A teenage girl is looking for love. Her mother being a prostitute sells this child into the sex industry at the age of twelve. The young girl decides then and there that the love that she is going to find comes with a price. Morally, sex is okay right? I mean its what society wants. Sex sells...come on Britney Spears become a “slave for me”...Lady Gaga has been found in a “bad romance”...and Nicki Minaj well...she’s a “stupid hoe.” (all of these are titles of the singers song) This young girl starts to realize that yes sex is “famous” and will make me feel good...I mean it works for my mom right? This path that she strays down is one of darkness but is acceptable by society. It starts to make her feel wanted...like she is good enough for these men who do her by night and then leave her by day. Over and over again she asks herself “it works for my mom...why wouldn’t it work for me?” Each child is taught by their parent how to live and this is the way that she knew to live. We all know that we can trust our parents, right?
At the age of fourteen this young girl finds herself so engulfed with lust that she ends up at an orgy party...sex.....old men...young men...unrestrained sex...did I mention sex? This night was a night that hopefully would save her life. After that party and at the age of fourteen she found herself pregnant. She understood that in order for her to be healthy she had to eat... only there was one problem...her mom was starving her. Months went by and the girl had enough. Her battle with starvation ended when she made a phone call to the Department of Social Services (DSS). DSS took her out of the home and placed her into a Children’s Home. I will repeat my sentence from earlier...that night hopefully saved her life. Her baby is beautiful, safe and has more than what she needs. This young girls story is still being written.
So many times people like this, “sinners” as we would label them, walk into a church building and people stare, judge, whisper, shun them and don’t invite them in. They don’t give them food to eat, clothes to wear, an open arm or a heart of love. What will someone think if we are found talking to them and inviting them in. Heaven forbid they assume that we are “just like them” They are so sinful...I have a good idea...let’s cast the first stone. My intent of this is to not say that all Christians are like this. I know many that would love and care for this girl in a heartbeat. These people would clothe her, love her and give her more food than you could ever imagine. Then there are those who will lean over to their neighbor during church and whisper, “why is she here?” I sadly have heard this from someone before directed towards a local prostitute. We as Christians wonder why society views us as hypocritical, judgmental and at times un-compassionate. If we can’t accept these “types” of people into the church...then why are we here...what good are we...what is our purpose?
I am sure most of you are aware that Rahab was a prostitute however...are you aware that she was an ancestor of Jesus...the mother of Boaz a noble man (the husband of Ruth). What ever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40
I challenge you that the next time a “sinner” walks into the church that you offer a hand of grace, love and acceptance for the sin of another person may actually save your life.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
...Like a Lion...
*When saying the word lion I am sure many things would pop into someones mind... Many would say a 4 legged animal that roams around in the jungle...with a big mane... lots of hair...scary...or even the King of the jungle. Some may even refer to the good classic Disney movie...The Lion King. As for me when I think about a lion...I think about the lions den... I have found myself many times this week being reminded of the lion in the lions den. Every time I read in the Bible about Daniel in the Lion's Den I stand amazed! These hungry, vicious, meat eating lions...were coming at Daniel...wanting to rip his skin apart...and shred him into little pieces... I stand amazed the the Lion's didn't touch him what so ever! He was protected...by the King...the King of the lions...
*I guess this leads me to this past week...many of you know that I started my new job...solely based on faith...This past week and this current week have been extremely exciting! I have honestly never in my life ever felt like God is going to use me the way that he is going to here. I say that because this is my one true passion...yes I enjoyed being a children's pastor and I know that God used me in many amazing ways...but when you are truly living your passion is when you feel most fulfilled! I found quickly at this job that the girls that I will be working with have horrible past lives...most of them are crying out for love. These girls have never felt "true love" ever in their lives...and they have never known positive attention. Another thing that I learned very quickly is that these girls are more crisis then what I expected them to be. I am absolutely not complaining because I feel as if God is going to be doing a great work amongst these girls.
*Last week I stayed at the Royal Home...this is a home that can hold up to 6 girls who are pregnant. Cynthia and Caesar are the lead house parents of this home and I will be working alongside them at this home and the Mothers and Babies cottage. They are wonderful people and we have really connected on a great level... I am very excited to be working with them. The other night the three of us were talking and Caesar said that it is so refreshing to have someone around that is their daughters age. Their daughters name is Janelle...she is 26 years old and she will be getting married in November. God is doing great things!
*Last night one of my girls was being pretty defiant. After I took care of the situation I was a little fired up...that she would be so defiant. The whole time before I talked to the girl I prayed that the Lord would give me the words to say...and I believed he did just what I asked. I went back to my room and thanked the Lord for giving me the words to say. After this situation had taken place I went up to do a room check and heard one of the other girls reading scripture from the bible. I was already reminded about why I do what I do. I also believe that the scripture that she read was also for me. This is what she was reading Psalm 7:2 "O Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me, or they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me." I was so amazed!!! God is so good... I have started to pray that before I get into any situation that the Lord will guide my words and shut my mouth like he did the lions in the den...or that he would shut the other persons mouth like the lions in the lions den...
Like a lion....the Lord is our King....
*I guess this leads me to this past week...many of you know that I started my new job...solely based on faith...This past week and this current week have been extremely exciting! I have honestly never in my life ever felt like God is going to use me the way that he is going to here. I say that because this is my one true passion...yes I enjoyed being a children's pastor and I know that God used me in many amazing ways...but when you are truly living your passion is when you feel most fulfilled! I found quickly at this job that the girls that I will be working with have horrible past lives...most of them are crying out for love. These girls have never felt "true love" ever in their lives...and they have never known positive attention. Another thing that I learned very quickly is that these girls are more crisis then what I expected them to be. I am absolutely not complaining because I feel as if God is going to be doing a great work amongst these girls.
*Last week I stayed at the Royal Home...this is a home that can hold up to 6 girls who are pregnant. Cynthia and Caesar are the lead house parents of this home and I will be working alongside them at this home and the Mothers and Babies cottage. They are wonderful people and we have really connected on a great level... I am very excited to be working with them. The other night the three of us were talking and Caesar said that it is so refreshing to have someone around that is their daughters age. Their daughters name is Janelle...she is 26 years old and she will be getting married in November. God is doing great things!
*Last night one of my girls was being pretty defiant. After I took care of the situation I was a little fired up...that she would be so defiant. The whole time before I talked to the girl I prayed that the Lord would give me the words to say...and I believed he did just what I asked. I went back to my room and thanked the Lord for giving me the words to say. After this situation had taken place I went up to do a room check and heard one of the other girls reading scripture from the bible. I was already reminded about why I do what I do. I also believe that the scripture that she read was also for me. This is what she was reading Psalm 7:2 "O Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me, or they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me." I was so amazed!!! God is so good... I have started to pray that before I get into any situation that the Lord will guide my words and shut my mouth like he did the lions in the den...or that he would shut the other persons mouth like the lions in the lions den...
Like a lion....the Lord is our King....
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Stripped...
Stripped... something that is related to removal of coverings or depriving of.. meet Kendra... She is a crazy girl...who lives life on the edge... on the wild side of faith... Now I have officially met stripped...How does it feel you ask?...it feels bare... it feels naked... like I am walking around this world with no clothes on... with this being said...we all know that feeling naked...is so freeing...a feeling of not being in bondage...being able to ya know...let it all hang out! Not that I am running around naked or anything...you are welcome that I am not. At the same time my life is being stripped of so much... well...stuff! Here is the stuff:
*Stuff-things that I can't take with me to Heaven anyway... all my furnishings...washer/dryer...my own bed...my own apartment... my own dresser... stuff... All my stuff that I am taking with me to NC was shoved into the back of my 2007 Dodge Caliber...the rest of my "stuff" is in a 5x5 storage unit in Indianapolis... I had to get rid of 20 pairs of shoes...(probably the hardest thing for me)...6 purses...multiple shirts and over 15 pairs of jeans...Basically because I needed to fit everything in my car. The place that I will be working supplies everything else for me...
*Friends- Not that my friends are going away...but I am leaving them behind in a different state...even though I take each one of them with me...their physical bodies are not with me... No more Sunday night/Wednesday night...game nights...raise havoc and laugh until our faces are numb...at Doug and Mo's... No more weekends of chaos with Nathan, Arlie, Kelsey, Derek and Eryn...or anyone else that we pick up in random places...
*Pastor-I'm not a pastor anymore in the church... something that I am so used to doing... something I am comfortable doing...
*Nazarene-I'm not in the Nazarene church anymore...something that I have always been a part of...my whole life that is what I have known...the Nazarene church...while yes...I still fully support it...and am still ordained in the Nazarene Church I will not be worshipping on a regular basis in the Nazarene church...
*Family-Being so close to my family...was a blessing...this isn't the case anymore... I am now 12 hrs away from my mom...Kim, Jason and the kids... From Britt and Al I am still 12 hrs away...
The adventure...kinda began Wednesday September 5th at 10:30pm... I had my car loaded...my 2007 Dodge Caliber... not a big car...a large SUV or a truck... so yes... all of my stuff that I was taking fit in one car. This is crazy to me considering the fact that I used to live in a 1100 sq. foot apartment that had two full bathrooms... my life...and my belongs have been stripped down to a car load. While yes I do have a 5x5 storage unit back in Indy... it's still only a 5x5... pretty much...open a closet in your house...and imagine all of your stuff fitting into that one closet... a 5x5 storage unit doesn't hold much stuff. I never really thought that I was a girl who liked "stuff"... I started to think different when I looked at my empty apartment...got rid of clothes...shoes...purses... but then I was reminded of a story in the bible. Matthew 19 starting at 16... the Lord was talking to a man who was rich...and this man was trying to figure out how to get eternal life.. the Lord told him "“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (21) Of corse this man was rich...and I am not...but I was taken care of and I have more then what I really need. This is the path that God has for my life...so I follow...
The night of September 5th I drove about 4 hours and then had to stop and sleep for a little bit...mom and I set out again at 10:30am the next day... I drove the rest of the 7hrs...and arrived at The Royal Home at 7:30pm September 6th. My mom and I unpacked my car and put my stuff in my room. When we arrived we met Caesar and Cynthia...this couple are the head house parents of the Royal Home.. I also met a couple of the girls. Once mom and I had my stuff out of my car...we headed for the beach!
Many have asked me how I am feeling... here is the best way to describe it:
I am feeling overwhelmed...overwhelmed that the Lord would lead me to this place in my life...nervous..because of the unknown...excited because of the new people that I will meet...overjoyed that God is going to use me...I know he is because it is a promise...
On a deeper note... I am proud of myself for doing this without Dad physically being here... he was the man with the master plan...he would have helped me move everything out of my apt...he would have driven all the way down here...and he would have been one of my strongest supports. Mom and I did it through the strength of the Lord... I thank her for sticking beside me...and filling in the gap. I am also grateful for a friend of my mom's who supplied us with a truck and a trailer...
I don't write this blog for any other reason but to share my journey with all of you... I don't want attention...praise or credit... I hope that all will see that living by faith is the only true way to live... living fearlessly knowing that the Lord...gives..and takes away...
So really...being stripped of everything.. is the best way to live... Dad used to always say to me, "Kendra, living by faith isn't always the easiest way to live..but it is the best way to live." I would agree dad...
*Stuff-things that I can't take with me to Heaven anyway... all my furnishings...washer/dryer...my own bed...my own apartment... my own dresser... stuff... All my stuff that I am taking with me to NC was shoved into the back of my 2007 Dodge Caliber...the rest of my "stuff" is in a 5x5 storage unit in Indianapolis... I had to get rid of 20 pairs of shoes...(probably the hardest thing for me)...6 purses...multiple shirts and over 15 pairs of jeans...Basically because I needed to fit everything in my car. The place that I will be working supplies everything else for me...
*Friends- Not that my friends are going away...but I am leaving them behind in a different state...even though I take each one of them with me...their physical bodies are not with me... No more Sunday night/Wednesday night...game nights...raise havoc and laugh until our faces are numb...at Doug and Mo's... No more weekends of chaos with Nathan, Arlie, Kelsey, Derek and Eryn...or anyone else that we pick up in random places...
*Pastor-I'm not a pastor anymore in the church... something that I am so used to doing... something I am comfortable doing...
*Nazarene-I'm not in the Nazarene church anymore...something that I have always been a part of...my whole life that is what I have known...the Nazarene church...while yes...I still fully support it...and am still ordained in the Nazarene Church I will not be worshipping on a regular basis in the Nazarene church...
*Family-Being so close to my family...was a blessing...this isn't the case anymore... I am now 12 hrs away from my mom...Kim, Jason and the kids... From Britt and Al I am still 12 hrs away...
The adventure...kinda began Wednesday September 5th at 10:30pm... I had my car loaded...my 2007 Dodge Caliber... not a big car...a large SUV or a truck... so yes... all of my stuff that I was taking fit in one car. This is crazy to me considering the fact that I used to live in a 1100 sq. foot apartment that had two full bathrooms... my life...and my belongs have been stripped down to a car load. While yes I do have a 5x5 storage unit back in Indy... it's still only a 5x5... pretty much...open a closet in your house...and imagine all of your stuff fitting into that one closet... a 5x5 storage unit doesn't hold much stuff. I never really thought that I was a girl who liked "stuff"... I started to think different when I looked at my empty apartment...got rid of clothes...shoes...purses... but then I was reminded of a story in the bible. Matthew 19 starting at 16... the Lord was talking to a man who was rich...and this man was trying to figure out how to get eternal life.. the Lord told him "“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (21) Of corse this man was rich...and I am not...but I was taken care of and I have more then what I really need. This is the path that God has for my life...so I follow...
The night of September 5th I drove about 4 hours and then had to stop and sleep for a little bit...mom and I set out again at 10:30am the next day... I drove the rest of the 7hrs...and arrived at The Royal Home at 7:30pm September 6th. My mom and I unpacked my car and put my stuff in my room. When we arrived we met Caesar and Cynthia...this couple are the head house parents of the Royal Home.. I also met a couple of the girls. Once mom and I had my stuff out of my car...we headed for the beach!
Many have asked me how I am feeling... here is the best way to describe it:
I am feeling overwhelmed...overwhelmed that the Lord would lead me to this place in my life...nervous..because of the unknown...excited because of the new people that I will meet...overjoyed that God is going to use me...I know he is because it is a promise...
On a deeper note... I am proud of myself for doing this without Dad physically being here... he was the man with the master plan...he would have helped me move everything out of my apt...he would have driven all the way down here...and he would have been one of my strongest supports. Mom and I did it through the strength of the Lord... I thank her for sticking beside me...and filling in the gap. I am also grateful for a friend of my mom's who supplied us with a truck and a trailer...
I don't write this blog for any other reason but to share my journey with all of you... I don't want attention...praise or credit... I hope that all will see that living by faith is the only true way to live... living fearlessly knowing that the Lord...gives..and takes away...
So really...being stripped of everything.. is the best way to live... Dad used to always say to me, "Kendra, living by faith isn't always the easiest way to live..but it is the best way to live." I would agree dad...
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