Posts Tagged ‘Vicki Campbell’

What Are You Singing?
by Vicki Campbell 

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.   (Matthew 15:8)

When I was growing up, church and church activities were my favorite places to be. I especially liked the music and knew most of the songs by heart that they sang out of the dark green All-American Church Hymnal. In fact, I still have an old copy sitting on my bookshelf.

I especially liked the Sunday nights when we sang favorites. This was a time when you raised your hand if you had a favorite song you wanted sung, and if they called on you, the congregation would sing your song. When they picked me, the song I chose most often was Just a Closer Walk with Thee. Some people chose the same song every time, so it got to be a game with me, hoping and praying that so-and-so wouldn’t get picked because I didn’t like the song I knew they were going to choose.

Besides the Favorites nights, once or twice a year, we would have a Singspiration where we would all get together for two or three hours and have special music as well as singing the congregational songs. What memories!

Recently, God reminded me of a time when I must have been in my early teens. As I was standing there in the pew next to my friends singing out of the hymnal, the Holy Spirit spoke to me. He asked me if I even knew what I was singing. The truth was, I didn’t. I k Read the rest of this entry »

From Prison To Freedom

by Vicki Campbell

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

They say that when an elephant is captured in the wild, they tie its leg to a huge banyon tree in order to train it. Of course, the elephant will do everything within its power to free itself. However, in time, and after much effort, he finally realizes that when he pulls on that leg, he isn’t going anywhere. Once he has tamed down and become accustomed to his “prison,” the owner can then untie his leg and take him where he wants to go. Then, when he needs to confine him, all he has to do is tie his leg to a stake, and the elephant will stay put. 

The elephant has the strength and ability to easily pull up that stake and go wherever he wanted, but because of his conditioning, he believes that when he feels the tug of the rope around that leg, he is helpless to move and doesn’t even try to get free.

Then, I’m sure you’ve heard the story about the trained fleas. The fleas are captured and put into a jar with the lid tightened. Like the elephants, the fleas keep trying to jump out. Before long they figure out when they jump to the top, they will end up with a headache from banging their heads on the lid. The fleas soon learn their limitations and know just how high they can jump in their new home.

Once they’ve become accustomed to this, you can take the lid off of the jar. The fleas are now free to leave and go visit the nearest cat or dog, but they won’t. Even though they’ve gained their freedom, they still jump around in the jar just like the lid was still in pla Read the rest of this entry »

A Mother’s Love

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies . . . Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.   (Proverbs 31:10, 28)

A mother’s love is a mere glimpse of God’s sacrificial and unending love for us. It is truly a gift from God, and I am blessed to have been raised by a godly mother who loved me very much and taught me about Jesus.

Walk with me a moment down Memory Lane. Mom married Dad when she was only 15 and had me (the first of six) when she was 17. She and Dad will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in September.

Mom has always been very shy and backward. She doesn’t like being noticed and gets really embarrassed if she is the center of attention, like at the golden wedding anniversary party we threw for her and Dad. She is most comfortable sitting on the back pew at church. Mom has a beautiful voice and would sit in her rocking chair and sing all of her kids to sleep throughout the years, but she wouldn’t dream of getting up in church and singing a “special.”

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One Sunday Evening

Scheduled to sing a special song in the evening service at church, I was meditating on what I should say to the congregation as a prelude to the song, “I’ve Been to the Potter’s House.”

The Lord reminded me of a phone call I once received in the office. This man was questioning his salvation, telling me that he had done some pretty bad things before he was saved and that he had a hard time believing God would really forgive him. This man was also handicapped, with a permanent disability due to his neck being broken.

As we talked, I assured him that there wasn’t anything he could have done that would have been so bad for God not to forgive him if he had repented and asked His forgiveness. I reminded him of King David and how he had committed adultery with Bathsheba, plus had her husband killed. Yet, God forgave him when he truly repented and turned back to Him. 

Then, I reminded him of Saul (before God changed his name to Paul). I described how he was responsible for persecuting the Christians, even having them killed. Yet, God not only forgave him, but also used him as a great apostle to the Gentiles, and who also wrote about half of the books in the New Testament. 

With God’s help, I reassured this man that God had truly forgiven him for all that he’d done, but he needed to forgive himself. I also encouraged him that God had a purpose for him. Yes, this inspirational story was what God wanted me to share before singing:

Tossed about by life’s battles

All my hope was sinking fast

The sinful life that I was living

I knew that I just could not last

Then I went down to the potter’s house

And placed this vessel into His hands

On His wheel of grace and mercy

He made me over again.

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Let Jesus In

Many times before I read the Bible, I ask the Holy Spirit to show me something new. You see, I’ve been in church since I was a little girl, so I’ve heard the stories of Jesus over and over again in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Church Camp, as well as in the regular church services and revival meetings, plus all of the teachings I get by radio, TV, tapes, CDs, etc. Besides all of this hearing of the Word, I’ve also read these stories many, many times. Needless to say, if I’m not seeking God to show me something, it’s easy to miss a blessing in His Word because I’m not expecting anything new in what is already familiar to me.

About a week ago, I was reading in Luke, chapter 5, where Jesus told Peter to cast out his nets for a haul of fish. The Holy Spirit, my teacher, was faithful in bringing these scriptures to life. (You can read this whole story in the first eleven verses of Luke 5.)

One morning, by the Sea of Galilee, people were pressing in around Jesus to hear the Word of God. He knew he couldn’t be very effective with all of the people crowded around, and that only those closest to him would benefit from his teaching. When he saw two ships docked, Jesus took the initiative to climb aboard the one belonging to Simon (Peter) and asked him if he would take the ship out just a little so that he could speak to all of the people. Simon obliged, and Jesus was able to teach all of the people.

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How Bad Do You Want It?

This wasn’t the first time we had counseled and prayed with Natalie (name has been changed for privacy) about her problem. It was the third, or maybe even the fourth time, and it didn’t appear that we’d made any progress. Something had to change, and quickly!

We met Natalie at a home prayer meeting many years ago. She was a lovely Christian woman who loved the Lord and even taught Children’s Sunday School. One night she seemed especially disturbed and asked if she could talk to us privately after the meeting, but we weren’t prepared for what she revealed.

Natalie confided that she had been having an affair, and it was with a married man. She wanted out, but didn’t seem to be able to break it off. We were shocked because it seemed totally out of character for her. Yet, we knew how deceiving the devil can be when he catches us in a vulnerable position. We counseled and prayed with her, and it appeared that a great burden had been lifted as hope and relief rose up in her.

When we saw Natalie again a couple of weeks later, discouragement and shame were written all over her face. She told us that she had broken it off with him, but that he wouldn’t leave her alone. He continually called and even did such things as leaving notes on her car windshield and flowers on her doorstep. Feeling so lonely and desiring to have someone love her, she would inevitable give in. Again, we counseled with her and prayed with her. She left believing that she had the victory over her sin.

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 The Greatest Gift

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:5-8).

Can you imagine what it was like up in heaven before Jesus came to earth as a baby? Just think about it. I have quite an imagination, and I began thinking about it, putting the whole scene into a perspective I can understand and relate to. You see, one day God had to throw out Lucifer and all of his followers, which was one third of all the angels, to keep their evil thoughts and ways from contaminating heaven.

No wonder one of the things God hates is people who sow discord, causing strife and division among the brethren. No wonder Jesus prayed for unity among the disciples and those who would be his disciples in the future. I’ve gone through a church split, and personally know of many others. It’s a horrible thing. Good people are hurt and many are disillusioned, somehow blaming God for what people have done. This is not what God wants; it never was. He wishes that we would all dwell together in unity and harmony.

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Attitude of Gratitude
by Vicki Campbell

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

When I think of earthly heroes and those whom I greatly admire, Corrie ten Boon is high on my list. She and her family were responsible for hiding and helping the Jews in World War II, thus spending years being tortured in concentration camps. Upon their arrival to Ravensbruck, near Berlin, Corrie and her sister, Betsie were placed in a filthy, overcrowded barracks infested with lice. In her 50’s, this was more than Corrie felt that she could bear.

They were determined to be Christian witnesses and examples, even in these adverse circumstances. Corrie had even smuggled in a Bible with God’s help. However, that night as they lay down to sleep, with tears streaming down her cheeks, Corrie whispered to Betsie that she didn’t know how she could ever be thankful for the lice.

Betsie, being the eldest and seeing things from a different perspective, responded with excitement. She had already heard the talk spreading amongst the women that because of the lice, the guards wouldn’t come into that particular barracks. Guards were known not only to physically torture women prisoners, but also to sexually abuse them. Betsie excitedly assured Corrie that because of the lice, they wouldn’t have to face that abuse while dwelling in that God-provided shelter. She elatedly explained that because of the lice, they would also have the freedom to read the Bible, and even have Bible studies with other women, without fear of the guards coming in and confiscating their Bible. Through this, Corrie learned that she could even be thankful for lice.

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Written By Vicki Campbell

Here I am again, standing here knocking on Josh’s door. I know he’s home, but he just goes about his business acting as though I’m not even here. It’s hard to accept what’s happened with our relationship. We used to be so close, and I loved spending time with him. I know he loved me, too. We used to hang out together every day. He would share his most private thoughts and dreams with me — things he wouldn’t tell anyone else. Josh knew he could trust me. He told me that I knew him better than anyone else, and would often say that I knew him better than he knew himself. I suppose I did.

So, what happened? Josh, please open the door! He’s such a likeable guy — happy, easy-going, and he’d do anything for you. He truly has a servant’s heart, full of love and compassion. It all changed when Josh started making new friends. They didn’t have the same standards that I did, and they were ever so persuasive in convincing him that he could have more fun without me around. One friend of his, Mandy,  would completely ignore me, treating me like I didn’t even exist, and it didn’t even seem to bother him.

His apparent rejection hurt me terribly, but I won’t let it stop me. There have been too many people, especially his parents who have talked to me about him and asked me not to give up on him. They believe that our relationship can be restored; I believe so, too. That’s why I’ve come here again, knocking, hoping he’ll let me in this time so we can talk.

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by Vicki Campbell

Would you knowingly pick up a bottle of poison, drink it, and honestly believe that it’s not going to hurt you, but that it might very easily hurt someone else? No! None of us in our right minds would believe such an absurd notion.

Now, imagine watching your best friend walk into a room, pick up a glass of poison and start drinking it. You don’t have a problem with this. In your efforts to console her, you let her know that you understand that she doesn’t have any choice but to drink it. If you were in her shoes, you would do the same thing. Hogwash! What kind of a friend would let another friend destroy themselves this way?

Yet, I see this happening all the time. This poison that so many people, even Christians, are drinking is packaged and promoted by Satan himself as Unforgiveness. His advertising campaign is so full of deceptions that many times, even the best of us, fall prey to his scheme of self-destruction. We believe the lie that everyone else in our situation is doing it. What else is there to do but to join the crowd and gulp down a big bottle of this readily available poison called Unforgiveness. Read the rest of this entry »