What was in the Boxes?

For those of you who follow me, you will remember these boxes.  I never shared what was in them.  Now I will tell. . .the handprint of God!

I'll show you in just a minute. 

For those of you who are new, let me retell just a little. . .

The Lord layed it on my heart back in 2009 to start a blanket ministry for the homeless in my town.  The winters of 2009 and 2010, over 1000 blankets were given away.  It was continued for this winter of 2012 and have already handed out over 600.  The handprint of God was on every one of those blankets, being donated from the people of my church and community.

Because of a friend at Red Cross, the newspaper got a hold of my name and did several stories on this ministry.  Then the Christian Radio Station interviewed me on the radio.  Being the quiet, reserved girl that I am, this had God's handprint all over it as He was pulling me out of another comfort zone.  The ministry grew even more!

Because of the blanket ministry, I began to meet people who worked with the homeless and needy.  An invitation was given to what was a brand new coalition coming together ~  The South- Central Coalition on Homelessness.  Because of meeting others here who also had a heart for the homeless and need in their field of expertise, my name started to be added to their e-mail lists.

I began to receive e-mails that were going out to multiple people.  E-mails from Social Services telling the needs of different individuals.  I would put those needs out on Facebook and people responded.  Some people may bad mouth Facebook, but I believe it becomes what you make it.  You make it a ministry tool and God will use it. 

So many examples, but wanted to just share a couple to show how you just never know who, where, and how God will move.  Last Christmas, friends of mine plus some whom I had never met but found me through the newspaper, came together and planned a Christmas party at the bridge for our town's homeless.  They decided to fill 40 green tote bags with needed items for the people. 

 Somehow the beanies caps and gloves came up 8 short.  I did not share this with anyone except to the Lord. The day before Christmas Eve, I received a box in the mail from a dear friend in Texas.  Inside that box were clothes along with 8 beanie caps and gloves!  The handprint of God! Not just on the beanies caps and gloves but those green tote bags and friends who worked to put it all together. You can see the successful results of this here~ http://ponderingsbykris.blogspot.com/2011/12/bridge-christmas-party.html

Just in the last couple of weeks, I received an e-mail telling of a young teen-age mother having a hard time keeping diapers and other items for her baby.  She had moved in with her grandparents so she could go back to school, but the grandparents did not have much either.  I shared this on facebook.  Just the other day, I found 2 big boxes on my front porch.

A sweet, compassionate friend from Texas sent these to me for the teen-age mother.  This friend of mine, I have not seen in over 10 years.  We met each other when we both lived in Oklahoma years ago.  She moved to Texas and I moved to Kentucky.  But through the window of Facebook, we reconnected.  I share information and she shares from her heart. As in the Christmas story, I didn't even share, God just moved her to fill a need she had no knowldege of. 

The handprint of God.

Inside these boxes were 258 diapers, baby food, bath items and a money card for the mother.

The handprint of God was all over this.

Never dismiss His voice telling you to start something, or to go to that meeting you are not sure about, or post on facebook something He has led you to do.  Never underestimate what He can do with facebook, through people you have not seen in years, what He can do through you. Never underestimate what that small gift He is asking you to give will do for another.  Never underestimate the power of your prayers.  He hears, He works, and it's exciting to see the results!

If His handprint is on it, the blessings will abound and you and others will be truely touched.

 All glory to the Sovereign Handprint!

"What I do you cannot do, but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great, and none of us including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things with great love, and together we can do something wonderful."

Mother Teresa

A WONDERFUL SIDENOTE

Yesterday on Valentines Day, I interviewed a former homeless teen boy for the book I'm doing about homelessness.  A boy that spent three hours telling me all about his life, a life that has been through much and yet talked about God bringing him through.  He didn't know Jesus though. I got to introduce him to Jesus and explain about what He did for us on the cross, and being the healer of our pain and everything else.  At the end of our time, this young man wanted to accept the greatest gift.  We prayed.  I would like to introduce you to our precious, new brother in Christ.

Please pray with me for God's handprints to be all over this young man and his future.  He wants to be a nurse.