A Life Filled with Personal Suffering, Yet Joy, Love, and Closeness to God, including Notes on Christian Mentoring by Vicky Thomas

What can I say that is complete and enough about Vicky Thomas?  We have been ever-so-close friends for years now.  She invited me at a therapeutic pool to walk with her friends and her for exercise.  We eventually were members at the same church, and for several years before that, Jan Bracken, Vicky and I met at Vicky's home each Wednesday to worship and learn about the Lord God together.  Jan played the piano, and Vicky and I sang the best we could!  The Bible and prayer, including intercessory prayer for others, was our focus.  In due time we learned as much as we could to share the Salvation message of Jesus Christ.  Along with my mother, Phyllis Delvecchio, Jan and Vicky~~~she is my beloved friend and Christian mentor; we are extremely close sisters in the Lord!  Vicky is solid in her faith, yet soft, courageous and loving.  She has the compassion of Christ in her soul, and it shows.  What a treasure!  She has given me a great deal in study and understanding of the Word of God. 
 We have said it will be wonderful in Heaven when we have no time constraints upon us.

If you are suffering physically, emotionally, or spiritually- have a wounded heart or your body is facing terrible trials, perhaps all of those difficulties at once- please take a cheerful and most truthful look into Vicky's walk with her precious God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!  He loves you more than we are able fully to know or explain at this time, and He is walking with you!!  The Holy Bible is full! of true stories of Jesus' life on earth and His dying love that He gave for you... and then He arose, just like the Scripture and the prophets had foretold!  For us, you and me and each human being, He did that!  You will learn a multitude in the Word of God. 

***If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your
 Lord and Savior or are unsure, Vicky writes about doing that toward the end of this posting, and you, too, may have the Joy and eternal Life that is only available through God's Son!  For those of you who desire to pass on the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, please read ahead and on through to the end.  You will have a glorious example of what to say in His Name to another seeking soul!  (Look just below the link here for Vicky's request on how to take Jesus Christ into your heart and life forever!!)
This posting is dedicated to our most lovely friend, Carol Graves, who has gone on to Heaven with the Lord~!  We miss her so, and she began those wonderful days that we had at Vicky's in the Word of God.  Jesus' blessings to her beloved husband Dr. Doug Graves. Carol and Doug helped to begin Community Life Church
in Shawnee, Kansas.

The body of this posting from Vicky has been moved to her new blog
~~~Active Mentoring in Christ~~~
Click here to visit the beginning of this exciting Christian blog!  (In the blue area below, you can see how to come to Christ!)
 www.activementoringinchrist.com

If you do not yet know Christ as your personal Savior, I encourage you to turn to Christ.  It is very easy to ask Christ for help and to turn your life around.  All you have to do is truly believe that Christ died and arose for your sins.  The Bible tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  -- Romans 3: 23.  There is no one who is not a sinner.  But God has given us a way to come before Him and spend eternity with Him after our life on this earth is finished.  God’s Scripture tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  -- Romans 6:23.  It is our choice, though!  We can choose eternal death or eternal life.  But how do we receive eternal life?  Well, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”  -- John 3: 3. 

How can we be born again?  Well, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” – John 14: 3.    Jesus also said that we must repent of our sins which means we are to realize that we are not only sorry for our sins, but we want to turn our life around and no longer be controlled by our sinfulness.  We want to do that which is right and true, and so we ask God to forgive us of our sins.  Jesus said, “I tell you unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” – Luke 13: 5.  So repent and then “… if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  -- Romans 10: 9-11.  It is that simple!  In fact, God wants all to come to Him and to repent asking Christ into their heart.  Once you have believed, repented, and ask Christ to come into your heart you are a new creature, for the Scriptures tell us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”  -- II Corinthians 5: 17.

***If you are not yet a child of God’s you have a choice to make.  Doing nothing is a choice, just as much as answering the door and asking Christ to Save you is a choice.  Christ said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to Him and will dine with Him and he with Me.”  --
Revelation 3: 20.  
I pray that if you have not yet asked Christ into your heart, that you will believe on Him and repent of your sins.  For, without Christ in your life, you are truly lost both in this world and in eternity to come.  If you make the choice for Christ, you will not have to face life’s trials and tribulations alone and you will have a peacefulness that comes from knowing Christ as your Savior.  You will always have the strength to endure and overcome through Christ your Lord.

Vicky Thomas

Dear Reader, after you have finished Vicky's posting that was here originally and is now the beginning of her new blog, please do come back to mine!!  I do value your readership- YOU.  By clicking on this link, you will go directly to Vicky's posting from mine earlier, which now she has her own!
A Life Worth Living


Thank you so much, with love.
Donna M.

The Living Word Who is Jesus Christ Himself (Updated & Re-shared, February 25, 2020)

The Living Word is Jesus Himself

and the Word is The Holy Bible

Did you know that the Word of God is the Bible, and it is also Jesus Himself?! Read the Book of John; it is my most favorite.  To get started, read these words, full of Life-giving Water (soon, read the story of the Samaritan woman at the well with Jesus in John, Chapter 4), that The Word Became Flesh:

~Scripture Passage~

(John 1:1-18, ESV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life,^[a] and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

⁹ The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own,^[b] and his own people^[c] did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh [my emphasis]and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) ¹⁶ For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.^{[d] 17} For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God; the only God,^[e] who is at the Father's side,^[f] he has made him known.

~~~I am filled with such emotion and Joy in the Lord every time I read these words because I know in my heart that it is the magnificent truth of God and Jesus.  Beyond my ability to explain fully, I am wonderfully thankful to be a daughter of the Lord and already welcomed into His Kingdom when I first truly said "Yes!" to Him at the age of 25.  And so it goes, I am secure in the love and protection now, and forever and ever with God.~~~

Please see the prayer below****and pray it to God, or tell Him in your own words if you have not, as of yet, accepted Him as your personal Savior...also, if you are uncertain that you are saved- then...make sure now.

 Suggestions for Books of the Bible to Begin Reading and for Further Enjoyment

Other good books in the Bible are Genesis, Job, Daniel, Isaiah, Psalms and Proverbs.  In the New Testament (or New Covenant) you may enjoy these books: The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, of course.  Favorites of mine are 1 and 2 Timothy, Ephesians, Romans, Philippians, and 1 and 2 Peter, to name a few.

Two and One-Half Years Ago (Now, 4 years at update, 02/15/2017) I Had No Intention to Write This Blog

The actual idea for this blog, The Healing is Always Christ, came from a small booklet of my poems, about 20, that I felt nudged to put together as a theme or topic and to give to friends, but during that time I heard from a most wonderful lady of the Lord, Joni Ames, who has God-given spiritual gifts in teaching and the prophetic, and she uses them to encourage believers and to edify God.  She mentioned my writing on more than one occasion and inspired me to write!  Specifically, she felt I should be writing a blog- of all things, I thought!  http//:www.joniames.com/

"A blog," I thought..."that is the very last thing I would want to write!!"  What would I say?  Some individuals appreciate poetry, and that was my writing interest over the last thirty years...  By the end of a year or so, the Lord had completely changed the way I thought about writing a blog.  I began thinking of topics; they would come to me as I was driving, then scribbling them down, themes and points were being put together. 

Now I can see the endless possibilities!  God has been faithful each time for the postings, and I have a complete trust that He will continue to give me ideas that lead to writing what is useful to the Christian community online, fervently believing that we can grow in our walk with Christ and one another.  Without a doubt in my mind, finding soon-to-be-believers is the main reason I am writing.  It is more difficult to be sure in the natural, but I am sure that He is faithful and provides what is needed to be written and to be read~ by specific readers/viewers~ for His plans to be accomplished within the readers' lives and other important situations.

Even including the technical know-how, basics and programs to start a blog: God took care of me in those things.  My dear, close friend, Michele Cole, sat down with me and through her already doing a blog, she knew how to help me make selections from the options of space on the format to make what I wanted, so that I could use it to make postings about God and how He heals us, among other things.  Thank you so much, Michele, for your technical know-how and help with this blog.  I could only accomplish what God has set before me through a mechanism online- this blog- so she made it happen!!  Michele also encouraged me in the prophetic of what she was seeing for me.  Praise God. 

(See Michele and Ken Cole's blog at: Want Insight? Sonlit Fields)

^{Lend Your Ear!}

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 3:5-7 (ESV)

As of this update, today, 2/15/2017, God has blessed the blog with going on 35,000 page views...Praise His Name!  I am so grateful and only boast of Almighty God; He is the Only One worthy!  The Lamb of God, Who is Christ Jesus.

We are almost at 5,000 total page views (as of 4/17/2014) now with every continent being represented, and many new! countries coming on to view this blog, plus many more from over the world already!  Praise the Lord for His righteousness and faithfulness!  He loves us in extreme proportions!!  The Lord wants to have a close relationship to us, to rely on Him, need Him, and talk to Him, then to pass on and love others as Jesus Christ, the Son of God, showed us how: reaching, teaching, caring for, giving, healing, helping to reconcile folks to God.

God wants every person not to perish but to have eternal life with Him!! He is no respecter of persons, which means:

He loves each and every person, all peoples, and 

He wants you in His Kingdom, forever, enjoying the full Life that only the LORD can give us.

1 Timothy 2:4 (Amplified Bible, AMP)

^{4[God] "}Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth.

He paid your sin debt in full.  God the Father sacrificed His Son Jesus Christ so that Jesus would be our substitute.  God is holy and requires justice. There had to be the perfect, spotless Lamb of God because

God wants no one to fall, He wants each one of us in Heaven.  He created you and me, you know?  He loves you more than you can realize or calculate.  

John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV)

Here is a prayer that you can say to accept Christ's gift of salvation for you.  The only thing needed by you is a willing heart and spirit.  God will not force anyone to worship and to love Him.  He did not make robot-like creatures.  We are human beings made in His likeness, and He gave us free will.  If you are ready, pray this prayer or say one in your own words; talk to Him:

****Dear Father in Heaven, I know that you cannot have sin for you are completely Holy.  You are also patient and longsuffering, kind and loving.  You made me because you simply want me to be made in Your image so that we can have a genuine, loving relationship together. 
I have fallen short, made mistakes, and sinned many times.  You know that I am not perfect and cannot be perfect in this world, but I do want to say, "Yes, Lord!" I believe in You, Jesus, as my personal Lord and Savior.  Please come into my life and make me a new creation.  I know you love me more than I can fully understand right now, and You can help me to grow and to live in your will for my life.  I want to live always with You, not separated for eternity.  Thank You,
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

If you have asked Jesus Christ into your heart as your Savior and Lord, Hooray!  This decision secures your place with God in Heaven, and you will find yourself looking at things in a new way. 

Will you be perfect and make no mistakes?  No.  Yet, you will want to do the right thing.  Will you face temptations and desire to do things the old way?  Yes, you will.  However, the Holy Spirit now lives within you and will help give you strength, comfort, and guidance.

1)  I suggest that you talk with other Christians, new ones and certainly "maturing" believers who have been followers of Jesus for awhile.   2)  Find a good church!  It needs to be one that focuses on God and puts Him above all, centering on Jesus Christ and using The Holy Bible as the important guide for life. 
3)  Read the Word every day. 
Additionally, get a good devotional as a support such as Oswald Chamber's My Utmost for His Highest, or God Calling, edited by A.J. Russell. 

Write me for other books or devotionals.  (You may contact me directly at my personal email: dmh8285@yahoo.com  Please put the word BLOG in the subject title and some refernce as to what you are writing about; thank you!!)  
Ask your question/s to a Christian you trust.  Find him or her 
at your church...Important suggestion- please select a person of the same gender: woman to woman or man to man to study or mentor.  I know from personal experience when I was much younger- nothing immoral happened, but the temptation is easily there.  Between Satan trying to wreak vengeance upon believers and our own minds in a broken world, especially with all that we see in film and society, it would be easy to fall.
By the way, when we face a situation that we feel uncomfortable or are thinking thoughts that are unhealthy and wrong, 
TURN
and
 WALK AWAY, RUN IF YOU MUST.
My pastor taught me the turn, walk, and get away idea in a sermon some years ago in the last decade.
4)  Pray often! (The Bible says unceasingly.) Ask God to help you as a new (or older) Christian.  Tell Him what is on your mind.  He wants to communicate with you, more than we can fully realize!

God bless you and keep you in the most important decision that you will ever make. 

Have Joy! at what you have decided in accepting- you are in the family of the most blessed people on the face of the earth, truly! 

ENJOY THIS VIDEO ABOUT HOW ONE FOLLOWER OF JESUS SEES THE LORD!!

Click on the link below to see and to hear a video on youtube:

That's My King! by Dr. S.M. Lockridge (Official) Most Excellent!!

HAPPY EASTER!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

+++Praise God for His uncountable ways to send His message of salvation to all people, in all nations!!! 

As the song, We Worship You by Israel Houghton says, "People from every nation and tongue, from generation to generation! We worship You, Hallelujah, Hallelujah! We worship You for Who You are...You are Good! All the time, You are Good..." and so it goes.  Click on this link:

Israel Houghton, LORD, You are Good!
(Young Christian people worshiping God and singing and dancing for Him)

 Donna M.
 Updated April 17, 2014
and again on February 15, 2017 and February 24, 2020
THANK You, PINTEREST, for the lovely picture at top!  God bless you.
May Christ richly bless you as only He is able.  He is your Creator and mine.     :)