Hope 127

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." -James 1:27

God calls us, as Christ followers to help others in need. Hope 127 in a partnership between Port City Community Church and Mama Hellen's Rehabilitation Center in Kanya. The children that are at the center come from horrible back grounds and have seen things that we can't image. The children are at the center to heal and to have a better life. They have been through so much and it is amazing to hear the stories about how their lives have been changed and the impacted since coming to the center. The money the PC3 and sponsors gives to the center helps with anything the children need. The center's main purpose is to help the children have a better life.


I had the opportunity to organize the book that had all the children's pictures and descriptions and it was moving to read some of their stories. They were some of the cutest children I have ever seen and I couldn't believe the stories behind their smiling faces. God has given us the opportunity to help children in Kanya. They need our prayers and money.



To find out more information visit: http://www.portcitychurch.org/hope127.php

Reminder

Today I got the chance to sit down and relax for a little bit. It was nice to be able to turn on the television for the first time in weeks. Man do I miss high school when I could watch television all day long because I had nothing else to do but now I am busy every second. Today I got to watch Family Feud. I haven’t seen this show in a while and it got me thinking about families. Everyone’s family is different; just like people not two families can be alike. There is going to be differences no matter how they appear to other people. I am so thankful for my family. God has blessed me with a loving family that supports my every decision; they are behind me all the way. I find that now since I am a sophomore and have gotten used to college life that I miss my family more than I did last year. I miss my mom’s cooking and the coziness of our house. Don’t get me wrong I love living in Wilmington with my friends but I miss my family. I miss my cousins and being able to watch them grow up and play/hang out with them. I also miss having lunch with my family every Sunday. It has been a tradition ever since I can remember to have lunch after church on Sundays. Even though my Grandma has died and the environment of Sunday lunches has changed, it is still nice to get together and see how everyone is doing. Wilmington is my home now but it is always nice to go to back to my Raleigh home and see my family.

Changed

As I was camping on Carolina Beach Labor Day weekend I thought about where I was a year ago. I can’t believe how much I have changed. My life is completely different now. A year ago I was at the same place but the scene was entirely different; I was on the beach drunk and living for myself. My actions were selfish and stupid. I was partying every weekend and doing things that my parents had thought me not to do. I was going against all the morals and values that I had made for myself in high school. My friends last year were a reflection of my actions. They partied too and that was the reason we were camping on Carolina Beach that weekend, to party and have fun. We wanted to get away from everything and have fun. It was a fun night but now looking back on it I realize how stupid it was and how I could have gotten in so much.

Now everything has changed. I rededicated my life at Campus Crusade for Christ’s Winter Conference. I finally realized what Christ had done on the cross for me and my sins; I then wanted to live my life for Him and not for myself. I changed the way a lived my life and the friends I had after the conference. I started to live for Him. So camping on the Carolina Beach is completely different this year. There is no alcohol; it is just me and my friends having fun at the beach. We fished, had a camp fire and just hung out. I wish I knew then that alcohol and partying isn’t a satisfying life.

I meant to write this blog a few weeks back.

On Fire

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” --- Colossians 1:9-14

If you read the words of Paul’s prayer and really take in what he is saying to the Colossians, it is very powerful. He is continually praying for them, that God will give them wisdom, and strengthen them to stay away from darkness and sin. He is praying for their overall well being in their Christian walk. My bible study leader sent my bible study this verse over the weekend. Knowing that he is nonstop praying for us like this is encouraging. I know that I have someone praying for me each and every day to live a life worthy of God and to remain in his path for my life. Knowing that he is praying for me in this way lifts me up and encourages me live on fire for God.

Amazing Women

I was honored to have the opportunity to speak about such an amazing women at my grandmother's funeral last January. I was remind of this occasion when I visited my grandparent's house during Fall Break. I wanted to share my speech about a women who changed my life:

My grandmother was among the most influential and important people in my life. She was an amazing woman and I can’t start to explain what she has done for me personally and my family. Her actions and the things that she said were filled with God’s love. I never got to tell her this but she ministered to me through her kind actions and loving words. She showed me what it really meant to put God before everything else. Everything she did, you could see the Holy Spirit working within her. She ministered to so many people. And she supported and encouraged my walk with God. I enjoyed every minute that I was able to spend with her and I only wish that I could have had longer.

Before her surgery she said “that no matter what the outcome, she couldn’t lose”. And she didn’t. She actually got the better end of the deal, she is up in heaven. I am going to miss everything about her. Her love, her kindness, her generosity, and many other things made her so special to me. I am going to miss Sunday lunches with her. Her cooking was the best. I loved her chicken pastry; and nothing in the world can beat it. This year it will be so different with her not at the beach. She loved going down there and spending time with the whole family. Some of my best memories are at the beach cottage with her. She always knew when me and Rachael were up to trouble. Now I really appreciate what she did for me and the time that I was able to spend with her.

My mother and my grandmother had a close relationship. I was able to see my grandmother a lot because of my mother and now I am very thankful for that. And Momma I can see her qualities in you. You and Susan are just like her. You are kind, sweet and you show God’s love through all your actions. You and Susan are great mothers as I know she was to you. And she would be so proud of all three of yall for being so strong and brave through this hard time. And Rachael, Cameron, Preston, Ella, and Ragan I am so sorry that Ma will not be at your graduation, or help you pick out your tux for prom, or experience your first day of high school. I am so thankful for the time that we were able to have with her as short as it was. And Da I am so thankful that I have you in my life right now. You’re a strong and Godly man and Ma was completely in love with you.

And right now we are sad about her death but I can’t wait to see what God is going to do in this situation. Psalms 30 verse 5 says that “…. Weeping may endure for the night but Joy comes in the morning.”

We are going to miss you Ma

He is There Always

I find that the one of the hardest things about being a Christian is knowing exactly what God wants you to do. Of course we know what right and wrong are but it goes beyond that to the gray areas in your life. Even situations where both choices could be good but you need guidance from God. When I am asking God to show me the path He wants me to take, I have trouble really seeing or hearing what that is. Sometimes when I think that it is God telling me what to do, it is really me wanting to do something. Or I second guess the decision I am hearing; I am not sure if it is me or God. I get confused all the time. I wish that God would show me a noticeable sign saying this is what I want you to do. Often I hear things and I believe that it is God telling me something but then I get a whole different message later on telling me to do something completely different. This blog is meant to be personal. Knowing what God really wants in my life is something that I struggle with often. The verse that has really stood out to me lately is:

“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

I know that no matter what I do or where I go, God is always with me. Whatever God tells me to do with my life he will be right beside me, leading the way. This is something that comforts me when I am confused about what God is calling me to do; cause even though I am confused God is with me through it all.