I am so excited about some news we received yesterday that I have got to write a testimony. For three and a half years, we have had issues with the FDIC and six rental houses that we bought in 2008. After only a year, the bank we used to purchase them was taken over by the FDIC due to unethical practices. Our loan was wrapped up with all the other loans that an individual had signed off on.

So for three years, we have been trying find out how to get the houses refinanced even though noone seemed to want to work with us. Our loan was shuffled to three or four different institutions. This last one got the houses in February of last year and didn't want to work with us at all. They called our note and no banks could help us because of new banking laws.

After 7 months, we had to tell our tenants that the houses were going into foreclosure. We didn't know what this company was going to do with our loan. Worst case scenario, they would take us to court and make us pay the whole loan. The reason the banks couldn't work with us is because the value of the homes dropped way, way, way below the loan price, losing 40% of their value in just 4 years.

All this time, we kept trusting God. When I say "trust" I mean we didn't lose sleep over this, we didn't have anxiety attacks, we definitely didn't lose weight! We prayed, releasing this entire situation to God to handle. We could do this because we are in covenant with God. That means we are His children and it is up to Him to make sure things turn out all right. I can't say we didn't have a care because we did care about the tenants in those houses. They love living there and I don't know what will happen to them, but I also trust that God will take care of them as well.

Yesterday, we received a notice from the agency that took over the loan. The sentence that sent me into a "Hallelujah" dance was DEBT CANCELLED. Yes...oh, yes...God did it! I've been redeemed and it was all God.

So, when you think there is no where to turn, turn to God. TRUST Him! Let Him handle the issue or relationship that you thought had no hope. Trust means to absolutely and completely let go. He knows the best way to turn the situation around.

ANNOUNCING my new web page, lifeofvictoryinternational.com. My dear friend, Louis Woods with elishasmantle.com designed and edited it bringing it up to date. I am also on Facebook under the same name. Please visit the facebook because it has a lot of neat pictures of the mission field.

This year, I am again taking a team to LaCeiba, Honduras for a medical mission trip. It will be for one week: July 13-July 20. If you are interested in coming along, the deadline for signing up is February 28th. You can read about the trip on the Missions page, respond by emailing me using the tab on the web page.

I have, once again, been invited to minister in India. The trip will be in February and the plan is to speak at a women's conference and also a pastor's conference. My traveling partner will be Linda Romans from Knoxville, Tennessee. I will report more later on this trip.

I have a new church home, The River located in Alto, Georgia. I am really excited about this congregation because their hearts are truly mission-minded. I hope to be able to use my gifts and talents to be a blessing to the pastors, Jeryl and Debbie Roach as well as the church body.

This year looks to be very promising for expanding the Kingdom of God. Let's keep our eyes focused on Him and our ears tuned in to His voice.

I'm Back

I have been out of touch with this blog for quite a while, but I am back at it. Why? Because I have become a non-profit ministry and have been called by God to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations. What better place than on the mission field or in cyberspace? My ministry name is Life of Victory International. You can find me on the web at lifeofvictoryinternational.com. There you will find interesting facts about what I can bring to the table at your church or group.

I may not post on the blog every day as I did when I was posting daily devotions, but I will keep you informed of my mission trips and opportunities for one. This brings me to this announcement:

MEDICAL MISSION TRIP TO LaCEIBA, HONDURAS

JULY 14-21, 2012

ESTIMATED COST: $1500

If you are interested or know of someone who has had a desire to go, this is an awesome trip for the first-timer. The location in Honduras is on the Carribbean Ocean. Our hosts keep us safe and feed us very well. We will visit the poorer places in the LaCeiba area and provide medical assistance through our doctors and nurses. The medicines we carry are all over-the-counter. Besides that, you will meet some of the most facinating people God has put together. They all love the Lord and want to help people who cannot help themselves or have the medical facilities that we enjoy. Please consider the life-changing trip that I call a Vacation with a Purpose!

You can contact me at lifeofvictoryint@gmail.com

Honduras Report

I am back home after over two weeks in beautiful Honduras. It, too, is at the end of their "winter" which is really the rainy season. The trees have blossoms that promise mouth watering mangos in June and coffee beans in October. I wanted to wrap up this trip with this report. In the last blog, I was about to hold several women's meetings. As always, a missionary must remain flexible because plans made by the visitors (me) may not be what actually happens. But God is in control and what happened was wonderful.

Our first meeting was for the neighborhood women near the compound. After having over 50 children at the Bible Club the previous day, we thought for sure we would be overwhelmed with the mothers. But we actually had very few women that showed up. But I look at it this way. The eight that were there were meant to hear the messages that were presented. I told them that and they were pleased. Louise Skelton and I ministered to the women who were all Christians. We gave them hope and encouragement to keep them in their time of storms and trials. Louise taught on how Great God is and I spoke on how they can Call on the Name of God.

The second women's meeting was to be held for a group of women in town who we had not ministered to before. A young lady heard my teaching on the Names of God and wanted her church to hear the message. However, unbeknownst to her, the Saturday that I was available, her women's group had a speaker in from another Central American country giving a seminar. So my Saturday got filled up with other tasks that need to be accomplished.

The Sunday seminar DID take place. This was the church who experienced the sudden death of a son of one of the women last fall and they had to postpone this meeting. So it was rescheduled for this time. We held it at their church, provided the refreshments and a small lunch. My seminar was on the Names of God which incorporated an activity of making a necklace of all the names each one of the women hold. For example, wife, mother, aunt, cook, housekeeper, jogger, gardener, etc. They realized that they are one person, but have many different roles or descriptions. That helped them see that God is one God, but can have many different roles in our lives. We played games and sang songs.

Each woman was like a sponge and actually took notes on the over 12 names of God that we discussed. I am believing God that these women will call on the name of God in which they have need. I love that about God. In Psalm 91:14-16 says, "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."

I have understood this scripture more and more as I put it into practice. God wants us to call out the name of His attribute when we are in a particular need. For instance, if you need God to heal your body pray to Jehovah Rapha, the Lord your Healer. If you need Him to provide a job, food, housing, etc., pray to Jehovah Jirah, the Lord your Provider. He loves the fact that you are calling on His Name.

If you would like your church or group to hear this message, I will be happy to share this wonderful truth to them.

Report from Honduras

When we follow God's heart, we know our life will make a difference.

Our activities here have been varied, but all working with groups. . . mostly with children. Yesterday we had the neighborhood children come to this property in the training center Vicky refers to as the Salon. It was their normal weekly Bible Club. It was overwhelming to see 57 children sitting on chairs, singing songs with gusto, naming the books of the Bible, first with charts then from memory. There was a Bible story, the prodigal son, that was acted out, questions that were answered and then a Bible drill.

I was overwhelmed because these children had absolutely no knowledge of the Bible when Vicky started the Bible Club 2 years ago. Now, they can recite verses, find verses in the Bible and sing songs they really enjoy. Next week, they are going to put on a program for their parents that had to be cancelled before Christmas because of very bad weather. It was a Christmas program that the children and Vicky had rehersed for a while. Now they will have the opportunity to show off the story of the baby Jesus. It is meant to be evangelistic. I'm really looking forward to it.

Today we held the first women's meetings here for the neighborhood women. We really expected quite a few since so many children came this week and Vicky went to all the houses to personally invite the ladies for a time just for them. Unfortunately, only 8 came, but they enjoyed their time. We had a game, refreshments and both Louise and I spoke. These ladies attended the seminar we held last September so we are beginning to establish a relationship. That is good - especially in this neighorhood.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to speak to some young adults who go to a small church in town. It is being arranged by a young lady who sat in on my class last September and wants her friends to hear me. We don't know when or where yet, but that is the "being flexible" part of being a missionary. For sure, however, the ladies from Pastor Ricky's church will come here on Sunday morning for a whole day. I'm really looking forward to that. This will be my third time to minister to them.

Please keep praying for me, Louise and Hugh and the rest of the team. We are honored to be here.

Honduras Report

I'm doing great here. The weather is awesome! Cool - enough for a cover of blanket at night. The days are almost 80 degrees. We are busy with getting the ministry wheels turning here again. Allen and vicky were in the states from December until March 4th. So, there is a lot to be done on the compound with the houses and grounds. Then there are the ministry groups that we are getting back into the groove. The old folks home will have a service and refreshments tomorrow. Today we are going to the village and have an event for the children. We'll be visiting an orphanage where the oldest is about 5 and then on Friday Saturday and Sunday we will holding Women's Seminars. Louise and I will share Friday then on Saturday and Sunday I will be doing all the teaching. Louise is doing a lot of teaching during this week while I am helping to serve.

We all pitch in on food preparation and clean up. then we have our own houses to which we retire. Each afternoon we walk to the beach and are amazed at how much it changes each day! The sunsets are georgeous. I think I could live here!!!

Last year, mission teams were cancelled due to the political unrest over the president situation. This year, with a new president in office that everyone is satisfied with, things are very normal here. So, we are expecting a good mission team season. I'm hoping to work down here for about four weeks this summer in July/August. We can take more teams if you know of anyone who wants to go on a mission trip that will be great for young and the old. It is like going on a Vacation with a Purpose!!! Also, if there is anyone you know that are considering to go in to mission ministry Vicky will be holding a school for missionary training for 12 days August 1-12 of which I will be a part of the staff.

OK, well just wanted to let you know what we're about. Allen and Vicky want you to know you are invited to come and visit any time.

Love ya
Debbie

Jesus Takes Back Dominion

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8

For 4,000 years, mankind had been living in a dark, oppressed, hopeless, sin-sick world. Now Jesus was going to take back the dominion that had been transferred to Satan by Adam and Eve. The only hope mankind had was for God to intervene with mercy. His mercy involved sending His only Son... For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son...John 3:16. We must recognize that this was a sacrifice for God as well. He released Jesus, who was God in the flesh, to the world to bring back the authority mankind had lost because of the rebellion of Adam and Eve.

When you look at Jesus’ outline for ministry, He was about to set the devil on his heels. Jesus was going to let everyone know that things were going to change. He did this by teaching and preaching about the Kingdom of God. When Jesus opened their eyes of understanding, they began to see light, hope, joy.

I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness. John 12:46 Jesus' purpose was to bring the government of Heaven to the earth. That means that there would be solutions to mental, physical and moral problems. There was an answer and Jesus was proclaiming to everyone that there was going to be a huge change in our outlook on life.

But that wouldn't take place until He made the ultimate sacrifice with His life. Until then, Jesus dedicated His ministry to traveling from village to village speaking on the Kingdom of God.