The Eternal Inhaler

 God is the eternal inhaler. We can't breath without Him and when we loose our breath from our anxiety and fears  He reaches out to us! This is a thought that has came to my mind especially one who could probably get a blue ribbon for worrying!

 Yet, my Jesus is so patient with me!  I make no jokes about anxiety. I have never struggled to where its been super strong but I can tell you it can eat your mind alive. It's one of the reasons I went to Celebrate Recovery. In Celebrate Recovery I found a forever family. I learned that God really desires us to have community to share the good along with the crazy! Going to Celebrate Recovery was peace to my mind that I am completely normal because we all have junk.

It was hope that there were people who understood what the church needed to be! I think of my friend Ciara, Durenda, Libby & Nona. These women enveloped me! It was a safety net for me. I know I am never unsafe that I am safe with Jesus but I believe He does give us a tangible way of knowing if that makes sense.

 I  count CR as one of my saviors because it only empowered me more in what God had been sowing in me as a college student where my campus minister Dean & Magan were examples in leadership that we can be freely honest with God. It's not that we don't want to share but our shame blocks us. We imagine what others will do if they know ______________.  You can name it I am sure! For me I think of how awkward dynamically I am in some of my relationships.

Yet here in CR I was reminded to be the best me. We can't control others but we can choose how we will respond. I am now a fan  of CR because of how it changed me!  I have even been able to love on some of our children Celebration Place and even though I am going to Louisville for a year CR is a forever part of me! Therefore if one is near you I challenge you to take the guts to go!  

Love Thy Neighborhood Bound September 6th

 Colossians 4:2-3 Keep praying. Pay attention when you offer prayers of thanksgiving. At the same time also pray for us. Pray for God to give us opportunity to speak the word so that we may tell this mystery about Christ. It is because of this mystery I am a prisoner

 " Pray for God to give us opportunity"----- Let me say this phrase again----- " Pray for God to give us opportunity."

 Reading this phrase this morning made me think how many times do I pray God give me opportunities to share the Gospel. This shouldn't just be a  prayer when we go on a mission trip or a project at the church. Its an everyday living prayer. Yet this verse seems so fitting as I think about leaving in a few short weeks to serve with Love Thy Neighborhood.  We can't just go out our doors absent minded of our mission.

It's what I hope for as I intern with  them reaching out to women who have been in the adult industry at Scarlet Hope. I don't want to pretend that battle field is easy or anything on my terms. I need my Jesus to guide me to love just as He has from the beginning that I said yes to Him. Even though I know the opportunities will be there I want to ask Jesus to meet me there.

There is nothing short of it that He will but asking Him is allowing our hearts to invite Him along with partaking of His partnership. I think the fact this program is called Love Thy Neighborhood is so fitting because Neighborhood means community. Community means feeling fellowship with one another. Therefore if a Neighborhood is to live to it's true definition that means   we must share each others needs.

That's why 18-30 year olds like me have agreed to take on this mission with Love Thy Neighborhood. This is why I and many others will go to places like Scarlet Hope because we want to see value restored. It's why we reach out to be a hug truly listening because it's a desire to let others know what love really looks like.

 We have the opportunity to create safe environments for these women. Especially for the 85% who were abused as little girls. Just as  Hoseas was an illustration of God's love to Gomar it is  time to chase after these individuals and many other to let them know of Jesus who longing  loves them.


 Hosea 3:2-3
So I brought her for 23 ounces of silver and 10 bushels of barley. Then I told her, " You must wait for  me a long time. Don't be a prostitute to offer yourself to any man. I will wait for you"

 This man Hosea saw so much value He was willing to buy her that she may not be a slave any more. It's one of my favorite stories and I think this speaks volumes. It's image of sacrifice which is what Jesus does for us everyday.

I hope you will join me in this prayer and you'll take some time to check out:

https://scarlethope.org/ and  https://lovethyneighborhood.kindful.com/1617-year-team/-april-smith

 Lets pray for our opportunities today even where we are!