“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:31-39

Hi friends, it has been quite some time that the VO Team has been active on here and I just want you to know that you have continuously been on our hearts through everything going on recently in the world. From COVID, to police brutality, to protests, to losing jobs, to losing loved ones, and the affect this has all taken on everyone’s mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual state, we all were personally challenged to have some uncomfortable conversations, make some necessary heart examinations, and be alone with God amidst the chaos.

I cannot imagine the different ways that we all have endured some painful experiences and I don’t intend to make it seem like I fully understand what you have walked through in life and especially in the most recent months. But I want you to know that you haven’t been alone through this because nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39).

VO will continue the work that we have been assigned to from God- not because we have succeeded at overcoming the trials we are currently walking through (because we are still in the thick of them), but because God is worthy.

If God has called you to do something, if He has assigned you to do His kingdom work (all children of God have been called), the book of Lamentations and Nehemiah remind us that we will endure trials, but we must continue building. If Satan can’t take you out, he will at least try to stop you from fulfilling the work that God has called you to. Satan does this by trying to disqualify the people of God, and if not that, then distracting us, and if he still doesn’t succeed at that, he will try to discourage us.

Have you been tested with any of these things, especially in the recent months? Have you been tempted by Satan to give in to sin to then be disqualified? Have you been distracted, whether that be by the media, leisure activities taking your time, or anything else? Have you been discouraged, whether that be from the news, confusion, fear, or a lack of spiritual attentiveness to the word of God?

It is time to get back to your close relationship with God and back to the work that He assigned to you. It is time to release all your struggles to Him and surrender every sinful attitude or heart issue at the cross. It is time to overcome your fear with faith and the voice of confusion with the voice of Truth.

We all have been given a purpose and whatever that purpose looks like is between you and God. These next months will most likely be just as hard, but if you commit to placing your faith in Christ everyday, He will surely uphold you by His strong arm because the battle ultimately belongs to the Lord. Let’s stand for Christ today and continue the work He has set for each of us.

If you are needing further encouragement, I invite you to read, Romans 8:31-39. As always, if you need prayer, we would love to pray for you.

God bless you!