WOW! What an AWESOME GOD HE IS!

The past month has been really tough for me but as I sat and thought about it today, it wasn't nearly as tough as it would have been if I didn't have faith in such an awesome God.

Looking back, as I was going through this struggle, I see now that during the whole thing, I stayed focused on God and on His words. What a great peace that was.

So now it is time to put my full energy into what I am suppose to be doing, serving those who are hopeless, hurting and homeless. So many ideas are running through my head all day long that it is hard to keep up with them sometimes.

Today was on about 45 degrees or so and rainy. My thoughts turn to those who can't afford oil, gas or electricity to heat their houses, to those who have no home. I pray that God will take care of each and every one of them. Keep them safe, healthy and warm. As for my part, I listen daily to hear God's instructions on my next steps and stand ready to serve in whatever fashion He tells me.

What about you? Is there anything you can do to help those in your community who are hopeless, hurting and homeless? My prayer is that everyone will step up and do whatever it is that God is telling them to do to help those in need. Not one person should have to live that way. Shouldn't we do all that we can to help? What is God asking you to do?

Promises

So many times people make promises and that's the end of that. The promise is never followed through with. That is humans.

Two of God's promises that I cling to are I will never leave you or forsake you and I will provide for you all that you need.

I have seen God keeping those promises this past week. When I was struggling and so broken, I continued to keep my eyes on Him and to serve Him and I drew close to Him. He has moved in my life and my heart in a big way this past week and I would just like to give Him all the praise and glory.

Winter

I have never been a big fan of cold weather. I do not like to be cold. Yet, cold weather comes and to me it seems to be coming a little sooner this year.

God has blessed me with a house to live in and enough of everything else to satisfy my needs. My heart keeps taking my mind to the people who do not have this.

I realize that we live in a small community and that the economy is down the drain. I just think, however, that the number one concern for our area is making sure that people who can't do it on their own, have what they need.

Working in a drugstore, I so often see the elderly making a choice between electricity and medications they need to survive. This should not be happening. Nor should people be living in the streets.

I live one paycheck away from the streets myself and the anxiety of just knowing that weighs heavy on me. Not so much for me but for my daughter. I can only imagine the anxiety that must be on the shoulders, hearts and minds of those who are living in the streets or homes without electricity or water.

I pray that we will come together as a community should and step up and help those who are losing all hope.

Brandon Heath has a song, Give Me Your Eyes, that has become a prayer for me. Below are the lyrics to that song. Please think about what those lyrics say.

Look down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touch down on the cold black top
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breathe in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared

Chorus:

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
yeah...yeah...yeah...yeah

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide what's underneath
There's a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
He's out of work, he's buying time
All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared

Chorus

I've been here a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just move and pass me by I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well, I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way You've seen the people all along

Chorus

Give me your eyes Lord, give me your eyes!
For everything...That I keep missin'
Give me your arms, for the broken-hearted
Give me your heart...Lord give me your eyes
yeah...yeah...yeah...yeah...(x2)



Heavenly Father, Give me Your eyes so that I made see people the way that you see them. The way that I would hope others would look at me. Lord, give me the courage and the strength that only You have to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. Father, protect those on the edge tonight. Keep them safe from weather and harm. In Jesus's name, Amen.

Time to be real

The past few months I have been hearing alot about "getting real", "taking off the mask". The theme of the Extraordinary Women's Conference this year was Free to be Real. This past Sunday my dear friend at church forced me to get real with her.

I found that "getting real " really hurts. I have also found that laying it all on the line gives me a peace that I haven't felt before. I want to share a little of what I shared with my friend.

I have a passion to help those who are homeless and those who are living on the edge, on the fringes of life. I now find myself and my family living closer to the edge than we have ever lived.
I received the notice today in the mail that we are 1 week away from electricity being cut off to our home. I don't know how I will pay it. It took all I had this week to make the rent and car payment and we are left with around $30 to put gas in 2 vehicles to make it back and forth to work. However, I do have faith that God will provide for us.

I don't want anyone to take this as whining and complaining because that is far from what it is. I just want to say that since I have openly and honestly laid this out I have found more peace and comfort than ever before. God knows everything about us so why try to hide it? Shouldn't we be honest with God and with those around us as well? There is pain in "getting real" but I don't see that there should be any shame in doing so.

God promises that He will take care of our needs and I believe whole heartedly that He will do so. The God I serve is a just and faithful God. I know that in all of this He has a plan. I may never know on this side of eternity what that plan is but one day it will be revealed to me.

For now, my thought is that I must endure this for several reasons. First, to strengthen my relationship with God. To learn to turn it over to Him and lean on Him. Second, to give me just a small taste of what the people that I want to help feel everyday of their lives so that I may have compassion and understanding. Last, so that I have no choice but to take off the mask and get real with God and all those around me.

I pray that each person has someone to turn to so that they may get real also and I pray that the peace for you will be as great as the peace that I have felt this week.

It can happen to any of us!!!

Found a link to a story that I wanted to share. Check it out and remember....it can happen to you too.



Former police officer finds himself homeless - The Boston Globe

Posted using ShareThis

9/11

I'm sure many of us remember where we were and what we were doing 8 years ago today even if we don't remember what we had for dinner last night. I know I do.

I remember hours of panic that I felt. My children were at school and all I wanted to do was run to them and hold them close. That day changed me in alot of ways. I shed alot of tears during the following days and weeks as I saw the terror replayed.

Although this may sound completely crazy, I pray that I don't ever forget the emotions that ran through me that day. I realized then that God had blessed me beyond what I feel I deserve. My children are one of the biggest blessings God has given me. As any mother will tell you, raising them hasn't been easy, they have hurt me and cut me to my very soul, but God has blessed me because they are also my biggest treasure.

I take a moment each day and thank God for my two girls and ask for His protection over them. I never know when it may be my last day with them and I let them know each day how much I truly do love them.

Today, I pray for the families left behind, our nation and our leaders.

Don't ever let me forget when the world stopped turning on that September day.

Idea Camp....What Can We Do?

I have just been reading Pastor Michael's blog from yesterday ( you can read it at e-devotion.blogspot.com ) where he posted just a partial list of notes from our trip to Idea Camp. So many that it is hard to sort them out.

Mark Horvath made a statement that the church is good at getting people off the street but not back into society and that agencies are good at getting people back into society. Here is a crazy thought. What if the churches in our community were to team up with the local agencies ( police depts., social services, etc ) and work together? I think this will be my focus for the next few weeks, contacting these agencies to see how we can fill the gaps and help those who are in need and hurting now.

Housing is of course the answer to homelessness, however that will be a drawn out process. If we can work together I believe that we can bring about life change.

Mark Horvath also stated to me that being consistent will gain trust and form a relationship with those who are in need. I feel very frustrated at times that the people I try to connect with don't seem to trust me. Well why should they? They don't know me and they are already hurting. I must be continually showing up and forming a friendship and that is when things will start to change.

This vision is so much bigger than me, the church or our community can do unless we are working together for Christ. I pray that God will continue to give me the strength to pursue His work. I also pray for my family because this will consume much of my time and I do not want to lose my family in this. However, I am happy to say that my 14 year old daughter has volunteered to help me in any way she can. I see God moving in her and feel so blessed.

If you have a chance check out Pastor Michael's blog ( the address is in my links box) and see what calls you to action. There must be action to have life change.

WOW!! The Idea Camp

This past Friday and Saturday, I was blessed to be able to go to DC to The Idea Camp. What a wonderful experience that was for me. I was able to speak with Mark Horvath and gain insight from his experiences in ways to help the homeless in our area. It was very eye opening for me.

I learned so much from the so many workshops that were there that it hard to process all the information. It is going to take me awhile but after speaking with several members of my church congregation yesterday, I found out I have several that are willing to step up and help me sort it out and pitch in to fight this problem. How blessed I feel. I will be sharing ideas as I process them.

I want to say thank you to Pastor Michael and Greg for letting me tag along to DC, to Mark Horvath who took the time to help open my mind and my eyes, and the great family I have at The Community Fellowship.

Look for God to be moving in BIG ways in Henry County.

Love and Serving

Last night I read a message on facebook that had been posted via twitter by Mark Horvath and was blown away. Mark had tried to help a homeless lesbian couple get help and the church would not help them because of their lifestyle. Another time he was at church and a homeless man walked the aisle to the alter and security was ready to jump. WOW! What does this say?

Romans 15:7 So accept each other just as Christ has accepted you:then God will be glorified. (nlv)

That is a powerful statement. Christ loves me, even when I am not doing things that are pleasing to Him. He loves me unconditionally. I don't feel that I am worthy of such a love but God gave me His love. The love that can never be matched. Is it so hard to do the same to our fellow humans?

Mark 10:45 For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many. (nlv)

Jesus came to earth to spread the News and while doing so He went out to every nation and served. He even served those that no one else wanted to be near. He healed the sick. He laid His hand on them and gave of Himself to those whom no one else would even look at. Can't we at least make the same effort?

Matthew 25:35-36 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison and you visited me. (nlv)

Matthew 25:40 And the King will tell them, I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me! (nlv)

I have never seen Jesus, I do not know what He looks like. I believe He can take on any image He wishes. What if that homeles, homosexual man sleeping in the cold, who has not eaten in days was Jesus? I challenge that he very well could be one of God's children just like me who needs someone to reach out and give him hope and show him love. Is that not our duty as children of God to serve as Jesus did?

I believe that we should be getting up out of our pews and getting dirty. We should be stepping out of our comfort zones and stepping out to where people need to be reached. Where there is no hope, no love.

I wonder when we get to heaven and stand in front of our Father, how many will have to give an answer for not getting up, stepping out in faith and doing something for one of His children.

What Opportunities

Romans 12:9 Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good.

As I think about the hurting, the lost, the homeless today the above scripture is jumping out at me. So many times we say that we love but our actions prove otherwise.

As a mother of a new born, we cater to their every need because we love them. As a child we respect our parents because we love them and they love us. God gave His only son, Jesus, because He loved us.

I have known many people who say they love God, but their actions show otherwise. I myself have been there. I was saved as a teenager but I never really lived my life like I loved Jesus until about a year ago. My life has changed so dramatically in the last year it is hard for me to believe it sometimes. I feel that if God is truly living in us, then we are to work as he calls us to. Loving God, my opinion, is not Sunday morning service...the end. Loving God is 24/7 serving Him and others in His name.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to go to Idea Camp in DC this Friday and Saturday. WOW! This is a huge opportunity for me to learn how I can better serve the homeless, and others, in my community. Also, Mark Horvath, will be there and I pray that God will bless me once again and give me the opportunity to meet Mark and if he is ok with it, hang out with him while he does some of his invisiblepeople.tv stuff. I am nervous about this trip but at the same time so excited to learn and to serve.

God is laying out a path for me that is full of opportunites and I trust in Him to guide me. I love the homeless and I hope that my actions are showing this to others. If you have an opportunity to serve someone, try it. It just may change your life. It did mine.

Praise

The last two days have been pretty hard for me mentally. The devil really knows where to attack. The last 8 months have been a struggle financially for my family, but things are looking up. Praise God that George got a job and there will be two incomes now to cover the bills. We have rode that thin line for so long. Then satan attacks again yesterday. I won't go into the ugly details, but me being programmed the way that I am, was doubting.

Tonight, while in the shower, I was thinking about how to juggle the money and bills yet again, and a different thought occurred to me. PRAISE GOD I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT MY BILLS. So often we get tangled up in our own problems that we really forget how blessed we are. I have bills to think about and pay, Praise God. That means I have a roof over my head, a place to sleep each night that is secure and comfortable, a job, and a few luxuriesSo many do not have even the basics and I feel so selfish to be thinking about and dwelling in my problems when these problems would be welcome blessings to others.

Just take a minute and think about the refreshing soft drink you have while kicked back on your couch watching your t.v. in the air conditioned home you are living in. Think about the meal you ate earlier today. Think about the job you went to. The shower/bath you took today. Now, just for a moment turn your thoughts to that man, woman, or child who has not had a soft drink in who knows when or sit on a couch watching t.v. in a long time. Who has no control over the temperature they live in, hot or cold are the only two, no in between. Who has had nothing to eat at all today. Who can't find a job. Who has no place to bathe.

I myself will be adopting a new rule: Less me and more others. I will Praise God for everything that He has blessed me with and use all of it to help others in His name.

My heart for the homeless

I have been sitting here reading post and looking at pictures that have been posted by Mark Horvath (hardlynormal) and my heart is breaking.


This man is traveling around the country reaching out to the homeless and I stand and applaud what he is doing.

The photos and stories are heartbreaking to me. People who are not different from myself. Although I have never been homeless, I have lived on the edge often. Only by God's sweet grace have I been able to have the basics of life.

So many people need help and isn't it our calling to do something? God is driving me so hard in this area. I feel so overwhelmed. I feel as I have nothing to give, however, if God is pushing me this hard, I trust that there is a plan and it will be revealed to me in His time. I feel such an urgency to do more and more.

I am reading stories of people being beat just because they are homeless and on the street. People who need medical assistance and can't get because they have no job and no insurance. Is this right? Is this the way we are to treat our brothers and sisters?

All that I ask from anyone is that you would please pray for me and my family. This is something so God sized that has been laid on my heart. I am on the verge of obsession with this. Please just pray for the homeless and if there is anything else you have to offer please do.

My Heart and Vision

I am from Henry County, Virginia near Martinsville. I attend The Community Fellowship, a church in Collinsville, Virginia. Our mission is to demonstrate the love of God to our community.

Henry County has a population of estimated 55,316. As 2007 census 16.1% were living in poverty. According to a count done by the West Piedmont Better Housing Coalition on 1/29/09, 152 homeless were found in this area covering 4 connecting counties while 51 were found in Martinsville/Henry County alone. Ronnie Pannell, continuum of care manager with the Coalitions states that he does not think this count is accurate due to various reasons. He believes the number is much higher.

Jim Tobin, executive director of Piedmont Community Services in Martinsville, states that the national rule of thumb is for every homeless person counted, there are 7 who are not counted. If this is true, in the Martinsville/Henry County are the number would be closer to 360 homeless and 1060 for the 4 county area.

I have a great passion for loving and helping the homeless. After many discussions with my pastor, we know the direction that we need to take.

There is no shelter here in this area and that is a tremendous need. We like to dream God sized dreams and would like to take it even farther than a shelter into a place of opportunity. Opportunities to beat addictions, to learn to read, to learn a job trade. We would like to give hope to the hopeless and broken and let them know that people truly do care about them. A dream center. A place they can come and dream and just maybe make those dreams come true.

The homeless are people and deserve the same basics as any one else. They are deserving of a chance to make it and of love and happiness.

Our greatest opportunity is funding. I am asking any one who can help to please contact me. I need ideas of how to persue this. I need to know about grants (which I know nothing about) and any other information that you may have that could help us to give hope to those who seem to have no hope.

I sincerely appreciate anything you can offer.

Love in Christ

Being Led

This is so far out of my comfort zone that it amazing to me that I have finally decided, with the encouragement of others, to do this. I am just a simple person, who like everyone else in this nation, is struggling just to make ends meet. I don't know if there is anyone out there who would care to read anything I have to say, but I feel that God is leading me to do this.

For about a year now, I have felt I am being led to help raise awareness of homelessness and do all and anything I can to help and to serve that community. I have been serving with my church family and learning lots so that prayerfully we may help those in our area.

As God leads me, I will be expressing my heart and vision here. Any help or comments are welcomed and appreciated.