Feed the Hope; Changing lives, one prayer and box at a time.

Maybe you guys have noticed my Facebook updates this past weekend about going and picking up trash and handing out food. Well, here you go, a more detailed look at it.

This took place in different churches all throughout Nashville. We unloaded corn, green beans, pumpkin pies, a ten pound turkey, cranberry sauce, apples, rolls, and a Bible.  We made and taped the boxes, put all the food in them.  176 meals, put together and organized in 30 minutes(Just at one location).    All together we fed over 4,000 people.

You always see commericals on T.V.  "For just 9 cents a day you can give a child a meal for a month."  And there is NOTHING wrong with giving to that.  It just takes it to another level when you get to see the people.  When you get to pray with them, and hug them.   As I sat a box of Thankgiving dinner in the back of a car, a little girl, probably about 4 or 5 years old, looked at the box.  She leaned up to the front seat and looked at her mom.  "So, we get to have Thankgiving this year momma?" 

 It took everything I had to keep from crying.  

Just loving on these people. These women, men, and children...  To show Jesus to these people; is definitely something I will NEVER forget. 

Fedding over 4,000 people isn't something that we could do by ourselves.  The ONLY wayit happened was because GOD helped.  I believe that with all my heart, God blessed everyone who helped, planning it doing it, eating it. ALL OF IT WAS IN GOD'S HANDS.

Unite the community; then unite the world.

Something I've noticed with peers at my school, on the rare times we actually get on the subject of Jesus, that the conversation has an outline of something like this.
Student 1: "Yeah, I go to church in South Fulton."
Student 2: "Oh, I go to church in Union city."
S1: "We are having a youth night, Wanna come?"
S2: "Well.. It depends.. What do you believe?"
S1: "I'm baptist."
S2: "I'm (Insert any other religion), so I can't."

I've heard this happen many different times.  It makes me frustrated to hear that; because I don't understand what that has to do with anything.  That's why, even people ask me what I believe. I say "I believe God sent His son, Jesus. Jesus died for our sins. Back to life again. And I praise Him accordingly." 

Why does it matter what church someone goes too?  If they believe Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven; and it's KINGDOM work, then why does church matter?  Jesus is Jesus. We are called to spread His news to all the world, and how do we expect to do that if we let church names get in our way?   Do you really think in Heaven there will be a Baptist section, or a Church of Christ section, or Pentecostal section?  Nah;   When the Bible says Jesus is coming back for his bride. It means the church.  Not any certain type of church, it's His true believers.

I know that as long as we are in these human bodies, we won't all get along, but I just wish that we could at least TRY to see the bigger picture here.  If we can come together in our community what makes us think that we can unite the world?

I think we are missing something...?

Straight up.  I think something is missing from most churches nowadays.

I'm starting to think it's God.

"OH SNAP!! DID SHE JUST SAY THAT GOD IS MISSING FROM THE CHURCH?!"

Yeah, Yeah I did.   I think some church are really missing the point to what the church is SUPPOSED to stand for.  I've been to some churches where it was all clicks ,and if you didn't belong to certain click, you were constantly harped on by other members.  I've been to churches where it's all about the worship team, or the worship leader. Who could sing the loudest or the best, who had lead.  It wasn't on God anymore, instead it was more like "I Exalt Me."  instead of exalting Him.  I've been to churches where it was about the preachers. The the preacher-ah preached like this-ah. Then the people-ah will getting into the message-ah.  When really it was  all empty words..  Some churches, are all about religion.

"OH SNAP I KNOW SHE DIDN'T"

Yeah, Yeah I did.  Jesus HATED religion, and religious leaders.   In one story, where a man sat next to pool of water, and every soo often the water would be stirring, and if the water was stirring and you got in you would be healed.  Jesus talked to that man one day, healed the man and said "Pick up your mat and go."  You maybe thinking, "How is this showing He hated religion?  Well, Jesus did this on a Sunday, the Sabbath.  No work was to be on the Sabbath.  (Apparently the dude carrying his mat home was "work")  The Religious leaders stopped him and asked "Why are you walking. You've never been able to walk."  "That awesome amazing guy over there did."

Being the Son of God that Jesus was, I'm sure he was fully aware of the fact that no work was to be done on the Sabbath, but he healed the man away.  I think, part of the reason Jesus did this, was to show how much He hate all these rules, these non-sense "religious laws", they had come up with.   Yet, some churches are starting to be more into religion instead of a relationship with Jesus.    No one wants to make anyone feel uncomfortable at church... Jesus wasn't to worried about making people uncomfortable,  freaking people out with His awesome powers and stuff.   Why do we contain our love for Him?  

If I was Jesus, and I carried that HUGE cross up this massive hill, Got beat almost to death, hung on a cross, stabbed, Beat up Satan and Hell,  and got raised again. I wouldn't want these two-second prayers "Dear Jesus, Thank you for everything, Help me be better. Amen."  (When the prayers actually tanslate into "Dear Guy I'm forced to pray to,  I got everything under control. I'm really glad I can live my life the way I want, and still think I'm okay with you.")

I, myself, am more concerned with the praise I think Jesus deserves.  I don't care is around, or who is listening, or what people are thinking, or what your "rules" say.  When my God tells me to WORSHIP, I will give it all I got. I'll jump, dance, stand still, fall on my face, cry, sing, or dance.  I'll do ANYTHING for the GOD that didn't have to ANYTHING for me, INSTEAD He does EVERYTHING for me.

I wish we had a brain.

Yes, Yes! The tital is from the Wizard of Oz!!  Hahaha.

Okay; FOR REAL.
1) BOOTY SHORTS WITH A HOODIE ON.
•If you wear this out, and it's cold enough for you to have on a hoodie, yet you choose to wear shorts that show your butt, I  DO NOT want to hear you complain about being cold.  Honestly, It's stupid.. Did you really think before you got dressed?   This is how I conversation went down one time.
Stupid person: "OMG.. It's soooo cold."
Me:  "Wear pants."
Stupid person: "What does that have to do with anything?"
Me: ".... -_-...  Well, if it's cold, dress for the weather."
SP: "I am.. I have a hoodie on."
Me: *thinking. 'Please, go crawl in a hole and die. You have no purpose in this world.'* Says "Well.. you're sitting on metal bleachers.. But.. You're butt is hanging out of your shorts. Metal bleachers are cold. Skin is touching the cold.. So.. You're cold."
SP: "But I look hot."
Me: Thinking. PLEASE. JUST GO CRAWL IN A HOLE. "Well..  You also think you look hot in bikini, but you don't wear that in the winter..."
SP: "Well Noooo silly. It's cold then! and all the pools are closed."

People like that make me wish I was born about 25 years before my orginal birth, or that I could smack them with a chair..  FOR REAL.
Does ANYONE think anymore? Ever? I swear, people make me want to vomit.  WHY MUST PEOPLE WANT TO BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE? If we had some orginality, we might actually get someone, but if my generation is more concerned with "looking hot" than what REALLY matters in life we should go ahead and wave a white flag. " I surrender Future, I'm just stupid and While I'm giving up. Let me make sure I look hot.  I need my butt and boobs hanging out."

Goodness. Get a brain.

What shape are Your Shoes in?

I've noticed that we live in a time that is all about "me, me, me, me, me."  We don't really care about other people unless it concerns us.   We're also so incredibly judgmental. Just because someone is a little bit different than we are, it's like we put up this barrier, thinking that us and that person won't have anything in common.  Within a two minute conversation with a person, we have already put ourselves above below that person. They aren't the "kind of people" I hang out with.   Some people tend to become rude and mean to that person.

Most of the time, we never stop to think what that person maybe facing.  We all know "Walk a mile in my shoes."  You don't have to walk mile, just stop and think where those shoes might have tromped through.  Maybe they have trucked through many muddy areas, nice and warm from the sun shining down, or soaking wet from the storms they've faced.  Looking at their shoes, we see the outside, what they want us to see.  Maybe every morning they get up, wipe off the dirt, sew up some patches, and act like everything is all together.  When, on the inside, they're soaking wet and falling apart.

Then someone comes in with their shoes shined to the max, "Fly Out The Hizz House", groovy baby, shoes.  Looking like you have it all together, when on the inside, your shoes are more disgusting than theirs. 

Why do we do that? We don't know what someone has been through, why do we put up this "shield", and say hurtful things...?  I do it too! I'm not digging into you. If you know me at all, you know I'm the first to throw out sarcastic remarks!  But I try to make sure the person knows I am joking.  I'm even trying to cut out sarcasm altogether.  How would I feel if a peer or someone came to me, seeking shelter from the storm they're in, and all I offer are sarcastic remarks?  I just added to the storm.  People aren't going to come up and say "Hey, I'm having a rough time."  I'm just saying, everyone is going through a storm, will you be a glimpse of sunlight or a strike of lightning?

Fakers

I'm just going to be real right now.

This is one thing that I CAN NOT stand.
Fakers. We ALLLL know what I'm talking about...

Something I'm noticing more and more are fakers in the church.  Especially in my age group. I. CAN. NOT. STAND. IT.

Being Holy on Sundays and Wednesdays, then going to school cussing, drinking, dressing to wear everything hangs out, and dancing these "dances" that involve, being honest here, Things that shouldn't be done until your wedding night.   How can you even claim to be a "christian" when you partake in these things?  Then you ask people "Well... Why can I not reach my school for God?"  "Why do I feel like I'm not spreading the Word like I should?"

People watch EVERYTHING we do.  People listen to EVERYTHING we say.  Waiting for us to slip up.  Satan does a good job of stumbling us, why are we surrounding ourselves with people who cause even more problems in our walk?  Making a mistake is one thing, but purposely doing it... That's when your in a dangerous spot.   Now, you're lukewarm.  If even that.   I'm not saying I'm perfect, NO ONE IS. but  I do not set myself up for a chance for me too fail.

"I'm trying to witness to them, that the only reason why I hang out with the people who party and drink." Witness to them all you want, but once you start doing what they do, it's not witnessing anymore.

Most schools have this "FCS" Fellowship of Christian Students, or something along those lines, that meet maybe once a day or once a week, to have a little Devo. pray, and go to class...  I was recently at a large outting with people from from all over my town; I walked up to groups of people, who some of them I've seen walking out of FCS, and I wanted to throw up. Smoking? Cussing? I was dumbfounded.

Double life much?!  How in the world do you expect to reach people with Jesus, when his "follower" aren't living it.   You may have everyone else fooled on Sundays and Wednesdays, but you can't fool yourself. And you DEFINITELY can't fool God.  

Future can be a Scary Place.

In case you haven't noticed, I'm basically trying my hardest to be in the Will of God.   I'm not going to lie; it's a hard task sometimes.. Plus, being a teenager and trying to live for HIM isn't easy either.  I'm not trying to throw a "woe is me" party right or brag that I'm trying hard either, but it's just a lot for me to keep in mind sometimes.  Philippians 4:6-7 says, (in my words and shorten) Don't worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Let God know your needs, and leave everything to Him. Then you will know His peace; which surpasses out understanding.

The future FREAKS. ME. OUT.  I hate not knowing what I'm going to be doing.  Being a senior in high school, I'm supposed to be picking out colleges right now.  There is one place I would really like to go, Lee University, a Church of God school. I can go there, get my degree in communications and study God's word with other beleivers who are called into ministry. 

A few year's ago, a worship leader, and Thanks and Praise be to God, I was able to learn piano.  Music is something near and dear to me in the first place, but learning piano took me to a whole new place with God.  I was able to play and sing to MY LORD, without having someone lead me into worship. I could worship, my words and my feelings to my Savior.  Then, she asked me to play during worship at church.  Just being able to help lead people into the presence of God was amazing.  He was using a teenager to lead more people to HIM.  That's when I felt the call on my life that I was going to be a worship leader.

Time pasted, things happened, words are exchanged, feelings are hurt, and confusion set in.  I started questioning what God had told me.  Maybe, the piano was just a hobby. I'm not even supposed to be playing piano.  I'll never be as good as so-and-so.  That's a horrible place to be for ANYONE.  You stop everything, and now, you're not even doing anything for Him.

Being outside of God's Will, once you've been in it before, IS. HORRIBLE.  I know that I need to be using any and every talent/ability He has given me to glorify Him.  But, past experiences make me question everything: "Well, remember, I was told I shouldn't be in worship."  "I wasn't good enough then, what makes me think I am now?" or. You  just ignore it all together and eventually get used to feeling of misery. 

THERE COMES A TIME
WHEN THE PAST HAS TO BE IN THE PAST.
AND YOU CLAIM YOUR FUTURE IN CHRIST.
Coming to the point where you DON'T CARE what people will think of your worship. You know, it's to praise him with everything you have.  Raise you hands, Jump up and down, Shout, Dance, Leap, Bow, Cry, GIVE GOD THE PRAISE HE DESERVES.  Step out and use your abilities and talents he has given you.  Whether that means just vacuuming the church, singing/playing on praise team, or greeting people. Go DO ANYTHING that is pleasing to God.  If you let people hold you back from ANYTHING you're doing for God, then, it's a waste.  There is NO way you can please God and man. 

Imagine; what would happen if  we gave HIM the praise HE DESERVES instead of giving Him the praise we feel like that day.  Who are YOU worshiping? The praises of people or the LORD of LORDS?