So many times I see people with no homes portrayed as addicts, drunks, mentally ill people. However, here in my community a new face is being put to that. We have recently encountered & are helping a gentleman who is in his late fifties who has worked his entire life, who has a strong faith in God, who has no addictions or criminal record, he is now without a home & very bare essentials.
Our community has a 30% unemployment rate at this time. However, this will most likely increase in the very near future with more lay offs announced to happen by the end of the year. Alot of the people in this community have worked in the furniture factories most of their lives. All of our local jobs have been sent overseas now. The last of 4 major furniture manufacturer's will stop production in America at the end of this year. That's another 500 jobs gone.
After the unemployment benefits run out, then what? There is nothing else in our community. This will put a completely new face to the homeless in our area. This will put the face of entire families to homelessness. I realize that this is not something new, it has been happening for a long time. I just would like people to wake up & realize that babies will be living in the streets. NO ONE should have to live in the streets.
I am working with a group of people who have a large heart for people who are in this position. We are working to open a shelter. I realize this is a small step but it is the first step. There is not a shelter within an hour drive of our community & we believe this is the first step to helping those without a home. We are trusting God that eventually we will be able to expand the shelter into a Dream Center like the one in LA.
We need to stop the profiling & open our eyes to people who are right in front of us.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Is it easy? Is it worth it?
There is a saying that I have heard over and over again about turning your life over to Jesus makes life so much easier. I have given Jesus my life. I made a decision to sacrifice it all for His work. Easy? No.Worth it? Totally.
I have found that since I have made a heart felt decision to turn it all over to the Lord that ole satan comes after me harder and harder. Some stuff is just small stuff like a car breaking down. Other stuff is bigger and includes my daughter. I always hold on to the fact that He will never leave me or forsake me. He is my ever present comfort in times of turmoil. Each time satan takes a jab at me I just ask Jesus to take care of that for me.
Satan does not want us to play for Jesus' team and will stop at nothing to make sure we get discouraged and give up. I believe satan is a master at playing mind games and lying. Always trying to find a way to defeat us or make us give up on ourselves.
Well, satan, here is what I have to say to you. The church of Henry County, Va will fight you. We will continue to help those in need and share God's love and the hope of Jesus with them. We will build a shelter and a dream center. We will help the weakest of God's children by giving them a hand up. When you decide to personally attack me and my family I will stand firm in my faith. I will fight against you so that you do not damage my family, my church family, the people we are trying to help or our hopes and dreams. Sorry, to tell you satan, but at the end of the story, GOD WINS.
Bottom line....following Jesus is hard but it is because of satan that it is hard. Following Jesus is worth it...when you think you are blessing someone else you are the one who is being blessed.
Hold on to your faith, talk to and engage in a true relationship with Jesus and there is no battle you cannot win. Read the book...there you can see the begining, the hope and encouragement and the end.
Totally worth it.
I have found that since I have made a heart felt decision to turn it all over to the Lord that ole satan comes after me harder and harder. Some stuff is just small stuff like a car breaking down. Other stuff is bigger and includes my daughter. I always hold on to the fact that He will never leave me or forsake me. He is my ever present comfort in times of turmoil. Each time satan takes a jab at me I just ask Jesus to take care of that for me.
Satan does not want us to play for Jesus' team and will stop at nothing to make sure we get discouraged and give up. I believe satan is a master at playing mind games and lying. Always trying to find a way to defeat us or make us give up on ourselves.
Well, satan, here is what I have to say to you. The church of Henry County, Va will fight you. We will continue to help those in need and share God's love and the hope of Jesus with them. We will build a shelter and a dream center. We will help the weakest of God's children by giving them a hand up. When you decide to personally attack me and my family I will stand firm in my faith. I will fight against you so that you do not damage my family, my church family, the people we are trying to help or our hopes and dreams. Sorry, to tell you satan, but at the end of the story, GOD WINS.
Bottom line....following Jesus is hard but it is because of satan that it is hard. Following Jesus is worth it...when you think you are blessing someone else you are the one who is being blessed.
Hold on to your faith, talk to and engage in a true relationship with Jesus and there is no battle you cannot win. Read the book...there you can see the begining, the hope and encouragement and the end.
Totally worth it.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
What if?
Most of the people that The Community Fellowship are helping through our food ministry are good people in hard times.I must admit however that there are many times that I hold back. Our community is heavy with drug addiction. That is a community that I shamefully say I do not trust. My heart says help everyone no matter the circumstances & I do try to do that but I catch myself holding back from some people because of their circumstances.
What if instead I were to look at those men,women & children & say to myself "there may only one word they need me to speak to them that may make a difference & turn their life around"? By me putting my shameful self aside, a life may be turned around & saved & that soul may end up in Heaven. Isn't that the ultimate goal? Next time you feel yourself holding back, Ask WHAT IF....
What if instead I were to look at those men,women & children & say to myself "there may only one word they need me to speak to them that may make a difference & turn their life around"? By me putting my shameful self aside, a life may be turned around & saved & that soul may end up in Heaven. Isn't that the ultimate goal? Next time you feel yourself holding back, Ask WHAT IF....
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Time to follow Jesus' example
My purpose in life is to serve my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. I am to be obedient to whatever it is He calls me to do. I have been slacking recently. However, I have made a commitment to Jesus to sacrifice it all for His kingdom.
God has called me, someone who is nothing & has nothing, to be a part of a project that is so big. We feel we have been called to start a homeless shelter & a dream center in our community. What? We have no money. We are not important in this world. Our one advantage? Jesus Christ is in charge. None of us involved have ever been involved in anything like this before or have the resources to accomplish this project but we do have God as our leader & advisor. What more can we ask for.
Obedience is the key. We must obey what we are led to do sacrificing it all for the kingdom of God.
I ask once more if you have experience or know anyone who does who may be able to teach us what will be involved, please contact me.
Time is drawing to a close & it is time the church got out of the pews & went to those who need help & hope all for God's glory.
God has called me, someone who is nothing & has nothing, to be a part of a project that is so big. We feel we have been called to start a homeless shelter & a dream center in our community. What? We have no money. We are not important in this world. Our one advantage? Jesus Christ is in charge. None of us involved have ever been involved in anything like this before or have the resources to accomplish this project but we do have God as our leader & advisor. What more can we ask for.
Obedience is the key. We must obey what we are led to do sacrificing it all for the kingdom of God.
I ask once more if you have experience or know anyone who does who may be able to teach us what will be involved, please contact me.
Time is drawing to a close & it is time the church got out of the pews & went to those who need help & hope all for God's glory.
Monday, January 11, 2010
A Dream to Reality
A little over a year ago, God laid a vision on my heart. Saturday a piece of that dream was realized.
With God using myself and the wonderful people I serve with we were able to provide a hot meal for 93 people in our community. More than I dreamed for our first time out.
I see God working through many and pray that our next meal will reach many others. I believe we are fixing to see things happen that we could never imagine.
God is so good.
With God using myself and the wonderful people I serve with we were able to provide a hot meal for 93 people in our community. More than I dreamed for our first time out.
I see God working through many and pray that our next meal will reach many others. I believe we are fixing to see things happen that we could never imagine.
God is so good.
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