Saturday, November 17, 2012

LADIES RETREAT...NOW A MEMORY!

Today is a week past the end of our 12th Annual Ladies Winter Retreat.  I didn't realize it had been so long since my last blog but then...it has been like a whirlwind since the 25th! 

It never ceases to amaze me how much preparation goes into the Retreat....I forget each year until I am in the midst of it all.  There are totes to find...I have used Longaberger for the last 3 years...so they must be found on clearance!  Then dvds to be printed and ready to burn of each service.  The flyers and packets have long been mailed out in August but now the registrations are pouring in...in the mail...through paypal...email...facebook private message....texts and phone call!  I am filling out registration forms as fast as I receive the paypal email. 

Oh no...night before we leave I realize I forgot a bookmark!  So at 3am Ronnie is patiently designing our bookmark for the tote that we will take to Staples to duplicate...no time to laminate this year!  The bookmark is ready...new signs for the product table are ready...a little sleep before we drive out in the morning!

Everything is loaded...tshirts...cds...dvds....door prizes...350 totes...11 handmade wreaths...Christmas dishes for the Welcome Table to be given away as grand prize...decorations...hand sanitizer...peppermints and pretty little dishes to put them in...pink ink pens for the registration table...gifts for the boys and girls coming with Mom...always 10-12 extras for last minute surprises...sound equipment...microphones...my outfits (always more than 4....I have to decide when I get there)...my own quilt and pillow and sandals to wear in the motel!  Well, you get where I'm going....never ending list for the week! :)

Now to leave home on Tuesday so we can have a nice leisurely supper in Pigeon Forge and start setting up Wednesday morning.  We have friends coming in today to help us with the setup.   Wednesday is always a busy day.  Room is ready for us to bring our equipment for set up...but then the door prizes, wreaths, dishes, products must all be put in place...dvd recorder set up...registration table ready for my sister who will register women at the door...singers...also my nieces... bringing their equipment...doing sound checks...photographer getting backdrop ready for group photos...new tshirts to be folded in all new colors especially for the Retreat.  There are last minute door prizes to pick up from the local businesses....and my sister and niece will arrive this afternoon and we will make our yearly trip to the Old Mill for some corn chowder!  Wednesday afternoon Lindy and I will travel to Staples...remember bookmarks....then Dollar Tree for more peppermints and frames for product signs...Lil Dollys for napkins for the Christmas dishes...where I may have bought me a quilt on sale with my birthday money from my Mom! :)  Now a cup of coffee from Mcd's and a night to prop up my feet...study some more for tomorrow....good night's sleep and tomorrow we begin again!

Thursday is an exciting day!  It is finally here!  We have planned for this day since the end of last year's Retreat!  Women are checking in...checking our "to do" list for any last minute things we may have forgotten.  Bible Church ladies will meet us at 10am to stuff the totes with hand gels from Bath and Body Works, paperback 30 days of Prayer, travel brochures, pkts of kleenex and the famous bookmark. Last minute checks....one more sound check...peppermints are out...awwwww...It's done!  Now to my room to hide....prepare myself for tonight!  Doors will open at 6pm for the women to sign in and pick up their tote or register at the door!  There is a team of girls from my family and our churches that will meet at 6pm while I am in the room.  They know what to do....

7:15pm....Ferree family begin playing music....7:30 opening prayer....the singing begins and.....oh yes, I remember!  WE WALK WITH THE KING!

The rest is just a memory now of a visitation of His presence...healings taking place....reunions....laughter....tears...worship...sermons of little Much Afraid...meekness...going to Hawaii...a new master switch....well, you would just have to have been there!  It was perfect!  All I can say is...we have hundreds of pictures from 4 photographers getting every imaginable shot...from all the gifts...the altar service...to Pat with her cell phone open so her daughter in South Carolina can hear the singing!   One memory after another....then we have dvds of the services....but what you need is to mark your calendar for November 7-9, 2013 and join us to make new memories!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

12th Annual Ladies Winter Retreat Countdown...

We are swiftly approaching our 12th Annual Ladies Winter Retreat in beautiful Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on November 8-10!  There is still time to register and get a room to join us in the Retreat!

This Retreat was birthed 12 years ago after battling depression for nearly a year.  I purposed in my heart at the end of that ordeal that I would reach for women in the same battle and create a weekend together with other women where they can bond with one another in the presence of the Lord.  Little did I know then that 12 years later over 900 women would pass through those doors one way and leave another way.

Each year we have grown, changed and tried to make the Retreat a great time of fellowship, reunion, laughter, tears, sharing, talking, and worship that carries us deep into His divine presence!  We have 4 services with a hot buffet lunch following the Friday morning meeting....Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, southern green beans, tossed salad, rolls, cheesecake, tea and coffee....early Thanksgiving dinner!  There is time between the morning and evening meeting for you to sightsee or shop in Pigeon Forge at one of the several outlet malls during Winterfest with 1 million Christmas lights which turns Pigeon Forge into a Winter Wonderland!  It is like driving back into your childhood where everything was magical!

Each woman attending is invited to bring a wrapped gift to exchange during the Retreat.  Although this is not necessary...if you bring a gift, you receive a gift.  We also have door prizes from some of the local merchants along with special gifts I have prepared from home...each year we give a set of Christmas dishes for your holiday table and 14-16 Christmas wreaths handmade by my nieces and sister-in-laws especially for the Retreat.

The Ferree Girls, my 4 nieces and my sister-in-law, do the praise and worship for each service.  It is a time of refreshing and worship that will be life changing for you. 

Now we are 13 days away...on October 25th....the Retreat is November 8-10!  The deadline for the pre-registration of $30 is October 30th.  Children 12 and under are free.  We just need their name and age along with your registration.  You can also register at the door but the registration goes to $40.  You can register online by going to paypal and sending us your name and address....I will fill out your form for you!

Your room can be registered by calling 1 800 523 3919 and mentioning He Died for Me Ministries for the group rate of $64 for a room of 2 queen beds and up to 4 women per room. 

We have prepared Longaberger totes for each of the ladies with some goodies inside.  We also have prepared totes with gifts for each of your children if you need to bring them with you.  We only need the name of your child and their age so we can be sure and make your gift age appropriate.  The children 12 and under do not need to register...they are free.  We just need their information for their gift.

We have everything ready for your arrival!  Make your plans now to join us!!!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Another day to remember why...

We just closed a revival in Ohio that was another one of those life-changing moments.  On the last night of the revival we had a young man addicted to heroin...of his own admission.  He came looking for help.  I understand that concept because I remember 37 years ago going to a church looking for help.  I found THAT help comes from the Lord.  37 years later....my Help is still here!

We also had a group of young men and women....maybe 12 to 17 years old.  After me giving my testimony....being delivered from drug addiction and a heroin overdose....they filled the altar.  One after another saying the same thing..."want to make sure I am ready..."...rededicating their life to the Lord.  As I prayed for one after another crying with them...I remembered how much I love what I do.

There are days after miles and miles on the road and many nights in a motel and one restaurant after another that I feel like I would weary or faint in my vision...  Then it happens...  It happened a few weeks ago in Royston Georgia when 11 people gave their heart to the Lord in one of our Campmeetings.  It happened again last night!

First the nine young people coming to the altar...then the young man wanting to come off drugs giving his heart to Jesus!  The night before a young man ....maybe 12 or 13 coming to our product table at the end of service and kneeling at the coat rack with me and asking Jesus to come into his heart.

My nephew explained it this way...you feel like a giant and humble at the same time.  That is so, so true.  Like a giant and small all at the same time....knowing God has used you but without Him you can do nothing!!!

I went back to our motel room and remembered this is why.  This is why we travel.  This is why we live in a motel.  This is why we eat most of our meals in a restaurant.  This is why we seem to miss babies being born in our family and birthday parties and many times graduations.  37 years ago He delivered me, saved me and gave me a call.  Last night, He reminded me one more time of the call and the "why"!  I am so thankful today as we travel to our next meeting for the "call"....

Monday, September 17, 2012

THE REASON WHY....

About 30 years ago in a Campmeeting in Cleveland, Tennessee a pastor walked up to me and gave me his business card with the name of his church and phone number.  He asked me to come to Royston, Georgia and hold him a revival.  To anyone else, this may not have been such a big deal....but this was my first invitation for a revival.  That man was Pastor Vaughn.  I went to that revival.  I have held many, many revivals for him since that day.

Last week my husband and I, my brother and another evangelist held the 1st Annual Campmeeting in Pastor Vaughn's church in Royston, GA.  In four days we had 12 people saved and 5 filled with the Holy Ghost.  That alone would have made a great revival.  But there was something else...watching Sister Vaughn still singing....I'm following the One who knows the way.  Tag team preaching with Pastor Vaughn after all these years in a packed out building.

Thirty years later....still preaching, singing, praying and winning souls into the Kingdom of God.  I couldn't help but think at the end of the revival....THIS IS THE REASON WHY.

This is the reason we travel...
This is the reason we sleep away from home...
This is the reason we eat most meals in a restaurant...
This is the reason we travel 60,000 miles a year...
This is the reason we move from place to place every 3 or 4 days...
THIS IS THE REASON WHY.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Friends....

We just ended a week's revival in the Quad Cities...East Moline and Joy, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa.  Many years ago Ronnie and I put up a tent every July for 10 days down on the Ben Butterworth Parkway at the Mississippi River.  We had wonderful meetings for years with many lives changed.  We developed lasting friendships with friends from several churches.  After they sold the property on the Mississippi to build condos we moved to the Fairgrounds in East Moline.  This week we went back.  When we rented the building we had no idea who would come or if they would remember us or want to be back out in the heat in a folding chair again.

What a wonderful week it has been.  The same guys that played music with us then was back on the platform this week singing and playing just like old times!  The crowds were unaffected by the 85 degree weather.  The gathered each night hungry to be in the presence of the Lord just like they also did years ago. 

A few things had changed.  I am older.  They are older.  The children have grown into young men and ladies.  The moms and dads are a little grey.  One thing remains the same....they love to worship!  Night after night they worshipped with us and then they sat with undivided attention as I broke the Bread of Life.

This morning we pulled out with our equipment trailer and stopped to pray for all our friends that the fire will continue to burn.  The fire that was fanned in this revival.  I couldn't help but cry...  Who will be gone before I return?  What changes will occur before the next meeting?  I couldn't help but cry....  remembering each kindness, each gift, the cookies, the meals, the home to sleep in, the hugs, the crowds night after night, the Presence we were blessed with!

Ronnie and I are rich.  We know who Jesus is...we have the love of friends and family...we have open doors to carry this gospel.  What more could we desire....except maybe another trip to the Quad Cities!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Change has come....

I began today with a heartbreaking phone call.  Then watched the news of another shooting.  I read the internet news of one difficulty after another.  All day my mind couldn't shake the needs of others and at times it seemed overwhelming.  The needs seemed entirely all-consuming with so many needing a touch.

Tonight we closed out our tent meeting in South Carolina...the end of 2 weeks on the road.  I seemed more tired today than I had felt all week.  We were running late and took a wrong exit which left me filled with stress.  Then it happened.

We opened tonight's meeting with the pastor praying....then there was singing...and then it happened.
Before I realized what was happening, we were in His presence.  We were walking with the King!  The people were walking the aisles praising God....and it happened!  First one and then another and yes, souls were coming back to Jesus.  The River began to flow and we were in it!  Healings, deliverance and salvation....worship...praises....yes, it has happened.  All the stress....the overwhelming, all-consuming feeling...the helplessness...everything has changed....we are in the presence of the Lord!

God spoke to Ezekiel that when His people went into the temple...if they went in by the south gate...make sure they leave by the north gate.  If they come in by the north gate...make sure they leave by the south gate.  Never let the people leave the same way they come in.  We came in one way this week...but we have left changed!!!! 

I am forever amazed at the power of His presence.  When He passes by, all things change.  We are stronger, we are filled with hope, we have a clear view of what we can do, our joy is restored, our peace has returned and our heart sings. 

Souls have come into the Kingdom of God and life is good.  At the end of the day, this is why we are here.  This is our lot in life.  This is the reason we travel and live on the road...this is our purpose....that souls will be brought into the Kingdom of God.

Tonight I prayed with someone's daughter...someone's wife...someone's mother....someone's friend.  A life was changed....
Maybe it was her.....or maybe it was me.....

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Lest we forget....

I was reading this morning in Judges how over and over Israel forgot the Lord....served the gods of people of the land they dwelt among...and God delivered them into the hand of their enemy.

One thing that resonated deep within me this morning was this statement..."Now these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan."

God had left nations within Israel that He had not delivered into the hands of Joshua for a purpose.  He knew His people were going to follow after the gods of the land so He left enemies to bring them into captivity.  He not only left the enemies....He strengthened Eglon the king of the Moabites against Israel.

God used the captivity of the enemy to cause Israel to remember the wonderful peace that came with serving the Lord.  He would rather have them subject to an enemy for a season....eight years....eighteen years....rather than to have them serve Baal, Ashtaroth, Baalim and the groves.  He knew the heart of His people would be in a season of time, they would cry for deliverance....AND HE WOULD RAISE UP A DELIVERER (A CHAMPION) that would bring them out of captivity and they would turn their face back to the Lord.

Over and over in the book of Judges we see this happening when the judge dies, the people forget, God raises up an enemy to take them captive, then they cry for deliverance, and He always has a deliverer to raise up for them. 

How much greater for me....rather than to need the captivity of the enemy to cause me to remember and cry unto the Lord for deliverance....should I not JUST REMEMBER! 

Paul never forgot his walk on the Damascus road....the light that shone round about him brighter than the noon day sun...the voice that spoke to him and his ultimate transformation.  At the end of his journey, he declared....I have finished my course.  He never strayed from the prize at the end.  His ability to remember brought him to his finish!

I remember over and over how I got here.  I was living a life filled with drugs, addiction and more than I want to speak about!  Dying in a drug overdose, HE CAME LOOKING FOR ME!  It was not a bright light....just a touch from the Master's hand!  When I surrendered, He miraculously delivered me in a moment's time from the addiction that held me captive.  I SHALL NEVER FORGET....

There is a great power in your ability to remember.  I choose to remember a time when I did not know Him...it reminds me how great it is now that....I KNOW IN WHOM I NOW BELIEVE!

Monday, August 13, 2012

My new blog experience...

I love following the blogs of my friend, Angie and my niece, Amy from time to time.  I am also always looking for a new way to connect with my old friends and meet new ones by sharing what is on my heart.  So here goes...  

I have a facebook page for our ministry He Died For Me Ministries with thoughts, short sermons and our upcoming meetings.  I also have a personal one for me, Becky Trammell.  We have a website www.hediedformeministries with our revival schedule, bulletins of upcoming events, a special page dedicated to our Ladies Meetings and yearly Ladies Winter Retreat in Pigeon Forge TN, a list of my husband's cds and our He Died for Me tshirts along with a From the Heart letter from me and one from my Mom who has walked with Jesus for 64 years...From My Mother's Heart.

I am hoping to stay connected to our friends that may not be facebook fans but want an updated page of what is going on in our ministry.  After 28 years of traveling in ministry, I am always looking for another avenue to connect...to share...and to meet new friends.

Enjoy.....

Ladies Retreat Countdown

Ladies Retreat countdown has begun!!!


August 13th, 2012

I have just mailed all our pastors a packet with information and registration forms and each lady from past retreats a letter and registration form for our 12th Annual Ladies Winter Retreat in beautiful Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

We are making preparations for your arrival. The Longaberger totes are purchased and ready to be filled with goodies. We have several door prizes already donated from area restaurants and businesses. We will again have beautiful Christmas wreaths for your home…nativity scenes….and much, much more!

However, the greatest part is this….we are preparing for a move of God for each of the women attending. Each year we come into these meetings one way and leave another way. We are forever changed in His presence! This year will be no different! Each year the Lord drops a Rhema Word into my spirit that is just for the women at this meeting. I know this year will be filled with a Word from God….worship in the presence of the Lord…and great fellowship with women of God from many different areas!

If you have never attended or do not receive your registration form by mid August, email me and I will be happy to mail you one. We will also be posting a registration form for you to download on the Ladies Meeting page. You can register online with a paypal account or mail to our home address…PO Box 125 Willisburg, KY 40078.

We will have great praise and worship with my sister in law and nieces, The Ferree Family. They led us into His presence last year service after service and this year will be the same! This is a great time to worship, heal, rest, renew and refresh for the days ahead.
On Friday after the morning service we will all gather together for a hot buffet lunch. It is always such a great time of fellowship with the women….like family reunion time….great food…great fellowship!

At the end of each service we will be drawing names for gift exchange. We started this the very first year and I was bringing gifts for all the women…but as our crowd has grown, the women love the idea of giving theirselves…so we have an exchange. When you bring a wrapped gift, we give you a number and when your number is called, you choose from over 300 gifts. This is not a requirement….only if you want to take part. Bring a gift, get a gift.

You can go to the Ladies Meeting page for all the details concerning registration and the group rate for the rooms at the Ramada Inn next door to the Smoky Mountain Convention Center. Pay close attention to the deadlines for both the block of rooms at the Ramada and the registration fee. The block of rooms is good until October 8 and then the rooms will be open to the public. Pre-registration is $30 and $40 at the door. Even though we will be happy for you to come and register at the door, we need most of you to pre-register to help us prepare for your arrival with the totes, gifts and meal. You can contact us through our email, facebook or mailing address. Start making your plans now to join us in November. You can book up to 4 women per room so talk to your ladies group and plan to spend your weekend with us in Pigeon Forge.

See you in November!