It has been three day...

Praise the LORD!!!

   It has been three days that I've been down with back pain. Many of you know many miracles happen upon this mark in time.(Do a Bible search on "three days.") For it was upon the third day that our LORD arose from the grave. I count myself blessed by the fact that it was three days after my arrest on bank robbery that I gave my life to the LORD. There are many among the church that feel miracles happen instantaneously and many do. Though there are many that take a great deal longer.

   One of the hardest lessons, in the Christian walk, is that of patience. Many of you may know this from firsthand experience. I know, I do. Recently while in conversation with a Christian sister, she stated that "she didn't have great patience and wasn't going to pray for it!" I know why she wasn't going to pray for it, because I was one that did. This is one of those prayers whose answer will really come at a cost! You'll be put in so many positions of having your faith and patience tested, that it will almost become unbearable at times. But you can count on the fact that the LORD is at work within you and that HE is faithful to HIS WORD and promises and will not allow you to suffer more then you can handle (1 Cor. 10:13)!!

   Many Christian, especially in these days of 'fast food faith,' come upon tribulations within their lives and begin to waver in their faith because of it. Think about where we would be today if Abraham had given up on his search for the promised land or if Joseph had crumbled under the pressures of being in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Needless to say things may of truly been different, though I believe not, for GOD has ways of bringing HIS plans to perfection. When people say "that patience is a virtue," they aren't kidding. For perhaps it is one of the greatest and most needed in this day and age. Much is said about patience within scripture and for every verse that deals with it directly, there are many more that allude to it.

   Before I would recommend anyone to pray for this great gift, having done so myself, I would suggest that one undertake a thorough study of the topic throughout scriptures. This will be a long study for there is much written on it, but will truly be worth the time spent upon it. For in this day and age, we tend to seek 'instant' fulfillment of our prayers and desires, and I regret to say, for the most part, this doesn't happen. I've been working on and praying for Vine of CHRIST Ministries since mid '99' and it is still basically just my vision. Though I've been blessed to do a lot of works for the LORD through it. If it were not for the blessings of a great faith and the patience to await the LORD's timing for it, it may never come to anything more then just a vision. But I will continue to hang onto all that the LORD has shown me, promised me and led me to understand, until the day that HE either brings it to fruition or I take my last breath on earth. Either way, I know that it is my calling and I will continue to press forward until that day(Phil. 3:12)!!! I pray that if there is some need or desire that you pray to have fulfilled or ministry to accomplish, that you not give up on seeing it happen. For after all, this is what faith is about(Hebrews 11:1, but I recommend the whole chapter)!!!

Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org 

GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries 
Vine Ministerial Network International