It's A Beautiful Day In The Hood...

So, over the past few weeks I've received a couple flyers in my mailbox about some things going on in my neighborhood. There are three different "beautification" or clean-up days throughout the next couple weeks and then there is going to be a big block party! I was so excited to see this, because to me, it meant there are other people close by who actually care about this neighborhood and want to see positive changes made and relationships built. Awesome!
Today was day one of the clean-up. We scrubbed off a lot of graffiti. It was frustrating to see how little respect some people have for the city's property, their neighbor's property, or even their own property. I'm going to assume that since most of the graffiti was cuss words, names, and poorly drawn hands flippin' the bird that it's more a kid- with- nothing- to- do problem or lack-of-parenting-skills problem, rather than a gang issue. As everyone pitched in to scrub guardrails, fences, sidewalks, garage doors, and street signs, we also picked up trash and had someone spraying down poison ivy. It made my heart smile to see a group of seemingly random people each doing their part to help out. I met some really great people and can now say I know a couple more of my neighbors -- that is one thing I miss about my tiny little backwoods town, everyone knew everyone!
Anyways, I'm so glad I made it out this morning and can't wait to see what get accomplished next Saturday! I'm also anxious to learn more about everyone who has been working to plan this -- I'm not sure what the ultimate motivation was, but when people start living lives that are focused on helping others and making a positive difference, I think that opens lots more room for some good 'ol Jesus! Who knows what is going to come of all this, but I'm praying these next few weeks will be used for His glory -- in whatever way He sees fit!
P.S. Friends who don't want to come to my house because you think I live in the super scary hood...you just watch out, this hood is going to be looking awfully beautiful! :)

Take From Me...

I love, so much, what this song says! It honestly breaks my heart when I listen to the words. I know I am so guilty of turning my back on God...and I'm talking more than once. It's true that living each day of my life for Christ is not something that is easy to do. I mess up, I struggle, I get mad, I have bad days...just like anyone else. But like it says, He takes me back...EVERY SINGLE TIME. That's really hard to wrap my head around. If someone I loved more than anything kept making a fool of me and taking me for granted...I'd have a really hard time still loving them. God doesn't. Screw up, mess up, break down, whatever...He's there! That's awesome! I just pray that he would continue to take away more of my life, and my wants, and my plans, and my messed up thinking that I am somehow in control and know what is best for me. I need to surrender it all to Him, everyday, always. So, Jesus...I'm giving it all up to you again -- and I thank you so much for taking it and giving me YOU!

Take My Life -- Third Day

"How Many Times Have I Turned Away
The Number Is The Same As The Sand On The Shore
But Every Time You've Taken Me Back
And Now I Pray You Do It Once More.

Please Take From Me My Life
When I Don't Have The Strength
To Give It Away To You Jesus

How Many Times Have I Turned Away
The Number Is The Same As The Stars In The Sky
But Every Time You've Taken Me Back
And Now I Pray You Do It Tonight.

Please Take From Me My Life
When I Don't Have The Strength
To Give It Away To You Jesus"

Why Not Here...Why Not Now...

I was talking to a really great friend of mine tonight at outreach and she kind of helped me connect a few ideas that I had been struggling with. It's so easy to see all these needs, but isn't always easy to realized that I can't solve every problem or situation I encounter. If you look back through my posts you will see one about a friend of mine named Kevin. To make a long story short, he was beat up, hospitalized, and in pretty crappy shape. Kevin lives under a bridge and was not going to heal up very well if he ended up right were all this began. After tons of prayers from tons of friends and a whole lot of searching, God opened doors and Kevin was able to stay at a hotel for two whole weeks! After the two weeks was up, he really had no where to go. Since I met Kevin, months and months ago, I've always had this strong inclination to want to give him an extra hand up. Anyways, I told him he could sleep on my couch for a week (Without too many people knowing...Yes, a homeless guy sleeping on my couch -- wait until my Momma finds out! Haha!). The week was up today and I had to take him back to the bridge. It brakes my heart to see all those people living under there, espicallily when I've come to call so many of them friends...but I have to remember there is only so much you can do to help a person, sometimes you have to let them help themselves for a change. And this is where the conversation with Kim comes in. After visiting the same people in the same places around the city week after week and seeing nothing change, it can get really frustrating. We just have to do what Jesus calls us to do...and that is LOVE PEOPLE, period. So we will do that with every bit of our hearts and souls. I trust that if all I am capable of ever doing is handing out some food, clothes, and making friends with the people living on the streets that God will use that for His glory. People will come to know Him. It's a God thing and it's a heart thing. I pray that I would just remember to use every opportuinty, no matter how small it seems, to be the Lord's hand and feet.
Oh, and this song speaks to my heart EVERY single time I hear it. I remember the first day it was played on the radio -- all day on K-Love they had been talking about the new TobyMac song, and I couldn't wait! I love TobyMac! Anyways...Here it is. It just reminds me to not waste any opportuinity. Let me always serve my God right here and right now!

New Partnerships & Next Steps...

Some really exciting news came late last week about a new partnership between Tear Down The Walls Ministries and Watkins Family Center! Here is the e-mail from the director of TDWM explaining what is going to be happening:

"TDWM signed a partnership with Watkins Family Center and Indy Parks and Recreation yesterday. We plan to start these programs next week. Our part of the partnership is to provide staff and youth programming as follows.
TDWM and our volunteers plan to provide two hours of mentoring and tutoring for area youth two days a week on Tuesday and Thursday 6pm-8pm at the Watkins Family Center and Watkins Park and 3-4 hours youth service programs two additional days a week on Wednesday and Saturday 6:30pm-9:30pm at Watkins park and family center and at other areas in the community. At the Watkins Park and Family Center we plan to provide nutrition, lessons and activities. We would include lessons and activities on leadership, community development, core values, service projects, anger management, anti-violence, anti-drug, interdependence, empowerment, accountability, faith, hope and love. Our volunteer/mentor group is made of diverse selection of men and women young and old of a variety ethnic and religious backgrounds. Though we are a Christ centered, faith based organization we always include our services in a kind and caring manner to anyone and everyone regardless of their ethnic and/or religious backgrounds and beliefs.
We plan to bring two part time staff on to develop, implement, and supervise these programs Jena Osbon and Kyle Schlenz. Both are young Christians who have experience with mentoring youth and have been worked as volunteers with TDWM. Their job description includes working with our high school and college interns and our student advisory board to develop, implement, raise funds and write grants for these programs.
Gearing up for this new programming we plan to send a few of our staff and student leaders to leadership training next month in Cincinnati at the Christian Community Development Conference.
We need to obtain funding for these programs to pay for the staff, food, training, materials, and transportation (obtain a bus and/or 15 passenger van)
Thank you and may God bless you.”

So, if you caught that up there – I am going to be coming onboard with TDWM as a part-time staff member! We are shooting for this to be full-time in the near future! I feel so blessed that God is using me and allowing me to be part of what TDWM is doing here in the city! Please be praying for TDWM’s new partnership, as well as my next steps as the Lord leads into this new position in ministry!

First Timer...

A while back I wrote a little bit about my neighbor, Tessa. She is a 10-year-old with so much beautiful energy -- she gets excited about ANYTHING. The other day she came over to play with Maci, my new doggie, and I hated to tell her I was getting ready to leave. I told her I was on my way to go to outreach and like any kid, she began asking questions. I explained to her that me and some of my friends go out a couple times a week to hang out with our friends who live on the streets. I told her how we take food, clothes, soap, blankets, or whatever we happen to have had donated. After telling me how sad she felt when she saw homeless people, she told me she thinks about how hungry their stomachs must be. We asked her mom if it would be okay if she came with me -- her and her brother R.J. both tagged along. Tessa was bouncing off the walls with energy as usual and was ready to talk to EVERYONE under the bridge. We walked around as she introduced herself to almost everyone; she was in charge of passing out sandwiches and as soon as she finished that she ran to help hand out some sweatshirts that we had with us. One of our friends, Scott, who stays at Davidson Street Bridge jokingly asked her if she was going to stay all night -- she said, she couldn't because it was a school night...but she could sometime on the weekend. R.J. is 13 and I think understood what he was seeing a little better, he was awfully quiet. I love the innocence and open-mindedness of children. Tessa couldn't wait to go to the next stop and meet more people.
Soon enough it was time to run Tessa and R.J. back home. In the car there were a couple questions and I can't tell you what exactly was said, but Kim and I were explaining to them that God loves it when we love people and help people. Tessa asked us what God does when we do things like that. We told her He smiles, REALLY BIG! At one point we asked the kids if they go to church, the answer was no. Tessa asked right away if she could go with me sometime. So, I talked to Michelle, her mom, and Sunday Tessa came with me to church!
On the way she told me she had NEVER been to church, or Sunday school, or VBS, or ANYTHING at a church -- which may or may not be the entire truth, but it kind of broke my heart, but also scared me to death! Yes, seriously. She doesn't know about God or Jesus or any of this "Christian stuff". So, where do I even start! I was praying quickly for words! I was worried because I didn't want to mess up, as silly as that sounds. She is seriously like a blank canvas! But, then again that makes it so much easier -- there are not built up bitter feelings about God or religion or past experiences.
Church went well; we even had lunch afterwards and got to eat with a couple of my homeless friends who also go to Indy Metro. One of which was baptized this past week -- PRAISE THE LORD! (Please, keep Rob and his being obedient to the Lord in your prayers!)
Anyways, Tessa said she really liked church and wants to go back next week! Please, pray for her as well -- she is so easily influenced and has recently been in trouble at home and school -- I know that as soon as she lets Jesus get a hold of her she will be such a light. I know that only He can use all that energy she has!