update on Earl

I am soooo happy.

Guess who I finally found? A few days ago I printed Earl's picture on a postcard and mailed them out to all the Angie Hill residents I could find in the hometown Earl described to me and lo and behold....Angie called me this morning! THE Angie - the one we have all been looking for for so long. God is good. We talked and talked about her dad. She shared that she thought he may have died and they had put out a missing person's report on him a couple of years ago, but nothing ever happened. The best part is that she loves him and wants him to come home. We now have each other's contact information and tonight when I feed my Friday friends - someone is going to have a big surprise! I'm even going to call her so she can talk to him while I'm there. See? Being patient does pay off! All praises need to be directed to the ONE who made it all possible though and I thank each of you who posted Earl's picture on your blog. I feel like together we did a BIG BIG thing. This is a beautiful day, is it not? I'll keep you posted (hopefully with pictures) on the travel arrangements. That may prove to be the most difficult of all since he doesn't have any identification. God is so good.

GRACE restored

Today was blessed with such a rich experience I really cannot find the words to describe it. This morning when I woke up I prayed and invited God to be a part of my day and I asked Him to please just bless me with guidance and put me where I needed to be, to deliver me into the hands of the homeless with His sweet loving spirit present so I would feel protected and as I went about my day I knew I couldn't just show up empty handed so I cooked a huge pot of Goulash and buttered two loaves of french bread and warmed it in the oven and off I went without a soul knowing where I was going. I didn't know where I was going. I went to the usual homeless hangout at a park across town and it didn't feel right so I let God have the wheel and before long I was parked in front of the city library. I sat in my car for a minute and then I gathered my offerings and approached a man who was eyeing my food. I asked him if he was hungry and he said, "Yes, ma'am" and from that moment on I was in the presence of the most gracious appreciation I have ever known...His name was Donald and he had only one arm and asked me to help him open his bottled water...we conversed and I told him I was surprised there weren't more people out that I could share my food with and that's when he pointed to a little park adjacent to the library and told me they were all over there...so over there I went. There were about fifteen homeless people gathered in their little cliques. I introduced myself and went around shaking all of their hands asking them if they were hungry. There were a few gentlemen passed out on the grass so I didn't get to officially meet them until some time later. I served them and had originally intended to eat my dinner with them, but when I saw there might not be enough food I decided to wait...after all I've had a meal today. I wish I could remember all their names....There was Tami, Robert, Amanda, Lori, Jim, Earl, Rita....and now the mind is whirling...but all their faces are etched into my heart. I heard countless stories...each one precious and I was amazed at how they look out for each other. I heard stories about how they were treated by the police and public in general, about where they sleep, about their families, their travels....they couldn't share enough and the blessings were just pouring down as they continued telling me their stories and concerns. Earl is from Tennessee just trying to get back home, Tami wanted to save her food for her husband (he was one of the gentlemen passed out), she told me he had pneumonia but couldn't get his prescriptions filled...Lori french braided Tami's hair and I commented that I thought it was beautiful so she offered to french braid my hair and of course I accepted...we didn't have a hair elastic so she put her Nascar cloth bracelet in my hair to keep it tight....it turned out perfect. They had many questions for me as well and were very surprised I wasn't there through a church but on my own free will...none of them asked me for money, but they did give me some pointers if I ever needed a good spot to get some. If I would have had money with me I would have given it all to them.....gladly. As it began to get dark I thought I should get on home as they all needed to scatter about to find their individual safe nests for the night. They surrounded me, thanked me, some hugged me, but all of them made me feel comfortable even the guys that finally "woke up" from their naps. I'm leaving out so many details and stories that could be shared here but I think this post is quite lengthy and so they might have to spill out on another day...but just know that we have an amazing God and He has favored the poor with His grace...I can't wait to get back and feel it again. Set your inhibitions aside and trust that we are meant to love one another...and oh, how eyes sparkle when we do!

looking for GRACE

Sometimes listening for God is really hard...there is so much uncertainty...and then we wait for a voice that might be a little louder or a sign that flashes to get our attention. Words like HOPE and GRACE pour down all around and we step over them...but always with the best intentions. Sometimes it's someone's smile or a door being held open that can change our mood and so we pay it forward by letting someone have our parking space or letting someone go in front of us in the grocery store line. It doesn't really take much effort to be kind...so I am wondering what does effort look like...the real thing...that which surpasses a smile or friendly gesture? And what exactly are the implications? Am I giving pieces of myself away when I take a little time to listen to others....or reach out? God has been speaking to my heart for days now and I'm certain at sometime I've prayed for these very moments...where all I had to do was turn my ear to heaven and open my eyes on earth to see where I am being called....at first it was subtle, through friends, through unexpected phone calls, through late night conversations with radical thinkers and yes, even through some of your blogs...and now I have reached a point where it isn't enough simply to acknowledge my thoughts...I am being nudged into action and so that is why I have decided to spend time with some homeless folks tomorrow...if they will have me...if they will tolerate my ignorance and accept what little I have to offer. Am I afraid? Yes, but only because it is outside of my comfort zone...but so is speaking in front of large groups of people and I have survived that in the past. I'm just in desperate need to witness what HOPE looks like and I really want to feel God's GRACE...I hope they won't mind sharing a little of it with me...

majesty

empty handed but alive in His hands...

HIS Love

I have a thankful heart that God's Love has touched my life in so many ways...
Looking back on this week...
There were moments I was blessed with PEACE
when I did not understand what I was feeling,
God touched me and said "I am enough"
and my worries were silenced.

There were moments when I had doubt,
that God reassured me with patience.
He listened to my prayers and soothed my spirit.

I had moments of self-pity and wondered why?
God said "let's sit awhile" and He held me
until my mind was clear and my tears were dry.

I came to Him with a grateful heart and
poured out my praises
and He blessed me with another day

this week alone He held out His hand and there was

PEACE
ACCEPTANCE
COMFORT
SECURITY
PATIENCE
FRIENDSHIP
OBSERVATION
REST
CONFIDENCE
TIME
HEALING

and ALL through His LOVE.
Amazing...

Harvest '07

Last night was amazing. Kristin and I attended the Greg Laurie Harvest. We listened to The Katinas and Jeremy Camp. The music was great and the message was great. They said there were 15,000 people attending and still more trying to get in! The most incredible thing for me was to see how many people went forward to give their lives to Christ. It was overwhelming. During prayer there was a very welcome breeze that blew over everyone. Up until that time it had been very hot and sticky and the dragonflies were out in full force (it must have been the mosquitos). We got to see a few friends and my sister Sharon and my nephew Jacob. It was fun and I was able to better comprehend what I am up against tonight when I go back to work as a counselor. I didn't realize I signed up for the "amplified" night so I'm thinking I should take some ear plugs to tone down the heavy metal music. P.O.D. and Lincoln Brewster are playing to what I assume will be a younger crowd so it should prove to be quite interesting. I'm excited and can't wait to go! Until then I have a few chores to get done around the house. Everyone is mentally gearing up for school to start. Thursday I took Kristin to the Junior College so she could get her parking pass and her student i.d. card. I showed her where all of her classes are located and the best place to park, etc. I think she is feeling pretty confident and ready to begin this new chapter. I love to see the kids grow in new directions. They are fast becoming independent members of society and I can see that they have so much to contribute and so much yet to learn. It is exciting to watch. Erik is preparing for his last year at CSU Stanislaus. He is currently working as an Intern for Del Monte as part of a revolutionary project that will prove to be the apex of his resume if everything works out. He is already making a name for himself in the chemistry field and I'm sure that will be beneficial when he applies to grad school this Fall. His letters of recommendation are coming from some fairly influential people. He can use all the help he can get. His conservative nature has worked against him many times so I always revel in the moment when he catches a break. Well, I have drained my cup of coffee and am ready to face the day! Hopefully it unfolds to be a productive one.

Harvest '07

Kristin starts back to school August 27th and Erik and I start back September 4th. Everything changes when school starts. It is already beginning to get darker earlier in the evenings. It seems that everyone is ready to embrace the changes that arrive with Fall but there is always a small amount of dreadery tucked away at the same time. I think it is because the work load is unknown and the reality is that we are going to have to look inside ourselves and pull out the stops in order to achieve what it is we are after. Personally, I am ready to dig in. This weekend I am working at the Greg Laurie concert. Actually Friday I am attending for my self and Saturday I am helping those who give their lives over to Christ. I am excited about it because I am stepping outside of the box. I feel quite calm about it and knowing that I haven't prepared anything or practiced should put me in a state of frenzy but actually I can feel that it is a partnership with Christ and He will help me deliver the proper words to say at the right ime. I just don't worry about too many things. I learned a long time ago that He has things covered. I am just tickled to be a part of something that will prove to be a life changing event to some people. August 24-26 @ 7 p.m. CSU Stanislaus. Mark your calendars! Free admission.