Season of Thankfulness

Hello Friends! I hope this finds you well, and you are spending this season enjoying time with loved ones. Throughout this season I challenge you to find small opportunities to be thankful and to give! Whether it's giving a smile to an elderly woman, or being thankful for something as simple as the sunrise, find the little things, and watch them transform into big things. Allow this season of thankfulness and giving to move you. It's easy to get caught up in the busyness and hustle and bustle, but just try and be present. Be present in each beautiful little moment.

Speaking of hustle and bustle, yesterday I found myself in HEB, with just about every other person in Houston. All around the store baskets were quickly being pushed around as people rushed passed each other trying to fulfill their grocery lists. Some people looked angry as they navigated through the basket traffic, and others didn't even bother to look up and acknowledge the people next to them. Baskets were filled to the brim with food of all sorts. The scanners echoed loudly throughout the check out lines. And yet, through all of this hustle and bustle, there was little excitement. People were rushed, stressed, and some down-right angry. I have to admit, I was one of them. I just needed to get my errands taken care of, and get back home to the next thing on my list. I made it to my car at the very back of the parking lot, slung my groceries in, then jumped in my seat to take a quick breather. I sat for a moment, then took off to accomplish the next thing on my list.

This morning, I decided I needed a little break from the rat race we call life. I headed down to L&F to see the people there. As I was walking up, I heard joyful voices, music, and lots of laughing. The smell of fried chicken hung in the air, and all around there were smiles! "Welcome!" An unfamiliar voice greeted me. Turns out today was an early Thanksgiving celebration. A local police officer and several ministries from his community got together to put the event on. Y'all, it was awesome! There was home cooking, a DJ, and best of all pure happiness. It looked like one big family reunion. Everyone was dancing and visiting, laughing and smiling. As I visited with several homeless people they couldn't help but express how happy and thankful they were. It's funny ya know, these people have no turkey dinner, no home, and some no family, yet here they were rejoicing and celebrating. As many got their plates, they took time to say grace, and give thanks for the food and fellowship. Today, under that roof, there was no division, just love and joy. People with plenty and people with nothing. Black, white, and brown. Religious, and not religious. Conservative and liberal. Yet instead of any negativity, the air was filled with joy, thankfulness, giving and of course that fried chicken smell! This was the kind of joy that could leave any heart filling so full.

Y'all the holidays can be hard. I get it. Whether it's the loss of someone, disagreements and division within families, the stress of hosting, or many other things. But this holiday season we have 2 choices. We can allow the busyness, and the stress to steal our joy. We can spend time frustrated, angry and ready for the holidays to end, or we can chose the opposite. You can choose joy. You can choose to be joyful and give thanks in the little things. Besides, if you are reading this, I bet you have a lot to be thankful for. This Holiday season you will have a roof to celebrate under, food to eat, and a bed to sleep in. Some don't even have that, yet they will be so joyful this season. You may find them on park benches or under bridges, but I guarantee you, you will find them telling you how blessed they are. They can find such blessing in their humble lives. Find the blessings in your life.

 This season give gifts! Give the gift of love. Give the gift of joy. See these aren't physical gifts. They don't cost you any money, yet these gifts are somehow always the most valuable and memorable. Allow yourself to live in the moment. Throughout this season I challenge you to find small opportunities to be thankful and to give! When you see the homeless person at a stoplight, give them a smile. When you wake up each morning be thankful for something as simple as the sunrise, find the little things, and watch them transform into big things. Allow this season of thankfulness and giving to move you. It's easy to get caught up in the busyness and hustle and bustle, but just try and be present. Be present in each beautiful little moment. Joy comes in many forms, and you never know if the moment you chose to be present and embrace the joy will be the moment you see the angels among us.

Matthew 25:35-40

The Hardest Battles

"Sometimes I wonder why God tries to give me more than I can handle. I've tried to do good, but living like I do now got me wondering if there's anything good left in life."

Hi there. I hope you're doing good. I'm humbled you've chosen to come here to read once more, and if this is your first time, welcome! Today's story really reminded me of the importance of knowing God is with you wherever you go and will never abandon you. It's a reminder to be courageous, and believe. It's a reminder to know that while the power of evil calls loudly, and hides under the glimmering veil of pleasure and amusement, God calls too. However, God calls us softly. He stands with open arms. There are no bells or whistles, and upon fist glance, it's easy to miss the call. But if you listen for just a second longer, you will hear one promises a moment of self-serving pleasure and a life time of emptiness and searching for the next moment of opportunity. While the other promises a life time of divine love, endless mercy, and fulfillment.

The other day, I saw a new face at Loaves and Fishes, and decided to go meet him. As I sat down with him I asked him his name. "My name B, Like A then the next letter B." B and I visited for a minute on the food, and the weather, and laughed as the pigeons stood around waiting to grab B's leftovers. As we continued to visit for a while, he looked at me and locked eye contact, "Can I ask you something," he said. I told him ask away, and with out skipping a beat he said, " Do you think God ever gives us more than we can handle." Whoa. That definitely caught me off guard. I thought to myself, how am I supposed to answer this?! As if he could read my mind he said, "Never mind, you don't have to answer, y'all church people always come down here telling' us it'll be ok and to pray but y'all just aint understand what we goin through." He started to stand up. I grabbed his hand and looked him in the eyes. "You're right. You are so right that we don't understand, but I want to. Will you stay and share your story with me." B looked at me, then looked around and with a sigh he sat down.

As soon as he sat down he said, "I want to tell you my story, but I just want to tell it, I don't want to talk about it, because I don't like to talk about it." He began slowly and softly, "I lived a good life before this, but then it happened and it made it hard for me to want to live like that. I lost my house in a fire." He stared off into the distance, as if he was far away, back in the moment it happened. Then he choked up, "I lost my family too." As soon as those words left his mouth, he looked at me, "Sometimes I wonder why God tries to give me more than I can handle. I've tried to do good, but living like I do now got me wondering if there's anything good left in life." I looked at him for several seconds before responding, "Ya know B, I think God gives the strongest people the hardest battles. I think he gives people battles they can't face on their own, but that doesn't mean they can't overcome them." He looked at me puzzled. "Have you ever heard the parable of the footprints in the sand?" I asked him. He shook his head no, and asked me to tell him. So I shared this with him. One time a man was walking along a beach, he got to the end, and looked back on his foot prints, all along the way there was two sets of prints. One was his and one was God's. However, the man became angry, he looked back on the hardest time in his life, and only saw one set of prints. He called out to God asking him where he was during that time, and wondering why God abandoned him in his hardest time. God answered him in a quiet voice, "My son, there is only one set of prints there, because in your hardest times, when you couldn't go on, I carried you. Those were my footprints."

"But why does he give us those battles that we can't face without him?" B asked. Again, I was at a loss for how to answer that. "I don't think we will ever know B, but my guess is so we will learn to trust him. If he didn't give us a reason to trust him, would we ever truly be able to trust?" B looked up and with the saddest eyes and said, "Do you think God loves someone like me? I've done so many bad things." My heart broke for him. "Sometime it just seem easier to do whatever than do good things." B said. "Oh B, you are so loved, and nothing you do can ever be too great for God. He will never stop loving you!"  B and I stood up, we embraced in the tightest hug, and shared several more words and a prayer before I left.

My friends, we are all B's in life. How often do we look at life's challenges and wonder if it is more than we can handle. How often do we look at the footprints in the sand and angrily ask God why he abandoned us, before bothering to see those were his foot prints. How often do we chose the path of ease and pleasure, only to be left feeling empty in no time. Only to be left wondering, "Why did I do that?" "What's wrong with me." "Does God hate me?" "I've had such a bad past and done so much, no one can forgive me, especially not God." The list could go on and on. The fact of the matter is simple. God will not abandon you, and when the going gets tough, call to him, and he will carry you! You've never gone too far down the road to turn around.

God calls us softly. He stands with open arms. There is no bells or whistles, and upon fist glance, it's easy to miss the call. But if you listen for just a second longer, you will hear he promises a life time of divine love, endless mercy, and fulfillment.

Who would've thought it would take a homeless man struggling with his own faith to be a reminder of these things, but God works in mysterious ways. If we listen quietly, you will hear him calling, and along the way you may just meet some of the angels among us.

Joyful!

Hello,

This isn't an actual story, I just wanted to share in my joyfulness! This week at Loaves and Fishes, I saw several youth organizations there helping, including some of my own students!! Seeing young people serve brings me so much joy!! The future of our church lies with them, and what better way to teach them about their faith than by living it, and serving the least among us!!

In the mean time, here are some of my favorite quotes.

The Cross You Bear

I sat in my kitchen this morning watching the rain pour down the windows, and the more it rained, the more I thought about my homeless friends. "What are they doing on a day like today?" "Do they have to live in wet clothes until it finally stops raining?" "How unfair." "Why them?" Thoughts swirled through my mind, but I didn't want to think of them suffering while I sat in a warm, dry house. I picked up a book, and no sooner had I started reading it than I came across this "Don't be afraid. There must be a cross, there must be suffering, a clear sign that Jesus has drawn you so close to his heart that he can share his suffering with you. Without God, we can only spread pain and suffering around us." - St. Teresa of Calcutta

As I read that over and over, I thought of the world. How often do we look, but do not see? How often do we listen but do not hear? If only we would look upon each other with love and see beyond the surface. If only we could see the crosses each other bears. You see, every single one of us has a cross which we bear. Some bear it silently, while others share theirs. Some crosses are huge and heavy, while others are much smaller, and light, but regardless we all bear a cross.

The more I thought about that the more I realized that through these crosses and the hard times or sufferings we face in life, we encounter Christ in the most intimate and beautiful way. When we suffer or go through hard times is when we seem to hit our knees. When the cross becomes too heavy, we cry out, desperate for help, whether human or divine. But how much easier and more fulfilling would life be if we asked Christ to walk with us every step of the way instead of just when the cross got heavy? How much easier and lighter would our crosses be if we called for the divine help no man can provide, and realized that through our suffering was glory! Because through that suffering, you spent a few minutes of intimate time in prayer, or in thought about Christ; Time you otherwise wouldn't have spent.

That led me to my next thought. The faithfulness of the poor. My homeless friends are poor in earthly belongings only. I thought of the faith they shared proudly, and their desire to grow in Christ. Certainly, they have large crosses to bear, more so than most of us can imagine, but those are the people who call on God! I thought back to all the times they wanted to pray together, to all the times they asked for prayer, and most especially, to all the times they reminded me of how good God is. They are not afraid to cry out asking him to help bear their burdens.

Why are we afraid to ask for help? Are we too proud? Are we worried he will say no? Do we even want the help? Well, let me tell you what, our God is great!! He will never leave you alone to carry your own cross. In fact, he will carry you when the cross gets too heavy.

I guess my point is this: So often we spend time self-pitying, worrying, and feeling weighed down by the cross. Not seeing other people's crosses, and honestly not caring about them. Who among us doesn't feel those things? However, instead of letting the weight of the cross to crush us, we have to turn to the one who carried the ultimate cross. We have to invite and allow Christ to help us carry our cross. It's scary, and it's hard, because we like to be in control and we don't want to bruise our pride, but in these times, we have to let go, and let God. It is in these times when you can feel the love and mercy of Christ in it's simplest form. Besides, he carried the cross of salvation, who better to help you carry yours?

I've been searching for you...

Hi again, I wanted to share a quick story with you.

Today as the lunch line began, I found my old friend, Benjamin, coming out of the line. (He's featured in an earlier post if you're curious). His eyes were cast down, and he was walking slowly. I called out to him, and he lifted his head. As our eyes met, a smile streched across his face, and he excitedly walked over to me. "Oh my friend, I haven't seen you in weeks, and I've been searching for you." I assured him that while I could not be there every day, I was always there in spirit, and he was in my prayers everyday. He smiled his goofy grin with a mouthful of food, and nodded "That is very good." He said.

My heart overflowed, but then it got me thinking. How often in life are we the Benjamin's? I don't know how often I find myself asking God "Where have you been? I haven't seen you in weeks, I've been searching for you." Whether we realize it or not, we as humans search for positivity, for happiness, and ultimately for Christ. So often we spend our whole life searching, that we forget to lift our eyes up from the ground, and if only we did we would see the beauty that lays in front of us. Just like Benjamin is always in my prayers, so too is God always in our midst. So next time we find ourselves searching, let's lift our heads and our hearts, and open our ears. Maybe that will be the time we hear God saying "Oh my friend, I've been searching for you, where have you been?" Maybe the one time we lift our eyes, we will see the angels among us.

Praying with the faithful

Hello, I hope this finds you doing well. Life sure does get busy quick, and makes it hard to find time to serve and to write, but I am so excited to be able to sit down and share my heart with you today!

For the past few weeks, I haven't been able to find time to see my homeless friends. I found myself thinking of them often, but also found myself in a bit of a funk. I felt more negative than usual, and disconnected from God. This weekend, I decided I needed to make it happen, and I was going to find time to go see them one way or another.

Since I couldn't make it Saturday, I decided I would go today. I haven't been to Loaves and Fishes on a Sunday before, but I'd heard they had mass, so I went to check it out. As soon as I walked in I got emotional. They had transformed what was normally a small dining hall into seating for about 50. The hall was bustling with boy scouts, and other groups that had come to join the mass, and volunteer at lunch after. Looking out the window, was a line quickly forming of mostly men, and a few women, eagerly waiting to get in. Some were dirty, most came already sweaty from the heat outside, they all had the few things they owned with them, but they all came with the biggest of smiles.

As they began to enter THEY greeted us!! They came in and shared hugs, and handshakes as they filled the seats one by one. A few minutes later, Catholic mass began. Have you ever been to a church where it felt like everyone was trying to be perfect, and judging you on your every move? Yeah, me too. Well this my friends, couldn't have been more different. Everyone in there was so genuienly happy to see each other, and so welcoming. Throughout the mass you would hear "Amens" and "Praise God" as different parts of the mass spoke to the people. I have been in many Catholic churches were I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, but I have been to very few where I felt it as strong as I did today. During the sign of peace, the homeless walked all over the hall greeting their friends excitedly. Yall, I am telling you, if more people were excited to be at church on Sunday's like some of these people were, the world would be a very different place.

By the end of mass, I'm pretty sure I had gone through an entire pack of kleenex, because the emotion and joy of witnessing Christ at work in these people's hearts was overwhelming! Next up was lunch time.

As soon as the mass ended lunch began to be served. I headed out to my favorite place outside and waited for them to come. Within minutes, the familiar faces began to pour onto the patio. Once again,  I got emotional as the hugs started. You never realize how much you mean to these people until you don't go everyday, but more importantly, I never realized just how much they meant to me. It took me a minute to realize my heart had been aching for the past several weeks to see these people; to see my friends.


I was reminded throughout lunch of the great glory of our God. These people, who literally have nothing were quick to offer me their water, their dessert, or their seat. It made me wonder, could I share like that if I were in their shoes? Do I share like that now, having more than enough? Then I realized, once again, that was the beauty of God working through these faithful people.

We shared the beauty of the mass, a meal, many laughs & countless hugs. My heart is so full today, and I am reminded that indeed, there is always angels among us.

All he had to give

Today I met a man who quite literally tried to give all he had. As he sat down from lunch, I walked over him to sit by him. We introduced ourselves and started talking. The conversation naturally turned to the small, almost empty little pepper grinder he had on the table. "You came prepared with food seasonings today I see." I said. He proudly picked it up and showed it to me, " You see it says mixed peppercorns?" He asked excitedly. " I do see that, and it looks delicious!" I replied. Without thought he stood up, I asked him where he was going, well to get you a plate so you can try some of my peppercorn on the food!" He said, as if I should have already expected that. After kindly declining a lunch plate, he then tried to open his peppercorn jar to share a few with me, and "Maybe I could try them on my supper later." Once again, I insisted he keep it, and save it for himself. As the conversation switched from the pepper grinder and continued I noticed he kept looking at his dessert. Today, he happened to be served two small donuts. Again, without second thought, he wrapped a donut in a napkin and handed to me, "Keep this." He said. I tried to decline, and insist he keep his food, since that was probably the only meal he ate today, but he insisted. So, I took the donut, which at this point the icing had melted off of in the napkin. As I hugged him and got up to leave, He stopped me, this time, pepper grinder in hand again. "Would you like to take this?" He asked. My eyes filled with tears. I promised him I'd see him soon, and I would try it then, but I wouldn't take it. He smiled a big grin, and said that would do. Then he picked up his belongings, which was all of one shirt, a blanket, and that pepper grinder and walked off.

I know it seems like a silly story, but this man literally wanted to give me one of the few things he owned. He didn't have to think about it, he just wanted to give to make those around him happy. How often do we do that? I know I don't do it near enough. It's so easy to find ourselves selfishly holding onto things, or keeping more than we need, and finding ways to rationalize it. Yet here was a man with nothing, who wanted to give everything. It reminded me of the love and mercy that is poured out on us daily from God. He wants to give us everything, yet so often we are caught up in our own selfishness, and hanging onto things of no value, we can't let go to find the things that are of value. How much happier would we be if we gave instead of received? How much better of a place would this world be if we all gave all we had, and I don't mean money. I mean love, time & prayers. I mean the old clothes and toys just cluttering up your house. Maybe then we could work hand in hand with the angels among us. Maybe then someone else would see the angels among us through YOU.

It's not always easy

Hello, thanks for coming back to read. I want to be the first to tell you: In life, doing good isn't always easy, but it is ALWAYS worth it. Today was my first day back at Loaves and Fishes in almost two weeks, just due to work. As I parked and looked out to the line of people, something in me felt different.

See, the thing is, I didn't really want to go serve today. I wanted to stay home and finish the 97 other things on my to-do list. However, I had this feeling of guilt lingering in me, and I could hear God telling me "Go do this for me, and you will still get everything you need done. Trust in me." Begrudgingly, I thought, "Ughhh God, the beginning of the year is so stressful for teachers, and I really need to get things done, but I guess I'll go." So I went, heart-in-the-wrong-place and all.

I got there with my usual bag of lollipops to share something sweet with my friends. Instantly, I was greeted by hellos, high fives, hugs and "I'm happy to see you's". I was happy to be there, but my heart still wasn't in the right place. As I handed out candy, surrounded by mostly happy and thankful people, all I could focus on was the guy who just took two lollipops and didn't say thank you. "Seriously, what a jerk." I thought to myself.

As I walked through the door and got ready to serve, I stopped by to visit one of my favorites there, however, today just happened to be the day he wasn't in the mood to visit. WOW. I thought. I literally came here for nothing. At this point, I was really irritated. I felt like there were so many other places I could be. Right about that time, an older gentleman who I usually visit with came up to me. "Man I'm so glad you're back." he said as he laughed, "We some bad dudes and some sinners but you always be reminding us God watching over us." I started to smile. Somehow, like God always seems to do, he gave me a perfect teaching moment and a reminder of why I continue to go and serve.

The word sinners stuck out to me. I'm a sinner just like them, heck, we all are. Yet somehow, God calls us to serve others in a capacity far beyond what we will ever be able to understand. US!! ME and YOU!! Sinners, who are no better than the next guy, are asked to be like Christ to others. That's pretty amazing if you ask me.

Anyways, that one conversation changed my outlook on the rest of my visit. Instead, I thought of it as a privilege to be there. I reminded myself that I wasn't doing it for me, I was doing it for God. I was there to remind these people of the great mercy and beauty of God, and on the flip side, he used them to allow me to see his love.

I guess the point of today's story is to remind YOU. We're not perfect. We don't always have good intentions. Just because you see this blog and these pictures doesn't make me or you or anyone any  more or any less of a Christian. In fact, I'm not afraid to admit, I MESS UP... A LOT. But folks, we have a merciful God!!! In the times you feel doubtful, or feel like you don't have the time, go and do whatever God is pushing you to do. He will always provide! In the times you feel angry at the world, or at some, show them love! Trust in God to push you through it. In the times you feel lost, and like you have nowhere to turn, like God isn't listening, TURN TO HIM. See, it's in the times we don't want him, or "don't need him", that we actually need him most. Who knows, maybe that will be the time he will reveal his great mercy to you. Maybe that will be the time you feel his comfort. Maybe that will be the time he allows YOU to be like him to others. Maybe that will be the time you see angels among us.


Here are some pictures from today just to remind you and to remind me of the joy an hours worth of time, and some basic necessities brings to these people :)

The Need Is Great, But These Are The Faces of Hope!

Keeping up with a blog is a little more time consuming than I anticipated, but I promised these people I would share their stories, so that others may pray and hope for them too!

This is Deborah. She is the kindest, and funniest woman I have met there! She works at the kitchen to help with her housing, and to give back to those who gave given to her. She is an incredible woman who work 2 jobs to keep herself on the right track. Deborah is the smiling face so many people look forward to seeing daily. She doesn't have much, but I can't count the number of times I've heard her say "Some day if I get money I am going to help him". She is always thinking of others, and has a deep desire to help them.

This is Louie Louie also works at the Kitchen, but was homeless himself for a quite a while. He has incredible story about how faith in God steered him away from drugs, and onto a good path. Louie has a laugh that is absolutely contagious. He is always laughing and joking with anyone he encounters. He is a hard worker, and everyone loves visiting with him! He is such a beautiful person who truly sees in the good in everything.

This is Marcello. Marcello is from New York, he came here on the promise of a job. Unfortuntately, the job fell through. Marcello is fortunate enough to have temporary housing in the area. He hopes to soon get back on his feet and continue his job as a baker. Marcello is absolutley brilliant!!

This beautiful lady is Mrs. Judy. She has the most welcoming personality. She is the first to greet any one with a great big hug! She has a special place in her heart for young girls struggling on the street. You will often find her sitting next to them listening to them, and giving them comfort. Mrs. Judy proudly wears the jewlery in the picture, which she says she purchased all for a dollar. It is such a treasurer to her, but she is the kind of person who would give it up in a heart beat if it meant she could help someone else. You can usually hear her telling people how good God is, and how blessed she feels. Seeing her is sure to put a smile on anyone's face.

 This is Will. I haven't gotten to know Will very well yet, but I am certain he is a beautiful soul!

Meet Cloud

"You know what, I wish all people did what you did."
"What did I do?"
"You looked us in the eyes, and treated us like real human beings."

This is Cloud, and these are the first words he said to me today. Isn't that crazy? We spend our days wishing for a new car, or a new job, or the latest iphone, and all these people wish for is to be treated like a human being. 

Cloud is a 39 year old man who struggles with drug addiction. As we shared a meal together, Cloud told me about how he got mixed up in drugs years ago. He had tears in his eyes as he began to tell me the life he'd lost over drugs. He lost 2 children, a loving girlfriend, his home, 2 jobs, vehicle, and friends. He fought back tears as he explained that all he wanted to do was to quit drugs. "The power of Satan is so strong, but I know the power of God is stronger. Please, Please pray for me." He said. "This is no one's fault but my own, so don't feel sorry for me, just pray for me." As he continued to talk, my heart broke for him. "You have no idea how hard it is to try and get off streets and off drugs, and feel like no one in the world cares for you." Wow, that one hit deep. Here was a 39 year old man who was on the verge of tears because he just wanted someone to acknowledge him, someone to care about him. As we finished visiting, I shared some words of encouragement, a hug, and promised him I would share his story, so others could pray for him too. Through more teary eyes, and the biggest smile, he managed to say Thank you.

It could be so easy for us to judge Cloud. So easy for us to say, "Well you did it to yourself," and you would be right to say he did it. Heck, Cloud himself admitted it. But see that's the thing, we could spend all day judging the homeless people and be left feeling angry and empty. Or, instead, next time we pass by them we could share a smile, say hello, or even just acknowledge them. Your smile alone may be enough to plant the seeds of hope for them, and who knows, maybe years down the road your smile is what a triggered a series of positive events in their lives. Saint Mother Theresa said it best, "We may not be able to do great things, but we can all do small things with great love." Besides,  you never know when you may be greeting an angel among us.

Angels Calling

Hi, it's been a while since I've written. I hope this finds you doing well. Ya know, I've heard the saying "Little miracles happen around us every day, you just have to open your eyes to see them." Days like today, I couldn't agree more with that.

Last week, I met a woman named Katherine. Katherine was in desperate need of a wheelchair. She was in an old wheelchair but it was basically falling apart on her. 

she was quiet and sat in the corner. Her friends approached me and asked if I could help them find one for her. I began my search on social media, but much to my dismay, I didn't yield any results. Next, I turned to local hospitals. I called one hospital, and they directed me to their internal medical supplies group. I left a message but didn't hear back for several days. When I finally did hear back, it was a man. He told me he did have a wheelchair, but he was leary to give it to me. As I introduced myself and we got to talking he stopped me and said, "But how did you get my number?" I thought that was weird. "I just left a message at the medical supplies number they directed me to," I replied. His response gave me chills... "I don't work for a medical supplies company or a hospital." I thought that was a little out of the ordinary. I responded to him "Wow, God is good then because he worked that out!" Again his reply floored me, "God is so good, and always works things out." The way the tone of his voice changed when he said that instantly brought tears to my eyes. After a little more visiting, we agreed on where to meet. "You will recognize me." He said about how to find him when I got there. After pause too long to be a coincidence, he described what he drove and where in the Bucees parking lot we would meet. (Don't worry it will be a safe meet up) :)

I called the woman who needed the wheelchair as soon as I got off the phone with him, and I could hear her crying through the phone, as she told me she had been looking for a year for someone to help her since she couldn't afford one.

It's pretty easy to blow off a conversation like that and chalk it all up to coincidence. However, I am convinced everything happens for a reason. Besides, how would my message wind up on a perfect strangers phone? How would he just happen to have a wheelchair he was willing to donate, and how would he happen to be driving through Houston.

God is so faithful and always provides! I have chills as I sit here wondering if maybe that was an angel among us.

Go forth and set the world on fire!

Meet my Friend, Benjamin

This is Benjamin. Benjamin is a beautiful soul, and so full of joy. Benjamin's story is a little different from the other stories because the community helped to tell it. Benjamin suffers from a large tumor on the side of his face that makes everyday tasks difficult for him. He is a little slower, but despite all of that he is always smiling. Benjamin was born in Africa (country unknown) and brought to America when he was little. Benjamin lived in Little Rock, Arkansas for the early years of his life. When he was in his late teenage years, his parents brought him to Houston, Texas. Benjamin's parents could not support him any longer, so they left him on a street corner in front of a soup kitchen. Benjamin has been living on the streets ever since. Benjamin's prize possession is the long coat he wears. It is covered in years of dust, but he proudly takes it with him wherever he goes. The community is so kind to him and always seems to take care of him. Today, I greeted him while he was getting his food. He was so excited, and showed me over to where he sits to eat. We squeezed in on a bench together. He was excited to show me what he had for lunch, and ask me where I was from. I watched as he struggled to eat, but when I asked how lunch was, he happily responded it was very good.  Although Benjamin struggles to eat, he never turns down seconds- haha! He is always in the best of spirits and you can feel the presence of God moving through this man!! Spending time with Benjamin always leaves me wondering if maybe there are angels among us. 

Be Not Afraid

Today's post is short and sweet :)

Don't let fear stop you from serving others! Be not afraid, the people you encounter are just hungry. Who knows, maybe you will encounter an angel among us.

Meet My Friend, Reginald

This is Reginald. Reginald has an incredible story, and is still writing his own story! Reginald was born and raised in Houston. He was raised by his Mother, and had a happy childhood. At a young age, Reginald fell into a bad crowd and got mixed up with drugs and alcohol abuse. For 40 years Reginald said, "Drugs and alcohol stole my life from me." He tried countless times to quit, but fell victim to the overwhelming addiction. A year ago, Reginald joined a 12 step program. His 84-year-old mother was ecstatic to finally be getting her son back. She made him promise he would finish the program even if she passed away. A week before he graduated the program, his mother passed. After successful completion of the program, Reginald decided he had no choice but to board up his house where he previously lived in addiction. He moved to a Catholic charity homing program where he now works as a cook for the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen. Reginald is quiet, but if you ask him about his story, he is so proud to share it with you. He loves being able to serve, and be a testament to those who may be going through what he went through. Reginald gives all glory and praise to God. he couldn't express to me enough how he was so excited for the new life he had found for himself. He said, "The power of God is good." Reginald is still working to continue his life on a positive track. He hopes to one day live in his own home again. Reginald is hard-working, and so welcoming. He is an example to so many around him who are going through what he went through. Please pray for Reginald! Visiting with people like Reginald leaves me wondering, if maybe there are angels among us.

Meet My Friend, Phillip

This is Phillip. Phillip and I spent time getting to know each other today, and I was lucky enough to hear his story. He was excited to get to share his story with you, and me.

Phillip is from the country of Sudan. He grew up there, in very modest conditions. In the 1980's a civil war ravaged the country, and Phillip was forced to flee for the safety of his life. Phillip never shared with me if he left with family, or left on his own. After making it safely to Nairobi, Kenya, Phillip told me, "He found some Americans." Those Americans brought Phillip to America, where Phillip imagined he would live the American dream. Upon his arrival, Phillip spoke little English and had no belongings except the clothes on his back. Phillip has been in America for close to 20 years now. He works where he can, but struggles to find a permanent home. Phillip is so kind and incredibly grateful for what he does have. Today he simply wanted to sit and share a meal and a conversation with someone he felt like cared about him. Phillip left everything after the war destroyed his life, and yet finds happiness in the day to day. Phillip comes to the soup kitchen every day and sits quietly eating his lunch. Just from looking at him, you would never know the struggle he has faced. Visiting with people like Phillip leaves me wondering, if maybe there are truly angels among us.

My Purpose- Works of Mercy

Hello Friend

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. Whether you are here out of curiosity, or because you feel called, I am glad you stopped in. Here, all are welcome.

I wanted to share my purpose in creating a blog. Let me preface with this: I am not a writer. I am however, a long-winded, gramatically incorrect story teller.

As Christians, heck, even just as good people, it's easy to forget about those we don't see every day. My blog purpose is simply to promote awareness, and mostly, to encourage others to jump head first into this journey with me. What I don't want to do, is come off as a pretentious, self righteous Christian who tells you what you should and shouldn't be doing. My job is simply to love all I  encounter. None of us are without sin, and that's what makes this journey so beautiful.

So to whoever you are, what ever you are going through, and where ever you are in life: YOU are worth so much. YOU are amazing, and YOU are loved!! If you find it in you to share a few hours of your time to spread that same message to others who deeply need to hear it, I would love to bring you on this journey with me. It's not always going to be easy, but it will always be worth it.

Maybe this mission isn't for you, and THAT'S OK!! Prayerfully consider one of these:

• Feed the hungry.
• Give water to the thirsty.
• Clothe the naked/those in need.
• Give shelter to the homeless.
• Visit the sick.
• Visit the imprisoned

If time is not something you can share right now, please keep us in your prayers! We need your prayers! Your prayers make any mission possible!!

Remember, You never know if those you are serving may be angels among us.

Ready, Set, JUMP! My First Mission.

"Ready, set, JUMP!!" That's what I found myself saying just a few short months ago before I jumped head first into my first mission.

Hi, My name is Lorrie. I am a 24-year-old Catholic.  I can't recite the Bible from memory. I don't claim to be a model Christian. I often slip up, whether its a curse word, white lie or a few too many beers. But it's funny, because God doesn't choose perfect people, he chooses sinners like me.

Let me start from the beginning: I grew up in a devout Catholic household, where my parents taught us the importance of church, and more importantly, showed an example of what it means to live out your faith. When times got tough, their faith always got stronger.

Fast forward to my first year of college. I attended Texas A&M University, and instantly felt drawn to St. Mary's in College Station. It wasn't until college when I first felt a deep desire stirring inside of me; the desire to do something remarkable. To be someone remarkable. I remember spending many nights in prayer asking God to show me my mission in life. College was a foundational time period for me. My faith was tested, knocked down, rebuilt, and tested again. I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt, St. Mary's lead me to a faith deeper than I realized I had. It took me several years to understand and appreciate what was built there.

Fast forward again to my first year of teaching high school. I thought initially that was God's plan for me. I remember coming home so defeated many days and crying on my floor. I was in utter desolation with my faith and my job. I prayed, I yelled, I begged, and I laid on the floor some more, feeling completely lost, alone, and emotionless. How could God leave me? I just wanted to do his will for me and here I felt lost and angry. I spent the next year or so feeling angry and empty. I would go to church and pray, and it felt like no one was there. However, I always had a faint voice in the back of my head reminding me of my time at St. Mary's. A wise priest taught me about spiritual desolation and the importance of keeping the faith during that time. I kept hearing his voice saying, "God hears you and will get you through it. There will be great happiness and mercy on the other side." Although there were many times throughout that first year I doubted I would ever find my mission on earth, I continued to pray and hope. My husband and my parents pushed me every day. They encouraged me to pray, and prayed for me when I couldn't.

Towards the end of my second year of teaching,  I had started throwing the idea of mission work abroad around. Almost suddenly after those thoughts came up, I was invited by some long-time friends to do a local mission in Houston. The idea was new, but appealing to me. I had never thought of mission work as something I could do twenty minutes from home. So I signed up. As soon as I got the email explaining the plans for the mission, I panicked. There in plain sight, it mentioned: "We will pray with them and talk with them about the crucifixion." I remember vividly thinking, "Oh nope, I'm not going to this anymore. Pray with people!? In public!? Pray with strangers, are you serious? I am NOT one of those people." I almost canceled that day.

I had a few days until the mission, so I spent a lot of time in thought about it. "Why was I so opposed to the idea of praying with people? I was Catholic, and I had prayed all my life. I knew my faith, why was I so scared?" My faith was mine, I didn't want to share it. But why? Couldn't someone else pray with these people? I just wanted to go on a mission and be seen. I wanted to brag about the good things I had done, but not really give the glory to God. I wanted to feel gratified, but not let down my wall. I felt angry at myself. I felt like I was letting God, myself, and my loved ones down. How is it I could've prayed so hard for so long, and all of a sudden I was overcome by selfishness?

The day came. I got up and told myself, still feeling very uncertain, just go and try it. As I pulled up to the church, I decided I'd go inside, just for a little bit. They happened to be having confessions that day. I walked into confession, mind swirling with thoughts of doubt and frustration. As I started to talk to the priest, he stopped me mid-sentence. "You are so selfish," he said. I froze, and chills worked their way up my back. "You're selfish," he said again. I'm telling you as quickly as he said it, I felt the resentment and ice finally break inside of me. "I am challenging you to step outside of your comfort zone and do something for others this week," the priest said. It felt as if the Holy Spirit had just smacked me in the face. I thought to myself, "You idiot, you have been praying for God to help you find a mission and find meaning and here he is dropping it in your lap, and you couldn't see it through your selfishness?" After some tears, and ugly truth, I walked out of the confessional with an entire new perspective. I sat in the pew for a few minutes and thought to myself, "This may be the beginning of God's mission for you, and you have to try this with an open heart." It was FINALLY time to take that leap of faith I'd prayed so long for. I stood up and whispered to my self, "READY, SET, JUMP!" I walked out of the church doors.

As I walked up to the group, I was instantly greeted with a warm welcome, even though I knew none of them! I didn't even notice my friends weren't there yet. The group leader started the day with a prayer. We prayed out loud, together, in the middle of the big cathedral steps in Downtown Houston. I let go and decided to fully join without reservations. Let me be the first to tell you, it is incredibly powerful to pray so humbly, yet so proudly, in public with a group of strangers. God was in the midst of that prayer, of that I am certain.

That day we split up and served in several different ways, but there are two things about that day that truly stood out to me and inspired me to continue. The first was a person. I had the pleasure to meet a young lady through the group who did mission work abroad. She truly let the light of Christ shine through her. She wanted no thanks, no glory, no recognition. It was her birthday, and of all the things she could've done, she chose to serve quietly next to strangers. She chose to be with the least among us. It's not often you have the opportunity to meet such a Holy person, but I truly felt like I had encountered Christ through her. The words she said with a smile stuck with me the entire day, and I still think of them often. "I love being able to be the hands and feet of Christ. God is so faithful!" How beautiful is that?! The hands and feet of Christ. She taught me what it meant to be less, and allow yourself to just be a vessel of Christ.

The second thing that happened that day was feeding the homeless. A little back story, as much as I am embarrassed to admit it... Before that day, I had a horrible outlook on homeless people. I hardly thought of them as human. I assumed they were all worthless individuals who just needed to get a job and get off the streets. It made me angry to see them panhandling. So the day of, when we met on the outskirts of "tent-city" (the name locals call a heavily homeless area in Houston) I was intimidated. I thought to myself, "This is another opportunity for God to show you his will for you, READY, SET, JUMP." I grabbed a few bags and went with a group of people into tent city.

All it took was my very first encounter for me to feel the tears welling up inside of me. How wrong I had been. I judged these people before I ever met them. They had names, they had stories, some had mental illnesses, but most of all they had incredible faith. They were kind, they wanted to visit, they wanted you to pray for them. Sure, some of them were on various drugs or alcohol. But it was then I thought to myself, "Who am I to judge?" Jesus himself ate with sinners, the company he kept was the least of those among us. I also thought of the bible verse, "Whatever you do for these, the least of my people, you have done for me." I felt a deep spiritual moving the likes of something I had never felt before.

Then I met Alex. Alex looked to be my age, maybe younger. He approached us and asked us for some food. We gladly gave him some. Then he asked us if we could pray for him. A stranger, a homeless stranger, so grateful for the little he had, asked other strangers to pray for him. It hit me. God had been preparing me for this moment all day, and for many years before that. I grabbed Alex's hand, and together we prayed. That, that simple prayer, was the most powerful thing I have ever experienced in my spiritual life. 

As we continued to walk through the area, we were blessed to have several more experiences like that. My heart felt so full. As our group met back up at the end, we were winding down our day. We decided to say a closing prayer, and pray for all the intentions of those we met today. Unlike at the beginning of the day when we started out as strangers, and I felt somewhat uncertain, I felt a strong connection to these people. I gladly joined hand in hand and prayed hard for these people. The entire way home I cried joyful tears. God had filled my heart with a new desire.

A few weeks later, I found myself with this organization again in front of Houston's Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen. I looked around and felt the same uncertain desire welling up. All it took was stepping out of my car and being greeted by the same warm greeting as the first time, and I was ready. We walked into the soup kitchen, and they gave us our job. Visiting. Our job was simply to walk through the crowd of homeless people and visit. Our job was to make them feel welcomed, and for that short lunch hour, to make them feel like human beings. Once again, I was shell shocked by the friendliness of the people, by their want to learn more about faith, and their longing for you to pray for them. The man leading the kitchen said it best, "They're just hungry".

After making several friends, the day came to a close. This time I found myself longing to go back. These people needed us, but we needed them just as much. From there I went back again, and again. Each time learning more and more about each one. Learning their names, their stories, and their goals. Praying with them, and crying with them. Sharing a meal, and sharing stories.

Although I haven't been serving the homeless for very long, it took many years, and much preparation for God to reveal his plan to me. However, I sit here writing this today, rejoicing in the joy and genuine happiness this brings me. I look forward to my visits now to see my friends. God is so faithful and shows that through the least of his people. Sometimes I can't help but wonder when I meet these faith-filled people, if they are really angels among us.