I am a mom to 4 blessings, 2 boys & 2 girls.
I love being a wife, mom, breastfeeding, SUV driving, soccer mom, bible thumping, praise & worship singing (in my own key), baby-wearing, home cooking Woman.
Jose was home from work today, so he took the kids to school for me. After I kissed everyone and walked them to the door, I stood there telling Delayna to tell them "BYE BYE". To my dis-belief, she started waving her hand, imitating Jose. Then saw my hand opening & closing, and began copying me too! HOW CUTE! Then later on in the night, Jose went to his softball game and the kids went over to my brothers to visit. Again, I told Delayna to tell them Bye Bye and she started opening & closing her hand. Awe, my little big girl!
I walked out to the street Friday morning as my family loaded up to head to school. I picked up the paper and found an article at the bottom that got my attention. It began with Mark's name and mentioned how he lived under a tree in Cabazon. That story was all too familiar. I began to read on, with tears in my eyes, that a couple with so much compassion can reach out and touch the homeless and needy in such a way is amazing! You see, my mom has been addicted to drugs & alcohol in her life, as has my father. My father & his girlfriend were homeless, up until 2 weeks ago, when they came to my house and said, "Melissa, we want to thank you for your prayers. We are no longer homeless. We have a home, rent free and the landlord will be paying us to do maintenance on her rentals." I know this article, as I've lived the life through my parents.
Faith in the Pass: Compassion on the street corner
Published: Friday, November 6, 2009 12:22 AM CST
Mary Hilde Special to the Record Gazette
Mark lives under a tree in Cabazon. Sometimes he’ll be on a corner, holding a sign that says, “Homeless and ugly. Anything will help.”
After the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service at Legacy Christian Center in Banning, Mark was saying goodbye, Bible in hand, smile on his face, ready to be dropped off by his tree. Hopping on the bus with Pastors Terry Gray and his wife Teri-Lynn, we were off in a whirl of chatter and laughs. Pastor Terry asked Mark, and an ex-homeless couple also aboard, what they thought of the service. He talked to them about God’s changing power, handing out apple juice.
But let’s back up.
Fifteen years ago, Pastor Terry and Teri-Lynn were homeless. Terry was a drug dealer, addict, alcoholic, and his life was on the verge of collapse. He came home one day and his wife was gone, her ring on the counter. She had said, “You’re supposed to be the leader. Where are you leading us?”
Terry clearly recalls this fork in the road and his agony. Would he lose his wife and five children, everything he cared about?
“I cried out to God to save me,” he said. “And he did.”
The drug dealing and addiction stopped immediately, the alcoholism lingered. Eventually that was gone, too. He was so thankful and wanted to give back.
A couple years later, Terry and Teri-Lynn started reaching out to drug addicts and the homeless. They felt it was their calling, their purpose.
Today StreetLife Ministry is a group of 15 workers, who drive around to find local homeless for church. In his three-piece suit, Terry has gotten in the dirt to literally pick up a homeless guy for church. Sometimes he goes into the trees to get them out. Teri-Lynn has equal spunk, and has told many an inebriated soul to “get up, we’re going to church.”
They go to parks, liquor stores and other hangouts where addicts and homeless loiter. They have no words of judgment. They know homeless by name. They hug the dirty and drunk. They cry with them, laugh with them. On Saturdays, they drive around handing out food, clothes and hygiene products. On Sundays they pick up the same people for church.
“If God can turn us around and use us, he can do it for anyone,” said Terry. “We are living examples of what God can do.”
Terry and his wife said they pray for the eyes of Christ, to see people as God sees them. They take Matthew 25:34-40 seriously, helping “the least of these.”
The reward is watching the homeless like Mark change. On the bus Sunday, Mark asked what he could do to get off the streets, and Terry said he’d put resources in his hands. Terry asked Mark if they’ve ever let him down in all these years. “No, no you haven’t,” Mark said.
As we dropped Mark off near his “tree house,” Terry grasped his hand and said, “You’re my brother. You know that, right? I’ll always come for you. If you call, night or day, I’ll always come.”
Mark got off the bus with a smile and wave, joy on his face. He’ll be back for church next week, for sure.
Mary Hilde, a graduate of the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication, has worked for newspapers in Oregon, Minnesota and California. This is the first of a twice-a-month column on faith and values in the Pass. Hilde, a Seventh-Day Adventist Christian, lives in Beaumont with her husband, a school teacher. Share your thoughts and ideas with her by writing to writemsass@gmail.com.
Born August 20, 1979, taken home November 4, 2009 Where do words even begin? My precious cousin, whom was 356 days younger than I was, yet exalted oh so highly in my spirit. She was such a spiritual "older sister" to me, a leader, a warrior, no denying, God's Little Princess. Robin was born with Cystic Fibrosis, and fought a LONG hard battle, NEVER giving in to the disease. I remember when Robin got her double lung transplant in 2007. She was ready for her body to reject these new lungs she had been blessed with. But God had such a miraculous plan for her. She was out of the hospital and on her road to recovery in a matter of weeks. She was amazing! She didn't take her gift for granted, not for a moment. I remember her telling me about her training to do a marathon...WOW, a marathon! I can barely walk a mile without throwing in the towel. I marveled at her and what she did in the time after her body recovering from her transplant. I remember, the Dr's were besides themselves when they did her transplant. They said she shouldn't have been living with the way her lungs were, but isn't that what we've heard all her life? Robin shouldn't be alive. But she was! More than physically, Robin was ALIVE in Christ! God had his hand upon her, for Him to live through her, so that Robin could touch those that she did within those 30 years she walked this earth. She never took a day for granted. I know things happen for a reason, but we don't always understand. When I heard the news of Robin's new lungs "going bad", I knew it was for a reason the Lord allowed this to happen to Robin. But Why? She continued to fight, trusting the Lord in what HE was doing. Never really understanding. I received a few phone calls informing us that, "Robin wasn't doing too well." But we stood on the Lord's promises, trusting he would heal her. As time went on and her body grew weaker, we were told, "Robin's body can't fight the infection and the Dr's can't do another transplant." It was a knife in my heart, but I KNEW there was something going on. God had something in his hands working something through someone, somehow. Confusion, lost, unsure, pain, aggravation, questions...WHY!?!?! But, God knew what he was doing. Robin lived her life to the fullest. She loved her husband beyond words. She adored her baby boy more than life. She was able to watch Christopher play baseball, she was SO proud! I remember texting her during one of Ant's tournament teams while she was out at Chris' game. We were talking about signing Chris up for indoor soccer. She was so excited & it was a topic we could totally talk about for DAYS! When she got her lungs, she was so excited to take her boy out to the beach & while in San Francisco, had the opportunity to. I could go on for days about my dear cousin, but I can't continue. I have a letter I must write and send off to her. I knew I should have written it 3 weeks ago, when I had the 'push' to do it, but chose to ignore it. Now my chance has gone. But I must get some things off my chest and show her my appreciation for all she did for me. More things on Robin will follow...I want to remember as much as I can. Until then, here are some photos of her...
Born August 20, 1979, taken home November 4, 2009 Where do words even begin? My precious cousin, whom was 356 days younger than I was, yet exalted oh so highly in my spirit. She was such a spiritual "older sister" to me, a leader, a warrior, no denying, God's Little Princess. Robin was born with Cystic Fibrosis, and fought a LONG hard battle, NEVER giving in to the disease. I remember when Robin got her double lung transplant in 2007. She was ready for her body to reject these new lungs she had been blessed with. But God had such a miraculous plan for her. She was out of the hospital and on her road to recovery in a matter of weeks. She was amazing! She didn't take her gift for granted, not for a moment. I remember her telling me about her training to do a marathon...WOW, a marathon! I can barely walk a mile without throwing in the towel. I marveled at her and what she did in the time after her body recovering from her transplant. I remember, the Dr's were besides themselves when they did her transplant. They said she shouldn't have been living with the way her lungs were, but isn't that what we've heard all her life? Robin shouldn't be alive. But she was! More than physically, Robin was ALIVE in Christ! God had his hand upon her, for Him to live through her, so that Robin could touch those that she did within those 30 years she walked this earth. She never took a day for granted. I know things happen for a reason, but we don't always understand. When I heard the news of Robin's new lungs "going bad", I knew it was for a reason the Lord allowed this to happen to Robin. But Why? She continued to fight, trusting the Lord in what HE was doing. Never really understanding. I received a few phone calls informing us that, "Robin wasn't doing too well." But we stood on the Lord's promises, trusting he would heal her. As time went on and her body grew weaker, we were told, "Robin's body can't fight the infection and the Dr's can't do another transplant." It was a knife in my heart, but I KNEW there was something going on. God had something in his hands working something through someone, somehow. Confusion, lost, unsure, pain, aggravation, questions...WHY!?!?! But, God knew what he was doing. Robin lived her life to the fullest. She loved her husband beyond words. She adored her baby boy more than life. She was able to watch Christopher play baseball, she was SO proud! I remember texting her during one of Ant's tournament teams while she was out at Chris' game. We were talking about signing Chris up for indoor soccer. She was so excited & it was a topic we could totally talk about for DAYS! When she got her lungs, she was so excited to take her boy out to the beach & while in San Francisco, had the opportunity to. I could go on for days about my dear cousin, but I can't continue. I have a letter I must write and send off to her. I knew I should have written it 3 weeks ago, when I had the 'push' to do it, but chose to ignore it. Now my chance has gone. But I must get some things off my chest and show her my appreciation for all she did for me. More things on Robin will follow...I want to remember as much as I can. Until then, here are some photos of her...
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions;if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3
My dear Cousin Robin lost her battle to Cystic Fibrosis this morning. She has been a true beacon in my life these past few years. Her older brother sent out an email this morning and had this scripture in it. It hit me & is what is giving me comfort, knowing, I will be seeing her one day soon! You can join in the WFW over at this weeks host here: http://pennyraine.com/blog/2009/11/work-before-play/
The purpose of Word filled Wednesday is to share God’s word (no famous quotes or other literature — only the beautiful Word of our God) through photo’s & a Bible verse! Mr Linky is here
So Pastor Mike asked me a few weeks ago to take a small group and teach on Humility. It is tomorrow night & I thought I would post my notes...
Humbleness: The quality of being humble; humility; meekness.
Humble: having or showing a consciousness of one's defects or shortcomings; not proud; not self-assertive; modest
Psalm 7:10~God protects me like a shield; he saves those whose hearts are right.
God protects the person whose heart is right toward him.Having your heart right toward him doesn’t have anything to do with being perfect or knocking yourself out trying to do the right thing all the time.A person who has an upright heart knows that he or she isn’t perfect.That person realizes that his only hope comes from the fact that Jesus died to make things right for him.
Admitting those things takes humility.That’s a word that most people don’t talk about very often, maybe because their picture of humility is a weak, super-shy person who looks at the floor all the time.But for a real picture of humility, look at Jesus.It’s one of the most outstanding parts of his personality.
A heart that’s humble is the kind of heart God is looking for.That’s the kind of person he can use to get the job done.He protects that person in a special way because he knows that person is ready to do what he wants.
Psalm 62:9~The least of people are only a breath, and even the greatest are just a lie.On the scales, they weigh nothing; together they are only a breath.
It seems weird for David to say that we humans are only a vapor, like a puff of air, and that none of us is truly great.After all, when he was a teenager, he killed the giant Goliath with a slingshot!Then he led Israel’s army to defeat the mighty Philistines in battle after battle.He became the greatest warrior and king in Israel’s history.
But David knew that everything he did was nothing compared to God.He had a grip on just how huge God is.David tells us that strength and loving kindness belong to God.When a person begins to really understand (in his or her heart) how powerful and how kind the Lord is, it’s impossible to be cocky.When you begin to see yourself as you really are before the Lord, you’re amazed at how awesome he is and how little you are.
God uses little people.He uses humble people—people who are seeing how small they are compared to him.He doesn’t want us to go around thinking we’re dirt.He wants us to go around thinking about how enormous he is.
Psalm 85:8~I will listen to God the Lord.He has ordered peace for those who worship him.Don’t let them go back to foolishness.
Faithfulness, the way God defines it, is not a stuck-like-glue observance of a bunch of rules you learn in Sunday school.What’s going on inside you is more important to God than what you do.So the faithful person obeys, not because he has incredible willpower, but because his heart is turned toward God all the time.When a faithful person fails, he is quick to admit it, talk to Jesus about it, and accept his forgiveness.The faithful person is bumble, meaning he doesn’t think he can live his life…any part of it…without God.
This is the kind of person God gives is a way-down-in-your-gut confidence that everything that happens to you, good or bad, is something he will use to bring you closer to him and make you more like him.As your friendship with Jesus grows, this peace will take root in your heart.He promises it will!
John 13:13-15~You call me Teacher and Lord, an you are right, because that is what I am.If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other’s feet.I did this as an example so that you should do as I have done for you.
Jesus gives his apostles a lesson in humility when he washes their feet.He tells them that they are to follow his example.And we, as followers of Christ, are to do the same.Meeting the needs of other people and sacrificing your own is the example of Jesus, and we are to be like him.Did you know that when you feel sorry for yourself, one of the best things to help you feel better is to do something good for somebody else?And if you are acting like Jesus, it may cost you something…some time, some energy, some money, maybe even your pride.
Sometimes we can serve others secretly, and God gets all of the glory.Jesus came and humbled himself by being a servant to others. Being Christlike means that we humble ourselves and do the same.It’s the whole point of our time here on earth…following his example, looking more and more like Jesus.
Phillipians 2:8~And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death…death on a cross.
Read John 13:1-17 Washing His Disciples' Feet
1-2 Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end. It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal. 3-6Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?" 7Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later." 8Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet—ever!" Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing." 9"Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!" 10-12Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you're clean. But not every one of you." (He knew who was betraying him. That's why he said, "Not every one of you.") After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table. 12-17Then he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.
It’s a fascinating story about humility.Can you imagine sitting in the same room as Jesus only to have him come up to you and wash your feet?Your feet…the ugliest and smelliest part of your body!WOW!Jesus displayed the ultimate act of servant hood in this illustration.We need to serve others in the same way.
What does it really mean to be humble?It means that someone will do anything asked and will do it with a willing heart and a good attitude.It means that you put down the wonderful things about yourself just to love and serve other people.If you know anything about the life and ministry of Jesus, then you know that he was a humble servant.He even said that he didn’t come to be served but to serve.If that was Jesus’ attitude, how much more should it be ours?From now on, work on being humble enough to serve others rather than being served yourself.You’ve heard that pride comes before a fall.If we are humbled before him as servants, we are imitating Christ…and that’s what our Christian walk is all about.
Ok, so life has grabbed ahold of me & I am going every which direction but straight. Delayna is getting SO big! She now has 4 teeth, YES 4! She is pulling herself up & has been for a while now. She will be walking before I know it. She is very advanced compared to my other kids. She amazes me every day! Let me see what her new & favorite things are... She is eating better, loves anything she can chew. Baby food is out of the picture. She doesn't care for the textures, so that's a bit challenging! Papa, Ant & Grammie are her favorite people. If Jose isn't home by a certain time at night, she's not a happy camper. She loves going into Ant's room and listening to music with him while he does his homework. Grammie takes her and plays with her and attempts to get her to watch t.v. with her, but she's not having it. We have this little musical piano thing that she LOVES playing with. She is gonna be a music girl. Loves it when we sing to her. She's still my little nursing champ. Not sleeping through the night yet...GAH! I can go on all night, but she calls. So until next time...
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Relaxing, tomorrow my plans include Soccer & Fundraiser Collections and Sunday, I want to Go to the LA County Fair!
