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

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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.