Burrrrr!!!

It has been a long, weird season of trials and tribulations but God's grace rules. It has been bitter cold in the last few months in our loft. That, and the never ending music from our musician neighbors has made life unbearable.  There is not much we can do about the noise, but we have been doing all we can do to stay warm. We basically have spent all our time in the loft bundled up in heavy jackets, wool hats, gloves and scarfs - or in bed under a pile of blankets. The two heaters our dear friends Isaac and Rebecca donated helped, but we literally had to stand right next to them to feel any warmth. A third heater was lent to was by the awesome Balliets - but even with all three heaters running - the average temperature was only 42 degrees. Burrr!!!

Just when we thought we would either go bonkers or kill each other, God stepped in. He sent an angel named Carmelita. Carmelita and her husband have a house in Center City that is not in use in January and they are letting stay there. We have been here for almost a week and will stay for at least another week. Lord willing, we might be able to stay till the end of the month. For February, if we can get together some temporary furniture, it looks like we will be able to stay at the in-law house at Emanuele's house. Then it's back to the Kensington loft, but hopefully by then the worst of the winter will be over.

Oddly enough, all the battles with the noise and the cold gave use time to think and time for searching prayer. And in this time of prayer it became abundantly clear that Daddy God was doing some serious "house cleaning". He so clearly reminded us why He sent us to Philly and loving pointed out how we went astray. It is so cool how He gives yo just enough rope to wonder about doing things He never asked you to do then He pulls you right back in and leads you back in the right direction.

Our mission here is in the Arts: to share His voice and His gospel in the art community; in our person art, and to form relationships with artists. The long term goal is to open a faith based Art Center that would hold theatrical events, art shows, films, workshops and do outreach art/music programs for underprivileged kids.

So we have once again heard a GO from Daddy. We are moving out of the Kensington loft in May. We will be renting a smaller loft about ten minutes away that will be work/ministry only and we are praying for Him to lead us the where He wants us to live. We will need a small, VERY CHEAP house in Philly or West Chester. For peace of mind and spirit, to be in a loving Spirit filled community, I so feel West Chester is where He us calling us to live, so we will wait to hear His voice. Please pray for clarity and provision.

A new weave...

A lot has happened since my last entry. God has been stripping us down and clothing us with a new weave.

God had given me a word about a year ago to go listen to Bill Johnson speak - that there was something important there for me. I tried going to Bethel and then Harrisburg, but it was not to be. We went to see "Father of Lights" at Temple U in July and that was a great night. The movie was awesome, but that was not the only reason we were there. I met one of the organizers for AwakeNow in the lobby and he gave me a pamphlet on the event with schedule of the speakers. The event was to be held in late September and Bill Johnson was one of the speakers. The event was in Pennsauken, NJ - about 15 minutes from here. That was so doable! So we went. The host church was HUGE and there was thousands of people there. To make a long story a little shorter, Poppa arranged seats for us the the 3rd row front. 

The worship and all the speakers were amazing and although I was blown away by Bill Johnson's message, I really had no idea why God had sent us here until we went home. I had posted an iPhone photo I took while there on Facebook and I wanted to see how it looked on my Mac. Much to my surprise and delight, not only was my photo there, but there was also a photo of Diana and me worshiping! As it turns out, Ben Osborne, 3000 miles away, saw this photo on his FB feed, grabbed it, and then posted it on my page. WOW! I instantly got what God was saying; what He was setting us up for. We have been intrenched in trails and tribulations so so many months and God was telling us that He saw us! To keep going! Again, WOW!

The photo I took.

The photo AwakeNow posted

I was so blessed at the Friday night dinner/birthday party here on the Oct 12th. Above and beyond what God usually surprises us with at these dinners, so many words of encouragement were spoken over me as we celebrated my birthday. And Rebekah Howell, bless her heart, wrote a poem for me. How great is that! But what was really cool is that God used all this to reveal Himself to two of my neighbors who are not believers. They both got to hear His name spoken and the love we have for Jesus and they were clearly effected by that. Yay God!

 

And then there was The Voice of the Apostles. This weekend radically changed our lives. So much learned, so much inner healing! Even tough we crashed our car! God so used that to bring deep, deep healing. We are still processing everything that happened there. God is indeed good!

The battles continue, but breakthrough has begun and victory is coming. Please continue to pray for us. If it is on your heart to help us repair our car, you can make a donation by check or by clicking the donation button. Monies can be sent to:

Victor & Diana Atkins
PO Box 29273
Philadelphia, PA 19125

Additionally, a credit card or PayPal donation to our mission can be made directly on the this link below.
 

How far can you drive a car on empty?

We have been pouring out so much since we moved here and it's by God's grace that He sent Phil and Jill here for a visit. Their testimony of how God moved in their sabbatical so moved and inspired us. As we remembered their testimony the day after, the Holy Spirit  reminded us that if we keep doing what we have been doing, at the pace we have been going, burnout is inevitable. There is only so far you can drive a car on empty. We prayed for a word from the Father and He answered. He called us to seek His presence.

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

We started Friday night dinners again. That was great fun and God's presence was here. Good food, great conversation and fellowship, plus Greg and Brian, Carl (a new brother from the Circle), and Kris all shared their music and it was awesome! In a way, it looked a bit like the Art center we have been dreaming of.

Saturday night we went to a worship celebration at the Circle of Hope and that was so good. I cried out for the Spirit to come and He did not disappoint. So sweet to be with Him! I have almost forgot what that was like.

After the worship, I prayed for a homeless man (I think his name was Darryl) on the street just outside the Circle. God revealed that demons had this man. I told him just how much God loved him and then prayed for a renewal of his mind. Then I began to pray for a casting out of these demons and this man's eyes went wild. He shouted AMEN! and ran away in fear. I finished the prayer as I watched him run down the street and until God shows me otherwise, I am convinced a mustard seed was planted.

Yesterday morning was a huge blessing. Diana and I went to Eastgate WC and we were blasted in a God way. So, so good. Worship was beyond amazing led by Demetra Stallings and the guest speaker, Bob Hazlett was on fire. What a good message God placed in his heart! As Bob spoke, I received very specific words from Poppa about our struggles here. He pointed out what the enemy was trying to steal in our lives and that these were the very things that we needed to turn back to Him in worship and thanksgiving for.

After the service, I was blessed by prayer from Jenny Collins. I love that woman so much! Then I had a chance to pray for Bob and a few other folks. It is so easy to go to these meetings looking for a blessing. I think God more calls us to look for who He wants to bless.

I forgot just how hungry I was for God's presence until I was completely filled in His presence. Now I am starving for more. Yay God!

The good, the bad and the...good renewed

It has been a while since our last post and a lot has happened. The good news is that God keeps revealing His hand in putting to death many of the battles here. The enemy has come after our car twice, attacked Max, and has repeatedly try to steal the joy from Diana and my relationship, but to no avail. The victory is God's! Please join us in  prayer for protection for Diana, me, Max, our household and all of the possessions Poppa has entrusted us with.

About three weeks ago.

8/25. Remains of the car window - nada!

8/27 All better! PTL!

God has been so teaching us about sonship and stepping out in boldness. And as we go, He has consistently reminded us, like Moses, to ask for His presence to come with us - and that we must not go out unprotected. Good stuff in such an intense, dark place. Yea God!

I had the good fortune to pray in God's light and anointing on a local business that is opening soon. It is wonderful how prayer is round-robin, as they were blessed, I was blessed by His presence, His teaching and His grace!

I met a homeless man outside the supermarket the other day. He was late 40ish, very disheveled and had only about four teeth. He asked me for money and I had none, but I told him about Jesus; that Jesus loved him and as bad as things seemed, Jesus would provide for him. This man looked my square on and told me that he knew Jesus and that was the only thing keeping him going. Another way Poppa blew my mind and taught me humility! 

Diana and I have been talking with a man at the dog park who converted to Islam while in jail in the 90s. The startling thing that came out in conversation is he grows and sells marijuana for a living. I asked what Islam speaks to about this and he said he pretty much keeps it from them to avoid judgement This conversation to continue... Please pray!

Some more good news... A Circle of Hope commissioned me to do two paintings to hang at the Frankford and Norris church for a month or so. The paintings would then go up for auction and the funds from the sale will go to commissioning other artists of faith. So awesome! Hopefully we can do more things like this together.

"Dream" acrylic on canvas 50" x 38"

"Renew" acrylic on canvas 50" x 38"

Money is still a major battle. The work is finally starting to trickle in but it has been a long two month dry spell. I have added a Paypal donate button on the Support Our Ministry page of this blog. So if the Lord nudges you to give, that would be a major blessing. Also, please keep your prayers coming. They are so appreciated, needed and received.

If you are free on September 14th, please join us for a potluck dinner & music fundraiser around 7pm here at the loft.

2424 Coral Street
Philadelphia, PA 19125

I will be sending emails, texts and posting a Facebook invite as a follow up. We so look forward to seeing you all then!

A prayer for Caleb...

Before moving to Kensington, the Lord had put it on my heart to work with children as a volunteer in a children’s hospital. Though I’ve applied to CHOP, as of today, they have not responded. And hospitals like St. Christopher’s require their volunteers to pay and manage their own inoculations, vetting and background searches, which, in this dry financial season we have not had the money to do. So I’ve been waiting and praying. Yesterday, the Lord literally brought an ailing little baby right to me.

Liz Marvin and I were driving out of town, on our way to a doctor appointment. The light had just turned green at the intersection of 5th and Roosevelt Avenue, when the car behind rammed into the rear of Liz’s car. We were shocked and frightened, especially when Liz saw a large man step out of the offending car and head in our direction. But as we all got out to inspect the cars he turned out to be more upset then we were. “City driving, I hate city driving, the car just got away from me!” We asked him if he and everyone in his car was okay. He thought so but went over and yelled out “is the baby okay?” Yes said the mother, who was juggling a cigarette while trying to rifle through papers.

Turned out no one was hurt, no apparent damage to anyone’s car but the driver that hit us was pretty shook up. As Liz and he were exchanging info, waiting for the woman to find the current registration, the baby was placed on the sidewalk, in his car seat. After calling the accident in I walked over to the baby.

He was a tiny little thing, looked like a new born. Eventually, I learned this little boy’s name was Caleb and he was three months old but was born three months premature! He had been in and out of CHOP and St. Christopher’s wrestling with all kinds of health issues since they’d taken him home weighing only 5 lbs. They had just come back from a doctor visit, this time for his digestive system that was giving him terrible distress.

I asked if I could pray on little Caleb and his mom said sure, that she prays for him every morning. I laid my hands on his little tummy and prayed for the Lord to pour his living waters of healing life into little Caleb, heal his body, so he could be the very important man the Lord designed him to be. To bring him comfort, refreshment, refreshment for his family, peace and provision. (they drove a beat up old sedan with cord holding the front bumper in place, front directional lights broken, they looked frazzled and dazed). Such an intense experience of love filled me, for this child, these parents. This mom was so anxious for any encouragement for this new child, so eager for prayers.

Little Caleb’s mom ended up exchanging emails with me, told me she’d keep me updated on her little one. I said I’d continue to pray for him, to pass his name to our prayer team. We hugged. She was so encouraged that here was a friendly face, someone who cared, someone positive, even in the face of an accident.

I will continue to pray for Caleb’s continued rapid development and healing, and mostly for his mom who was smoking in the car with her new born baby and for the man who may be his dad, who Liz told me afterward, had track marks on his arm. I prayed so hard when I heard this. It’s not hard enough for little Caleb to have entered the world three months early but to have parents who are themselves so broken broke my heart. I pray for them all, I ask you to pray for them all. God so loves each of them. I felt that so strongly. So strongly.  Please pray!

Love you,
Diana

Still kickin'

We saw an amazing film last night, "Father of Lights". It so convicted me in a good way. And as an added blessings, I had a chance to have some much needed prayer after the film. The dvd is out in October and it is a must see!

Click here to go to the website.

I finished a painting today.Yeah! It's the first in a creation series and I am very excited about it and the series. It is called "Day Zero" and it is 46" x 60". Stay tuned for more photos.

Click the photo for larger image

I also just finished a new website for my drawings and prints. You can actually buy one on the website and that money will go to our ministry.

Click here to visit the website

The transition to life here is still hard, but it is getting a bit better. We having been meeting new people and that's good and the heat - for now - has calmed down. Even with the squeaky old air conditioner it has been brutal in this loft. God bless the thirty brave soles that came to the first Friday night dinner here! It was an amazing night - Poppa's presence was so thick! We are so looking forward to the next one - probably in September when the weather cools down.

Our spinning top ministry continues. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it feels like if you blindfold us, spin us around in circles and then take the blindfold off when we stop - there's ministry! Poppa has an incredible sense of humor.

The most touching time was when Diana and I met a homeless man begging on Columbus Blvd. His name was Rick, he looked to be in his late thirties - early forties - and he was slim and pretty sun burnt. We gave him the few dollars we had then asked him his story, he said was trying to raise $18 for a motel room so his wife and 3 year old daughter Ashley could get off the streets for the night. I asked him if he had tried any of the shelters and he said it was nearly impossible to get in one - too long of a line - and he couldn't risk seeing his family on the streets another night. How sad is that. He told us that his wife was not doing well physically and his daughter was worse - that she suffers from seizures.

It was about 4 in the afternoon when we met him and he said he had been there since 7am and had only raised a few dollars. Poppa's voice was loud and clear to give him the money, so we went to the ATM. We went back and before giving him the money, I asked him if we could pray for him - I asked him first so he didn't feel obligated to pray - he said absolutely and then grabbed my hand. Diana and I prayed over him for several minutes and when we were finished, Rick was clearly very moved and he thanked us and called us  " Angels from Jesus! " We all three had on one those moments of silence from God and then I handed enough money for two nights. He thanked us again in the name of Jesus and then we left.

Diana and I were blessed beyond words witnessing that even in Rick's poverty and seemingly darkest time of his life, he had unwavering love for the Lord with all his heart, mind and soul. Please pray for Rick and his family.

So the darkness and the battles are plenty here. And the spirit of loneliness still hovers over us. Thank you all for your prayers, they mean the world to us. Please keep them coming! 

Blessing to you all. We miss and love you so, so much!

Nothin' special... Just being real.

My heart, the one inside my chest, is just a normal heart. It beats. It pumps blood, It does all the things a heart is meant to do. Nothing magical. Nothing mystical. Just a heart. Yet amazing words have often slipped from my tongue about what God has done with this heart. That this heart, God's heart, has often been full beyond words and empty beyond those same words. Loneliness plaques me here. I sometimes feel like a stranger in a strange land. As if I am on the perimeter. Far out on the outer ring. Like Jupiter, I do not belong with arms wrapped around this earth, around this Kensington, wrestling to fill my loneliness with a youth that no longer knows me. Where then do I belong? Who's voice shall fall upon my ears? What eyes will smile at me? My heart longs for the Father. But do I seek Him here tonight?

I am starving, but I am not hungry. I am asleep and I am blind to a banquet that stands before me. Take my hand and lead me. I really do not know the way. I am greedy for love. But is it His love? Or is it a hunger for that which never was? For that shadow of unworthiness that lurks over my shoulder. Change me. Use me. Fill me. I want so to share your love. But do I know that love? I thought so. But tonight it is a ghost in my memory. Forgive me. Forgive me.  Please forgive me. Please show me how to risk a risk that leads me closer to you.

"Risk" acrylic on canvas 44" x 58"
Click picture for larger image.