How we view homeless people

In the past two months God has really laid a lot on my heart for the homeless demographic in Central Arkansas.
We pass them on the roads daily. We make a side remark about they can do better than that? They just want my money for drugs and alcohol. And don't get me wrong there's been MANY of times I've done the same thing. But have you ever taken a moment to ask their story? They have a story just like you and I do. There's a reason they are on the roads.

Its easy to get in the midst of our own friend "groups" and not think of others outside of it. Jesus had his 12 disciples but He would always walk with the sinners, the outcasts, the sick.  The homeless are considered the outcast of our society. They don't have the support that they need in order to get off the roads. If we come together as a body we can change the statistic's of homelessness and bring restoration to these people.

It excited me a couple times a month to go out and give coats, a hot meal, and a listening ear to these people. Its a mission I feel led to do each month. It brings joy to my heart to go out and make a difference.

What are you doing to make a difference in your community, work place, family, friends? You can be the change one life at a time!!

this is Unas. I have met her twice now. She is a beautiful lady inside and out. I am grateful I have met her. 

Honoring my Mum

I am blessed!! This woman is a mum that has gone the extra mile for me since birth. My mother is beautiful, loved, cherished, great, encouraging, helpful, and most importantly a Woman of God. She has loved me when I was unlovable. She has prayed for me when no one else believed in me. She has been there when no one else was. She has done more than what most mums would ever think to do. She is the backbone of our family. My mum believes in my dreams to change the world for Christ, when most people think I am CRAZY, She doesn't. My mum is my cheerleader from day to day. She is always reminding me of my calling that God has called me too. I am forever grateful for a mum who goes the Extra Mile!!!
Thanks for all you do for me Mum!!!!!!! You are loved!!!!!!!

A Year in Review

A year ago April 13th, I graduated from Mercy Ministries. This program changed my life, from death to life. From victim to victor. From prisoner to freedom. From darkness to light. From hopeless to hope. From anger to joy. From lies to truth. Was defined as a person who would never live free from my addictions before I walked into Mercy BUT as I walked out of Mercy I was a woman full of life, living in freedom.
As I left Mercy I knew it was time for a challenge. It wasn't going to be easy living in freedom outside of Mercy's four walls. One thing I did know: I was up for the challenge. I was ready to face reality. I hadn't worked hard for 6 months to come out and fail. So I was determined to live it out. And I did! Its had its challenges but the challenges ONLY make you a stronger person in the Lord.

A verse I stand on daily:
The enemy came to steal, kill, and destroy. But God came so I could live life and live it abundantly! John 10:10
I love it because the enemy did come to do all of this and he did for many years. Now a year of living life abundantly! Wow I wouldn't change it for ANYTHING!!!! I am grateful for the life I have today. People who have stood by my side, encouraged me, loved me, helped me. Its all about support. God didn't want us doing this life alone.

I had a job within a month of being home. Coming on one year of being there! I work as a case worker or (mental health para-professional) at Arkansas Counseling. How blessed am I to pour into lives each day of hurting people. Loving on kids and helping them each day bring joy into my own life. My life verse that I try to live out each day is:


Isaiah 61
^1-7 The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me.
He sent me to preach good news to the poor, 
   heal the heartbroken,
Announce freedom to all captives, 
   pardon all prisoners.
God sent me to announce the year of his grace— 
   a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies— 
   and to comfort all who mourn,
To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, 
   give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,
Messages of joy instead of news of doom, 
   a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.
Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness" 
   planted by God to display his glory.
They'll rebuild the old ruins, 
   raise a new city out of the wreckage.
They'll start over on the ruined cities, 
   take the rubble left behind and make it new.

Do you have a scripture that you consider your life? God gave this scripture after Mercy last year. Some friends and I were having a worship night last spring when God revealed new purpose into my life. I am called to be a part of seeing people set free out of bondage. Its exciting to see small pieces of the puzzle coming together in my life. 

A short glimpse of my 25th birthday last year. I was actually able to celebrate and live it in freedom! It was a sweet time with close friends and family. It put a new perspective on life and how you can live life in abundance. 

I had an awesome opportunity to speak with Nancy Alcorn (founder/President of Mercy) Fall 2011. Its really awesome to see all my mess I had been in turn into a message for others. I am blessed to be able to share with others the trials I've been through to help them know there is HOPE for them too. 

It was a privilege to share all God had done in life. My goal is to allow God to use me,to change one life at a time. I love sharing with others, its may first passion in life. Nancy is a woman that inspires me each day to be a better person. She had a passion at age 27 to start a ministry called Mercy. She started off with I believe just 1,000 dollar  to start a program for hurting women and take them in free of charge. With Nancy being faithful 28 years ago to Gods call, I can stand here free from all things. 

March and April 2012 were big months for me. I was interviewed on Nancy's radio show. The theme was "Spring Cleaning" cleaning the negativity out of your mind. How much negativity we get stuck in our minds, in just ONE DAY??? What do you do to combat those negative thoughts? I first go straight to what God says about that negative thought. I combat it with the word of God. Speak it out loud. Speak directly to the enemy and tell him he has NO power over your mind or thoughts. You have a sound mind in Jesus name. The word of God is what keeps you free from all bondage. We  talked on the radio also about surrounding yourself with positive support. A couple of people in your life who will speak truth to you on your good and bad days! The people who will stand with you and fight with you no matter what! 

April 27th I was able to speak in Nashville at the home there. I felt very honored that God would allow me to go back to one of the Mercy homes and encourage the current residents. I walked into the Nashville home and just wanted to encourage each girl and love on each of them. I ate dinner with residents and other people who were there supporting Mercy. When I spoke to these precious girls and others, the passion just resonated within in me to encourage them/show them their is HOPE in all things. It brought much joy to see some of their faces light up. Its my heart to speak into the lives of hurting people. 

Here are a few pictures of my highlight of that night! 

Lara a precious friend who encourages/believes in me/loves me! I am blessed

Nancy's dog Jude at the Nashville house! Finally got to give him some loves!

Amber is a sweet Mercy Sister. She graduated from Lincoln home also. We shared together that evening.Blessed to have met her. 

The next day I ran a half Marathon! This was a huge victory for me to run and be HEALTHY!!!! I had such fun with it. Alot of my race I was thanking God that I was healthy to run a half and running for a cause and that is Mercy Ministries. First off God saved my Life but used Mercy Ministries/Staff there to get me to where I am today! I am eternally thankful for this ministry. Here are a few race pictures!!!      

Anu is a new Mercy sister from Finland. She is an amazing woman of God. She is an INCREDIBLE runner. I ran the first 3 miles with her and said GO FOR IT! Shes awesome! Grateful for her friendship!

The team who supported Mercy in the Marathon! Mercy is blessed by many supporters!

before the race!!!! 

Amy Lentz was super sweet to get up early to pray with us before the race! These women inspire me to run with a purpose!!

My life is a filled with many blessings! I am grateful for the opportunities that I have had! God continues to work and use me through daily things!!!!! 

Slave Prayer or Sonship Prayer?

I'm not great at blogging nor do I do it often! So bare with my randomness, run on sentences, fragments, and may not make sense!

A pastor and mentor spoke a little on the topic I'm going to hit on today. Are we having a mentality of a Slave prayer life or a Sonship prayer life?  So me being curious, I went and did research for myself. This is one thing I'm huge on. You definitely can receive a word from another person (its what fellowship/mentorship is for) but for it to become truth in your life you need to search it out for yourself. So this is exactly what I did.

At one point under Pharaoh's rule there was 400 long years of Slavery in Egypt. This was a horrible time, we can only imagine. The prayer of these people were wanting OUT. If only God you would give us enough food to survive on and not see my children starving. Or if you wouldn't beat my wife when you have a party. The hearts of hurting people. These people had NO choice but to be in slavery. They would cry out to God to break them free. And this was a continuous cry out to God. The cool thing about this story was Joseph was able to Interpret Pharaohs dream. He ultimately was able to help bring them out of Famine/slavery.

We all have seasons in life where we pray the same prayer over and over. Begging God to help us and take away whatever it is. But praying over and over the same thing is not receiving the Grace given by ONLY God. He has done it already on the Cross. You are forgiven, you have already been brought out of Egypt. Receive the freedom in your circumstances that God has given you. Just sit back and let God do the healing now.

The Sonship prayer is turning the prayer of God help me be set free from (______) to God I am free from (______), I receive this forgiveness.
Adam uses this example of the Sonship prayer: God given me more discipline in my life in this area (_____) to God give the desire to do (_____) whatever it is.




As we challenge ourselves in our prayer life we will begin to see the shift in our relationship with God.

Disciplined?

Discipline: Training to act in accordance with rules.

This has been on my heart lately. Most of my life I have struggled with living a lifestyle of discipline. Because discipline doesn't happen over night its a daily lifestyle. I love starting my day out with God and exercise, with this said it happens about twice a week. I'll start my week off GREAT then slowly start setting my alarm later and later, then a SNOOZE and another SNOOZE...Who here can relate to this? This is a cycle that I'm daily making a choice to break.
So I began to pray for discipline and right after I began to pray for more discipline I had a slap in the face from God it felt like. I was listening to a preacher/mentor in my life on a Saturday evening recently and he began to speak on DISCIPLINE!!!! I was like OKAY God what do you want me to learn from this. This was the BIG slap in the face that has changed my mindset and my life. My whole perspective has changed in that I am THANKFUL! Here is what Pastor Adam Had to say:

"Quit praying to be more disciplined act on it and make it a daily lifestyle. Daily get up when you don't feel like it. Do your school work, dont just expect a good grade." 


My whole life was rocked that Saturday evening. I would pray for discipline but nothing would "happen" until I put action into my life. So if you are looking for a life change act on it with Faith!!!! God wants us to all be disciplined! Pray for it but also ACT on it!!

week 2 goal: Find an area you want to be more disciplined in and start making changes today. God is ready to move in your life in a different way this year!!!

2012 Are You Ready?

As most of us during this time of year will take a moment to look back at the year. Then you start to dream for 2012. As you look into 2012, do you DREAM BIG or do you settle for day to day life? Something to consider.
Recap of 2011:
*Spent the New Year in Arkansas. Going back to California to finish Mercy, Looking for Freedom.
*Spent the first four months of 2011 at Mercy Ministries. challenging time but the outcome has been life changing. Healed, Restored, Hopeful, Challenged, Excited for life, Free.
*April 13, 2011 Graduated from Mercy. Best day of my life in 24 years. I had a newness about life and ready to live life. God did a Miracle. Do you believe in Miracles?
*May got a job at Arkansas Counseling. A job I actually loved.
*July 4, 2010 had a boating accident. PT for a few weeks. Wasn't fun but thought me to just be STILL and not always on the go. Also slowed down my exercise. God showed me the importance of rest! If you know me I'm a spit fire always on the go!
*August 2010 spoke with Nancy at a small church in Arkansas. Giving God the glory in all things is my goal.
*September started College back and finished with a 4.0 for the first time.
Went to a Woman's Conference and saw some Mercy Sisters.
* November started helping out in 412 ministries at my church. Its fun to not just work day to day with 5-7 graders but also serve in the church with this age group.

Just a quick year in review. I am thankful for 2011 and where God has brought me out of the mess I was in and turned it into a message that others can benefit from. But as we role into 2012 my heart is about to explode for the vision and heart I have to change one life at a time. I know that God is up to something big in my life and a lot of others around me. I didn't go through all the things that I did to just sit around and get by day to day but I came out on the other end to CHANGE THE WORLD. God has called each of us to be the Light of the World where ever we are. So whether you are sitting in an office each day, selling things, making phone calls, whatever it is find a way to make a difference in one person's life that day. Gods ready to use YOU but are you ready to be obedient to his call in 2012? Lets take the eyes off of ME and turn it into serving others.

Week 1 Goal: Make a difference in one person's life each day.
Whether that's a hug, word of encouragement, a smile, listening to someone, praying for someone, making a phone call to someone you have needed to do for a while, forgive someone, write a letter to someone. Just a few ideas. If you have more of a creative way leave a comment. I'd love to hear how you are making a difference in one's life!