Happy Valentines Day to You!

Special Delivery

Happy Almost Valentine’s Day!

I hope you know that you are loved.

Sure we love you, but mostly Jesus loves you; a love like no other.

We hope you know Him, we hope you love Him too!

If you come by Wellspring Treasures on Tuesday, February 14^th, we will have a special surprise for you.

We will also have a special request for you… A few weeks ago at our Wellspring Living/SC Board Retreat, one of the topics we discussed was prayer and the role it plays in all that we do. We have come a long way from the time God first whispered to my heart “come join me in this adventure” (not His exact words, but I took the bait) to the place where we long to be.

God has blessed the store financially, He has sent some wonderful volunteers, and many great donors too, wouldn’t you agree? We also received some pretty nice gifts over Christmas and the New Year. We are still missing a few key things before we will be able to open the Wellspring Residential Home.

Since you feel like “family”, we’d love to treat you just like that. We want you to put us on your prayer list (if we aren’t already there). That’s our special request… to pray.

We are taking God at His word from Matthew 7:7 – “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. “

Starting on the 14^th, we will have little reminder cards that you can take home… if you are willing!

We will also add a new “prayer square” in the store, so while you are shopping; you can stop on the square and say a prayer for the house. It will be similar to the one we have now where we stop and pray for you each day.

Much love…

Wellspring Treasure Volunteers & Wellspring Living/SC Board and Staff

We love because he first loved us. I John 4:19

To Know HIM is to Trust HIM

One of the greatest pleasures I have had in my life is time spent with the girls in my prayer group. A few years ago, God wanted to expand my horizons and introduce me to a new group of friends. I accepted His invitation… kicking and screaming all the way. I really only went because I knew He would be there.


My old prayer group was like a favorite pair of jeans… comfy. A new set of prayer friends meant a whole new pair of jeans. I imagined they would be a little stiff when I first tried them on. They weren’t. They were like old friends, and praying with them gave me the same comfort and feelings of warmth and assurance that comes from joining my heart and hands with my sisters in Christ.


So whether it’s the old or the new, the Spirit of God is the common bond that we so look forward to. One year God allowed the old and the new to come together in what turned out to be my ordination ceremony as director of Wellspring LivingSC. It was so personal; God didn’t leave out one little detail.


Since the beginning of the New Year, I have had the opportunity to be with both groups in prayer. Most recently was spent on what we refer to as The Holy Mountain of the Lord (The Cove) with the New Jeans, which by the way are really comfy now too! We had a grand old time on the Mountain and I think we were really the envy of all the other women there. After all, we were adorned with crowns, sashes and feathers in our hair. That was just what you could see as we walked back and forth to the dining hall.


What they didn’t know is that within the walls of our meeting room we also had our own set of pom-poms that we used during our worship along with various other items for our wave offering. Celebrate His glory on the mountain we did! As we were in worship on Saturday morning, singing along with Travis Cottrell to “In Your presence O God” I got a little caught up in the truth of this song. Please listen if you haven’t already.

It was smack dab in the middle of it that I had to lay the pom-poms down and take a seat.

I had to stop and write down what I knew the Lord was saying to me.

“Susan, you know those areas in your life where you are not trusting Me yet? It’s because you don’t really know Me… because if you really knew Me… there is no way you wouldn’t trust Me.”


You had better believe me; I have delved into His Word and hopefully into His presence since I came down off of the mountain. I have refused not to believe Him in several areas of my life.

One particular area I had worked out in my head… but instead I have decided to trust Him to work it out. I will be still and know that HE IS GOD!

Join me, dive deep heart first into believing Him for every good and perfect gift!

After all I do have a new blue bracelet and isn’t that why I have it in the first place?

Small Beginnings

A year ago November 20th, we opened the door to Wellspring Treasures Thrift Store hoping and praying that things would work out, that people would donate, that people would shop and that people would volunteer. As you well know, it did work out. The one thing that has happened that we really didn’t anticipate is that we collected a lot of friends along the way. Thanks to God answering all those prayers, the store has been successful in many ways.


You may be familiar with the Scripture that says… “if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto myself…” We have discovered that is true even if it’s a thrift store that is lifting Him up. I would like to share one of our favorite stories of the year…


We had a wedding gown that we were holding for a bride. Se had paid $75 down and still owed $75. She came by and told us that she wasn’t going to be able to get the dress. We weren’t sure if the wedding had been called off or she just couldn’t afford the dress. We all knew what was coming next. A phone call was made the next day and the question asked… “do you still need a wedding dress?” After we heard the answer, we told her that she needed to come by and pick up her dress, that it was here waiting on her - No Charge. We then told her that everything in the store belonged to the Lord and that we knew that if she were in need and He had put us in a position to meet that need, that He would want us to do so. It Didn’t take long for the bride and her mom to get to the store. We handed her the dress and wished her well. No lie, she stood stone still in the same spot for no less than ten minutes… crying. Each time she would try to say a heartfelt thank-you, the tears would flow harder. We told her “no need to thank us, just thank Jesus, it was a gift from Him because He loves you so!” (yes, we were all crying too!)

We had no idea what she knew about Him before that day. We did know that when she was finally able to walk, she had a fresh revelation of His love for her.

There are many more stories that we could share, each volunteer has had a divine appointment and shared tears or a prayer with our shopper friends.


As we look past the store and toward the ministry of Wellspring LivingSC, I would like to share a scripture with you…

“Do not despise these small beginnings,
for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin… “
Zechariah 4:10

Small beginnings… that kind of reminded me of our journey here. It was reassuring to hear God say not to despise those small beginnings. Many might say that not only have we started small, but that we are awfully slow getting out of the gate. It has and is taking longer than I would have thought. Each unveiling of God’s provision has reminded us that He is our supply, He is our portion, He is our everything.


　
He has placed many of you in positions to do good too. It’s our hope that you also respond as He nudges you just as He did all of us that were in the store that day. God puts us right where He needs us, when He needs us, in the place designed for us to do His good works.


An all time favorite Bib le Study would have to be Henry Blackaby’s “Experiencing God”. If you aren’t familiar with it, be sure to check it out, if you are, you should remember this one … “look to see where God is working and join Him there..”


We at Wellspring Living SC hope that you have looked and seen that He is here, working. If you believe in your heart of hearts that to be true, would you consider becoming a partner with Wellspring Living SC to allow us to take the next step?

A one-time gift or a monthly donation will enable us to get one step closer to opening the doors of the residential home.

How exciting to join God in the good work!

Blue.

Heaven help, because I cannot even remember how long ago it was that I first participated in“Believing God” written by Beth Moore. The first time I did it, it was only available on line (and still is). We didn't even have a computer at home. So when I finished a lesson, I would go to an unnamed location (don't want to incriminate the guilty party here) and listen on line to the video.

It was several years later that Stacy Stokes led a Believing God study at Wellford Baptist. It was one that I loved so much, I did it again.

One assignment we had during the study was to have some sort of blue bracelet on our right arm. The scripture reference for the bracelet comes from Numbers 15:37-39.

The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout
the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments,
with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so
you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes.

I’m not really sure what my first bracelet looked like. Stacy made my second bracelet. It was a blue cord with some blue beads on it. I bet if I looked hard enough I could find my first one. I know for sure where No. 2 is. I also remember wearing it until it broke off my arm.

So there went my blue bracelets.

In 2007 I met Betty at The Cove. She’s part of the Sista Group that makes a yearly pilgrimage to the Cove in January. It’s a very small and intimate group. The first year that I was invited to go, I barely knew any of the women and have to say I went kicking and screaming. I kept telling the Lord that I had enough girlfriends and didn’t need any new ones. Then I realized that it wasn’t about the girlfriends as much as it was about me and Him… the girlfriends were like the dessert with the main course.

I was impressed that Betty had a blue bracelet on. It had been several years since the study had made it’s rounds, so I knew she had worn it for a while.

Year two, Betty still had on her blue bracelet.

Year three, Betty still had on her blue bracelet.

Year four, I was not able to go to The Cove.

Betty and me year one... snowing!

I did recently see Betty. It was two days before her faith became her sight. Two days before she came face to face with her sweet Savior. Her days of believing were over.
She believed in Him and believed Him until her dying day.

I couldn't see her bracelet when I visited her in the ICU. They had what appeared to be boxing gloves over her hands to keep her from disturbing all the vital accessories that she was now adorned with.

But I knew it was there. They had tried to take it off of her wrist when she was admitted.
It didn't work. She refused. I am thankful.

Betty was an inspiration to anyone who ever met her. She had health problems, but that never quenched her irrepressible spirit. I only, ever spent four weekends with her. But knowing her has changed my life.

So for today and all of my tomorrows I plan on having some sort of blue something or other on my right wrist. Why? Because I was believing God then for some mighty big things. I still am.

How about you.
Did you believe God for something and give up or decide it wasn't coming your way?

Or… did your bracelet just break?

Ray and I were in Charleston when I received the news about Betty. From then on, I knew that before we came home I would have me a new bracelet.

God IS Who He says HE IS

God can do what HE says HE will do

I am who God says I am

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

God's WORD is alive and active in me

I AM BELIEVING GOD

It's not a four letter word...

We often need to slow down and yield to oncoming traffic.

Mostly we need to slow down and yield to the Holy Spirit.

It is in our own best interest to do both.

Missing the Mark

How many sermons have we heard about that very subject? Lots would be my guess. And through those we understand that is what sin is... missing the mark.

After reading the book Revolution in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan, I feel that is exactly what we as Christ followers and churches have done. Most of us have read the great commission in Matthew 28.

We often refer to it as the Good News...

In Christianity, the Gospel, good news, Evangelion, or Evangelium (from Koine
Greek euangélion — also translated as "gospel", "glad tidings" and variants) is
the message of Jesus, the Christ (the Messiah), specifically the coming Kingdom
of God, his atoning death on the cross and resurrection, the descent of the Holy
Spirit at Pentecost as "helper" (paraclete), and the resulting promise and hope
of salvation for the faithful.

How many sermons have been spent on anything but the message of the cross?

No wonder Billy Graham is so famous. That's all he does is preach that message. Yes, i know he's an evangelist and that's what they do. So, if Billy's not able to do it anymore, who will take up his mantle and evangelize. According to Matthew, it comes down to you and to me.

So, if you have found yourself reading this post... would you order the free book, read it and allow so many truths speak to your heart?

If you are not moved to action in your own personal life, ask God why.

If you don't find yourself questioning certain things about your own life and subtle lies that have woven themselves into your very being, ask God why.

If you find yourself moved to action, convicted about those subtle lies.... celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit and make some changes.

It is after all the Good News and deserves to be shared!

Simple but true.

Many years ago… many I say. I was listening to Mickey Bonner preach on a cassette tape. I cannot tell you exactly what his subject was, but I do remember thinking how sad that I would believe the lies of the devil over the promises of my Savior. Now, that my fiends is a sad state to be in. But don’t we most often live our lives that way? Fearful, scared and defeated because we’ve been tricked into believing that we aren’t worthy or because of something we’ve done that surely God wouldn’t do what we need Him to.

You may know that smack dab in the middle of all that has been going on with Wellspring that I also had a daughter getting married. I remember exactly where I was when I prayed a prayer of provision over Jennifer’s (daughter #1 to get married, no, I did not say #1 daughter ) wedding. It was the day Tim was going to propose, and I asked God to allow us to give her a very nice wedding that we could afford. He did. I was working full time and Ray worked more over time that year than ever before, or since.

Fast forward to 2010. I work six days a week. Five volunteering for Wellspring and one paid at Middle Tyger (THANK YOU WANDA!). Ray has a great job that he loves, but it’s less pay and absolutely no overtime.
So I prayed the same prayer again.

For many weeks, there were a lot of tossing and turning during the night because I would wake up trying to figure out how something would be accomplished be it wedding or Wellspring. I’d be so worried, my stomach would be on fire. Every time I would wake up fearful, I would get the sweetest assurance that God had it all covered and would be able to go back to sleep.

During the middle of all of this Milestones Church started an inter-active series on prayer. Week one, we wrote down our greatest need and placed it on the alter. Week one was especially sweet because the focus of the sermon was the first miracle of Christ, which of course took place at a wedding.

Week two, Doc preached and during the service we wrote a letter to the Lord. People around me during this series must have thought I was either most sinful or dying. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much during a church service.

I had several options going on here… one, I could get a second job. I guess it would have had to have been from midnight on to squeeze it in. Two, we could ask our parents for a loan, or three, we could charge a lot of it. I could work it out. But I knew that would not be me allowing Jesus to answer my prayers. So I decided to be still and hopefully see the salvation of the Lord over this great need in our life.

By the time week three rolled around, I had once again looked at the savings account balance. Gripped by fear and doubt as I was ironing my clothes for church I confessed these words out loud to the Lord… “Jesus, I don’t see how YOU are going to make this work. I just don’t see it happening. But thankfully, I cannot see all that YOU can. Not only do I believe You can do this great thing in our life… I BELIEVE YOU WILL!” Off to church we went. I could not wait to get there to see what our inter-activity would be today. Surely I was not to be disappointed. Hub had a variety of subjects that were written down during week one. When he called one of them out we were asked to stand if God had answered a prayer for us concerning that subject. Then if you had a need in that area, those standing were asked to go and surround those in need and pray. It may have been my favorite church experience to date.

As the week progressed and I looked at our savings balance again, I cried, I jumped up and down and called a friend. I vowed to her that if He did what it looked like He was going to do, I would take my extra-large white worship flag and wave it at the reception as a way of giving credit where credit is due.

Well…. HE DID IT!!

It was the day before the wedding when I realized what the song choice was to be.

I Bless Your Name by Selah. It was these words which I could relate to so well…

In prisoner’s chains with bleeding stripes
Paul and Silas prayed that night
And in their pain began to see
Their chains were loosed and they were free

I bless your name
I bless your name
I give you honor, give you praise
You are the life, the truth, the way
I bless your name

Some midnight hour if you should find
You’re in a prison of your mind
Reach out praise, defy those chains
And they will fall in Jesus’ name

I bless your name
I bless your name
I give you honor, give you praise
You are the life, the truth, the way
I bless your name


I was a little worried about stealing any thunder from the newly wed couple. It turned out they decided to leave the reception a little early. As we all made our way back in after seeing the happy couple off, I grabbed the mike and said since the bride had left the building it was now my party and I would like to thank the Lord for making it all possible. Not exactly the speech I had planned, but I think they all understood when the flag unfurled. Jennifer said one time while this was going on Jarrad (our wedding photographer) was laying on the floor to get the best shot of the flag. Thank goodness he has known me all his life, so he may have not been too surprised.

By the next afternoon Sarah called to inquire about this grand display… “what are you talking about?” Her friends that were still there had posted a few pics on Facebook. Well, I guess that would be better than seeing them pop up without warning on the wedding photo site!

Mickey Bonner, I think I got it this time. As my friend Samuel said…
“thus far God has helped us”.