SPRING FAMILY RETREAT IN PIGEON FORGE, TN

We are quickly approaching our 13th Annual Spring Family Retreat in Pigeon Forge, TN!

This is such a time of refreshing for the body of Christ.  There will be ministers, singers, musicians, and saints from many different areas coming together to worship and draw from their own well!

We have a group rate at the Ramada Inn next door to the Smoky Mountain Convention Center at 4101 Parkway and your rooms will be $59 when you mention the He Died for Me Ministries group.

Our services are Thursday 7PM, Friday 10am and 7pm, and Saturday 10am.  We have made it possible for you to arrive after your mid-week service and return home for your Sunday morning worship service! 

The dates are April 24-26 which is the weekend following Easter this year.  After such a long winter season, it will be a welcome time of fellowship in the beautiful Smoky Mountains by the end of April!

There is NO registration fee for this Retreat.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  If you are making plans to attend, please email us at trammellministry@aol.com and let us know.  We are preparing for your arrival!

See you in Pigeon Forge!  <3

" The land is a land of hills and valleys..."

 

Deuteronomy 11:11-14 tells a beautiful story of Moses preparing the children of Israel for their trip into Canaanland...a journey of the unknown.  As I prepared for sleep last night and awake again at 2am I couldn't help but think how  that was what January 2014 was for Ronnie and I. 

 

We entered into the year with our friends in Mt Sterling Kentucky at the Shepherd's Shelter Rehab for New Year's Eve.  Little did we know what January would hold for us.

We held our first revival in Royston Georgia with our long time friends, the Vaughn's for a powerful move of God and visitation of His presence.  He walked with us for three days with lives being changed in the altar and a sweet move of His Spirit...we had walked with Him on the hill of His presence!

By our next revival, Ronnie had a relapse of some chest cold he had battled in December and by the time we reached Alabama he was running a fever and coughing terribly.  Because of his illness, we left his equipment in the car and he sat in the back away from most everyone except when we had prayer for him.  By the next morning as we were taking him to a walk in clinic, we discovered our vehicle's window was smashed and all our equipment, guitar, pa system, amp, cds, dvds, cables, clothes, shoes and Ronnie's Bible had been stolen.  They left us nothing but the vehicle.  It had begun.  He now walked with us through the valley.  We spent the next several days contacting the police, filing reports, calling insurance, still going to the clinic and treating Ronnie's fever and cough.  At night, He walked with us in the meetings....but out of the meeting we walked through a trying, frustrating place.  We were on the road for 9 days and He met with us in each meeting in such a wonderful way with souls born into the Kingdom and lives transformed and healed.  His presence was our mountaintop....  During the day dealing with starting again with all new equipment and Ronnie's illness, He walked with us through the valley.

We held our first Campmeeting of the year with my brother Mike Ferree and Cecil Hamby in Johnson City Tennessee at the Bible Church.  Each night Ronnie played a new guitar we had bought on our way home from Alabama but did very little singing....still struggling with his breathing.  By the end of this week, my nephew had rededicated his life to the Lord, received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, many lives healed, touched, changed in the presence of the Lord.

On our return home we finally had an appointment with a local doctor.  The weather had kept us from reaching his asthma doctor the week before.  So we took Ronnie for more checkups, chest x-rays, shots, antibiotics only to find he was fighting pneumonia.  We have cancelled our meeting for the weekend (my brother Mike is preaching in our place) and staying indoors during the 15 degree weather for the next 10 days. 

 Israel was walking into a new land...a land of the unknown.  Moses said it will be not as Egypt but a land of hills and valleys, drinking their water from the rain of heaven....but he also said..."a land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year." 

I couldn't help but think back over our first month of this year.  We have encountered great mountaintops of joy, laughter and victory as He walked with us night after night and we received reports of my nephew rededicating his life to the Lord....and then by the end of that week my niece's husband crying in the altar for over 20 minutes rededicating his life to the Lord.  What a mountaintop with Jesus!  We drank from the rain of heaven!  But He also walked with us through this valley....loss of many thousands of dollars of equipment....Ronnie battling off and on for the entire month....better for a few days and another relapse until we finally got a report of the source of his problem...pneumonia.  Although it has been a trying time, I can also say He walks with us in our valley....we drink of His rain...we are renewed by His presence. 

I have many friends that I have watched over the course of 2013 walking through extreme valley circumstances...much more severe than anything Ronnie and I have faced.  I am touched and empowered at the way they have taken every day in stride....whether a hill or valley....never considering the possibility of not climbing the next mountain!  I read it in their posts on facebook (Julie) and in their voice over the phone (Debbie) how quitting or failing is not an option....just to keep climbing.  Truly our life is an open book....a living epistle known and read of all men.

Our walk with God has not been a promise of no difficulties...no pain...no sorrow...no disappointment.  Only a promise of....I will never leave you nor forsake you...

Today I am happy to report....January is over!  I look forward to February walking with my King.  Even though it is another unknown, I feel safe that He continues to hold us in His wonderful hand and guide our steps.  He never promised no valleys....His promise was hills, valleys and rain!  I am thankful this morning for His rain....

13th ANNUAL LADIES WINTER RETREAT

We are swiftly approaching the deadline to early registration for our Ladies Winter Retreat!  The early registration is $30 if paid by October 1.  You can download a registration form from our website and register by paypal.  You also have time to mail in your form to our PO Box address.  After October 1 the registration fee will become $40.  We need you to register early so we can prepare for your arrival.  We have a catered meal for Friday afternoon....tote bags....door prizes and gifts for any children under 10 you are bringing with you.  There is no registration fee for your children under 10 but we need their name and age to prepare their gift!

This meeting was birthed out of me battling depression after the death of my father in 1999.  I had begun holding Saturday morning ladies meetings in our revivals for a year and felt led to hold a yearly Ladies Retreat in Pigeon Forge.  We are now preparing for our 13th year and we have great memories of what He has done in these meetings.  It is such a time of refreshing for the ladies!  Each year has it's own special visitation that carries us to another place in His presence!

The Lord has been dealing with me for the last several days with a theme for this year's weekend meeting.  I know you are going to be blessed!  Make your plans now to join us.  We have a group rate of $64  at the Ramada Inn that shares the parking lot with the Smoky Mountain Convention Center.  You can get your room by calling 1-800-523-3919 and mentioning the He Died for Me Ladies Retreat.  This room has 2 queen beds for up to 4 ladies.  They also have a wonderful continental breakfast or you can visit the Krispy Kreme Donut Shop or Cracker Barrel next door!

Visit our website...read my letter to the ladies on the Ladies Meeting page....download your registration form....AND GET READY!!!!  SEE YOU IN NOVEMBER!!!!

QUAD CITIES....HERE WE COME!!!!

A year ago we had such a wonderful revival at the Rock Island County Fairgrounds in East Moline, Illinois.  We saw old friends we hadn't seen in a long, long time.  Then, there were new friends we met for the first time. 

For several years, Ronnie and I put up a tent on the banks of the Mississippi River and held a 10 days tent meeting each year.  God was so good to us.....we saw many, many souls come to know Jesus Christ....many healings...and sweet fellowship among the saints.

We are returning again this year!  We will be at the Rock Island County Fairgrounds, 4000 Archer Drive, East Moline Illinois on Tuesday September 3rd until Saturday September 7th.  Services will begin each night at 7:00PM.

We are so looking forward to seeing our friends again this year.  There will be singing....musicians playing under the anointing and lots of worship!  Make your plans now to join us in the presence of the Lord!

SPRING IS HERE....

We traveled today from Mobile, Alabama to Valdese, North Carolina which is about a 10 hour drive. During the entire trip I couldn’t help but notice how green everything is and how fresh and new everything appears to be. Spring was a little slower this year, but she is here! We are still bouncing between warm days and chilly days in Kentucky but the May showers have definitely arrived! That cool drink of water is just what all the new flowers and lawns needed.

I can’t help but see the similarity between the natural and spiritual today. The body of Christ has been in a long winter season. One battle and storm after another has wearied the saints of God…but I hear the sound of the abundance of rain! He is faithful that if He has said it, He will also do it! It is a time of season change. Winter is coming to an end and Spring is here! There is rain! There will be new fruit! It is a time to bloom where you are planted!

We have just come out of our Spring Family Retreat in Pigeon Forge the end of March and now our sights are set on Mount Airy, NC for our Campmeeting with Mike Ferree, Cecil Hamby and many other visiting ministers, singers and musicians. It will be a time to remember! Each year has its own special visitation and this year will be no different. There is something about so many people coming together with the same purpose...to touch the hem of His garment and to leave transformed by His presence!

 I am in the process of mailing out flyers to all our churches with the details of the Campmeeting along with motel information. If your church has not received one, you can email or facebook me and I will be happy to add you to our mailing list. Make your plans now to join us under the big tent on Andy Griffith Parkway behind the Big Lots for ten wonderful nights of Campmeeting in Mount Airy, NC June 27-July 6! Services will start at 7:30PM nightly. We will also have our Minister’s Prayer Breakfast on Saturday at 10AM for all ministers and their wives. See you soon…..

A YEAR OF HILLS AND VALLEYS...

"For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs:
But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a LAND OF HILLS AND VALLEYS, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven:
A land which the LORD THY GOD CARETH FOR: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE YEAR.
And it shall come to pass, if you shall HEARKEN DILIGENTLY UNTO MY COMMANDMENTS which I command you this day, to LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD, and to SERVE HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART and with all your soul,
That I will give you the RAIN OF YOUR LAND IN HIS DUE SEASON, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. Deuteronomy 11:11-14

 

As we enter into 2013 we are entering into a year of unknowns.  We have no way of knowing what we will encounter...but we know this with all certainty...there will be hills and there will be valleys...good days and bad days...laughter and tears...and this great promise....that His eyes are upon us....and He cares for us!

 

He has one commandment for us that brings great reward..hearken diligently to His commandment...and His commandment is to love Him and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul.  Serve Him with great diligence and love Him completely!

 

We are in our Father's hands...He wants the same as any Father...the love of His children!  His eyes are upon us...He cares for us...and He will give rain into our lives!

 

Welcome to 2013....the year of the Lord!

 

 

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!