God's Ways

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  - (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Sarah writing here:

Hi, thanks for checking back in with us to read about what God's up to here in Wilmington, NC! 

Yesterday Mike and I were planning to go to the YMCA to exercise in the late afternoon so I decided to make dinner earlier in the day so we could just reheat it when we got home. Mike has been going out each day doing various things to continue pursuing God's direction in the plans for this ministry. He's been volunteering with various ministries that already serve food to people who are homeless, meeting with fellow ministers and meeting many people who currently roam the streets with no place to call home. 

For some reason I decided to make extra pasta - just in case he met someone he wanted to invite for dinner. Well he didn't end up having any guests to bring home with him. We also ended up not feeling too into the idea of going to the YMCA. Mike suggested he take the boys outside to ride bikes in the parking area for our building. Abby's diaper supply was pretty low and we were low on milk and had a couple of WIC checks that would need to be used within a day or two, so I decided to take Abby with me to Walmart while the boys hung with Daddy. 

Now, it is really hard for me to get in and out of Walmart quickly - no matter how few items may be on my list! Our Walmart happens to be in the middle of a remodel and the place was swamped! I felt like it was Christmas shopping season! Scary, I know! Anyway, Abby and I did pretty well on time for getting the few items needed and making our way to a check out aisle. I sent a text message to Mike letting him know I was in line. There were 2 customers ahead of us. One of which already was in the process of being checked out, and the second didn't have that many items in their cart. I have no idea why, but this process took F-O-R-E-V-E-R!!!!! Luckily Abby fell asleep and God kept me patient. The cashier was fairly new but honestly there was no explanation for this - with only two people ahead of me it was 35 minutes from the time I sent the text to Mike to the time I was walking away from the register with my few items. I took the extra few moments to very politely mention it to the supervisor who had been to my register to help the cashier with my WIC checks. 

So, I head outside and as I approach our van I see a man walking around the parking lot with a backpack on. I make eye contact and smile and continue to my van. Well the man walks up and from a few feet away very politely asks if I might happen to have some change so he can get himself a rotisserie chicken. I told him that my husband and I do not give out money but that I would be glad to go in and buy him a chicken. He seemed almost shocked and very appreciative that I would offer that to him and accepted my offer. So, we began to talk and I said to him that I would do him one better and that I had a nice pasta, broccoli and chicken dinner waiting at home and invited him to join us. We talked a while and he hesitated and so I persisted by introducing myself and sharing with him about this mission we are now on in life and a little bit about Mike's background. 

A few of the statements he made during our conversation:

"Well, I wouldn't want to impose like that"

"I don't really feel comfortable"

"I'm dirty, you're not"

A few of the statements I made during our conversation:

"You are made in the image of God and you look just like Jesus to me"

"You're a human being, I'm a human being, I don't see any difference between us"

"I have a place at my table for you if you want it"

He said he was out here with a friend he was supposed to meet back up with and he wasn't sure where he was. I let him know his friend was welcome to join us too. I said it would take me a few minutes to load my groceries if he wanted to look for his friend. 

Well, back and forth for several minutes, he said he would take a rain check and that he would just take the chicken for now.  So I said, well, come on then, let's go in and get your chicken. Well he said he can't go into Walmart because he had been kicked out for stealing. So as I agreed to go in and buy the chicken I mentioned several times that if I go inside and buy this he better not leave. He assured me he would not and so I went in and got the chicken.

Finally getting back to my van I did see him walking the parking lot and heading towards the bus stop where he said he would be waiting for me. So, I load everything up and drive across the lot and pull up in the spot behind him. I give him the chicken and a soda for him and one for his friend. And he has a look on his face like as though he has been contemplating this dinner invitation and looks around the parking lot like he's looking for his friend. I asked if he had found his friend and he looked up and said "oh, here he comes now!". 

So, the first gentleman, "K" introduces me to "S" letting him know that I've invited them to dinner.  "S" doesn't even hesitate a bit, though sounding very surprised he immediately accepted the invitation! How exciting!!! This is what we live for! I had to move a carseat but they both got in and we talked and drove home. They were quite friendly and spoke very nicely. 

They helped me carry in my boxes of diapers and baby wipes as well as some of the grocery bags and introductions are made and food is served. Mike got to share with them over dinner. I figured I would have to nurse Abby before getting to have my own dinner, which is normal of course and no problem. Unfortunately, poor Mikey wasn't feeling well and wound up getting sick so I had to tend to him and get him in the shower and deal with laundry (he was on his bed when he got sick). So, although I wasn't able to sit and enjoy their company much it was nice though that they got to hear some of Mike's story too.  The kids also enjoyed entertaining them, running around and handing them toys all throughout the evening! 

They said they enjoyed themselves, thanked us multiple times and said it was a rare occurrence to be in a family setting. As Mike prepared to drive them out to the area they would spend the night, our kids asked why they were not going to stay the night and offered up their beds so they could stay here. --Oh, those boys!!!! They drive their mama nuts daily, but oh how beautiful their compassionate spirits can be!!!!

Ahhhh!!!! These are the stories that get me so excited! There are hurting people out there, lonely, hungry, dirty and feeling less than the rest of us. Oh, how I wish we had a place to let them call home! This is why we are doing what we do. God loves them. God wants them. And God has put a compassionate desire within our family to help people in some rough situations. 

   Dear Lord, Thank you so much for yesterday. Thank you for letting yesterday's plans completely flip flop from what we expected. Thank you for my 35 minute check out time. I would not have crossed paths with these men if it weren't for your ways being higher than my ways! Lord, please help K & S overcome their situations. They both indicated a belief in you. Please help them come to a place of living in complete surrender to you. Continue to use our family as you see fit. Direct our steps. Put the right people in our paths. Provide whatever resources you want us to use. And keep our eyes fixed on you through it all. All for your glory Jesus!! Amen!

*I abbreviate their names for privacy, as local people may at some point recognize names given.

Thanks for reading, please continue to pray and make donations as you feel compelled of the Lord. He is working and if He wants you to be a part of this, please don't miss out!!!

God bless you,

~Sarah <3

Love Your Enemies

Matthew 5

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

     Wow! I couldn't have said it better. Nobody could say it better than Jesus. Not only is Jesus counter-cultural but, often times, He is counter-Christianity. This is a hard pill to swallow. What I mean by counter-Christianity is that, all too often, we as Christians tend to take up arms (whether physical or otherwise) against those who may be considered our enemies. In Christ, however, we are called to love those who are against us and to treat them as we would like to be treated. What does that look like. Just look up at the above verses. The reason I believe Jesus gives us this admonition is because, not only does it teach us to be humble, but it also shows Christ-like love to those who seemingly deserve it the least. God shows us love like this, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus didn't die for "righteous" people. He died for low down, dirty, vile sinners. THAT'S US!! And it's not just us who believe in Him. Jesus died for the whole world. When we view the whole world as people who Jesus died for, it makes it that much harder to hate your enemy because you realize that YOU were His enemy and He died for you. "For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!"- Romans 5:10

    I say this all time to people. We as believers are in a constant WAR and it looks like this:

W ords- Colossians 4:6

A ctions- Romans 12:18

R eactions- Romans 12:19-21

In conclusion all I have to say is to echo what God says:

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Romans 12:1,2

How can you help?

Hi, thanks for checking in with us!

We appreciate all the prayers coming our way as the Lord directs each detail of this ministry. There are still a lot of unknowns but God's word gives us a lot of things to stay focused on!

A verse I mentioned before:
   "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  - (Matthew 6:33)

This verse is followed by:

   "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  - (Matthew 6:34)

Another reminder:

   Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. - (Philippians 4:6)

We trust the Lord has everything that we need! We are keeping our eyes fixed on Him and seeking Him above all else. But the Lord is wonderful about allowing us to be used to bless others! As the details unfold and as people are reached for Christ, perhaps you will feel led to be used in this ministry by offering resources in addition to prayers! Some things we are trusting God to provide as we continue to seek Him:

A location which would include land and some sort of house or building that can be used for housing people. We are interested in staying in New Hanover County in the Wilmington, NC area. We are trusting that God has the perfect option so that this ministry will be able to be an avenue of leading people to Himself. Our thought is to be able to be located a bit out of town so that people coming in trying to get off drugs do not have the temptation of drugs being available right around the corner. If you have land or housing available in New Hanover County and God is calling you to donate or sell or rent it inexpensively, please seek the Lord's guidance and contact us to share what God is speaking to you! 

Once a location is established, household items, such as beds, dressers, couches, etc will be needed. At this time we are not certain of all that this list will include, and at this time we do not have anywhere to store large items. So, if you have things available locally, and are willing to hold on to them for us, that would be awesome and appreciated! 

Blessing Bag items, please see our previous post for item suggestions! We are also open to other suggestions as well! 

Household jobs - this is a really important one! As things unfold the goal is for Mike to be able to bring the men in and teach them skills that they will be able to use when they leave the ministry. The pay from jobs will not go directly to any one person, they will go right into funding the ministry to continue to pay for things to keep the ministry running (electric bill, food, vehicles, gasoline, etc etc). Mike is very experienced in painting, drywall, home repairs, kitchen and bathroom remodel, flooring, and more. As this progresses we will hold all proper insurances for ensuring the professional completion of your jobs. If you have a job that you need done and you're not on an urgent time frame (because we don't yet have people), please contact Mike to see if it is a job he has the skill to complete and please consider hiring us in the near future! Please be aware that the people coming in will have strict rules and Mike will be with them on all jobs. Although these men may be coming in from some pretty rough backgrounds, they will be required to remain sober at all times while with us. No one will be forced to come to this ministry, it will be by choice to come in and live by the rules. There will be a level of faith involved, but please keep in mind we are allowing these people to live in the same facility as our children. We will not send anyone into your home that we feel would be an endangerment to your household. Please also keep in mind that we will charge fair prices and your payments for any job will be assisting in changing many lives!!!

Monetary donations are also of course very needed and welcomed in any amount. All donations will be put to good use and I will be glad to share our records of expenses with anyone interested. This vision was put in our hearts nearly 9 years ago and at that time I had shared some of our dreams with a woman in Kmart in Jacksonville, NC. I had never met this woman before but she handed me a $20 bill. That gesture instilled so much faith in my heart! And guess what, to this day I still have that exact $20 bill!! Please be assured that whatever God leads you to give will be used wisely to bless and change lives through the message of our hope in Jesus!! 

Many who come across this blog and read this post will already be giving generously to many people and organizations. If you feel God wants to use you to give to this ministry, trust Him to use your donations for His glory and remember:

   Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Another beautiful reminder:

   For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. - (Romans 12:4-8)

In Christ, we are all one! The ministry you are involved in, we are involved in. The ministry we are involved in, you are involved in. Seek Him, trust Him, and obey Him. If you're not hearing Him tell you to give, then He has another way to use you and that is OK!! But if you would be so kind, please pray that God puts the right people in our path and speaks to those who have the means to give what is needed! 

Stepping out in faith, trusting Him, and so excited to watch God's plan unfold -- because after all:

   “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  - (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Thanks for reading and God bless you!! 

~Sarah <3