The reality is this...
1,838 women and children are sold for sex everyday.
What are WE going to do about it?
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
McDonald's, A laptop, and A homeless guy
I'm writing this blog humbly, not to say look at me but to tell of a lesson from God.
Long story short, lately I have seen this homeless guy walking around Central Park(Fredericksburg) with his dog on a leash and a backpack on his back. This week I have seen him approximately 3.5 times.
Last night I went out to dinner with my mentor. As we were walking out to the parking lot across the street I saw a dog chained to a pole. Finally I wasn't driving or in a rush to get anywhere so I decided I going was to find out how I could help the man. I gathered what I could from my wallet and went to give it to the man.
I walked into the McDonald's and asked if anyone knew who's dog was tied up outside. There appeared to be two homeless-men in the McDonald's at the time but the one who owned the dog raised his hand and snarkly said " Let me guess, you want to pet him." This kind of killed my mood but what completely crushed all feelings of joy was when I saw the laptop he was using in front of him.
I said a few words and gave him what I had gathered. After an exchange of blessings from God I boogied.
Reaching my car in the parking lot I felt completely gipped. What I had expected was not what came to fruition. I thought I had set out to help someone who had absolutely nothing to their name, no money, no family, notta! Seeing that laptop in front of him made me question whether he really needed my help. Could I have better helped the other homeless man sitting across the restaurant? This is when regret came and sang its' song over me, however God's words were not too far behind.
"Who are you to judge?"
Who am i to judge? Who am I to say this laptop wasn't this mans only possession? This could have been someone else's laptop. Just because he owns a laptop doesn't mean he can afford a 1,300$ a month apartment, a car to drive, and food. He could have saved a few bucks to buy this laptop, his only ticket to the outside world.
This is when I realized that this was not a matter of need but was a matter of heart. Was my heart in the right place? Did I have the right mindset? Was my sole purpose in giving this man money to provide for him or to let him know about the One who always will provide? God had called me to give to THIS homeless man, and not to question that calling.
Homeless or not is not for me to judge.
Check your motives Self.
Long story short, lately I have seen this homeless guy walking around Central Park(Fredericksburg) with his dog on a leash and a backpack on his back. This week I have seen him approximately 3.5 times.
Last night I went out to dinner with my mentor. As we were walking out to the parking lot across the street I saw a dog chained to a pole. Finally I wasn't driving or in a rush to get anywhere so I decided I going was to find out how I could help the man. I gathered what I could from my wallet and went to give it to the man.
I walked into the McDonald's and asked if anyone knew who's dog was tied up outside. There appeared to be two homeless-men in the McDonald's at the time but the one who owned the dog raised his hand and snarkly said " Let me guess, you want to pet him." This kind of killed my mood but what completely crushed all feelings of joy was when I saw the laptop he was using in front of him.
I said a few words and gave him what I had gathered. After an exchange of blessings from God I boogied.
Reaching my car in the parking lot I felt completely gipped. What I had expected was not what came to fruition. I thought I had set out to help someone who had absolutely nothing to their name, no money, no family, notta! Seeing that laptop in front of him made me question whether he really needed my help. Could I have better helped the other homeless man sitting across the restaurant? This is when regret came and sang its' song over me, however God's words were not too far behind.
"Who are you to judge?"
Who am i to judge? Who am I to say this laptop wasn't this mans only possession? This could have been someone else's laptop. Just because he owns a laptop doesn't mean he can afford a 1,300$ a month apartment, a car to drive, and food. He could have saved a few bucks to buy this laptop, his only ticket to the outside world.
This is when I realized that this was not a matter of need but was a matter of heart. Was my heart in the right place? Did I have the right mindset? Was my sole purpose in giving this man money to provide for him or to let him know about the One who always will provide? God had called me to give to THIS homeless man, and not to question that calling.
Homeless or not is not for me to judge.
Check your motives Self.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Psalm 62...rocks hard.
Psalm 62
My Soul Waits for God Alone
To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
62:1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
3 How long will all of you attack a man
to batter him,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse. Selah
5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah
9 Those of low estate are but a breath;
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
10 Put no trust in extortion;
set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, set not your heart on them.
11 Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
according to his work.
My Soul Waits for God Alone
To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
62:1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
3 How long will all of you attack a man
to batter him,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse. Selah
5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah
9 Those of low estate are but a breath;
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
10 Put no trust in extortion;
set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, set not your heart on them.
11 Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
according to his work.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Exhausted.
This week was insanely chaotic. I worked for six days and three of those six days I was moving into my new "apartment." Today I planned to relax and enjoy doing nothing but I was offered a chance to make some money for my upcoming mission trip to Honduras. After contemplating the offer I remembered how even God rested on the seventh day. Now I know technically Sunday is the first day of the week, but today we will treat it as the seventh, leave the money up to God and rest in His presence.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
You Better Laugh
I decided to post these images because these seriously brightened my day. :D
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Thanks sister!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Thanks sister!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Fear and Doubt.
This morning my Dad, Mom, Sister and I went out for coffee and to discuss the big cross country move we all are about t make, well everyone but myself. I have decided to stay here in Virginia while everyone moves out to the "home land" Arizona. My decision to stay in Virginia should be considered suicide for than a few reasons however, the most intimidating reason is that after my parents leave I will be carless, without wheels! There is a nearby public transportation system but to get anywhere takes approximately 2 hours or more and the transportation system stops transporting an hour before I get off work. With my overwhelming schedule consisting of work, internship, more work, and eventually school, a car seems to be a necessity. This car problem is almost and maybe enough to make me kiss Virginia goodbye altogether! I think it's safe to say "I NEED A CAR!"
Panic and stress set in concerning this situation at least 500 times daily. However, during my times of panic I remember what Jesus assured His followers of time and time again throughout Scripture.
"Don't worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the.sky: They don't sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you worth more than they?" -Matthew 6:25-26
GOD WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE WHAT I NEED! He knows what I need better than I do. If a car is necessary for this time in my life then a car is what shall be provided!
When I take a step back from all the stress I realize how small I have made my concept of God. Matthew 8:27 says " the men were amazed and asked What kind of man is this? -Even the winds and the sea obey Him!" My God controls the wind and millions of miles of ocean! And I doubt his ability to somehow provide me a car?!
I think so often we place Jesus in this box, a box too small for him. This box is responsible for creating all of our fears and doubts because we believe that outside of our box Jesus is powerless. We need to take God out of our child sized box now! The Creator of the universe and our resurrected Savior do not belonged in a small, medium, or large box. Rather, he demands to be boxless. God works outside of time and space and outside of money and ability. God can do anything! We can do anything through Christ who strengthens us! Even if it means staying 3000 miles away from home without a source of transportation, if it means following His calling.
He has risen and because of this we know He is fully faithful and completely capable!
Panic and stress set in concerning this situation at least 500 times daily. However, during my times of panic I remember what Jesus assured His followers of time and time again throughout Scripture.
"Don't worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the.sky: They don't sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you worth more than they?" -Matthew 6:25-26
GOD WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE WHAT I NEED! He knows what I need better than I do. If a car is necessary for this time in my life then a car is what shall be provided!
When I take a step back from all the stress I realize how small I have made my concept of God. Matthew 8:27 says " the men were amazed and asked What kind of man is this? -Even the winds and the sea obey Him!" My God controls the wind and millions of miles of ocean! And I doubt his ability to somehow provide me a car?!
I think so often we place Jesus in this box, a box too small for him. This box is responsible for creating all of our fears and doubts because we believe that outside of our box Jesus is powerless. We need to take God out of our child sized box now! The Creator of the universe and our resurrected Savior do not belonged in a small, medium, or large box. Rather, he demands to be boxless. God works outside of time and space and outside of money and ability. God can do anything! We can do anything through Christ who strengthens us! Even if it means staying 3000 miles away from home without a source of transportation, if it means following His calling.
He has risen and because of this we know He is fully faithful and completely capable!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Shine On, Shine On.
While I was listening to this song my mind kept running to Matthew 28. The Great Commission.
After Jesus is resurrected he meets his disciples in Galilee "to the mountain where He had directed them." There on the mountain Jesus meets with his friends for the first time since his sacrificial death on the cross. The Bible says that "When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted (v.17).
Stop. Allow me to make note that it is passages such as Matthew 28:17 that I can truly relate to. These are the disciples, Jesus' followers of three years. RESURRECTED JESUS IS STANDING IN FRONT OF THEM... and they doubt? But then again who wouldn't? Jesus was dead and now He is alive!? Hallelujah! But some doubted. This passage is me. It's almost comical that I have seen God work so many times in my life and I continue to on rough days, doubt his presence, his goodness, and sometimes even his very existence. But to know that even the disciples, his most unshakable and precious followers doubted him and what they were seeing on several occasions notifies me that I am not alone in my struggles with faith. It's ok to have doubts, because Jesus always delivers. Jesus has always delivered. He delivered us from sin, that was his purpose and He expects me to go out and tell the world.
Next Jesus says,
"Then Jesus came near and said to them, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Although the song "Shine On" isn't necessarily about Matthew 28:18-20, this is the picture I get while listening to the song. Jesus telling his followers to "shine on," to be christ-like examples and in doing this make disciples. I believe this message not only applies to Jesus' disciples back when but also to us as his disciples now. As followers of Christ, even in our darkest days it is imperative that we "shine" for Christ, that we be Christ-like examples. We may be the only light some people ever see, the only Bible people ever read, the only "little Christ" people ever know. Will we remember Christ and the words He spoke to his disciples so that we may go and make disciples of all nations?
" Shine on shine on and let the other see you've got your victory! Will you remember me?"
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