Hey Everyone!!
I am so excited and I have to share this you guys.
Back in September or October, I emailed this ministry called Street GRACE about volunteering. Street GRACE is a ministry that works with organizations in the Atlanta area to provide physical needs, education, and mentoring to youth who are at risk of abuse, and child trafficking. I can't remember how I heard about them, but when I read their website I knew I wanted to work with them.
So, like I said I emailed them last Fall and never heard from them. I convinced myself it was God closing that door and I should just keep looking. Well, yesterday they emailed me back and said they had trouble with the email and so they were backlogged with hundreds of emails they could not read and respond to. Recently they had been able to get in there and respond. They apologized and gave me a name and email of the lady who is in charge of volunteers. I contacted her yesterday and filled out an application to volunteer. This morning I had an email form the lady, Amy, and another email about my application. Now, I have a profile I can log into and see the opportunities out there for me.
Amy also told me about a service day they are having and that it would be good for me to go and talk with other volunteers and with some other organizations and see where I might want to volunteer long term. There are a few ministries I already want to volunteer with. One is a mentor opportunity for girls in low-income neighborhoods. The other is for children healing from abuse. I really hope to work out a schedule that allows me to go out to these places and serve. I can't tell you how overwhelming and exciting this is.
God has His reasons for His timing. He fills in the blank spaces when its time to.
BTW: anyone who wants to should check out the website and see if this is something you want to join me in doing.
www.streetgrace.org
The Service Day is February 20th. I am planning on going as of now.
I would appreciate prayers about this, that I follow God's guidance with regards to where I volunteer, and for strength as I see broken families and hurting children.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Precious Little Lambs! --Part One
If you know me, you know I love using the analogy of a shephard and his sheep to explain our relationship with God. Well, I want to write about it here and go into more detail.
I saw the significance of this relationship when reading a book about servant leadership called "The Way of The Shephard" by Kevin Leman. This a good book for anyone who is in a leadership postition or wants to be. Its a small book and has seven principles to go by when leading a group no matter the number of people under your supervision. I had to read the book when I was a Resident Assisstant at Bryan. It helped me in leading people and knowing how to handle difficult situations with grace and paitence. As I read the book I couldn't help but be humbled by how perfectly we can be compared to sheep. Ever since reading that book, I love reading in the Scriptures when Good refers to us as sheep.
I used to read those passages and think "okay, we are like sheep because we are stupid and need a leader." But its more than that. We are stupid, like really stupid. Do you know how stupid sheep are? I found out by reading the book mentioned above and going to a sheep farm.
I will list the dumb things sheep do and their neediness and see if you can see the similarities:
Okay, This is part one of the subject. If I keep going it will be a very long post. Please post questions and comments.
The next post will focus on the Scriptures that use the Shephard/sheep analogy. I want to look at them more in depth and so that means a whole new post. Thanks for reading!
I saw the significance of this relationship when reading a book about servant leadership called "The Way of The Shephard" by Kevin Leman. This a good book for anyone who is in a leadership postition or wants to be. Its a small book and has seven principles to go by when leading a group no matter the number of people under your supervision. I had to read the book when I was a Resident Assisstant at Bryan. It helped me in leading people and knowing how to handle difficult situations with grace and paitence. As I read the book I couldn't help but be humbled by how perfectly we can be compared to sheep. Ever since reading that book, I love reading in the Scriptures when Good refers to us as sheep.
I used to read those passages and think "okay, we are like sheep because we are stupid and need a leader." But its more than that. We are stupid, like really stupid. Do you know how stupid sheep are? I found out by reading the book mentioned above and going to a sheep farm.
I will list the dumb things sheep do and their neediness and see if you can see the similarities:
- If sheep get stuck in a fence or between two trees, they are stuck there until someone gets them out. All they have to do is walk backwards, but they are too afraid to do that.
- Sheep will not go out and look for greener grass. If it was up to them they would stay in one spot forever, whether there was still grass there or not.
- Sheep will drink dirty water if that is where they are led to.
- Sheep trust when they shouldn't and don't trust when they should. Like for instance with food and drink, they will go where led and eat and drink what is offered, but they fight to follow their shephard.
- Sheep have to be constantly trained and retrained. I met a shephard who trains sheep for fair shows and he told me about how he has to train the sheep every day to do the same thing. If he misses one day of not training, he must start all over again.
- In a storm, a sheep will not run for cover, the shephard must lead them to safety. If a sheep stays out in the storm, they could get struck by lightning, or their wool can get drenched and weigh them down so they cannot move.
- Sheep have no defense mechanism, they might try to run away from predators, but they can't last long and soon give up.
- When a shephard guides his sheep he must use force to get them to go where he needs them, They don't follow easily.
Okay, This is part one of the subject. If I keep going it will be a very long post. Please post questions and comments.
The next post will focus on the Scriptures that use the Shephard/sheep analogy. I want to look at them more in depth and so that means a whole new post. Thanks for reading!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Yay! I have three followers!
My post has nothing to do with the title, just felt like declaring that! :)
I want take this opportunity to share a way you can donate to Haiti.
Bethany Christian Services (a company I work for) works with an orphanage in Haiti called God's Littlest Angels. Its a Christian run orphanage. The orphanage building did not collapse, but they do have many broken dishes and property. The kids are okay and no one in the orphanage was badly hurt. Because of the aftershocks they have been sleeping outside the orphanage for fear that an aftershock will bring down the building.
If you or someone you know would like to donate, but not sure where then follow this link and make a donation to Bethany "Haiti Earthquake Recovery" www.bethany.org/donate
You can also go to the website for GLA and make a donation and stay up-to-date by reading their blog. http://www.glahaiti.org/home Click on Dixie's Message for her blog.
Bethany is also hoping to get a trip together to go help with recovery. I requested more information about it to see if God will open that door.
Of course, I strongly encourage prayer for Haiti and all those helping. From what I hear, there is not enough supplies to care for the survivors that have been found so far. And desperation brings violence.
I received this email this morning and want to share it with y'all.
I want take this opportunity to share a way you can donate to Haiti.
Bethany Christian Services (a company I work for) works with an orphanage in Haiti called God's Littlest Angels. Its a Christian run orphanage. The orphanage building did not collapse, but they do have many broken dishes and property. The kids are okay and no one in the orphanage was badly hurt. Because of the aftershocks they have been sleeping outside the orphanage for fear that an aftershock will bring down the building.
If you or someone you know would like to donate, but not sure where then follow this link and make a donation to Bethany "Haiti Earthquake Recovery" www.bethany.org/donate
You can also go to the website for GLA and make a donation and stay up-to-date by reading their blog. http://www.glahaiti.org/home Click on Dixie's Message for her blog.
Bethany is also hoping to get a trip together to go help with recovery. I requested more information about it to see if God will open that door.
Of course, I strongly encourage prayer for Haiti and all those helping. From what I hear, there is not enough supplies to care for the survivors that have been found so far. And desperation brings violence.
I received this email this morning and want to share it with y'all.
Hi all-
Just wanted to give a quick update on the Haiti situation.
Please keep all of these families in your prayers over the next few days. It is very exciting for Bethany to be part of this event that will unite 80 children with their adoptive families late this evening.
Here is the update:
Bethany Christian Services is working with its orphanage partner in Haiti, God’s Littlest Angels (GLA) to bring 80 orphans to the United States to be united with their adoptive families, late this evening. A flight leaving at Haiti 7:40 p.m. on Thursday, January 21, will arrive in Miami at 9:40 p.m.
· It is important to note that these Haitian children were already living at the GLA orphanage and their adoption was in process prior to the earthquake.
· Out of the 80 children arriving, 58 children are placed with Bethany adoptive families.
· Bethany has arranged two private jets for families traveling to Miami to meet their children.
· Families will be meeting their children at the Miami International Airport Hotel, after the immigration process.
· Earlier this week, the US Embassy in Haiti granted VISAs for these children to expedite the adoption process.
· Typically adoptive parents would travel to Haiti (in two separate trips) to pick up their children.
· This is unprecedented in the world of International Adoptions, where children are being flown out of the country to complete their adoptions.
· Bethany Christian Services will have three staff members on the ground in Miami to assist families who are uniting with their children.
· With these children now safely with their families, the orphanage director, Dixie Bickel, and her staff will be able to return to Haiti to help newly orphaned children at GLA.
Just wanted to give a quick update on the Haiti situation.
Please keep all of these families in your prayers over the next few days. It is very exciting for Bethany to be part of this event that will unite 80 children with their adoptive families late this evening.
Here is the update:
Bethany Christian Services is working with its orphanage partner in Haiti, God’s Littlest Angels (GLA) to bring 80 orphans to the United States to be united with their adoptive families, late this evening. A flight leaving at Haiti 7:40 p.m. on Thursday, January 21, will arrive in Miami at 9:40 p.m.
· It is important to note that these Haitian children were already living at the GLA orphanage and their adoption was in process prior to the earthquake.
· Out of the 80 children arriving, 58 children are placed with Bethany adoptive families.
· Bethany has arranged two private jets for families traveling to Miami to meet their children.
· Families will be meeting their children at the Miami International Airport Hotel, after the immigration process.
· Earlier this week, the US Embassy in Haiti granted VISAs for these children to expedite the adoption process.
· Typically adoptive parents would travel to Haiti (in two separate trips) to pick up their children.
· This is unprecedented in the world of International Adoptions, where children are being flown out of the country to complete their adoptions.
· Bethany Christian Services will have three staff members on the ground in Miami to assist families who are uniting with their children.
· With these children now safely with their families, the orphanage director, Dixie Bickel, and her staff will be able to return to Haiti to help newly orphaned children at GLA.
Isn't that wonderful!?!
Monday, January 4, 2010
I have had this blog for a few months now and still have not posted anything. I always get ideas and have a hard time with follow-through. Well, today is the day...
I have been reading "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers and read this..."There are times when you cannot understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings the blank space, see that you do not fill it, but wait. The blank spaces may come in order to teach you what sanctification means, or it may come after sanctification to teach you what service means. Never run before God's guidance. If there is the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt--don't."
Chambers goes on to explain that when we wait on God's timing to do things, we are prepared and we save ourselves from heart-ache. I think we still feel deep emotion and it is hard to follow God's will at times, but He does equip us to wholeheartedly follow Him.
I am in a blank space right now. I need to wait on God's timing and be content where I am at but its difficult, especially not knowing what God has in store. God has me here for a reason. He is showing me that I have opportunity here to minister, but because its not how I thought it would be, I have been blind to those opportunities.I have no doubt I am where God wants me. I have a job at a Christian agency, so I have encouragement from co-workers to minister and witness to those I come in contact with at work. I have a friend living with me who will willingly go with me on Saturdays to serve at Wellspring or where ever we find God leading us. I have a family that has said they will support me and go with me to minister to people in and around Atlanta.
So, what's my problem? What is stopping me? I am. I was talking to a friend Saturday and he point blankly told me that. You know, he's one of those friends :) He is right though. I am the reason I am frustrated that life isn't what I thought it would be. I am the reason it is hard to follow God and wait on His timing. How appropriate is it that I am teaching about God's timing and patience on Wednesday night to the kids.
God's timing is perfect!
I have been reading "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers and read this..."There are times when you cannot understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings the blank space, see that you do not fill it, but wait. The blank spaces may come in order to teach you what sanctification means, or it may come after sanctification to teach you what service means. Never run before God's guidance. If there is the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt--don't."
Chambers goes on to explain that when we wait on God's timing to do things, we are prepared and we save ourselves from heart-ache. I think we still feel deep emotion and it is hard to follow God's will at times, but He does equip us to wholeheartedly follow Him.
I am in a blank space right now. I need to wait on God's timing and be content where I am at but its difficult, especially not knowing what God has in store. God has me here for a reason. He is showing me that I have opportunity here to minister, but because its not how I thought it would be, I have been blind to those opportunities.I have no doubt I am where God wants me. I have a job at a Christian agency, so I have encouragement from co-workers to minister and witness to those I come in contact with at work. I have a friend living with me who will willingly go with me on Saturdays to serve at Wellspring or where ever we find God leading us. I have a family that has said they will support me and go with me to minister to people in and around Atlanta.
So, what's my problem? What is stopping me? I am. I was talking to a friend Saturday and he point blankly told me that. You know, he's one of those friends :) He is right though. I am the reason I am frustrated that life isn't what I thought it would be. I am the reason it is hard to follow God and wait on His timing. How appropriate is it that I am teaching about God's timing and patience on Wednesday night to the kids.
God's timing is perfect!
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