned to read – UP. Early the next morning, I received a Holy Spirit revelation! The importance of looking up and walking assertively in dangerous, fearful environments came loud and clear to me. When I lived in Fairfax County, Virginia, which is right next to Washington, DC, I was blessed forever with Marsha, a Christian sister. She was the top administrator in the Fairfax County Police Training. Her lasting advice was if one walks assertively and looks up with one’s eyes towards Heaven, then that one person will be safe and not a victim.
Over the years I put this wisdom to practice. In Franklin we invited into our home twenty-five homeless souls over a four year time span. Some of them were for only a few days. One dad, who had been saved during his prison time, and his three sons lived with us a whole year. In Belmont I have managed homeless transitional housing units and even lived among them. In Franklin I lived alone in a drug infected neighborhood and my friends were worried about my safety. Last year we traveled in our car for thirty-eight days across the USA visiting even in cities such as Los Angeles, California and Albuquerque, New Mexico. I have practiced always what Marsha advised me and prayed. I have always been safe in all of these tough environments!
Earlier this winter I had a revelation about “Laura”, my “adopted” Christian granddaughter. (I have not actually adopted her legally, but anyone I adopt has a special place in my heart.) She is a youth leader in 4-H community services projects, works part-time at a grocery store and is on a swimming team. Laura is an intelligent high school senior who is in the midst of her college selection process. She is a very attractive, tall lady who walks and moves like she is a victim. Presently, Laura is receiving some verbal attacks and being bullied by other teenage girls. These devil-inspired girls are probably jealous that Laura is so cute and bright! Recently, her self-esteem has been growing as her lifetime dream came true! She bought her own horse. Then God sent Christians to build a fence and a barn next to her family home. It is looking good that she will take to college her seventeen hands tall horse. If I could give her a bit of advice it would be to not slump but walk with her eyes looking to Jesus in Heaven and putting on His Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6) to withstand the fiery darts of the devil. Before she leaves for college, I pray she learns and practices these Jesus-inspired strategies.
I pray that whenever one of us Christians encounters a fearful situation that we will look to Heaven and put on the whole Armor of God to show how fearless we can be in difficult places.
- Bonnie-Linda Vlk
Over the years I put this wisdom to practice. In Franklin we invited into our home twenty-five homeless souls over a four year time span. Some of them were for only a few days. One dad, who had been saved during his prison time, and his three sons lived with us a whole year. In Belmont I have managed homeless transitional housing units and even lived among them. In Franklin I lived alone in a drug infected neighborhood and my friends were worried about my safety. Last year we traveled in our car for thirty-eight days across the USA visiting even in cities such as Los Angeles, California and Albuquerque, New Mexico. I have practiced always what Marsha advised me and prayed. I have always been safe in all of these tough environments!
Earlier this winter I had a revelation about “Laura”, my “adopted” Christian granddaughter. (I have not actually adopted her legally, but anyone I adopt has a special place in my heart.) She is a youth leader in 4-H community services projects, works part-time at a grocery store and is on a swimming team. Laura is an intelligent high school senior who is in the midst of her college selection process. She is a very attractive, tall lady who walks and moves like she is a victim. Presently, Laura is receiving some verbal attacks and being bullied by other teenage girls. These devil-inspired girls are probably jealous that Laura is so cute and bright! Recently, her self-esteem has been growing as her lifetime dream came true! She bought her own horse. Then God sent Christians to build a fence and a barn next to her family home. It is looking good that she will take to college her seventeen hands tall horse. If I could give her a bit of advice it would be to not slump but walk with her eyes looking to Jesus in Heaven and putting on His Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6) to withstand the fiery darts of the devil. Before she leaves for college, I pray she learns and practices these Jesus-inspired strategies.
I pray that whenever one of us Christians encounters a fearful situation that we will look to Heaven and put on the whole Armor of God to show how fearless we can be in difficult places.
- Bonnie-Linda Vlk
Today pray for:
First Baptist Church, Bellows Falls and their pastors Steve and Terri Walton
First Baptist Church, Belmont and their pastor Jim Smith
First Baptist Church, Bennington and their interim pastor Tom Hiltsley
First Baptist Church, Bellows Falls and their pastors Steve and Terri Walton
First Baptist Church, Belmont and their pastor Jim Smith
First Baptist Church, Bennington and their interim pastor Tom Hiltsley
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