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.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, August 24, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
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.
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.
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
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
Saturday, August 22, 2009
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
