Tonight on the streets I meet two special ladies. I was upstairs in the womens area talking to a room of about 6 ladies and there was one sitting by the window, wearing my favorite color,green. I turned my head her way and she called me over to talk to her. She said I called you over cause I lover yoiur smile, I was sitting here watching you and I saw your dimple and I said God thats a special lady and I gotta talk to her cause she is sweet she cares.... WOW I thought as she said all this, when she finished I thanked her for her kind words and we continued to talk. I am blessed that her spirit sensed love and not fear like happens so often when people come out with us for the first time. She was called Jac...thats her nickname given her by her family. She and the father of her two youngest have been in Atlanta for about 2 months. They are hoping to leave Peachtree/Pine tomorrow and be in an apartment. Her little boys are precious... She shared several stories about how she wished she had listened to her mom years ago. She told me make sure you keep these young people in school and learn all they can so they do not end up like me. We talked for a while longer and I shared with her that God hears what she is saying and he has alwayes been with her, even though she thought he left. I encouraged her to stay in the word and talk to God , allow him to guide and direct her and the father of the children. That he is the one who will never leave them or let them down.
The second lady sat in the corner staring out the window as we talked, she never made eye contact until Jac and I were done talking and then with a smile she said hi, Her sad face made it hard for me to hold back the tears...She is too young to look to so old, so torn down, so alone. She has a case worker ...working to get her into a place. I shared with her about The Garden and told her to call them if the other doesnt work out. As I left I told her while I would love to see her again but that I will be praying that she find a place to belong soon and not to loose her faith...
Lets just say part of my ride home was spent in reflection, and tears being shed for my new friends as I prayed that God show up and show out in their lives. Its moments like these that remind me how precious the simple things in life are.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
A message from the heart.....
Several weeks ago I got an email from a friend at church asking me if I would be willing to speak at a local church about being in the mission field.... Those of you who know me well know I am passionate about being both a local and a foreign missionary.... and I will talk about it anytime the LORD opens the door.... So I said yes..... Easy to come up with what to say..... to stangers about what you are passionate about not always as easy as one would think..... so off to my prayer closet I go.... God showed me that I was to speak on Local missions ..,,,. because it is so easy for us to put a check in the offering plate to send to a foreign land.... but hard for us to see what is right in front of us... and willingly do something...
I hear from so many that the mission field is not for them ... YET if we are all christians and readers of HIS word then we are all called to the mission field..... some just choose to ignore the call....
Did you know there are over 8,000 verses in the NT on missions.... and 32,000 in the whole bible.... and there are only three parts of the bible that don't deal with missions...... they are the front cover, the back cover and the spine of your bible...
Through the work in missions God allowed me to meet some of the most awesome women tonight who have all answered the call to do what they can both here in the states and abroad to be active in prayer and support of missions. And I thank them for allowing me to share my heart.... and
Even though I am very active in my homeless ministry tonight it became very apparent that I am not immume to the overwhelming feeling of compassion and mercy as I looked beyond the photos I shared to see the hardened hearts, the brokeness in the eyes, the pain and agony in the faces that have aged many years.
You see tonight as I shared about my friends I had to hold back the tears as I saw the pictures ( pictures I look at regularly) of
I hear from so many that the mission field is not for them ... YET if we are all christians and readers of HIS word then we are all called to the mission field..... some just choose to ignore the call....
Did you know there are over 8,000 verses in the NT on missions.... and 32,000 in the whole bible.... and there are only three parts of the bible that don't deal with missions...... they are the front cover, the back cover and the spine of your bible...
Through the work in missions God allowed me to meet some of the most awesome women tonight who have all answered the call to do what they can both here in the states and abroad to be active in prayer and support of missions. And I thank them for allowing me to share my heart.... and
Even though I am very active in my homeless ministry tonight it became very apparent that I am not immume to the overwhelming feeling of compassion and mercy as I looked beyond the photos I shared to see the hardened hearts, the brokeness in the eyes, the pain and agony in the faces that have aged many years.
You see tonight as I shared about my friends I had to hold back the tears as I saw the pictures ( pictures I look at regularly) of
- Roger who has one arm because he got drunk one night and feel under a moving train......
- Ricky who lost everything because he was in a construction accident that left him in a coma for 4 months..... seeing the pain in his eyes from the loss of his wife Patsy on the streets
- Melvin who is mentally challanged
- Lorenzo the Vietnam Veteran homeless in Augusta
- Our friend Bebe who lives at the Garden....awesome warrior of GOD
- Greg who died on the streets a few weeks ago of cancer
- the little boy who now has a bed to call his own.....
PS ...Thanks Amber for helping out.....
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Lend a helping hand if you can......
There is a family that up until recently has been living in a house with a lot of other people.... Praise God they now have a place of their own.... While it may be small...its theirs... Have you ever wander what it would be like to have a bed to call your own.... I did ..growing up. This family has 2 twin mattresses they put together to give everyone a spot to sleep..Not everyone fits... One sleeps one a blanket on the floor.... a spot to call his own..he feels blessed but if you have a mattress... whether its air or real that you would be willing to donate that would be greatly appreciated.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
MUST READ......
In the state of Georgia there are 25,000 homeless children under 6 years old.
enrolled in K-8 26,000 and 9-12 8,000 for a grand total of 59,000...
- 1 of every 20 children do not know where their next meal will come from....
- georgia has approximately 1300 temporary shelters/ family housing/ transitional homes to help out these homeless people.
- Georgia ranks 49 out of 50 as being eqipped to help homeless children.... that is 1 being the best ranked.....
- I DO NOT LIKE THESE STATISTICS....
Monday, March 21, 2011
This could be any of us.....
I used to be a stay at home mom with a four bedroom house, two cars in the garage, a boat parked on the lake, three children and a wonderful husband. I was the vice-president of the Garden Club, PTO chairman, volunteered at the local library, was both room and team mom for my son and daughter. I was the leader of our local neighborhood association, our home had a revolving door when it came to the children and we hosted many community parties. I thought I had it all until........ the day the doorbell rang. As I opened it there stood a police officer ready to inform me that my husband and children were killed in an automobile accident. That was the day my downward spiral began........
In the next few days my house was filled with our friends and family , holding me up as my world fell apart. After that in the weeks and months that followed, I discovered that things were not as they had appeared.. Slowly the house, the cars, the boats, the positions I held, the friends and the family disappeared. I was left with nothing, with no where to call home. I had heard about homeless people but never dreamed that I would be one. As I wondered the streets asking often begging for help people turned me away and on the streets those who were once my friends would now cross the street to avoid me. Terrible things happened to me night after night , many of which landed me in the hospital. Its those time when I was actually glad because I got to sleep in a warm bed and have a few hot meals. Over time I became detached, depressed and felt as though I was not worthy to live this life I had. I was no more than a dangerous animal on the prowl.
The times in which I was able to sleep I wondered why did this happen, how did this happen, was this the end of my life as I knew it and then one day a hand reached down and picked me up, held me close and whispered these words to me "I will never leave you" Commit those 5 words to memory for they are words that can save you... if you remember no matter what you are going through, no matter how dark the tunnel may seem there is a light at the end... his name is JESUS
NOTE: This story is fictitious but is filled with many real events that lend truth to the title "THIS COULD BE ANY OF US" It is my prayer that you realize how blessed you are in that God chose to give you life and what he gives life to he equips them with everything to live that life.
In the next few days my house was filled with our friends and family , holding me up as my world fell apart. After that in the weeks and months that followed, I discovered that things were not as they had appeared.. Slowly the house, the cars, the boats, the positions I held, the friends and the family disappeared. I was left with nothing, with no where to call home. I had heard about homeless people but never dreamed that I would be one. As I wondered the streets asking often begging for help people turned me away and on the streets those who were once my friends would now cross the street to avoid me. Terrible things happened to me night after night , many of which landed me in the hospital. Its those time when I was actually glad because I got to sleep in a warm bed and have a few hot meals. Over time I became detached, depressed and felt as though I was not worthy to live this life I had. I was no more than a dangerous animal on the prowl.
The times in which I was able to sleep I wondered why did this happen, how did this happen, was this the end of my life as I knew it and then one day a hand reached down and picked me up, held me close and whispered these words to me "I will never leave you" Commit those 5 words to memory for they are words that can save you... if you remember no matter what you are going through, no matter how dark the tunnel may seem there is a light at the end... his name is JESUS
NOTE: This story is fictitious but is filled with many real events that lend truth to the title "THIS COULD BE ANY OF US" It is my prayer that you realize how blessed you are in that God chose to give you life and what he gives life to he equips them with everything to live that life.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
The death of a street friend.....
Today, I decided to spend the day with my family...we don't get many of these. Jeremiah is about to graduate and Morgan is growing so fast. Jeremiah, Morgan and myself were at the park when I got a call from a friend on the ministry team. He said I wanted to let you know that MG died this past week. MG has been battling cancer for a while and I guess it was time for him to leave his earthly body behind. Over the past three years that I have known MG, we shared many conversations so I know he knows who Jesus is but I am not sure HE KNEW JESUS... I mean really knew him....
While Satan would like me to begin questioning why .... why did MG live on the streets, why couldn't we get him to leave the streets and better yet why did he have to die.....
But its not for us to ask why..... God breathed life into MG just like he does millions of others..... as for living on the streets that was his choice and he knew it..he knew the consequences.... and as for us not being able to convince him to leave the streets....simply because he didn't have the desire to change the choices he made..... As for dying..we will all stand before JESUS one day.
We lost a friend and he will forever be in our hearts..... but our work is not down and we must move forward in what God has called to take HIS word to all that will listen....
While Satan would like me to begin questioning why .... why did MG live on the streets, why couldn't we get him to leave the streets and better yet why did he have to die.....
But its not for us to ask why..... God breathed life into MG just like he does millions of others..... as for living on the streets that was his choice and he knew it..he knew the consequences.... and as for us not being able to convince him to leave the streets....simply because he didn't have the desire to change the choices he made..... As for dying..we will all stand before JESUS one day.
We lost a friend and he will forever be in our hearts..... but our work is not down and we must move forward in what God has called to take HIS word to all that will listen....
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Dream Big.....
Last summer the vision of the mission trip to Peru was DREAM BIG.... we wanted the people of Peru to look beyond their situations and reach for the DREAM and visions they have.... We all know that when you speak the word of God and share what is on your heart for others ...its generally on your heart for yourself..... and DREAMING BIG is always on my heart....I want my dreams and vision to be so much bigger than what my human hands can contain....and you know me they are.... My dream is to continue to impact the lives of the children I work with,....... the friends of mine on the street.... the people of my community ..... my friends and family.... heck every stranger I meet..... I want God to continue to mold me and make me what he wants..... I know that some things I will lose along the way.......but I NEVER want to lose FAITH, HOPE and CHARITY.....
Monday, March 14, 2011
Purpose.....
Romans 8:28 We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his Purpose for them....
Does this mean that everything that happens will be good? NO! There is evil in the world ....but GOD is able to turn it around for our long ranged good.... So trust in God not in life's treasures,,,, Look for your security in Heaven and not earth....
Ps 32:8 The Lord's says "I will guide you along the best pathway fro your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
I encourage you to take this scripture and keep it close as I am here to say that I been taught this at a very young age I would not have made all the mistakes I did by not following Christ. Listen to the wisdom of those in spiritual authority over you as they are a part of training you HIS way and for HIS glory....
Ps 16:11
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasure of living with you forever.
I encourage you not to look to the world for your purpose. My prayer is that you learn to listen first and speak second. Believe me when I say it takes great effort to hold the tongue until the ears are fully engaged.
Again, I must say that had I learned to hold my tongue instead of saying "but God" or "okay, I will do it but first" I would not have made the mistakes in my life that I did. There are no "buts" when talking to God. Without the "buts" there will be less that you need to ask for forgiveness later.
God wants everyone to know HE has a plan for your life and the time to start believing that and living that is NOW! You may be asking yourself "How do I find that purpose", or "How will I know the purpose." The way you will know is by trusting GOD.
2Cor.5:7 that is why we live by believing and not by seeing.
Someone once said you will trust God only as much as you love him and you will love him not because you have studied him you will love him because you have touched him in response to his touch.
It is very simple, depend on him for everything. As you live you will have both HIGH days and LOW days, lean on him ...he is always there.
Never be to busy to acknowledge his greatness with words from your heart....remember the more you talk to him the more he will listen....
Does this mean that everything that happens will be good? NO! There is evil in the world ....but GOD is able to turn it around for our long ranged good.... So trust in God not in life's treasures,,,, Look for your security in Heaven and not earth....
Ps 32:8 The Lord's says "I will guide you along the best pathway fro your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
I encourage you to take this scripture and keep it close as I am here to say that I been taught this at a very young age I would not have made all the mistakes I did by not following Christ. Listen to the wisdom of those in spiritual authority over you as they are a part of training you HIS way and for HIS glory....
Ps 16:11
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasure of living with you forever.
I encourage you not to look to the world for your purpose. My prayer is that you learn to listen first and speak second. Believe me when I say it takes great effort to hold the tongue until the ears are fully engaged.
Again, I must say that had I learned to hold my tongue instead of saying "but God" or "okay, I will do it but first" I would not have made the mistakes in my life that I did. There are no "buts" when talking to God. Without the "buts" there will be less that you need to ask for forgiveness later.
God wants everyone to know HE has a plan for your life and the time to start believing that and living that is NOW! You may be asking yourself "How do I find that purpose", or "How will I know the purpose." The way you will know is by trusting GOD.
2Cor.5:7 that is why we live by believing and not by seeing.
Someone once said you will trust God only as much as you love him and you will love him not because you have studied him you will love him because you have touched him in response to his touch.
It is very simple, depend on him for everything. As you live you will have both HIGH days and LOW days, lean on him ...he is always there.
Never be to busy to acknowledge his greatness with words from your heart....remember the more you talk to him the more he will listen....
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Taking it to the next level....
Every time I go on the streets to minister I am blown away by the number of my street friends who are so sold out to GOD..... We had such a large turn out and a great blessing of lunches that the ministry was able to run three routes... Along with the two we always run they added Peachtree/Pine and two other stops. Needless to say my heart was torn as to which route to go on. You see on Thursday we go to Peachtree/Pine and have made some great friends there. The Lord lead us to go on the bridge route because for the first time I was able to take my other son Julio who is here for the weekend. It was such a blessing to have him there with us. He was so full of questions and couriousity. There was even one of his friends that he used to go to school with there with his Dad.
God is so good...meet several new friends and saw some that we had not seen in a few weeks because their home areas had been destroyed because they were considered an hinderance to the selling of an abandoned building. Another friend, Roger is not looking so good these days. He is drinking heavily and is caught up in some unforgiveness due to some things that happened between him and another friend. Please continue to life him up in prayers.
Meet Patrice as we were waiting under 75/20 interchange. As she walked by I ask her if she would like a lunch and she was so glad to hear those words. She was very hungry not only in the natural but spiritually. She is what we would call a transit, which means she is passing through to somewhere. There is a mini fair in town and she had hoped to get on there and leave town. As we were leaving I ask her if we could pray with her...at first she refused and we talked some more and then her respnse to me was do you think I need it ( Pray) with a smile I said that is between you and God , I would love to pray with you but will not force you. With excitment she said okay lets pray. Finally I shared with her she did not have to be on the streets, that 7 Bridges could take her off today...as we left we handed her a brochure and told her to call anytime.
Down the way we saw Will another friend whom I have been trying for sometime to let us pray for him. He says that prayer stuff is not for me. I tell him each week that even though he will not pray with me I always pray for him. he talked and smiled more today than most days. As we left him again I said one day soon you are going to pray with me, he smiled and said thanks for everything.
Melvin was so excited to see us. He was even more excited it was just us and not a group. He doesnt like crowds. He was going to play for us today since we had Julio and when he realized he didn't have his harmonica he said," I guess he just wants us to pray" Bob prayed first and then Melvin blessed us with a prayer. As he prayed tears welled up in my eyes as he said thank you God for sending my family to see me today. I really needed to see them. As he continued to pray his prayer was that we would take it to the next level. WOW!!!! that is exactly what we have been praying about taking things to the next level ...not becoming complacent in our walk......
We ended our day back in Monroe as we hung out with our friends from Light House at a local houseing area and played with the kids... More to come on that . We are so excited about doors that are being opened..... All in HIS time and HIS way......
God is so good...meet several new friends and saw some that we had not seen in a few weeks because their home areas had been destroyed because they were considered an hinderance to the selling of an abandoned building. Another friend, Roger is not looking so good these days. He is drinking heavily and is caught up in some unforgiveness due to some things that happened between him and another friend. Please continue to life him up in prayers.
Meet Patrice as we were waiting under 75/20 interchange. As she walked by I ask her if she would like a lunch and she was so glad to hear those words. She was very hungry not only in the natural but spiritually. She is what we would call a transit, which means she is passing through to somewhere. There is a mini fair in town and she had hoped to get on there and leave town. As we were leaving I ask her if we could pray with her...at first she refused and we talked some more and then her respnse to me was do you think I need it ( Pray) with a smile I said that is between you and God , I would love to pray with you but will not force you. With excitment she said okay lets pray. Finally I shared with her she did not have to be on the streets, that 7 Bridges could take her off today...as we left we handed her a brochure and told her to call anytime.
Down the way we saw Will another friend whom I have been trying for sometime to let us pray for him. He says that prayer stuff is not for me. I tell him each week that even though he will not pray with me I always pray for him. he talked and smiled more today than most days. As we left him again I said one day soon you are going to pray with me, he smiled and said thanks for everything.
Melvin was so excited to see us. He was even more excited it was just us and not a group. He doesnt like crowds. He was going to play for us today since we had Julio and when he realized he didn't have his harmonica he said," I guess he just wants us to pray" Bob prayed first and then Melvin blessed us with a prayer. As he prayed tears welled up in my eyes as he said thank you God for sending my family to see me today. I really needed to see them. As he continued to pray his prayer was that we would take it to the next level. WOW!!!! that is exactly what we have been praying about taking things to the next level ...not becoming complacent in our walk......
We ended our day back in Monroe as we hung out with our friends from Light House at a local houseing area and played with the kids... More to come on that . We are so excited about doors that are being opened..... All in HIS time and HIS way......
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
God of This City
As I walk the halls of my school watching the faces of the children eager to learn and be accepted by their peers and most importantly by their teachers. More often than not they come to us with so much bagagge and what do we do we add to their heavy load. Compassion is the word that comes to my mind. We need to have compassion while broading their learning. It is up to us to build up not tear down...
I was honored this past week to attend a workshop entitled The Other Side of Poverty. What is the other side of poverty. Is it the child growing up in the middle of it looking at what everyone on the other side has or is it those of us who have looking at those who have less and wishing they would disappear or as I have heard many say " get off their lazy bottom and do something. When God gave us a tongue I believe it was to build up and not tear down " our tongue is as sharp as a two edged sword and we need to stop and let the brain catch up before. I personally know what it is to be on both sides of that fence. .......
..............You see I grew up in poverty, I was what many of you referred to as " trailor trash" a word that I have never understood. Not only was most of my life spent in a trailor, which moved about every six months, I didn't even have a bedroom until I was seventeen. Our trailor was two bedroom and I have two brothers. As an adult I worked with many people referred to as impoverished, lower class, some so low they are homeless others so close to it they don't know where their next meal will come from . In my ministry, God has allowed there to be many relationships formed and in those moments I see more of JESUS than I do in most Christians. We become complacent, believe you me I am not pointing fingers at no one.. ... I never want the fire that started in me many years ago to go out....yet the world has a tendacy to cause it to grow dim....unfortunately I find myself being distracted and you know its okay because its only for a moment.
There is so much change in the wind its like a tornado..... A part of me wants to hit the let me off button... but instead I am going to find Compassion and make a positive impact on those who path I cross. A kind word, a gentle smile, a soft touch all three can save a life......
I was honored this past week to attend a workshop entitled The Other Side of Poverty. What is the other side of poverty. Is it the child growing up in the middle of it looking at what everyone on the other side has or is it those of us who have looking at those who have less and wishing they would disappear or as I have heard many say " get off their lazy bottom and do something. When God gave us a tongue I believe it was to build up and not tear down " our tongue is as sharp as a two edged sword and we need to stop and let the brain catch up before. I personally know what it is to be on both sides of that fence. .......
..............You see I grew up in poverty, I was what many of you referred to as " trailor trash" a word that I have never understood. Not only was most of my life spent in a trailor, which moved about every six months, I didn't even have a bedroom until I was seventeen. Our trailor was two bedroom and I have two brothers. As an adult I worked with many people referred to as impoverished, lower class, some so low they are homeless others so close to it they don't know where their next meal will come from . In my ministry, God has allowed there to be many relationships formed and in those moments I see more of JESUS than I do in most Christians. We become complacent, believe you me I am not pointing fingers at no one.. ... I never want the fire that started in me many years ago to go out....yet the world has a tendacy to cause it to grow dim....unfortunately I find myself being distracted and you know its okay because its only for a moment.
There is so much change in the wind its like a tornado..... A part of me wants to hit the let me off button... but instead I am going to find Compassion and make a positive impact on those who path I cross. A kind word, a gentle smile, a soft touch all three can save a life......
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