WOWJAM

So yesterday I went to volunteer at a WOWJAM for those of who don’t know, it is a large city wide event that is free to the General public. It is hosted by Stephen and Linda Tavani (Linda is Peaches from Peaches & Herb J ) and they throw a huge party with resources and events for families. Most families that come are from a low socioeconomic background. The whole purpose of the event though is to show the LOVE of CHRIST and give them free stuff like bikes, groceries etc.!

Though I went to help and volunteer, I was shocked at how much it ministered to me. Can I be real for a minute here...I once was a person who was depressed and even suicidal in my teenage years. We’re not talking those 1st world problems here, we are talking real issues. At one point my life was so low that I contemplated and made real plans on how to end it. I had heard some kids talking in church one day about if you go to hell for committing suicide so I eavesdropped, and there seemed to be no consensus about the answer. That worried me; I didn't want to spend eternity in Hell, and the uncertainty of it all made me pause. So in efforts to avoid Hell, I thought twice about going through with and thought I would endure hell on earth a little while longer. I remained depressed until a few years ago and I finally began to come out of the darkness with the help of self- assessments, therapists and God of course. Anyways, I say this because that seemed to be a major issue with people yesterday at the WOWJAM. There were many families who responded to the altar call and I could see pain dripping off of people.

Jambalaya Lunch for the crowd

There were young people crying, mothers crying and children yearning for God. Then they pulled a young man on stage, probably 12 years old and he was bawling and shaking and I think everyone took a deep breath in when they saw him. This young man looked like he had been through some deep emotional hurt. So I cried. I remembered my days in what I considered an emotional hole I couldn't get out of…So many feelings of shame, hurt, betrayal and pure confusion…


God is not the author of any of that. Through him ALONE I became free. It took some effort on my part though. I had to read to see what this bible was really about. I started with a kid’s bible and then I went online to get further explanations about parts I didn’t understand and I read MANY Christian blogs and my life changed within a matter of 2 months. I started to understand how God really feels about me, and that what I wanted to impart to every soul I met yesterday at the WOWJAM. What a glorious experience and what a Glorious God I serve. Praise his name!













Wednesday is Skid Row WOWJAM
Saturday is South Central J

Lessons from Saul

Lets read and take this step by step... We are in 1st Samuel chapter 9

1There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin... 2His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land. 

I'm assuming this is what Saul looked like with his fine self...

3One day Kish’s donkeys strayed away, and he told Saul, “Take a servant with you, and go look for the donkeys.” 4So Saul took one of the servants and traveled through the hill country ... but they couldn’t find the donkeys anywhere. 

5Finally...Saul said to his servant, “Let’s go home. By now my father will be more worried about us than about the donkeys!” 

6But the servant said, “I’ve just thought of something! There is a man of God who lives here in this town. He is held in high honor by all the people because everything he says comes true. Let’s go find him. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.”



So some would think that Saul's height and good looks would qualify him to be a king but let's look at his insides... So far we know nothing about the fact that he was a godly man but we do see that he was obedient and honorable to his earthly father and he exhausted his options in looking for the donkeys before he wanted to turn back. Also his servant is the one who suggests they go to a man of GOD to receive more guidance in finding the donkeys. Sometimes the help you receive is from people you may not expect it from and also in ways you wont expect it. Let's continue....



“But we don’t have anything to offer him,” Saul replied. “Even our food is gone, and we don’t have a thing to give him.”
8“Well,” the servant said, “I have one small silver piece. We can at least offer it to the man of God and see what happens!” ... 
“All right,” Saul agreed, “let’s try it!” So they started into the town where the man of God lived.... 
14So they entered the town, and as they passed through the gates, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the place of worship. 



So now they are by chance going up this road to meet and man of God named Samuel...

15Now the Lord had told Samuel the previous day,16“About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry.”
17When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, “That’s the man I told you about! He will rule my people.” 
18Just then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked, “Can you please tell me where the seer’s house is?” 

19“I am the seer!” Samuel replied. “Go up to the place of worship ahead of me. We will eat there together, and in the morning I’ll tell you what you want to know and send you on your way. 20And don’t worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.”


Wow so Samuel hits Saul with a whopper at the end of that one...Saul came up out of obscurity, yes he was handsome and tall. He was obedient to his father and this ended up leading him on a path to become KING. He was certainly no perfect king but he never took the time to get his heart all the way right and turned to God....


Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?”

22Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and placed them at the head of the table, honoring them above the thirty special guests.

                                 

It's been a while...

Wow it has been way tooo long for me to not write! GOD has been so good to me over the last few weeks life has been amazing, but I feel as though I lost some of my juice because I haven't been writing as much as I was supposed to.

Anyways here is some Joyce Meyer for you...

Thoughts and Words Are Intimately Connected

Proverbs 16:23-24 shows us that our thoughts and words are intimately connected. They are like bone and marrow, so close, it is hard to divide them (see Hebrews 4:12). Because of this, it's important that we have pleasant thoughts so we can also have pleasant words.

Our thoughts are silent words that only we and the Lord hear, but those words affect our inner man, our health, our joy and our attitude. The things we think about often come out of our mouths and sometimes make us look foolish, but if we live God's way, our thoughts and words can make our lives more enjoyable.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that you can let your thought life run in any worldly direction and then 'fake it' by speaking godly words. Either both are pleasing or both are negative and sinful. There is no middle ground.

Begin to operate in the mind of Christ, and you will step into a whole new realm of living. As you spend time letting Him adjust your thinking, you won't have to think about speaking pleasant words. It will just happen naturally!

Prayer Starter: God, I realize that my thoughts and words are connected. I don't want to try and 'fake' on the outside what isn't real inside. Please adjust my thoughts so that I can speak pleasant, godly words.