I've gone a while with out blogging. I guess I've been busy, I always think about what I would write for the day. When one day passes and then another, things get forgotten, life continues on and we forget what each day entailed. I don't want that to be a pattern.
Since my last post I have been staying busy with Temping as a Hygienist, Substitute Teaching, and Babysitting. It is pretty crazy how my days have been steadily busy. God has provided for me each day. I never know what the next day will bring, but He ends up providing for me. It's crazy. I am so thankful!
This experience has definitely increased my Faith. I have seen God answer my prayers so clearly. I have seen Him provide financially for me. I have seen Him bring people into my life. I have seen Him put new passions in my life. I have seen Him direct my path. I have tasted and seen that He is good, my Faith has been built up, and this gives me tremendous Peace. I will not worry or be anxious about tomorrow. My desire is that today I will be used for God's glory. That today, He will practically use me in other people's lives. Today something will happen that impacts tomorrow. I want to have eyes that see things from a different perspective, a perspective of love, of deeper things, soul-spirit-heart.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
New Orleans Mission
Today I worked at the New Orleans Mission. It was something. The New Orleans city officials shame the homeless, they act like they don't exist. They wish they would go away. So what do they do about it? Deny that there is a problem and go about there business spending money on who knows what. The New Orleans mission does not receive support from the local officials, in fact they have tried to shut the Mission down several times. It's sad. The Mission does not receive many federal grants due to the fact that Chapel is held four times a week. That doesn't really make sense to me? The Mission has a new, beautiful building behind the main building but has been recently shut down due to lack of funding. It makes me sad, they could do some wonderful things for this city but are held back by the people that run this city and the fact that they are broke. Most of the money they receive is from private donors like you and me. When I was there today I felt like this place could be so much better than it currently is. They now have had to start charging $5.00 dollars per night for homeless guests to get a bed.
When I got to the Mission, another girl showed up to volunteer. She is around my age and is also on the job hunt. It was really cool to see someone else willing to give up her own time and volunteer. I hope this continues and more and more people become aware of the needs of the New Orleans Mission!
We worked with a guy named Chris. He was once homeless, lived out on the streets of New Orleans for about six months. He told us stories of nights he spent out on the streets. It sounded dreadful. He saw things no one should see and spent many nights scared for his life. He suffers from severe depression, but a way he gets through it is by writing poetry. He shared his poems with us. I have never read more words describing pain and loneliness before reading his poems. One of his poems read like this:
"Streets Of New Orleans"
The Streets of New Orleans will transform you into a man,
Or it will kill you right where you stand.
Saturated with murderers, rapists, and thieves,
It's a hard, hard life to live on these streets.
You get a freedom the likes you've never seen.
But you're out there with thugs and gang bangers,
And way things obscene.
You walk the streets and people stop to stare,
Most of the rest acts like you're not even there.
There's pedophiles and pushers. Junkies and cons.
Some will slit your throat for a quarter, and then just walk on.
These streets are not a good place; its dirty and sad.
If you live there for too long you will turn cold, mean, and bad.
Wow.
Imagine what he went through on those streets. He lived in a tent under the 1-10 bridge.
There is a lot of work to be done in this city. It's corrupt, the leaders are blind but we are not! I am willing to fight the good fight. I need a team. Let's do something about this.
Chris, our new friend at the Mission is now employed there. His life has been transformed. He was a graduate of the Discipleship program the mission offers- He was proud to tell us he graduated early! He is close to God now- more than ever before. He has meaning in his life. He is giving back and helping those that come to the Mission in search of something.
God bless the Mission. Because of the Mission, mouths are fed, bodies are bathed, heads are rested on pillows and not concrete. They are safe.
When I got to the Mission, another girl showed up to volunteer. She is around my age and is also on the job hunt. It was really cool to see someone else willing to give up her own time and volunteer. I hope this continues and more and more people become aware of the needs of the New Orleans Mission!
We worked with a guy named Chris. He was once homeless, lived out on the streets of New Orleans for about six months. He told us stories of nights he spent out on the streets. It sounded dreadful. He saw things no one should see and spent many nights scared for his life. He suffers from severe depression, but a way he gets through it is by writing poetry. He shared his poems with us. I have never read more words describing pain and loneliness before reading his poems. One of his poems read like this:
"Streets Of New Orleans"
The Streets of New Orleans will transform you into a man,
Or it will kill you right where you stand.
Saturated with murderers, rapists, and thieves,
It's a hard, hard life to live on these streets.
You get a freedom the likes you've never seen.
But you're out there with thugs and gang bangers,
And way things obscene.
You walk the streets and people stop to stare,
Most of the rest acts like you're not even there.
There's pedophiles and pushers. Junkies and cons.
Some will slit your throat for a quarter, and then just walk on.
These streets are not a good place; its dirty and sad.
If you live there for too long you will turn cold, mean, and bad.
Wow.
Imagine what he went through on those streets. He lived in a tent under the 1-10 bridge.
There is a lot of work to be done in this city. It's corrupt, the leaders are blind but we are not! I am willing to fight the good fight. I need a team. Let's do something about this.
Chris, our new friend at the Mission is now employed there. His life has been transformed. He was a graduate of the Discipleship program the mission offers- He was proud to tell us he graduated early! He is close to God now- more than ever before. He has meaning in his life. He is giving back and helping those that come to the Mission in search of something.
God bless the Mission. Because of the Mission, mouths are fed, bodies are bathed, heads are rested on pillows and not concrete. They are safe.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Merci Beaucoup!
I am Thankful. Thankful for so much! My family, friends, health, a God that loves me unconditionally, a God that will never change or leave us. I am Thankful that my life's main purpose is not for self. I am thankful for Peace, for Joy- no matter the circumstances. I often think about how different my life would look if I were not a follower of Christ. I am thankful that this is not the scenario. He has captured my heart. I see the world with a totally different set of eyes, there is so much more to life.
I don't think I have ever been more excited to go to work in my life. Monday I will be working at the New Orleans Mission, helping out in the garden. They grow there own food to cook with- love it. Tuesday I will be meeting with the Head Master at Newman to talk about Substitute Teaching. Wednesday thru the next Tuesday I will be filling in for a Hygienist! I am hoping this will open doors to future work. It's so hard having a skill, being confident in it, and not being able to use it. Once again, patience. I am thankful to have things written on my calendar to do. To be used and serve. Ah. I am alive. I want to be used more.
I have learned quite a lot through this time in my life of not having a full time consistent job. It has made me live more simple. To be more aware of how I spend money. I don't need a lot of THINGS. Less is better. I couldn't tell you what's in style. I don't know the latest trends. I don't care. I have learned to live with the wall down I can so easily put up, blocking people into my life. To open up my life to others, to open my house to others. To share life with others, it's how we were made to live- in community.
I met a couple of my neighbors. Two older women. They are precious, I want to bake them cookies.
I don't think I have ever been more excited to go to work in my life. Monday I will be working at the New Orleans Mission, helping out in the garden. They grow there own food to cook with- love it. Tuesday I will be meeting with the Head Master at Newman to talk about Substitute Teaching. Wednesday thru the next Tuesday I will be filling in for a Hygienist! I am hoping this will open doors to future work. It's so hard having a skill, being confident in it, and not being able to use it. Once again, patience. I am thankful to have things written on my calendar to do. To be used and serve. Ah. I am alive. I want to be used more.
I have learned quite a lot through this time in my life of not having a full time consistent job. It has made me live more simple. To be more aware of how I spend money. I don't need a lot of THINGS. Less is better. I couldn't tell you what's in style. I don't know the latest trends. I don't care. I have learned to live with the wall down I can so easily put up, blocking people into my life. To open up my life to others, to open my house to others. To share life with others, it's how we were made to live- in community.
I met a couple of my neighbors. Two older women. They are precious, I want to bake them cookies.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Storyville
The Story.
We each tell different stories. I love hearing other people's stories. I know some amazing people, and their stories are what have shaped them into who they are. The interesting thing about a story is it is a continuous thing. Each event builds onto the next. Every sentence in life leads to a new paragraph with new characters and climaxes. I think it's important to go back and see where your story has brought you. It's neat to see how everything is related. Each chapter of life happened for a specific purpose. The page your life is being written on right now is a new page molded by the chapters preceding the current. God writes stories to teach us things, to show His infinite sovereignty. His plan unfolds in our lives and most of the time we aren't even aware of it.
This is why I love to think about my story. His ways are so much higher than mine, His plans are so different than mine. When we learn to loosen the grip we have on our life then we allow God to move. This is my problem. I can tend to have a tight grip on things. Like I've said, I like to fix things. Why do I think my plan will be better than God's? It never is. I ask for more faith, more trust. To remember that I am in His hands, that the God of all the universe- huge, that the personal God-intimate, is on my side. He works together all things for the good of those who love Him. My story will come together, it has come a long way, with some interesting and amazing chapters. I am confident that the best is yet to come. He is writing a story far better than I could ever think of on my own.
Write out your story. Share your story. Have a desire to live a meaningful story. You are the main character in only one book- your life.
We each tell different stories. I love hearing other people's stories. I know some amazing people, and their stories are what have shaped them into who they are. The interesting thing about a story is it is a continuous thing. Each event builds onto the next. Every sentence in life leads to a new paragraph with new characters and climaxes. I think it's important to go back and see where your story has brought you. It's neat to see how everything is related. Each chapter of life happened for a specific purpose. The page your life is being written on right now is a new page molded by the chapters preceding the current. God writes stories to teach us things, to show His infinite sovereignty. His plan unfolds in our lives and most of the time we aren't even aware of it.
This is why I love to think about my story. His ways are so much higher than mine, His plans are so different than mine. When we learn to loosen the grip we have on our life then we allow God to move. This is my problem. I can tend to have a tight grip on things. Like I've said, I like to fix things. Why do I think my plan will be better than God's? It never is. I ask for more faith, more trust. To remember that I am in His hands, that the God of all the universe- huge, that the personal God-intimate, is on my side. He works together all things for the good of those who love Him. My story will come together, it has come a long way, with some interesting and amazing chapters. I am confident that the best is yet to come. He is writing a story far better than I could ever think of on my own.
Write out your story. Share your story. Have a desire to live a meaningful story. You are the main character in only one book- your life.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Life, fer real
Life.
Me and Adrienne were having a conversation this evening. We were talking about the normal daily life one person lives. The everyday nitty gritty of "life". The realization that your whole life has built up to where you are now and well, it kinda feels like there should be more to it. Stop. Take a step back. Observe what your life looks like, how you got there and where it's going. it can be somewhat of a scary thing, maybe you will realize your life doesn't look at all what you hoped and dreamed it would look like. Maybe it is far better than you could ever dream of. All in all, I would bet each person has a moment when they wonder- this is it? Shouldn't there be more to it? More excitement? Didn't I work hard in school all my life and do many amazing things to get me some place great. But here I am, wherever you are, with whatever job you have and you are thinking: this is it?
Life is funny. We waste so much time building a resume, studying for school, working, exercising, when it all boils down... all that doesn't truly matter does it? Of course education is wonderful and it provides opportunity for us in the workforce. But, looking at our lives from a step back, from an eternal perspective it changes things.
The good news is there is more to life! Thank goodness! I think God puts that feeling in us so we long for Him. I think we will feel this way until our life here on earth is over and we are fully alive in Heaven. This life is temporal and will never give us complete satisfaction. Our true home is not this broken earth.
I have learned, however, that during this life it is possible to live fully alive and it's only by walking each day with Jesus. I can try and live alive everyday but I will not be successful if I attempt by myself. I live to not glorify self. That would be such an empty life, a life of always feeling like "this is it??" But to live with the soul purpose to glorify God- that is a life that will be fully alive. This is what I want. I am reminded that this life is temporal and not my ultimate destination, but I am also aware that this life here on earth can be exciting and wonderful because I live not for myself but for the God of the universe. This excites me, this life has only tapped the surface of what is yet to come. There is more to life. This is just the beginning.
Me and Adrienne were having a conversation this evening. We were talking about the normal daily life one person lives. The everyday nitty gritty of "life". The realization that your whole life has built up to where you are now and well, it kinda feels like there should be more to it. Stop. Take a step back. Observe what your life looks like, how you got there and where it's going. it can be somewhat of a scary thing, maybe you will realize your life doesn't look at all what you hoped and dreamed it would look like. Maybe it is far better than you could ever dream of. All in all, I would bet each person has a moment when they wonder- this is it? Shouldn't there be more to it? More excitement? Didn't I work hard in school all my life and do many amazing things to get me some place great. But here I am, wherever you are, with whatever job you have and you are thinking: this is it?
Life is funny. We waste so much time building a resume, studying for school, working, exercising, when it all boils down... all that doesn't truly matter does it? Of course education is wonderful and it provides opportunity for us in the workforce. But, looking at our lives from a step back, from an eternal perspective it changes things.
The good news is there is more to life! Thank goodness! I think God puts that feeling in us so we long for Him. I think we will feel this way until our life here on earth is over and we are fully alive in Heaven. This life is temporal and will never give us complete satisfaction. Our true home is not this broken earth.
I have learned, however, that during this life it is possible to live fully alive and it's only by walking each day with Jesus. I can try and live alive everyday but I will not be successful if I attempt by myself. I live to not glorify self. That would be such an empty life, a life of always feeling like "this is it??" But to live with the soul purpose to glorify God- that is a life that will be fully alive. This is what I want. I am reminded that this life is temporal and not my ultimate destination, but I am also aware that this life here on earth can be exciting and wonderful because I live not for myself but for the God of the universe. This excites me, this life has only tapped the surface of what is yet to come. There is more to life. This is just the beginning.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Open Book
I am blown away at how personal God is. He is a huge, powerful, Holy God- but He is so incredibly personal. I experienced this the other day. As a matter of fact, as soon as I finished writing my last blog. I had been praying for a few days that God would give me a specific answer about something. I figured He would eventually show me what to do and I might get it right, or if I got it wrong He would still work out His plan down the road. This time though, I prayed with expectancy. I prayed expecting God to give me a clear answer and well, He did. He not only gave me an answer, but the answer He gave me couldn't have been more precise, more clear, more personal. He loves us enough to be so personal. I was amazed and overwhelmed with how cool our God is and so grateful that He has my life in His hands. This experience has increased my faith and encouraged me to pray more, but to pray with expectancy that He will answer my prayers!!
I want to be real here. I am not special. I am not super woman. I am not perfect. In fact, I am weak but He is strong. I am prideful but continuously humbled. I am selfish and pray for selflessness daily. I am not patient, but learning this one slowly. I am a work in progress, and it's a beautiful thing. I have been freed and made whole because of God's GRACE. (Grace: the divine gift of forgiveness and salvation from God that we don't deserve or even ask for but is freely given to us through our faith in Him) I am freed from the weight of trying to be perfect- because I will never be! And I don't have to try to be. I love God. I accept that I am human, I bask in the grace God has given me and I walk confidently with Him.
I am open for change- I don't want to stay the same. I want to constantly be molded and shaped into the woman that I was truly created to be. I feel I delay this process a lot. I am a fixer, a do-er, a controller. These aren't always bad things, but sometimes they overrule with what is truly best for my life. I want to be so confident in Christ that each day I have an open blank notebook waiting for Him to write down my story for the day. Here is the pen. Take it. I will write the wrong story, I've already written too many pages in my life. I know He will write a creative story, one that I couldn't have ever written. Life like this is an adventure!
Just to keep you updated with the job searching, I have a job lined up at a great Dental Office next week! I will be filling in for a Hygienist all week. I also have an interview on Wednesday at Sacred Heart Academy to be a Substitute Teacher. I hope to sub until I find a full time job.
P.S.- I haven't gotten to know my neighbors yet, this one is going to take some time.
Namaste
I want to be real here. I am not special. I am not super woman. I am not perfect. In fact, I am weak but He is strong. I am prideful but continuously humbled. I am selfish and pray for selflessness daily. I am not patient, but learning this one slowly. I am a work in progress, and it's a beautiful thing. I have been freed and made whole because of God's GRACE. (Grace: the divine gift of forgiveness and salvation from God that we don't deserve or even ask for but is freely given to us through our faith in Him) I am freed from the weight of trying to be perfect- because I will never be! And I don't have to try to be. I love God. I accept that I am human, I bask in the grace God has given me and I walk confidently with Him.
I am open for change- I don't want to stay the same. I want to constantly be molded and shaped into the woman that I was truly created to be. I feel I delay this process a lot. I am a fixer, a do-er, a controller. These aren't always bad things, but sometimes they overrule with what is truly best for my life. I want to be so confident in Christ that each day I have an open blank notebook waiting for Him to write down my story for the day. Here is the pen. Take it. I will write the wrong story, I've already written too many pages in my life. I know He will write a creative story, one that I couldn't have ever written. Life like this is an adventure!
Just to keep you updated with the job searching, I have a job lined up at a great Dental Office next week! I will be filling in for a Hygienist all week. I also have an interview on Wednesday at Sacred Heart Academy to be a Substitute Teacher. I hope to sub until I find a full time job.
P.S.- I haven't gotten to know my neighbors yet, this one is going to take some time.
Namaste
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Rebirth
New Orleans.
Why New Orleans? The only answer I can give is: God. He put this place on Me and Adrienne's mind while we were living in France. Random. I never would have thought I would live here again. Most don't get it, but we do. We love this city. We know it is right where we were supposed to go. Neither one of us had a job when we signed the lease for our apartment. I still don't. I am learning how to wait. Patience is truly a virtue. I trust God has a job for me out there that will be a perfect fit. I can't wait to write about it soon!
New Orleans has the most homeless people per capita in the United States. Pre-Katrina there were about 6,000 homeless people, now there are 19,000. Wow. There is a huge need here. I am blown away each day as I meet transplants from all over the world that have moved to this city. They have left their comfortable jobs and homes and have come here to help with the homeless, the broken, the rebuilding, the collapsing school system, and the oil spill cleanup. Thank you. It challenges me to DO SOMETHING. The New Orleans Mission is constantly flooded with homeless guests and are always in desperate need of volunteers. I will use this time of unemployment to serve them and I will be blessed because of it.
I believe there is no better time to be in New Orleans. I know there are good things for this city. I can't wait to be apart of something big, to be apart of the rebirth of New Orleans I see all around me. I don't think it's ironic the whole world has had its eyes on this city for the past 5 years. This place will be different, the dark cloud will be blown away and the flowers will bloom again. They are being planted right now.
My challenge for the next few weeks is to get to know my neighbors. I want to get to know them, serve them, and love them. To live in community with the community that surrounds me. To branch out. I leave you with a challenge: Go hang out with some strangers.
Why New Orleans? The only answer I can give is: God. He put this place on Me and Adrienne's mind while we were living in France. Random. I never would have thought I would live here again. Most don't get it, but we do. We love this city. We know it is right where we were supposed to go. Neither one of us had a job when we signed the lease for our apartment. I still don't. I am learning how to wait. Patience is truly a virtue. I trust God has a job for me out there that will be a perfect fit. I can't wait to write about it soon!
New Orleans has the most homeless people per capita in the United States. Pre-Katrina there were about 6,000 homeless people, now there are 19,000. Wow. There is a huge need here. I am blown away each day as I meet transplants from all over the world that have moved to this city. They have left their comfortable jobs and homes and have come here to help with the homeless, the broken, the rebuilding, the collapsing school system, and the oil spill cleanup. Thank you. It challenges me to DO SOMETHING. The New Orleans Mission is constantly flooded with homeless guests and are always in desperate need of volunteers. I will use this time of unemployment to serve them and I will be blessed because of it.
I believe there is no better time to be in New Orleans. I know there are good things for this city. I can't wait to be apart of something big, to be apart of the rebirth of New Orleans I see all around me. I don't think it's ironic the whole world has had its eyes on this city for the past 5 years. This place will be different, the dark cloud will be blown away and the flowers will bloom again. They are being planted right now.
My challenge for the next few weeks is to get to know my neighbors. I want to get to know them, serve them, and love them. To live in community with the community that surrounds me. To branch out. I leave you with a challenge: Go hang out with some strangers.
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