Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Your a firework and I mean it
Now,if you know me, you know that I strongly dislike singers who make it famous and cannot really sing. I loved Katy Perry from "I kissed a Girl"...lol, but then I saw her live....Scary.
This song however is awesome... of course I don't agree with everything displayed in the video. But You are a firework. God made you that way.
There is this guy that I am very fond of and I think of him every time I hear this song. I really see God in him- he is driven, smart and Christ centered.Everyone who meets him loves him and respects him. If there was one thing I could tell him that he would remember from me for the rest of his life is "You are a firework".
Tell someone they are a firework AND mean it.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Yea, So what?
Have you ever been out in public and a tampon falls out of your purse? Then ppl start looking at you like your an alien- Well guess what, Im a girl and due to the situation you might want to watch the way you looking at me before I stanch those eye balls right out of your head...lol
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Mr. Dracy Reassurance
I am the type of girl that is very skeptical about love and trust me the Holidays help with that... Its not really something that I have had much luck in…. AT ALL.
My first love was…um. Not a smart choice. I would not even call it love as much as puppy love. I was way too young and I thought he was everything I wanted and more…. WRONG! I didn’t even know what I wanted me to be, forget what I wanted- some nappy headed boy and yes his hair was nappy…lol
Second, the Red Head. Really that’s all that needs to be said about him. We were separated by sex and racism before we could really get started, but I believe there was genuine love there. There was on my side.
Since the wonderful choices before I grew distant to the idea of love and after watching enough black and white movies, I really grew sick of it.
Then one day, in possibly the worst outfit that I have ever worn, I walked in a room and set my eyes on the most beautiful man I have ever seen in the front of the room. I was stopped in my tracks, I could not move from the place I was standing. When the meeting was over I was introduced to him and shortly after I left…it really was the worst outfit ever! Ha
I have seen the movies where there is a couple that is very obvious from the start. When the guy looks at the women she feels like she is the only person in the room. Like in Pride and Prejudice when Elizabeth is dancing with Mr. Darcy and everyone in the room vanished.
I had never experienced when a guy looks at you and you lose every train of thought It is really is kind of magical - it is also one of the great moments to be Black, easier to hide the blushing!
Yes, its just another guy and No, I don’t even know if he is interested. But that is all okay. It is refreshing to know that the presence of another person can make you feel like a million bucks- doesn’t mean when he leaves I am less.
This guy didn’t open my eyes to love, it wasn’t that simple. The Lord softened my heart to the idea a whole year before this guys showed his face. It was good reassurance- the Lord is faithful in that area.
My first love was…um. Not a smart choice. I would not even call it love as much as puppy love. I was way too young and I thought he was everything I wanted and more…. WRONG! I didn’t even know what I wanted me to be, forget what I wanted- some nappy headed boy and yes his hair was nappy…lol
Second, the Red Head. Really that’s all that needs to be said about him. We were separated by sex and racism before we could really get started, but I believe there was genuine love there. There was on my side.
Since the wonderful choices before I grew distant to the idea of love and after watching enough black and white movies, I really grew sick of it.
Then one day, in possibly the worst outfit that I have ever worn, I walked in a room and set my eyes on the most beautiful man I have ever seen in the front of the room. I was stopped in my tracks, I could not move from the place I was standing. When the meeting was over I was introduced to him and shortly after I left…it really was the worst outfit ever! Ha
I have seen the movies where there is a couple that is very obvious from the start. When the guy looks at the women she feels like she is the only person in the room. Like in Pride and Prejudice when Elizabeth is dancing with Mr. Darcy and everyone in the room vanished.
I had never experienced when a guy looks at you and you lose every train of thought It is really is kind of magical - it is also one of the great moments to be Black, easier to hide the blushing!
Yes, its just another guy and No, I don’t even know if he is interested. But that is all okay. It is refreshing to know that the presence of another person can make you feel like a million bucks- doesn’t mean when he leaves I am less.
This guy didn’t open my eyes to love, it wasn’t that simple. The Lord softened my heart to the idea a whole year before this guys showed his face. It was good reassurance- the Lord is faithful in that area.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Harmony in it's simplest form
Have you ever looked outside your window and thought… “ You know, the leaves on the trees just don’t match, something doesn’t look right?” I can be almost certain that that has never happened and go on a limb and say that will never happen.
The Lord talks all the time about his name being glorified and His presence known by the splendor of Nature. There is a message in Nature that the Lord Himself stands for- Oneness, Unity… Harmony.
I could never, ever again see myself going to a church that is full people that look like me. Not saying I don’t love black people, because I love people. I do not, however, believe I can live life to its full potential only knowing, meeting and communing with people that look like me, or who agree with everything that I have to say or do things the same way that I do them.
God created all of the differences in people for a reason. He said himself that we all make up the body of Christ- there is a head and a foot, we can’t just have heads or just foots.
I went through a time of very hard personal struggle. I thought that I was a racist. I am very attracted to white a guy… that is just the way it has always been for me. For awhile I started to think that the reason I don’t like black guys is because deep down inside (and it wouldn’t have been that deep) I was racist against black guys. This upset me, a lot. I know what it’s like to be shunned because of my race, gender, age. I was upset that I was contributing to that kind of blatant hate.
As I was praying and thinking about this, the Lord opened my heart to a new way of thinking. Maybe He created me in a way that I am naturally attracted to people of different races. That is not a bad thing, it’s a quality that the Lord has given me and hopefully, for my future children’s sake, there is a guy out there who God created the same way.. lol
But as we were talking about the Unity and Harmony of Christ and the way He created things and us. There is something that is so Divine about a biracial couple. Two people usually different backgrounds, different families and different experiences coming together in the Sanctification of Marriage. There is nothing more beautiful to me then holding that hand of someone whose hand looks a little different.
This is Harmony in it’s simplest form.
If you have not experienced this, please just go hold that hand of some with different pigmentation than yours- it enters you into a different world.
Harmony is only possible with the true presence of the Holy Spirit. Something our fallen world, with it's fallen people, cannot create on its own.
The Lord talks all the time about his name being glorified and His presence known by the splendor of Nature. There is a message in Nature that the Lord Himself stands for- Oneness, Unity… Harmony.
I could never, ever again see myself going to a church that is full people that look like me. Not saying I don’t love black people, because I love people. I do not, however, believe I can live life to its full potential only knowing, meeting and communing with people that look like me, or who agree with everything that I have to say or do things the same way that I do them.
God created all of the differences in people for a reason. He said himself that we all make up the body of Christ- there is a head and a foot, we can’t just have heads or just foots.
I went through a time of very hard personal struggle. I thought that I was a racist. I am very attracted to white a guy… that is just the way it has always been for me. For awhile I started to think that the reason I don’t like black guys is because deep down inside (and it wouldn’t have been that deep) I was racist against black guys. This upset me, a lot. I know what it’s like to be shunned because of my race, gender, age. I was upset that I was contributing to that kind of blatant hate.
As I was praying and thinking about this, the Lord opened my heart to a new way of thinking. Maybe He created me in a way that I am naturally attracted to people of different races. That is not a bad thing, it’s a quality that the Lord has given me and hopefully, for my future children’s sake, there is a guy out there who God created the same way.. lol
But as we were talking about the Unity and Harmony of Christ and the way He created things and us. There is something that is so Divine about a biracial couple. Two people usually different backgrounds, different families and different experiences coming together in the Sanctification of Marriage. There is nothing more beautiful to me then holding that hand of someone whose hand looks a little different.
This is Harmony in it’s simplest form.
If you have not experienced this, please just go hold that hand of some with different pigmentation than yours- it enters you into a different world.
Harmony is only possible with the true presence of the Holy Spirit. Something our fallen world, with it's fallen people, cannot create on its own.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Church Mingling
Yesterday I decided to visit a church that I promised to visit about two years ago.. I figure it’s never too late to follow through on a promise.
The First Congregational Church. This is a church like I have never seen before. When I first walked in the door a man by the name of Mark welcomed me and asked me if I wanted a name tag! (Simple, but that makes things much easier and it helps you remember people’s name- I did walk around with a name tag on all day because I forgot, but whatever!)
The church was had an ocean like back drop and ocean like sheets on the floor in a path between the two podiums. In the middle of the path was this wonderfully crafted wooden table that said… “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,e free; but Christ is all, and in all.”, the Scripture from Colossians 3. As I was looking for a seat in this uniquely arranged room of chairs, when a black lady that is dressed in an robe that matches the path on the floor and the back drop of the church walks up to me and says, “ Is this your first time with us?” Of course it was and it obviously looked like it!
She introduced herself as the Pastor of church and introduced me to some people and they asked me to sit with them. It was a very, very strange meeting, well to me. I was scared to walk in at first because there were A LOT of old white people and they had “Sunday Dress” on. I had on blue jeans and long sleeved shrist, but when I got inside I noticed that the congregation was very mixed racially and in dress, including many gay couples.
I was sure once the lady got up I was going to be in something like a colt…
They had a scripture reading and the other Pastor, who was also a women, but white, got up and gave a message about giving; it was smooth and it was true.
The thing that I love most about this church was the spirit was so Zin, which I’m not sure that is the word I should use to describe a church. However, there was a huge since of community. They did a lot of things for Memphis and a lot of stuff for the people of the church. People can be so worried about the City their church is in that they forget to feed and care for the people of the church. You have to have balance to do either one effectively.
I am not sure how I feel about women Pastors. This is something that I have been struggling with for a very, very long time. I do not know where I stand on it. Do I think women will to Hell for teaching The Word of God…NO. There are a lot of things that we incorrectly that we will not go to Hell for, only by the grace of God. I also do not know where their stance is on Homosexuality. I do not think that is right, but I do not think we should shun Homosexuality either. We are suppose to be loving and accepting- not of the sin but of the person. Loving and caring for them as we would anyone else.
We need to be at a place where we understand people who are different from us, that way we can pray for them in the most effective way and then let the Lord take care of the rest. He did not ask us to judge, he did not ask us to condemn, but to only show His love- He will take care of the rest. I believe I will visit this church again, I believe there is a lot that could be learned through creating relationships with this congregation.
The First Congregational Church. This is a church like I have never seen before. When I first walked in the door a man by the name of Mark welcomed me and asked me if I wanted a name tag! (Simple, but that makes things much easier and it helps you remember people’s name- I did walk around with a name tag on all day because I forgot, but whatever!)
The church was had an ocean like back drop and ocean like sheets on the floor in a path between the two podiums. In the middle of the path was this wonderfully crafted wooden table that said… “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,e free; but Christ is all, and in all.”, the Scripture from Colossians 3. As I was looking for a seat in this uniquely arranged room of chairs, when a black lady that is dressed in an robe that matches the path on the floor and the back drop of the church walks up to me and says, “ Is this your first time with us?” Of course it was and it obviously looked like it!
She introduced herself as the Pastor of church and introduced me to some people and they asked me to sit with them. It was a very, very strange meeting, well to me. I was scared to walk in at first because there were A LOT of old white people and they had “Sunday Dress” on. I had on blue jeans and long sleeved shrist, but when I got inside I noticed that the congregation was very mixed racially and in dress, including many gay couples.
I was sure once the lady got up I was going to be in something like a colt…
They had a scripture reading and the other Pastor, who was also a women, but white, got up and gave a message about giving; it was smooth and it was true.
The thing that I love most about this church was the spirit was so Zin, which I’m not sure that is the word I should use to describe a church. However, there was a huge since of community. They did a lot of things for Memphis and a lot of stuff for the people of the church. People can be so worried about the City their church is in that they forget to feed and care for the people of the church. You have to have balance to do either one effectively.
I am not sure how I feel about women Pastors. This is something that I have been struggling with for a very, very long time. I do not know where I stand on it. Do I think women will to Hell for teaching The Word of God…NO. There are a lot of things that we incorrectly that we will not go to Hell for, only by the grace of God. I also do not know where their stance is on Homosexuality. I do not think that is right, but I do not think we should shun Homosexuality either. We are suppose to be loving and accepting- not of the sin but of the person. Loving and caring for them as we would anyone else.
We need to be at a place where we understand people who are different from us, that way we can pray for them in the most effective way and then let the Lord take care of the rest. He did not ask us to judge, he did not ask us to condemn, but to only show His love- He will take care of the rest. I believe I will visit this church again, I believe there is a lot that could be learned through creating relationships with this congregation.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Would you pay for a Prostitute
If you don’t know, I am a person passionate about injustice. I believe that I and people like me can change the world- following the will of the Lord, “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.” Prb 29…and it is God’s will that we become the righteousness of Christ, that is why He died for us.
That was a little rant… that someone needed to hear!! Lol
One injustice that after I heard about was ingrained in my thoughts was Human Trafficking. Human Trafficking it the selling and moving of people for profit or gain, it is modern day slavery. One major from of trafficking is Prostitution. Yes, it happens everywhere, down the street from you, down the street from me and through every countries airport.
I am working with an organization called Operation Broken Silence, which to me is one (if not) the best nonprof ever. Ha, but I am a little bias. We have three focus areas: Modern day slavery, Genocide and the Water Crisis. S.A.F.E , Slavery Abolition Freedom Endeavor , is conducting an research, collecting data to get an idea of the of the amount of prostitution…or “escorting ” services here in Memphis and the amount of people traveling to Memphis for the purpose of prostitution.
This study will create a number for Memphians that will show that this is something that is happening right here, right now. To do this study the information is documented from a website. Date of the posting, phone number, advertised name and age and an ID number given to the poster…like an ID number of an item on Ebay. Each person involved in the study is give a day to collect post and document them on a doc sheet to keep the information together.
My day there is a lady name Brooke, whether that is her real name is debatable, but that’s all I got. Brooke is a heavy set women and very beautiful. I remember the first time I went to gather her information- I was sadden by her beauty and her line of business. I think about the say that bigger women can sometime be treated and how that could have them feel and I wonder, “ Is that the reason she is in this business?” It is quite possible that the reason she is doing what she is doing is because she wasn’t told she was beautiful or good enough for something better by the people around her.
As the weeks went on she continued to post and I would continue to think about her all the time. I would pray for her while I was driving, while I was lying in bed- thinking of the horrible things she might be going through right then- in my neighborhood, Wolfchase/ Germantown.
Then one day I get on to collect information and she wasn’t there. I tried not to think about it but the next week the same thing. I have just about driven myself insane thinking about the things that could have happened to her. Maybe she was beaten to death, or she as killed by one of her costumers. Or maybe she wasn’t an independent worker and her pimp has done something to her. Maybe she ended up in Jail. Maybe she got out of that horrible situation.
Every day I pray for her and sometimes I wish that I had 200 dollars and was able to act upon the urge, that I had more than once, for an hour to tell her she is beautiful and that I love her. That there is hope and even though it doesn’t look like it- God is always there, always watching and always working.
Remember, in this business there things are not as they seem. Remember to pray for the things that go on in our city and in our world that are wrong- Remember the people who need your prayers.
That was a little rant… that someone needed to hear!! Lol
One injustice that after I heard about was ingrained in my thoughts was Human Trafficking. Human Trafficking it the selling and moving of people for profit or gain, it is modern day slavery. One major from of trafficking is Prostitution. Yes, it happens everywhere, down the street from you, down the street from me and through every countries airport.
I am working with an organization called Operation Broken Silence, which to me is one (if not) the best nonprof ever. Ha, but I am a little bias. We have three focus areas: Modern day slavery, Genocide and the Water Crisis. S.A.F.E , Slavery Abolition Freedom Endeavor , is conducting an research, collecting data to get an idea of the of the amount of prostitution…or “escorting ” services here in Memphis and the amount of people traveling to Memphis for the purpose of prostitution.
This study will create a number for Memphians that will show that this is something that is happening right here, right now. To do this study the information is documented from a website. Date of the posting, phone number, advertised name and age and an ID number given to the poster…like an ID number of an item on Ebay. Each person involved in the study is give a day to collect post and document them on a doc sheet to keep the information together.
My day there is a lady name Brooke, whether that is her real name is debatable, but that’s all I got. Brooke is a heavy set women and very beautiful. I remember the first time I went to gather her information- I was sadden by her beauty and her line of business. I think about the say that bigger women can sometime be treated and how that could have them feel and I wonder, “ Is that the reason she is in this business?” It is quite possible that the reason she is doing what she is doing is because she wasn’t told she was beautiful or good enough for something better by the people around her.
As the weeks went on she continued to post and I would continue to think about her all the time. I would pray for her while I was driving, while I was lying in bed- thinking of the horrible things she might be going through right then- in my neighborhood, Wolfchase/ Germantown.
Then one day I get on to collect information and she wasn’t there. I tried not to think about it but the next week the same thing. I have just about driven myself insane thinking about the things that could have happened to her. Maybe she was beaten to death, or she as killed by one of her costumers. Or maybe she wasn’t an independent worker and her pimp has done something to her. Maybe she ended up in Jail. Maybe she got out of that horrible situation.
Every day I pray for her and sometimes I wish that I had 200 dollars and was able to act upon the urge, that I had more than once, for an hour to tell her she is beautiful and that I love her. That there is hope and even though it doesn’t look like it- God is always there, always watching and always working.
Remember, in this business there things are not as they seem. Remember to pray for the things that go on in our city and in our world that are wrong- Remember the people who need your prayers.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Death Face to Face
I was driving in the car today and I almost missed my exit… well I thought I almost missed my exit. So I made a quick exit and did I mention it was raining? Well it was and it was obviously too quick of an exit because for the first time in my life I lost control of my car.
When it was happening I was very glad that I paid attention during that drivers education classes in the 9th grade and turned with the car not against it… or were you suppose to turn against? I don’t really know, but I turned with and the car came to a complete stop in the middle of the exit facing the wrong way.
This is not what I would call a slow traffic area, even though it was late, it was on the way to the airport. No cars. None, no cars were coming at me. I, of course, turn the car and went on my way.
The reason why this was strange to me is because even though this was the first time this had ever happened to me and I wasn’t scared. When I had turned the car around I said, “Thank you Jesus.”, in a calmly manner and kept going. Then as I continued on my journey I realized I really almost died, and I wasn’t scared. I wasn’t even shaking, yes I stopped and looked at my hands to check- even I was confused.
Why? Then I realized that I know where I would be going if I were to pass away. If it was really my time to go, which it wasn’t right then. “To live is Christ, and to die is gain”
Now trust me, I know I have a lot to learn in this life time- which again is why I am still here, only by the grace of God. However, I know who my Father is and I know for which side I am fighting.
The Lord has work for me to be doing here and I am so blessed to have found my calling and my purpose here on earth. If you were looking death in the face, could you look back without fear?
When it was happening I was very glad that I paid attention during that drivers education classes in the 9th grade and turned with the car not against it… or were you suppose to turn against? I don’t really know, but I turned with and the car came to a complete stop in the middle of the exit facing the wrong way.
This is not what I would call a slow traffic area, even though it was late, it was on the way to the airport. No cars. None, no cars were coming at me. I, of course, turn the car and went on my way.
The reason why this was strange to me is because even though this was the first time this had ever happened to me and I wasn’t scared. When I had turned the car around I said, “Thank you Jesus.”, in a calmly manner and kept going. Then as I continued on my journey I realized I really almost died, and I wasn’t scared. I wasn’t even shaking, yes I stopped and looked at my hands to check- even I was confused.
Why? Then I realized that I know where I would be going if I were to pass away. If it was really my time to go, which it wasn’t right then. “To live is Christ, and to die is gain”
Now trust me, I know I have a lot to learn in this life time- which again is why I am still here, only by the grace of God. However, I know who my Father is and I know for which side I am fighting.
The Lord has work for me to be doing here and I am so blessed to have found my calling and my purpose here on earth. If you were looking death in the face, could you look back without fear?
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Expectation
When we grow up as children we are told that we can do anything. We have dreams and hopes and expectations. Before school we have an imagination that could save that world in one night. As we get older and we go to school a whole new set of expectations are put on us. We are averaged and scaled according to our “ability”.
Over time the world view of teachers and bosses… friends are infringed on us and we become callused and sucked into this idea of “what things are suppose to be”. Sometimes…most of the time people become lost in this world where all you focus on is what we have, what fun we can have with it and we lost ourselves in the flow of things.
Have you ever taken time to just sit back and think about who you are really are? What you really care about? What you believed before the world told you it was impossible?
Instead in most cases we keep searching for things that will get rid of that void that we feeling of insignificance, and many times people get stuck in that search: addictions, bad relationships… life ending situations.
When all we are doing is losing ourselves again… just in a different way…
Look out from your life and you will see that the thing that you are looking for, the feeling that you are chasing is much, much bigger than you. It’s the things around us, it’s the people God puts in our lives, it’s the chance to save the world- the feeling that after a long life of cynicism and dark worldviews has been killed and dismissed.
Don’t believe me? Think about the people who have lived a life of happiness, of joy; the people who are not chasing. What is different about them and you? They are seeking ways to change something that has been wronged or maybe just notice the girl they met that has low self esteem or helped someone find purpose- in turn finding their purpose.
What exactly do you have to lose if you have already lost yourself?
Over time the world view of teachers and bosses… friends are infringed on us and we become callused and sucked into this idea of “what things are suppose to be”. Sometimes…most of the time people become lost in this world where all you focus on is what we have, what fun we can have with it and we lost ourselves in the flow of things.
Have you ever taken time to just sit back and think about who you are really are? What you really care about? What you believed before the world told you it was impossible?
Instead in most cases we keep searching for things that will get rid of that void that we feeling of insignificance, and many times people get stuck in that search: addictions, bad relationships… life ending situations.
When all we are doing is losing ourselves again… just in a different way…
Look out from your life and you will see that the thing that you are looking for, the feeling that you are chasing is much, much bigger than you. It’s the things around us, it’s the people God puts in our lives, it’s the chance to save the world- the feeling that after a long life of cynicism and dark worldviews has been killed and dismissed.
Don’t believe me? Think about the people who have lived a life of happiness, of joy; the people who are not chasing. What is different about them and you? They are seeking ways to change something that has been wronged or maybe just notice the girl they met that has low self esteem or helped someone find purpose- in turn finding their purpose.
What exactly do you have to lose if you have already lost yourself?
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Be like the moon, reflect the Son
Lately I have been really busy- as you can probably tell, I up dated more when I was at camp than I have since I have been home. I started working with this apartment complex. I give 60-80 hours of volunteer time a month and they will pay for me to live at the complex. This is one of the biggest complexes in Memphis. The people...are okay and the attendants, people who live there, are busy- like the rest of the world. To me, October has been the busiest month ever- I will dread this time next year.
There have been a lot of things that happened this month that have been great and others that have not been so great... The good things have been BIG and the bad things have been fairly small- but there have been a good number of the small... haha
The complex is volunteer, but it is also a ministry started by my sister church. The purpose from the church prospective is outreach, which is right up my ally. I believe in out reach and I believed in this Ministry. I had prayed about it and I believed this was where the Lord wanted me.
Now that I am here I am starting to question motives and seriousness of this "ministry". I have since learned that the Apartment complex uses the service of the church member just to have events and to make themselves look good. Not surprising, that is the way that business works and it’s not like we, as a church, are not benefiting as well.
Then we get to the church. The church has decided that this form of outreach is not “good enough” and they would like to have other forms of outreach. If you know me, you know that I do not think there could be enough outreach in the world. And I think that a church should have more than one form of outreach, including something to do with the Global community. I am not, however, a person that is okay with just dropping a ministry for “something better”. I like to finish things through, I like to make sure that when I am done with something, anything, it is better than before and the Lord is happy with the way that it was handled and completed. Many times I believe that people forget that God has an order to the way He wants things done for Him. Being a Christian is a full time job, with struggles and benefits; so often people only want the benefits.
I read a quote…somewhere... that stated everything we go through in life is transforming us into the likeness of Christ- something we got through for his name sake. So if you walk away from something that you know the Lord wants you to do, or something He did not give you permission to walk away from, you are really walking away from the opportunity to be transformed into His likeness. “God , I like You, but you’re not worth all that…”
“One of the reasons we are not as Christ- centered and cross saturated as we should be is that we have not realized that everything- everything good and everything that turns out for good of His redeemed children- was purchased with by the death of Christ for her.”
John Piper Don’t Waste your Life
So yes, I know what you’re thinking, or at least if I were you what I would be thinking. That quote applies to you too, yea it’s hard- but why are you complaining. I needed to vent and trust me, I know that the things that I am involved in right now are hard because I am actively doing God’s work and being transformed to the likeness if the Son. Which I was warned is like Iron sharpening Iron and Glass going through the shaping fire.
Don’t forget to check the Mirror sometimes- Are you reflecting Greatness?
There have been a lot of things that happened this month that have been great and others that have not been so great... The good things have been BIG and the bad things have been fairly small- but there have been a good number of the small... haha
The complex is volunteer, but it is also a ministry started by my sister church. The purpose from the church prospective is outreach, which is right up my ally. I believe in out reach and I believed in this Ministry. I had prayed about it and I believed this was where the Lord wanted me.
Now that I am here I am starting to question motives and seriousness of this "ministry". I have since learned that the Apartment complex uses the service of the church member just to have events and to make themselves look good. Not surprising, that is the way that business works and it’s not like we, as a church, are not benefiting as well.
Then we get to the church. The church has decided that this form of outreach is not “good enough” and they would like to have other forms of outreach. If you know me, you know that I do not think there could be enough outreach in the world. And I think that a church should have more than one form of outreach, including something to do with the Global community. I am not, however, a person that is okay with just dropping a ministry for “something better”. I like to finish things through, I like to make sure that when I am done with something, anything, it is better than before and the Lord is happy with the way that it was handled and completed. Many times I believe that people forget that God has an order to the way He wants things done for Him. Being a Christian is a full time job, with struggles and benefits; so often people only want the benefits.
I read a quote…somewhere... that stated everything we go through in life is transforming us into the likeness of Christ- something we got through for his name sake. So if you walk away from something that you know the Lord wants you to do, or something He did not give you permission to walk away from, you are really walking away from the opportunity to be transformed into His likeness. “God , I like You, but you’re not worth all that…”
“One of the reasons we are not as Christ- centered and cross saturated as we should be is that we have not realized that everything- everything good and everything that turns out for good of His redeemed children- was purchased with by the death of Christ for her.”
John Piper Don’t Waste your Life
So yes, I know what you’re thinking, or at least if I were you what I would be thinking. That quote applies to you too, yea it’s hard- but why are you complaining. I needed to vent and trust me, I know that the things that I am involved in right now are hard because I am actively doing God’s work and being transformed to the likeness if the Son. Which I was warned is like Iron sharpening Iron and Glass going through the shaping fire.
Don’t forget to check the Mirror sometimes- Are you reflecting Greatness?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Enslaved
I am reading this new book called Enslaved. As you probably guessed, it is about slavery. Not in the forms that brought my kind over on a boat, but the kind that is taking place everyday, all around us,, that the average person doesn't even know about.
The book gives first hand stories of people that have been forced into Modern Day Slavery... servants, prostitution.. whatever. One story is called Slave in America. It's about this girl that ran away from home because she was under going much sexual and physical abuse at home and thought there would be anything better than the situation she was in... She soon found out that was not the case. She lived on the street for a long time, being shunned for being a homeless teen...yea, I didn't know people did that. I have never met a homeless teen and I surely wouldn't move to the other side of the street when I saw one coming- seriously?
After being homeless for awhile she bumped into this man that stopped and talked to her. Listened to her every problem and lured her into trusting her. Well, she soon found out that the man she trusted was a very bad person..did things to her that I cannot even imagine happening to someone. Much, much later her "owner" was arrested under unrelated charges in AZ, at which she was found bound in a closet. The police told her to shut up or she would be arrested too when she asked for a female cop..she wasn't even 18 yet. (And people wonder why the public hate cops...)
I am actively working to have these things stopped, but I still get overwhelmed sometimes that some helpless person is suffering because of the ignorance of the people around them.
I am ready for a change. One thing that helps me is Galatians 6:9 "And never grow weary of doing good, in due season you will reap, if you do not give up." Slavery will be ended I just have to keep following the passion the Lord has put in me and remember the victims that I am fighting for.
The book gives first hand stories of people that have been forced into Modern Day Slavery... servants, prostitution.. whatever. One story is called Slave in America. It's about this girl that ran away from home because she was under going much sexual and physical abuse at home and thought there would be anything better than the situation she was in... She soon found out that was not the case. She lived on the street for a long time, being shunned for being a homeless teen...yea, I didn't know people did that. I have never met a homeless teen and I surely wouldn't move to the other side of the street when I saw one coming- seriously?
After being homeless for awhile she bumped into this man that stopped and talked to her. Listened to her every problem and lured her into trusting her. Well, she soon found out that the man she trusted was a very bad person..did things to her that I cannot even imagine happening to someone. Much, much later her "owner" was arrested under unrelated charges in AZ, at which she was found bound in a closet. The police told her to shut up or she would be arrested too when she asked for a female cop..she wasn't even 18 yet. (And people wonder why the public hate cops...)
I am actively working to have these things stopped, but I still get overwhelmed sometimes that some helpless person is suffering because of the ignorance of the people around them.
I am ready for a change. One thing that helps me is Galatians 6:9 "And never grow weary of doing good, in due season you will reap, if you do not give up." Slavery will be ended I just have to keep following the passion the Lord has put in me and remember the victims that I am fighting for.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
God Given Uniqueness
Have you ever heard the term "Walking Zombies"? It is used to describe people who are just going through the motions of life. This looks different for everyone. Cooking, cleaning, working, markets, hanging with the boys, working out and such- the life I always promised myself I would never live in…yet I think that I was sucked into that life.
God created us all special, unique. He created us with a calling that is pleasing to Him, but feeds to who God made us as a person. For some people that is food in the form of restaurants, cooking show and books. Others sports, kids books, teaching… and the list goes on and on and on. Question I have for you is what keeps you from being a walking Zombie? What keeps you from just going through the motions of life, not even thinking about what God made us uniquely passionate about?
Since my second year of high school I have known that my passion is people. I love people; I do not completely understand it sometimes. Over the years however, I have become used to situations like talking my ex-boyfriends through break ups with the girl after me! ha That passion for people has feed my desire to help with ending Modern Day Slavery in its many forms. One way that happen is because I want so badly for girls to know how special they are and they are worth being wait on that to hear about girls, and boys, that are forced to have sex and are taught that they deserve what they are going through is just heart breaking. Or people being forced to kill people until murder is a part of their life-style.
Since I have been home and got involved with this organization called Operation Broken Silence I remembered just how sold out I was for this cause and I am awakening from this horrible state of Zombieness (which I’m sure is not a word, but gets the point across!)
I am so blessed to have found something that is worth fighting for that get me out of bed in the morning!(this is one out of many for me) That’s my prayer for everyone…the millions that read my blog haha
If you have a passion, please share!
In Christ
God created us all special, unique. He created us with a calling that is pleasing to Him, but feeds to who God made us as a person. For some people that is food in the form of restaurants, cooking show and books. Others sports, kids books, teaching… and the list goes on and on and on. Question I have for you is what keeps you from being a walking Zombie? What keeps you from just going through the motions of life, not even thinking about what God made us uniquely passionate about?
Since my second year of high school I have known that my passion is people. I love people; I do not completely understand it sometimes. Over the years however, I have become used to situations like talking my ex-boyfriends through break ups with the girl after me! ha That passion for people has feed my desire to help with ending Modern Day Slavery in its many forms. One way that happen is because I want so badly for girls to know how special they are and they are worth being wait on that to hear about girls, and boys, that are forced to have sex and are taught that they deserve what they are going through is just heart breaking. Or people being forced to kill people until murder is a part of their life-style.
Since I have been home and got involved with this organization called Operation Broken Silence I remembered just how sold out I was for this cause and I am awakening from this horrible state of Zombieness (which I’m sure is not a word, but gets the point across!)
I am so blessed to have found something that is worth fighting for that get me out of bed in the morning!(this is one out of many for me) That’s my prayer for everyone…the millions that read my blog haha
If you have a passion, please share!
In Christ
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Lies
There are only a few people I let speak into my life. There are things on TV that I just don't watch. There are friends who I hang around all the time and do not take there advice, I love them, but that is not their role in my life. I had one friend I would tell my problems to and I would literally do the opposite of whatever she told me to do... and guess what, it always worked out. Always. Something as simply as a friend can be much more than that, that relationship can control the decisions you make, the people you talk to, the places you go...the people you listen to can almost determine your life without you even knowing what happen.
There is something that is even more dangerous than a friend...is a boy/girl friend. Yes, I meant dangerous. Someone that you trust more than anyone else in your life. The one that you talk to most and spend the most time with. What they say has more of an influence on you than anyone else in your life; your best friend, your family,...pastor,TV(and we know that tube speaks volumes).
I was talking to one of my campers not to long ago during the "great" campfire encounter and we talked about the whispers. She was telling me that she was a bad Christian.She said she was not trying hard enough and that she could always be doing better. She went on, and on and on about all the things she could do better. And I started telling her about the whispers of Satan. How he wants to get into her head and focus on the "to do's" of following Jesus and that is not what a relationship with the Father is.
Then I got home. I feel like that Lord is calling me back here. The one thing He has been repeating to me is Lies...Lies...Lies. It is so easy to believe lies. Especially when they are all you are listening to. I come back to find my friends and family stuck eyeball deep in lies and they don't want to listen to anything else. Nothing else can get to them.
Why? What is so appealing about the lie?
There is something that is even more dangerous than a friend...is a boy/girl friend. Yes, I meant dangerous. Someone that you trust more than anyone else in your life. The one that you talk to most and spend the most time with. What they say has more of an influence on you than anyone else in your life; your best friend, your family,...pastor,TV(and we know that tube speaks volumes).
I was talking to one of my campers not to long ago during the "great" campfire encounter and we talked about the whispers. She was telling me that she was a bad Christian.She said she was not trying hard enough and that she could always be doing better. She went on, and on and on about all the things she could do better. And I started telling her about the whispers of Satan. How he wants to get into her head and focus on the "to do's" of following Jesus and that is not what a relationship with the Father is.
Then I got home. I feel like that Lord is calling me back here. The one thing He has been repeating to me is Lies...Lies...Lies. It is so easy to believe lies. Especially when they are all you are listening to. I come back to find my friends and family stuck eyeball deep in lies and they don't want to listen to anything else. Nothing else can get to them.
Why? What is so appealing about the lie?
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Hey I Found a Whistle that Hangs Like a Charm
Sean D Carasso: Thank you everyone for your contribution and thoughts! We live in a world of very real wars causing very real deaths. The men and women who create these wars have often used religion as their platform. I hope we'll continue to engage in a robust conversation as to why, and how we can stop this kind of manipulation and brutality.
It seems to me that the first step toward that conversation is a willingness to engage new ideas, new opinions and new perspectives. Openness is paramount. Without it, we remain stuck inside walls of our own creating.
I hope, if nothing else, this photo caused you to reconsider old assumptions and ask new questions. It certainly did that for me.
Lots of love my friends.
Sean
http://www.fallingwhistles.com/splash/index.php
This was posted on this guys facebook to make people stop and just have conversation... Yes, it is a little dramatic. So much happens that could be avoided and understood if we took time to stop...CARE and listen.
What do you think?
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Figured it So
I always tell myself that my blog is way to serious... I am not that serious of a person, I like to think but by the looks of my blog i never have fun. I told myself after camp was over and I stopped having such a serious life in general I would have stuff to talk about.
Well that is true. i walked into Panera bread today and I needed to use the restroom and I was on my way and walked in the restroom and there was a boy in there. Obviously old enough to use the restroom on his own and to know that I am a girl and he is a boy and I was so sure that I walked in the wrong room! So I, with the little pride that I had left slowly backed out of the room to take a peek at the sign... IT SAID WOMEN. lol I am just glad it was not an old man, because what exactly are you suppose to do when something like that happens? Do you walk out and wait for them to finished... go in the mens to balance things out or what?!! haha
I am off of camp on my last day off ever from camp! I will be headed home in just a few short work days!! I am so happy! I have been driving around..getting lost! I finally stopped and asked for directions and I was going in the totally wrong way! The lady looked at me and said.."Awe your not from around here are you?"...In my head I was wondering what gave it away..the fact i was asking for directions, my lincense plate says Ohio or because I don't talk like I grow up on the back side of a farm!! haha! But she was really nice and pregnant which is always cute!! People like her make me want to move to a small town..but the size of the mall changes my mind!!! haha
Just a good day!Hope you enjooyed my pointless laid back blog!=)
Chaarity
Well that is true. i walked into Panera bread today and I needed to use the restroom and I was on my way and walked in the restroom and there was a boy in there. Obviously old enough to use the restroom on his own and to know that I am a girl and he is a boy and I was so sure that I walked in the wrong room! So I, with the little pride that I had left slowly backed out of the room to take a peek at the sign... IT SAID WOMEN. lol I am just glad it was not an old man, because what exactly are you suppose to do when something like that happens? Do you walk out and wait for them to finished... go in the mens to balance things out or what?!! haha
I am off of camp on my last day off ever from camp! I will be headed home in just a few short work days!! I am so happy! I have been driving around..getting lost! I finally stopped and asked for directions and I was going in the totally wrong way! The lady looked at me and said.."Awe your not from around here are you?"...In my head I was wondering what gave it away..the fact i was asking for directions, my lincense plate says Ohio or because I don't talk like I grow up on the back side of a farm!! haha! But she was really nice and pregnant which is always cute!! People like her make me want to move to a small town..but the size of the mall changes my mind!!! haha
Just a good day!Hope you enjooyed my pointless laid back blog!=)
Chaarity
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Conviction
The other day I was reading this book called Scared Echo and I was convicted on something that is really dear to my heart.
So I am really into Missions. Like I love mission based organizations. I love people do are in missions everything to do with the poor, abused,enslaved and on and on and on. I am all for it. People know it, its really all that I talk about.Love fighting for people, it's a great way to live!
Well I support a lot of organizations....in many different ways. I tell people about them, I hold events and I show up to events. usually however I do not buy the merchandise... Why do you ask? Because I can never afford to. But I told myself that when I got a job I would spend in a way that I would give to a non-profit every month. I believe that if i have money to go thrift-ing, I should have money to give to the needy.
That we my plan and here I am at a job in the second month and I haven't bought anything for the needy. I have not donated any money...NOTHING. I didn't forget just my budget became more important than taking care of people who do not even have the chance to have a budget!
Well honestly I did not think much about it. I have not idea what is coming next for me and I know I need to save for the unknown... that is what is smart and responsible and I am out of school at the moment and about to the step into the real...real world with no dorms and no food plan. (now i might be living with my parents..which is not the "real world", but that is not my hope or desire, but if God wills I will deal!!! lol). Then one day I was reading the book I mention earlier and this line really got my attention. "The poor were given the right to glean -to take produce from the unharvested edges of the fields, a portion of the tithes and daily wages." This was paraphrased in the book but I know that comes from scripture...
9(A) "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. 10And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God." Lev 19:9-10
The money that we make is not our own! By giving to the poor you show who is really in control of your money... the "real world" (school, apartment, the food you want (not need but want) ect, ect) No I am not saying you cannot have what you want, when you depend on the Lord and really follow His commands He will give you the desires of your heart.
I WAS NOT DOING THIS. When I read this I simply wrote right next the words ,that I also underlined, and said..." I am not doing my job".. not just my job but my passion the one thing that God has put in my heart to take care of my people in need and the idea of having what I wanted was getting in the way of doing what I am called to do.
How often do we do that? How often do we hold on to something we think we need and want and miss what the Lord has for us? For me it was boyfriends, friends, habits, money and ideas even that I hold on to so long that I miss out on the bigger dream that God has for me.
So to break this very bad cycle I did something I have been saying I was going to do for years.....I bought a pair of TOMSshoes!!!! TOMS is an organization that when you buy a pair you give a pair to another person in the world that doesn't have a pair of shoes. They maybe have never had a pair of shoes in their life. I love TOMS and the starter..but all these years I have never owned a pair because of expense and I did it!
Yes.. a small step for mankind but a milestone in the surrender of my finances to the Lord!
Be blessed to be a blessing!!
In christ
So I am really into Missions. Like I love mission based organizations. I love people do are in missions everything to do with the poor, abused,enslaved and on and on and on. I am all for it. People know it, its really all that I talk about.Love fighting for people, it's a great way to live!
Well I support a lot of organizations....in many different ways. I tell people about them, I hold events and I show up to events. usually however I do not buy the merchandise... Why do you ask? Because I can never afford to. But I told myself that when I got a job I would spend in a way that I would give to a non-profit every month. I believe that if i have money to go thrift-ing, I should have money to give to the needy.
That we my plan and here I am at a job in the second month and I haven't bought anything for the needy. I have not donated any money...NOTHING. I didn't forget just my budget became more important than taking care of people who do not even have the chance to have a budget!
Well honestly I did not think much about it. I have not idea what is coming next for me and I know I need to save for the unknown... that is what is smart and responsible and I am out of school at the moment and about to the step into the real...real world with no dorms and no food plan. (now i might be living with my parents..which is not the "real world", but that is not my hope or desire, but if God wills I will deal!!! lol). Then one day I was reading the book I mention earlier and this line really got my attention. "The poor were given the right to glean -to take produce from the unharvested edges of the fields, a portion of the tithes and daily wages." This was paraphrased in the book but I know that comes from scripture...
9(A) "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. 10And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God." Lev 19:9-10
The money that we make is not our own! By giving to the poor you show who is really in control of your money... the "real world" (school, apartment, the food you want (not need but want) ect, ect) No I am not saying you cannot have what you want, when you depend on the Lord and really follow His commands He will give you the desires of your heart.
I WAS NOT DOING THIS. When I read this I simply wrote right next the words ,that I also underlined, and said..." I am not doing my job".. not just my job but my passion the one thing that God has put in my heart to take care of my people in need and the idea of having what I wanted was getting in the way of doing what I am called to do.
How often do we do that? How often do we hold on to something we think we need and want and miss what the Lord has for us? For me it was boyfriends, friends, habits, money and ideas even that I hold on to so long that I miss out on the bigger dream that God has for me.
So to break this very bad cycle I did something I have been saying I was going to do for years.....I bought a pair of TOMSshoes!!!! TOMS is an organization that when you buy a pair you give a pair to another person in the world that doesn't have a pair of shoes. They maybe have never had a pair of shoes in their life. I love TOMS and the starter..but all these years I have never owned a pair because of expense and I did it!
Yes.. a small step for mankind but a milestone in the surrender of my finances to the Lord!
Be blessed to be a blessing!!
In christ
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Time to Spare
I am not shy to admit that there is so much in life that I need to learn....SO MUCH. Truth is for everyone there is so much that we need to learn. We will never know it all...although there have been campers of mine who have thought so and there will always be something thing we just do not know...
Okay I am sure you get the point. Even though I know I do not know everything and even though I ask for advice, there are so many times that I do not here the things that I want to here. Things that I want to be able to react a certain, but when I hear another view that is not wrong...but not what I want to hear.
Well if you have never been in that situation then I will gladly tell you a story of mine. I am working at a camp this summer that is a great camp for many different reasons. There are somethings that I wish would change and one of those things is how they incorporate God into the different stuff that go on here at camp. The first couple of weeks I just wasn't seeing it... I was missing the reason that we say we are at camp. After people started to get into the swing things I noticed some things were changing and I was able to incorporate the Message of Jesus into more things and it was just great!! Then we have a more serious night were we get to talk to our campers about Salvation and their relationship with God. Literally this is a day that I wait for!! I just cannot wait for this moment when I get to have a serious conversation with my girls about out Father.
Sometimes the conversation can last a little long, which is a good thing. A very good thing, except some of the girls do not get a chance to have this conversation on this night. Usually it is the next day, but not that night. Well that night our leader came to us and told us from now on we were going to have 15 minutes with each girl so that every girl would have a chance to talk.
When I heard this I was furious. Like beyond words...the only night that I look for you telling me I am limited on the amount of time that I can spend with them... GET OVER IT. So I ended up talking to my pastor and I told him how angry that made me and how when I was finally finding purpose in my job it was being limited, like they were really showing what was important to them. He told me that it may seem that way, but I needed to do what the camp said. That I was trying so hard to make this job work and when I finally found something to be excited about it it was stripped away. He then told me to remember the one who died for our Salvation, the one that I want to talk to the girls about so badly created time. That time is really in His hands. If I really hand that time over to Him and trust Him with it He can do far more than I could imagine.
When I heard this information I can guarantee you that I was not happy. That was not that thing that I wanted to hear at that moment. He could have told me to quite my job and I would have been okay with that. To talk to my leader and tell her that I did not agree with her or to bluntly just not listen to her and just do what I think is best. But no, he told me exactly what I didn't want to hear. After that conversation I had a lot to think about, even though that was not what I wanted to hear...it was true. God is that Author of time...like i sing about that All the time and now I could go in believing I only had 15 minutes or I could go in believing God had a whole 15 minutes....
So the Day has come and it is up to me what to do with it. I had been praying for this day since I had that conversation with my pastor...
There was one girl in my room who really didn't want to talk to me,like she really really didn't want to. And after we got back from the Message that I didn't even hear I was praying so hard she wanted to go first! Like she didn't even think twice about it. She came in talked...left..second girl...third girl...fourth...then fifth. This was the most powerful session that I ever had.. The girls spilled out their hearts and the Lord gave me all the right things to say and none of them went over 15 minutes. NONE...and I didn't look at my watch not one time during any of there conversations, when it was over.. All I could do was enter into a time of praise for how awesome my Father is...
When you give Him the time, the problem, the whatever its amazing to watch Him work
Okay I am sure you get the point. Even though I know I do not know everything and even though I ask for advice, there are so many times that I do not here the things that I want to here. Things that I want to be able to react a certain, but when I hear another view that is not wrong...but not what I want to hear.
Well if you have never been in that situation then I will gladly tell you a story of mine. I am working at a camp this summer that is a great camp for many different reasons. There are somethings that I wish would change and one of those things is how they incorporate God into the different stuff that go on here at camp. The first couple of weeks I just wasn't seeing it... I was missing the reason that we say we are at camp. After people started to get into the swing things I noticed some things were changing and I was able to incorporate the Message of Jesus into more things and it was just great!! Then we have a more serious night were we get to talk to our campers about Salvation and their relationship with God. Literally this is a day that I wait for!! I just cannot wait for this moment when I get to have a serious conversation with my girls about out Father.
Sometimes the conversation can last a little long, which is a good thing. A very good thing, except some of the girls do not get a chance to have this conversation on this night. Usually it is the next day, but not that night. Well that night our leader came to us and told us from now on we were going to have 15 minutes with each girl so that every girl would have a chance to talk.
When I heard this I was furious. Like beyond words...the only night that I look for you telling me I am limited on the amount of time that I can spend with them... GET OVER IT. So I ended up talking to my pastor and I told him how angry that made me and how when I was finally finding purpose in my job it was being limited, like they were really showing what was important to them. He told me that it may seem that way, but I needed to do what the camp said. That I was trying so hard to make this job work and when I finally found something to be excited about it it was stripped away. He then told me to remember the one who died for our Salvation, the one that I want to talk to the girls about so badly created time. That time is really in His hands. If I really hand that time over to Him and trust Him with it He can do far more than I could imagine.
When I heard this information I can guarantee you that I was not happy. That was not that thing that I wanted to hear at that moment. He could have told me to quite my job and I would have been okay with that. To talk to my leader and tell her that I did not agree with her or to bluntly just not listen to her and just do what I think is best. But no, he told me exactly what I didn't want to hear. After that conversation I had a lot to think about, even though that was not what I wanted to hear...it was true. God is that Author of time...like i sing about that All the time and now I could go in believing I only had 15 minutes or I could go in believing God had a whole 15 minutes....
So the Day has come and it is up to me what to do with it. I had been praying for this day since I had that conversation with my pastor...
There was one girl in my room who really didn't want to talk to me,like she really really didn't want to. And after we got back from the Message that I didn't even hear I was praying so hard she wanted to go first! Like she didn't even think twice about it. She came in talked...left..second girl...third girl...fourth...then fifth. This was the most powerful session that I ever had.. The girls spilled out their hearts and the Lord gave me all the right things to say and none of them went over 15 minutes. NONE...and I didn't look at my watch not one time during any of there conversations, when it was over.. All I could do was enter into a time of praise for how awesome my Father is...
When you give Him the time, the problem, the whatever its amazing to watch Him work
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Family
I hope that you (whoever i am talking to right now) understand how important it is to appreciate your family. Even if you only see them and talk to them on the weekends or if you cannot stand to stay at family events over an hour. In that one hour know that you should be thankful for what you have.
Since i have been working at this camp I am at i have had two foster girls in my "cabin" and they both have stories. One girl would literally not talk to me... like she didn't speak unless spoken too... I dont know why, that is just how she was. The other girl talked, talked, talked all the time! She was great! She told me her story one day and I was just overwhelmed with information and the things that she had to go through.
One night she was acting a little strange and I called her out into the hall and asked her what was wrong. She told me nothing...and I knew that wasn't the truth.
Well as we started talking I came to find out all the girls in the cabin were hanging out during "free time" and they left before she got there. So she felt really left out and like they didn't like her. Then she said the words you never want to here any child say..." No one wants me".... When those words came out of her mouth I think I died a little inside.I was speechless, just trying to hold back the tears.
We sat there and i watched her cry for a moment and all I wanted to say is that I wanted her, I would always be there for her... but that is not true. In two weeks at the time I would have to let her go back to her foster home and I would probably never see her again.
That is when I was reminded that how hard it is to point people to God. It's easy for me... I believe in Him and I know He is here..but what about people who have never heard to the story of Jesus before. That there is an Almighty Power that created EVERYTHING yet He still cares about me and them. Then how can I explain that to her? Will it make sense and how much of what I say will stick with her?
But I told her what I thought God had laid on my heart. How even though it looks like He is not right here He is. Although things happen and we sometimes never know why, there is a reason. That the Almighty Power who created EVERYTHING is watching over her and is going to use her life to change others.
She went into the room, I put them all to sleep and wept. All I could do was weep. Sometime later in the week her and I got a chance to have a one on one conversation again. I asked her how she was doing and what she thought about our last conversation and she told me the next day during her personal devotion time she found a verse..."And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of."(Gen 28:15) She said she read it everyday. By the grace of God He met her in scripture. He sent the Holy Spirit to speak through me and to lead her to that verse told(And showed) that He is always here and He will use her life for great things. He reminded me just how Powerful and Almighty He really is and gave her a message that will carry her through the rest of her life....and He used me.
Though there are times we cannot stand out family and friends...be thankful and know when they fall short(and even if they dont) God will always be there...
Since i have been working at this camp I am at i have had two foster girls in my "cabin" and they both have stories. One girl would literally not talk to me... like she didn't speak unless spoken too... I dont know why, that is just how she was. The other girl talked, talked, talked all the time! She was great! She told me her story one day and I was just overwhelmed with information and the things that she had to go through.
One night she was acting a little strange and I called her out into the hall and asked her what was wrong. She told me nothing...and I knew that wasn't the truth.
Well as we started talking I came to find out all the girls in the cabin were hanging out during "free time" and they left before she got there. So she felt really left out and like they didn't like her. Then she said the words you never want to here any child say..." No one wants me".... When those words came out of her mouth I think I died a little inside.I was speechless, just trying to hold back the tears.
We sat there and i watched her cry for a moment and all I wanted to say is that I wanted her, I would always be there for her... but that is not true. In two weeks at the time I would have to let her go back to her foster home and I would probably never see her again.
That is when I was reminded that how hard it is to point people to God. It's easy for me... I believe in Him and I know He is here..but what about people who have never heard to the story of Jesus before. That there is an Almighty Power that created EVERYTHING yet He still cares about me and them. Then how can I explain that to her? Will it make sense and how much of what I say will stick with her?
But I told her what I thought God had laid on my heart. How even though it looks like He is not right here He is. Although things happen and we sometimes never know why, there is a reason. That the Almighty Power who created EVERYTHING is watching over her and is going to use her life to change others.
She went into the room, I put them all to sleep and wept. All I could do was weep. Sometime later in the week her and I got a chance to have a one on one conversation again. I asked her how she was doing and what she thought about our last conversation and she told me the next day during her personal devotion time she found a verse..."And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of."(Gen 28:15) She said she read it everyday. By the grace of God He met her in scripture. He sent the Holy Spirit to speak through me and to lead her to that verse told(And showed) that He is always here and He will use her life for great things. He reminded me just how Powerful and Almighty He really is and gave her a message that will carry her through the rest of her life....and He used me.
Though there are times we cannot stand out family and friends...be thankful and know when they fall short(and even if they dont) God will always be there...
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Lost?
Do you ever feel like you are lost in the middle of a really, really dark world with no light anywhere??! I Do sometimes...a lot lately. God is doing some crazy things and sometimes i just feel...lost. I know He is there and I know He has everything under control, yet I still have problem putting my trust in Him. The school that I was so sure about going to I just turned down because I didnt get into the program I wanted to get into..so I told my dream school NO. Can you believe that? I cannot, it's something I never saw myself doing..NOW IM CLUELESS!! Like seriously, what now? Well I am thinking about taking a year off but I dont know what that will help accomplish.
I Do, however, believe this is a good step in the right direction to see what God wants me to do. As i said before I have trust problems and maybe God has put me in this season to learn to trust Him. Which I think I am on my way to... I have my moments, but I am human that will come, I just have to remember How great and loving and Kind my God is.
I am not really sure that anyone reads my blog...at all, but for those of you who might I pray that you will trust God with everything. Even when you feel like you are in a room with no light in the middle of NO WHERE.... you aren't and there is always light. In you, the light that is place there by God Himself to keep us strong and to strengthen us as we live out lives out for Him.
I am so happy to have a God that cared so much for me to create a story, life, personality and everything else that is just special to me. For those who are not sure that God is real I want you to thin about laughter and love. Those people in our lives that make us feel safe. The connection we have with our best friends and our parents. Even though God may seem abstract to us in the seen world the things we dont see like love, laughter that we feel are a couple of reminders of how special God is and how special we are to Him.
I love you
=)
I Do, however, believe this is a good step in the right direction to see what God wants me to do. As i said before I have trust problems and maybe God has put me in this season to learn to trust Him. Which I think I am on my way to... I have my moments, but I am human that will come, I just have to remember How great and loving and Kind my God is.
I am not really sure that anyone reads my blog...at all, but for those of you who might I pray that you will trust God with everything. Even when you feel like you are in a room with no light in the middle of NO WHERE.... you aren't and there is always light. In you, the light that is place there by God Himself to keep us strong and to strengthen us as we live out lives out for Him.
I am so happy to have a God that cared so much for me to create a story, life, personality and everything else that is just special to me. For those who are not sure that God is real I want you to thin about laughter and love. Those people in our lives that make us feel safe. The connection we have with our best friends and our parents. Even though God may seem abstract to us in the seen world the things we dont see like love, laughter that we feel are a couple of reminders of how special God is and how special we are to Him.
I love you
=)
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Do Something
hello students and staff
I wanted to let you guys know, and remind some of you, that tomorrow is the Day to stand up for those who do not have shoes. Its a big deal, so many people have diseases that can be avoided if only they had shoes.... Its is stated again and again how important it is to stand up for the poor and needy in the Bible and,like me, I know we dont have 40 dollars every month extra to by a pair of shoes that will also buy a pair of shoes for some cool kind in another country...THIS IS HOW YOU CAN DO SOMETHING.. its free and it makes a difference.
http://www.toms.com/
Love you All!!
Chaarity
I wanted to let you guys know, and remind some of you, that tomorrow is the Day to stand up for those who do not have shoes. Its a big deal, so many people have diseases that can be avoided if only they had shoes.... Its is stated again and again how important it is to stand up for the poor and needy in the Bible and,like me, I know we dont have 40 dollars every month extra to by a pair of shoes that will also buy a pair of shoes for some cool kind in another country...THIS IS HOW YOU CAN DO SOMETHING.. its free and it makes a difference.
http://www.toms.com/
Love you All!!
Chaarity
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Meaning behind the Party
Today I was sitting at home....listening to my podcast of Rockhabor, Church in California, and he told the story of "The Lost Son" and he told the story like I have never heard it before...
Most of us who have grown up in the church know this story. The story of the boy who went up to his pops and said, "Hey, so, I would really like to have the money that is going to be mine after your dead early, if you don't mind". Then the dad's like,"yea son here you go, its yours." Then he sells everything and heads off to a foreign country to have fun. Now, if fun is like anything it is these days (which I am sure it was not very far) he went out and drank,gambled and spent his money on women....which lead to be broke when this huge famine came and knocked everything out. So he became homeless got a job and began to starve to death. Then he realized, I know I can go work for my father, tell him I am so sorry and hope he will forgive me. He goes back the father welcomes him in and they party.
Then the other son comes, the oldest, with more to lose and is angry because of the father's celebration for his stupid brother. The dad talks to him and ask him to come the party and be happy.
Although that is a warm touching story and that is how its read...most of the time, that is not fully how the story is meant:
There was a young boy who walked up to his Father and said, "Hey dad, I wish you were dead, can I have all the estate that is meant to be mine after you cross over to the other side?" The Father should have this point taken his son somewhere and beat him senseless and gone on with his day...Not how it worked however, The Dad said fine and divided the estate between him and his older brother.
After this the son went off and spent all his money on foolish "fun" and then a famine came and he was dead broke. After he lost all his money, having being a rich mans son he didnt have a trade so he needed to find a way to get a job. So he became a beggar who attached himself to some man who wanted to get rid of him. Knowing he was Jewish and Jews would never work with pigs, he gave him a job working with Pigs (the dirties animal in all of Jewish culture, you wouldn't even eat a pig if you were starving to death. Well, surprisingly the son took the job and feed the pigs and was so hungry he almost reached the point where he wanted to eat the pigs food.
Jesus,who was telling this story to the Pharisees, was painting a picture of how bad the gentiles where in their eyes.
Soon the boys realized he could go back and tell his Father,Father, i have sinned against you and against heaven. Please take me in as a working hand, so that I may pay you back. It is important to know that the son was not sorry, he never said I was so dumb for doing this I should ask for forgiveness... He just wanted to eat and to do that he had to learn a trade,which a man who worked for his father could teach him.
So started on his way back to his home town and his Father sees him from a distance,long before his son ever reaches the in-shirts of town. At this time His Father runs to greet him.... This is a big deal:1. Fathers don't run...slaves and servants ran 2. Jewish people do not show there legs, it is shameful to the whole family and the culture.
He runs to him kisses him (not just a kiss on the forehead, this meant that he smothered him in kisses) and gives him His robe, one only used for special occasions and he bought him sandals (sandals of honor, not shoes of a slave) and the ring of the family. This was the ring that sealed all the letters of the family, which meant he was trusted with the family business again. Then He told his servants to kill the fatten calf (which feeds 200 people, meaning he was ready for a party the fatten calf took years to feed and prepare,it was for weddings...this also meant he was going to publicly celebrate the reconciliation with his son who shamed him).
As the party is going the other son appears and ask one of the servants whats going on. As he finds out whats going one he gets angry and refuses to come in. This is totally bad...its just as bad as the son wishing the dad was dead and selling the estate while he was alive.
Then the father comes out and PLEADS WITH HIM... yes, another big deal. Fathers dont run and they dont plead. What should have happen in this history, the son would have been taken to a room to be beaten later (yes, parents were very violent during this time) But instead he pleads with the son to come in and welcome his brother, "Who once was lost and now is found."
These sons are showing two different sets of people the Sinners and the Pharisee...
Sinners are lost, they sin against the church and everything that it stands for, but when they come back, Jesus doesn't even wait for them to reach Him before He is welcoming them home. When the son was coming back and the father welcomed him home he didnt even get a chance to tell his Father how he planned to pay him back...all he could say was "Father for give me for I have sinned against you and heaven" He was over taken by the unfailing grace of God that he couldnt even try to make up for what he had done.
The other brother is the church. We think that are so much better than the one who sins that when they come back to Christ we don't even rejoice with them. We just remember that things that have done in the past and judge them for the rest of their lives. What Jesus is doing here is asking us if we are going to stand outside and be angry because they have been forgiven or are we going to join Him in welcoming them back into His family, where there is enough inheritance for all people.
Which are you?? I find myself being both. Sometimes I am the one that Jesus has to run to and remind me that He will love me no matter what...and sometimes I get upset about the people who are sinning, drinking, having sex or whatever that I forget to love them and join God in giving the grace that can only be given through me from Him...
So I bet your wondering what the meaning behind the party was? About the Father for You, Me...the Father was excited about welcoming the son back home and even more excited to have the son who was faithful there. Reconciliation, this was the meaning of the celebration, Want to come?
Luke 15
Chaarity
Live A life that demands an explanation
Mike Erre
Most of us who have grown up in the church know this story. The story of the boy who went up to his pops and said, "Hey, so, I would really like to have the money that is going to be mine after your dead early, if you don't mind". Then the dad's like,"yea son here you go, its yours." Then he sells everything and heads off to a foreign country to have fun. Now, if fun is like anything it is these days (which I am sure it was not very far) he went out and drank,gambled and spent his money on women....which lead to be broke when this huge famine came and knocked everything out. So he became homeless got a job and began to starve to death. Then he realized, I know I can go work for my father, tell him I am so sorry and hope he will forgive me. He goes back the father welcomes him in and they party.
Then the other son comes, the oldest, with more to lose and is angry because of the father's celebration for his stupid brother. The dad talks to him and ask him to come the party and be happy.
Although that is a warm touching story and that is how its read...most of the time, that is not fully how the story is meant:
There was a young boy who walked up to his Father and said, "Hey dad, I wish you were dead, can I have all the estate that is meant to be mine after you cross over to the other side?" The Father should have this point taken his son somewhere and beat him senseless and gone on with his day...Not how it worked however, The Dad said fine and divided the estate between him and his older brother.
After this the son went off and spent all his money on foolish "fun" and then a famine came and he was dead broke. After he lost all his money, having being a rich mans son he didnt have a trade so he needed to find a way to get a job. So he became a beggar who attached himself to some man who wanted to get rid of him. Knowing he was Jewish and Jews would never work with pigs, he gave him a job working with Pigs (the dirties animal in all of Jewish culture, you wouldn't even eat a pig if you were starving to death. Well, surprisingly the son took the job and feed the pigs and was so hungry he almost reached the point where he wanted to eat the pigs food.
Jesus,who was telling this story to the Pharisees, was painting a picture of how bad the gentiles where in their eyes.
Soon the boys realized he could go back and tell his Father,Father, i have sinned against you and against heaven. Please take me in as a working hand, so that I may pay you back. It is important to know that the son was not sorry, he never said I was so dumb for doing this I should ask for forgiveness... He just wanted to eat and to do that he had to learn a trade,which a man who worked for his father could teach him.
So started on his way back to his home town and his Father sees him from a distance,long before his son ever reaches the in-shirts of town. At this time His Father runs to greet him.... This is a big deal:1. Fathers don't run...slaves and servants ran 2. Jewish people do not show there legs, it is shameful to the whole family and the culture.
He runs to him kisses him (not just a kiss on the forehead, this meant that he smothered him in kisses) and gives him His robe, one only used for special occasions and he bought him sandals (sandals of honor, not shoes of a slave) and the ring of the family. This was the ring that sealed all the letters of the family, which meant he was trusted with the family business again. Then He told his servants to kill the fatten calf (which feeds 200 people, meaning he was ready for a party the fatten calf took years to feed and prepare,it was for weddings...this also meant he was going to publicly celebrate the reconciliation with his son who shamed him).
As the party is going the other son appears and ask one of the servants whats going on. As he finds out whats going one he gets angry and refuses to come in. This is totally bad...its just as bad as the son wishing the dad was dead and selling the estate while he was alive.
Then the father comes out and PLEADS WITH HIM... yes, another big deal. Fathers dont run and they dont plead. What should have happen in this history, the son would have been taken to a room to be beaten later (yes, parents were very violent during this time) But instead he pleads with the son to come in and welcome his brother, "Who once was lost and now is found."
These sons are showing two different sets of people the Sinners and the Pharisee...
Sinners are lost, they sin against the church and everything that it stands for, but when they come back, Jesus doesn't even wait for them to reach Him before He is welcoming them home. When the son was coming back and the father welcomed him home he didnt even get a chance to tell his Father how he planned to pay him back...all he could say was "Father for give me for I have sinned against you and heaven" He was over taken by the unfailing grace of God that he couldnt even try to make up for what he had done.
The other brother is the church. We think that are so much better than the one who sins that when they come back to Christ we don't even rejoice with them. We just remember that things that have done in the past and judge them for the rest of their lives. What Jesus is doing here is asking us if we are going to stand outside and be angry because they have been forgiven or are we going to join Him in welcoming them back into His family, where there is enough inheritance for all people.
Which are you?? I find myself being both. Sometimes I am the one that Jesus has to run to and remind me that He will love me no matter what...and sometimes I get upset about the people who are sinning, drinking, having sex or whatever that I forget to love them and join God in giving the grace that can only be given through me from Him...
So I bet your wondering what the meaning behind the party was? About the Father for You, Me...the Father was excited about welcoming the son back home and even more excited to have the son who was faithful there. Reconciliation, this was the meaning of the celebration, Want to come?
Luke 15
Chaarity
Live A life that demands an explanation
Mike Erre
Thursday, February 25, 2010
What next
I am sad.
For those of you who know me, know that I love John Mayer. I pray for him all the time, not just by choice, but because he is always on my heart to pray for him. I just read his latest interview it was just sad. I was talking to my friend, a really close friend, the other day who claimed to be a Christian and as we got to talking about her life I became extremely confused. I just has to stop the conversation, right where it was and ask, "Where is Jesus in all of this?".
When i hear people talking about their lives and what is going on...I am constantly surprised by how many people dont care about their lives. Like there is no science to it, just I DONT CARE. What kind of future does that lead to? You dont care about yourself, which means you dont care about anyone else and the people that you have tried to care about it has all failed. Leading to you dont care about the world or government that makes laws over you and you dont feel the need to pay attention to the things going on around you not only making yourself unaware, but ignorant.
I am not just talking about non-Believers. I am talking about people...where are we headed? Where?
But I know, you dont care
For those of you who know me, know that I love John Mayer. I pray for him all the time, not just by choice, but because he is always on my heart to pray for him. I just read his latest interview it was just sad. I was talking to my friend, a really close friend, the other day who claimed to be a Christian and as we got to talking about her life I became extremely confused. I just has to stop the conversation, right where it was and ask, "Where is Jesus in all of this?".
When i hear people talking about their lives and what is going on...I am constantly surprised by how many people dont care about their lives. Like there is no science to it, just I DONT CARE. What kind of future does that lead to? You dont care about yourself, which means you dont care about anyone else and the people that you have tried to care about it has all failed. Leading to you dont care about the world or government that makes laws over you and you dont feel the need to pay attention to the things going on around you not only making yourself unaware, but ignorant.
I am not just talking about non-Believers. I am talking about people...where are we headed? Where?
But I know, you dont care
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
One thing that I will never understand
Today I was reading the news on CNN.com, because as I am growing up, I am realizing that I need to know what is going on in the world around me...So I was reading an article on Osama bin Laden and I discovered that not only is he active, he is really active. There were 6 tapes from him last year(2009) and he was said to be responsible for the attack on Michigan in December... After a couple of days they came on TV saying that they know for sure that al Qaeda was part of this attack, never did they say that they know this because bin Laden came out with a tape saying it was him and that people of the United States will not know safety until they have peace! That is a very important thing to leave out of a news broadcast!
Now when I heard about I skyped one of my friends and asked... Did you ever believe that Osama bin Laden was dead...ans she answered,"I've never really followed up with that guy." SERIOUSLY! Not only is the news not reporting on the things that they are suppose to, AMERICA DOESN'T CARE. They (we) would rather listen reports on celebrities, that don't give a flying flip about them (us) and if there was a major attack would probably get on there private jet and leave us all, instead of things that matter to us in the matter of life and death....
That is messed up, just wrong. What makes this even more saddening is that She is a Christian. I am pretty hard on Christians, but I hate when they dont do their jobs..The Bible clearly tells us to be steward of the earth, to serve Him with our minds, body and soul. How can you serve His people when you dont even know whats going on around you or being good stewards of the information available. How can you pray for your country like your suppose to, if you dont even know what is needed to be prayed about... I'm not just talking about other people, i am talking for myself too.
Even though I really care for other people and for justice and read politics and so on, I think that I pray for Brazil and celebrities more than I do for my own country, which isnt bad...but I dont pray for Brazil as much as I should so I know I am not doing my job as a Christian American.
Something has got to change and fast
Now when I heard about I skyped one of my friends and asked... Did you ever believe that Osama bin Laden was dead...ans she answered,"I've never really followed up with that guy." SERIOUSLY! Not only is the news not reporting on the things that they are suppose to, AMERICA DOESN'T CARE. They (we) would rather listen reports on celebrities, that don't give a flying flip about them (us) and if there was a major attack would probably get on there private jet and leave us all, instead of things that matter to us in the matter of life and death....
That is messed up, just wrong. What makes this even more saddening is that She is a Christian. I am pretty hard on Christians, but I hate when they dont do their jobs..The Bible clearly tells us to be steward of the earth, to serve Him with our minds, body and soul. How can you serve His people when you dont even know whats going on around you or being good stewards of the information available. How can you pray for your country like your suppose to, if you dont even know what is needed to be prayed about... I'm not just talking about other people, i am talking for myself too.
Even though I really care for other people and for justice and read politics and so on, I think that I pray for Brazil and celebrities more than I do for my own country, which isnt bad...but I dont pray for Brazil as much as I should so I know I am not doing my job as a Christian American.
Something has got to change and fast
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Hello World...its been too long!
Well..if you did not know I was out of the country for A WHOLE MONTH! It was really awesome!I was in Brazil and I got to work a this camp called World of Life there in Porte Algre! It was awesome, I got to met people I will be friends with until the day I die!(Which is always a good thing)
So for awhile i bet my stories are going to have something to do with Brazil or people from Brazil, thats kind of where my mind and thoughts are at this point.
We did door to door ministry while we were in Brazil and that is something that I never saw myself doing! People who did that were crazy and imposing and the people doing it would not come in my house! Well While we were out ever single house we walked up to let us in and wanted to talk to us. (and not just because we were Americans a group of Brazilian students go travel to this same town and get the same reaction). This was the first shocker, they knew why we were there and they knew what we wanted to talk about and they always let us in.
We were sent out with partners and a translator,which was scary just by itself...I didn't know what to expect or what I was going to say. We went to maybe 5 or 6 houses and talked to people and they were all amazing periods of time. Just things I never thought to see, hear and people I never thought I was going talk to...I never thought I was going to see Brazil!
There was this one house in particular that we went to and there were two women standing outside and they were talking, with 3 little ones running around playing. Our Translator asked the ladies if we could enter their gate and come talk and they said yes. One lady was the next door neighbor and she left when we got there and the other lady lead us into the house. We get in and she asked us to sit down and we started talking to her about Jesus. We asked her if she was saved and she said yes..she even went and got her certificate that said she was baptized to prove to us that she wasn't lying. We let her know that we believed her and we were glad that she had found salvation and she was a believer and so on.
Then she went on to say that she didn't ever want to go back to church again..as she said this my translators face began to look very confused because the things she told us about her faith did not match with the idea of never going to church again. She continued her story: She went to a church that was in the town she used to live in and he grandson(one of the little ones that was running around when we got to the house earlier) and the pastor kicked her out because he was distracting to the service and made her stand outside.
She was so hurt and embarrassed that she did not want to go to the church again. So since she has stopped going to the church (since the beginning of the year) There have been some serious rains. These rains have been flooding the area and ruining the crop (tomatoes) which is the only source of income for most of the residents around. As she told us what happen at church she concluded that the rains and ruining of the crop where all her fault. God was punishing her and her family because she had not been going to church (not to mention her son who worked with the tomatoes had a son and was not married and the women lived with them). This story really hit me in the heart. My family has gone through so many church hurts, but we always had each other and my parents (because of the way they were raised) always keep going and looking for church homes. But to be in a community where you have nothing and churches are supposed to be coming and bringing you hope, but really only bringing you down, thats just unbelievable!
She spent her days in that house blaming herself for the rain coming down every night and for not going to church even though the church did not welcome her. This upset me, how can the church come into a community where they need them the most and forget how they should treat people.
This is a recurring theme in my blog I think....CHRISTIANS ARE YOU REALLY TREATING PEOPLE WITH LOVE? Are you really going and doing the job that God tells us too...or making people's heart hard to the message of God because we come in the name of Jesus and treat them wrong??
Good news is we prayed for her and we got to apologize for the way that preacher treated her. We invited her and her grandson to church for a kids service and they came...WHICH WAS AWESOME! God really worked in her heart and H taught me a really good lesson, that I will never forget.
So for awhile i bet my stories are going to have something to do with Brazil or people from Brazil, thats kind of where my mind and thoughts are at this point.
We did door to door ministry while we were in Brazil and that is something that I never saw myself doing! People who did that were crazy and imposing and the people doing it would not come in my house! Well While we were out ever single house we walked up to let us in and wanted to talk to us. (and not just because we were Americans a group of Brazilian students go travel to this same town and get the same reaction). This was the first shocker, they knew why we were there and they knew what we wanted to talk about and they always let us in.
We were sent out with partners and a translator,which was scary just by itself...I didn't know what to expect or what I was going to say. We went to maybe 5 or 6 houses and talked to people and they were all amazing periods of time. Just things I never thought to see, hear and people I never thought I was going talk to...I never thought I was going to see Brazil!
There was this one house in particular that we went to and there were two women standing outside and they were talking, with 3 little ones running around playing. Our Translator asked the ladies if we could enter their gate and come talk and they said yes. One lady was the next door neighbor and she left when we got there and the other lady lead us into the house. We get in and she asked us to sit down and we started talking to her about Jesus. We asked her if she was saved and she said yes..she even went and got her certificate that said she was baptized to prove to us that she wasn't lying. We let her know that we believed her and we were glad that she had found salvation and she was a believer and so on.
Then she went on to say that she didn't ever want to go back to church again..as she said this my translators face began to look very confused because the things she told us about her faith did not match with the idea of never going to church again. She continued her story: She went to a church that was in the town she used to live in and he grandson(one of the little ones that was running around when we got to the house earlier) and the pastor kicked her out because he was distracting to the service and made her stand outside.
She was so hurt and embarrassed that she did not want to go to the church again. So since she has stopped going to the church (since the beginning of the year) There have been some serious rains. These rains have been flooding the area and ruining the crop (tomatoes) which is the only source of income for most of the residents around. As she told us what happen at church she concluded that the rains and ruining of the crop where all her fault. God was punishing her and her family because she had not been going to church (not to mention her son who worked with the tomatoes had a son and was not married and the women lived with them). This story really hit me in the heart. My family has gone through so many church hurts, but we always had each other and my parents (because of the way they were raised) always keep going and looking for church homes. But to be in a community where you have nothing and churches are supposed to be coming and bringing you hope, but really only bringing you down, thats just unbelievable!
She spent her days in that house blaming herself for the rain coming down every night and for not going to church even though the church did not welcome her. This upset me, how can the church come into a community where they need them the most and forget how they should treat people.
This is a recurring theme in my blog I think....CHRISTIANS ARE YOU REALLY TREATING PEOPLE WITH LOVE? Are you really going and doing the job that God tells us too...or making people's heart hard to the message of God because we come in the name of Jesus and treat them wrong??
Good news is we prayed for her and we got to apologize for the way that preacher treated her. We invited her and her grandson to church for a kids service and they came...WHICH WAS AWESOME! God really worked in her heart and H taught me a really good lesson, that I will never forget.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Good Banker
I heard this story once of a Banker. He was a very rich and wealthy Man and wanted to help those in need that came to Him. One day a lady by the name of Julianna came in and asked for a loan to take care of her children. She just lost her job and needed a way to take care of them until she could find another one. The Banker then handed her 100 dollars. He said, "Go and fill your gas tank and buy some food for the house, then go home and be with your children".
This woman did as she was told. She went home and bought food and gas. She was a little flustered because this ,by no means, was going to get her family through the week. She was a teacher and the school needed to cut pay and this ment getting rid of some of the teachers and she was the newest staff member and she was it coming.
After she had cooked and put the children to bed,before she even got the chance to break down because of everything going on,at 7:01 the phone rang. "Hello, this is Daniel Brown calling for a Julianna Barber.". She responded,"This is she". "I am a principle at a near school and I heard that you had recently been let go due to the schools fincial problems and was wondering if you were interested in a job."
The principle and Julianna talked on the phone for hours. The school heard about her through a parent at the school that let her go. They were looking for a new teacher that loved her job, the students and learning and when they brought this up at a social function her name was brought up. They asked her to start at the school as soon as possible working with another teacher to get used to the environment and then at the beginning of the semester with her own class. They gave her a pay raise and benefits for her family through the school on a teacher available plan.
When she got off the phone, she was speechless. How could the Banker know what she needed? How could they have known what she did and that her insurance plan had just expired?...How did he know I was a teacher? So many questions that she needed some answers! The next day she got the kids off to school and rode back over to where the bank was located...and the bank was being torn down. When she saw this she went up to a near by worker and asked what was going on.
"The Banker sold the building weeks ago, it had been empty for a while. The builder has been planning this since the beginning of the week." As were talking he said I had to have the wrong bank because it has been closed down longer then when it the place was sold. I thanked him for his time and was about to leave..
"Ma'am...what is your name?"
"Julianna" I told him.
"Where that's strange...will you wait here for a minute?"
"Sure" He walked towards the main trailer and I began to think about that event of the past couple of days. There was a Man who gave me money, there was a Man who told me to get food and gas, spend time with my family and wait for a phone call...
"This letter was left on the door of this place this morning. It was found during the building check for homeless people and animals. Have a good day and it was nice talking to you."
The envelope was blank except for a name, my name. I opened it and began to read:
Dear Julianna,
I hope you have a great carrier at this new school. Know that I placed you there and I have a purpose for you. Know that I will never leave you or forsake you.Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you am with you when you go through the day and when you sleep . It will not always be easy, but it will be worth the challenge and I will be waiting to reward you in heaven.Be the light I made you to be. The one that your children need to see.
I love you.
Your Creator..Your Banker
This woman did as she was told. She went home and bought food and gas. She was a little flustered because this ,by no means, was going to get her family through the week. She was a teacher and the school needed to cut pay and this ment getting rid of some of the teachers and she was the newest staff member and she was it coming.
After she had cooked and put the children to bed,before she even got the chance to break down because of everything going on,at 7:01 the phone rang. "Hello, this is Daniel Brown calling for a Julianna Barber.". She responded,"This is she". "I am a principle at a near school and I heard that you had recently been let go due to the schools fincial problems and was wondering if you were interested in a job."
The principle and Julianna talked on the phone for hours. The school heard about her through a parent at the school that let her go. They were looking for a new teacher that loved her job, the students and learning and when they brought this up at a social function her name was brought up. They asked her to start at the school as soon as possible working with another teacher to get used to the environment and then at the beginning of the semester with her own class. They gave her a pay raise and benefits for her family through the school on a teacher available plan.
When she got off the phone, she was speechless. How could the Banker know what she needed? How could they have known what she did and that her insurance plan had just expired?...How did he know I was a teacher? So many questions that she needed some answers! The next day she got the kids off to school and rode back over to where the bank was located...and the bank was being torn down. When she saw this she went up to a near by worker and asked what was going on.
"The Banker sold the building weeks ago, it had been empty for a while. The builder has been planning this since the beginning of the week." As were talking he said I had to have the wrong bank because it has been closed down longer then when it the place was sold. I thanked him for his time and was about to leave..
"Ma'am...what is your name?"
"Julianna" I told him.
"Where that's strange...will you wait here for a minute?"
"Sure" He walked towards the main trailer and I began to think about that event of the past couple of days. There was a Man who gave me money, there was a Man who told me to get food and gas, spend time with my family and wait for a phone call...
"This letter was left on the door of this place this morning. It was found during the building check for homeless people and animals. Have a good day and it was nice talking to you."
The envelope was blank except for a name, my name. I opened it and began to read:
Dear Julianna,
I hope you have a great carrier at this new school. Know that I placed you there and I have a purpose for you. Know that I will never leave you or forsake you.Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you am with you when you go through the day and when you sleep . It will not always be easy, but it will be worth the challenge and I will be waiting to reward you in heaven.Be the light I made you to be. The one that your children need to see.
I love you.
Your Creator..Your Banker
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