Welcome

Why a blog from me, someone who has never been a writer, someone who has never been articulate or had a solid grasp of the grammar world. Because God told me to write. Several years ago a life storm invaded my family. God kept telling me to write it all down. I argued, but He would not let up. This went on every day for a couple of weeks until one day out of frustration, (I'd like to say it was out of obedience), I picked up a pen and paper and wrote for 7 hours straight! Do you think maybe I needed therapy and God knew it?

I've been writing ever since and have learned to love it! I started out sharing my stories with friends and family. I've now been published in a Nashville church paper, Our Daily Journey (a devotional site of RBC Ministries), PCCWeb Daily Devotional, Ruby for Women Ezine Magazine, and I am a contributor in the book Alabaster Jars, Life in Abundance Collection 2.

Why Ponderings? During this life storm, God led me to a pond in the woods behind my home. There He met me each time, teaching new lessons, reminding me of old ones, showing His presence and allowing me to feel His love through the surroundings of that pond. I found myself returning over and over to ponder, pray and praise. A healing of my heart took place and out of the experience came my first book, Ponderings From the Pond, then a second book, Ponderings From My Porch, and now a third book is in the works along with a memoir about my storm.

Why am I making myself so vulnerable? Because God has done so much that I cannot keep quiet. I have to share. Jesus's last words to his desciples were, "Go,tell." We are his disciples too and this is just one of my ways of telling.

I'm no scholar but I have heard God's voice in my spirit, experience His love daily, and have a desire for others to experience this also. I would love to share with all who visit and I would love to hear from you. If my sharing gets just one to ponder, to be quiet with the Father, to see and hear from Him or to be reminded of something from Him, then this is worth my vulnerability.

As you visit me, sometimes we will be at the pond, sometimes we will move to the front porch, and sometimes we will just be here, there, and yonder. Thank you for coming and please feel free to come back anytime, you are always welcome here.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

*****EXCITING NEWS*****

My first book, Ya Know What I'm Say'n, has been released.


Ponderings

Ponderings

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

A Dream and a Reality

After the first couple of years of running the Blanket Ministry, I had a dream to see a transitional house go up in my community and also dreamed of a homeless outreach ministry that met consistently every week.  Greg was in on these dreams and we prayed about both together many times. A couple of months after Greg passed away, one of those dreams came true.

A couple of years ago, I met a lady at a homeless meeting named Rhondell.  We only spoke once a month at those meetings.  I decided to quit going as it was not going in the direction I was feeling led to go.  After Greg's death, Rhondell contacted me and said she also had a dream to have a homeless outreach in our community.  She had experience in that she had done this before where she lived before coming to Bowling Green.  By this time, she had also accepted the position of director of HOTEL, INC., a christian non-profit organization.  HOTEL, INC is an acronim for Helping Others Through Extending Love In the Name of Christ. Rhondell knew what she was doing and I saw a great, big, loving heart for people beating inside of her.  I wanted to be standing with her in this ministry.

We prayed for volunteers to show up to the first meeting, having no idea if anyone would show up or not.  We knew if this was of the Lord, He would bring the people.  He brought 24!  We were esctatic!  After two more meetings, we began to show up at the bridge every Tuesday starting at 5pm.  The first night five people showed up.  We gave blankets, bibles, toiletry bags, friendship and the love of Christ to all.  The next week, we had five.  The next week we had seven.  At the end of our first month, we had a cook-out for our guests of about a dozen along with music and communion.

After months now into the Homeless Outreach Ministry, here are the successes so far. . .

 
a couple moved out of their car and into an apartment. They have attended bible study each week at Hotel, Inc. and completed the budget/coupon classes.

a man under the bridge got a full time job and will be moving soon

another man from under the bridge has been getting many odd jobs and will be interviewed with the Veterans Employment Specialty Services about a full time job
 
another man from under the bridge decided he was ready for rehab and made it into one, ready to start a new life
 
a man living out of his car has an appointment for housing soon and he has decided he wants to be baptized

 
A mom and daughter that came the first week and were couch surfing are back in their own apartment and both of them got jobs.
 
Several have been coming to church and are rethinking about life
 
There is even talk of a wedding at the bridge

 
As I walk around watching the volunteers and guests fellowshipping, I think a lot about Greg.  This is what Greg wanted, for the public to begin to befriend the homeless, to see them as real people and love them they way Keith and I loved him. He wanted them to get the help they needed. I wanted this too. This is why I write their stories. I imagine Greg standing with Jesus, smiling, shaking his head in approval.


I wish he could be there with us, he would  love it.  But I believe he is there, sharing the moments with the One who orchestrates all the events, all the details, raining blessings down on the park by the bridge.  The transitional home is still a dream at this point, but the other is now a reality and I thank God for this.

Greg's story lives on and so do we.

Do you have a dream?  Have you told God? Want to share with me?  I will pray for God's leading in that dream with you.

4 comments:

Shakin' the Foundation said...

Beautiful...simply beautiful!! this touched my heart on so many levels and even though I never knew Greg...He lives in my heart from your stories. My continued prayers for your ministry and ALL those whose lives you touch!!!!

Blessings and hugs to you!!!
Stacey

joy said...

This really a wonderful works of God through all of you who do the will of God. A blessing!

Denise said...

Bless you for touching my heart.

Floyd said...

The best dreams are the ones that do things for others. I've noticed that the dreams that are all about ourselves never satisfy even when the dreams come true. God is at work. Greg is blessed to be in a perfect place. God is in the business of making dreams come true. You shared a wonderful part of a soul that we will see again. Blessings to you and the ones dreaming on behalf of others.