temper tantrums and big girls panties

I am grateful that on the days when I don’t “feel” Christlike it doesn’t mean that I am not. 

I am grateful that my walk with Jesus is not based on my emotion of the day or how I FEEL at a certain moment.  

I am MOST grateful for the moments when I am not behaving Christlike that Jesus still loves me!

Psalm 23 says that his rod and his staff comfort me right after he says that he leads me gently beside still waters to restore my soul.  

Correction, care, guidance and mercy.  

There was once a moment when my daughter Brooklyn was 2 years old when I decided to take the kids for a walk.  It was a pleasant day so, off we went.  On our way home Brooklyn decided she didn’t want to walk any more.  She was hot, tired and decided FORGET YOU PEOPLE!  I AM DONE!  So, she threw herself down in the middle of the road and refused to get up.  Our house was in sight, we were about 5 doors down.  I was at a loss because my arms were full of packages and sweaters and all sorts of things that mommies are expected to carry.    I cajoled, I begged, I pleaded, I soothed, but she refused to get up.  So, my only course of action was to grab her under the arm and literally drag her up and force her to walk.  I couldn’t carry her, my arms were full and the other two kids had gone to the house.  So, with determination I dragged my two year old kicking and screaming the rest of the way and we made it!   I couldn’t leave her laying in the middle of the road, she would have gotten smashed to bits. And then our pleasant walk would have been ruined.  

So, with out getting to spiritual about it, heres the deal.  These past few weeks I have been Brooklyn.  Hot, tired and ready for a nap and picking the wrong moment to do so.  Laying down in the road of life and refusing to get up.  Not because I doubt God, not because I have given up on Christ, but simply because I have been tired.  Jesus, because he loves me and knows what is best for me has had to pick me up under the meaty part of my arm and drag me down the road to safer pastures so that I can take a proper rest and I am so grateful that he did!  

This morning I am flooded with the knowledge that Jesus loves me!  I am flooded with the knowledge that NOTHING can separate me from His love and that He knows my name!  This morning I am going to put my big girls panties on and rest in the knowledge that no matter what the goodness and mercy of God follows me all the days of my life and I WILL dwell in the house of the Lord forever!  

A.D.D. cats

Darn you crazy writers block!  

The past few months have been so busy and intense I have barely had time to sit down and blow my nose let alone post blog updates about life in Zambia.  

PHEW!  

Streetwise has grown since last we “spoke”. 

We are still engaged in outreaches on Wednesday nights and hope to extend to another night soon.  

We continue to create signs and small furniture items out of reclaimed wood.  The response to the items has been AMAZING!  We are constantly gobsmacked over the favor God has given us to do this.  It is hard work, but rewarding to be sure! 

The Streetwise Craft Co. portion of the Streetwise venture is seeking to create an environment for the kids on the street to come and learn a skill so that they can go and make a living for themselves.  

SO.....We have moved into a new phase.  We have brought our first student in!  Nicholas Chansa.    As we are still working out of our home, we can only bring in one boy at a time.    Also, and lets be real here, since Luis and I have no clue what we are doing we gotta start small.

We have learned a lot working with Nicholas.   The biggest thing is this......working with drug addicts is like herding A.D.D cats!   This is going to take more than the two of us to be sure if we are to start reaching more kids.  

The phrase that always goes through my mind is “Slow and steady wins the race”.  We can’t approach working with these guys with a blanket plan and expect everyone to fit into the mold.  What works with one kid may not work with the other.  With that in mind, we understand that Streetwise can NEVER EVER be about the numbers and the amount of kids we reach, rather the individuals being reached.  It must and always focus on the individuals heart and the relationship that we establish with them.  Through those relationship we believe that they will begin to see a picture of the way God loves them and then hearts change for eternity!    We have seen it in Joe’s life, now in Davids, and are beginning to see glimmers in Nicholas!  (he has been drug free for a month and is attempting to rebuild his relationships with his family) 

In another post I hope to tell you more about Nicholas and what God is doing in him. but for now, will you pray? 

For unity between Luis and myself and that we keep our eyes on Jesus and he leads this ministry 

For people to come along side and get involved in the outreaches and the day to day workings?

We NEED a store front to work out of........that will become the hub of Streetwise....then I can have my dining room back.  That is going to take money.......

We need a second car......our poor hooptie is on her last legs and we need to give her a proper send off.....

DO YOU GUYS WANNA COME OVER AND CHECK IT OUT FOR YOURSELVES!?  Your life will never be the same again!  Thats a promise!