Simplicity

How can simplicity not really be that simple. With it being caught up in legalism and religious well over done views, how can one really know if they are doing what God wants them to be doing as a way of life. I get that living simply you are not to love money and possessions etc, which I already knew because you can't love both money and God but then there is the other extreme where you over do it (asceticism) and become so anal that you don't enjoy the blessings that God wants to bestow upon you and then you can also get caught up in the whole pride things where you want everyone to know what your doing and thinking that you are better than other s because you are doing it to a bigger extreme and then simplicity doesn't just apply to objects but also to words, eating, what you do with your time and so on...... It can get so confusing and can tear your brain in two.

But I've come to understand that I can live a simplistic life and receive God's blessings as long as I don't put it before God and that I don't hoard it either and letting my yes and no mean just that (yes or no) and not be be all like "look at me" for it either.

Blessings

New family

Now don't get me wrong I love the family I have already and I'm not trying to replace them but I now have a new extended family in this community and I kinda already did but it's now different after youth councils.

We got to take 11 of our kids to youth councils (thanks to God) and all of them had either rededicated their lives to Jesus or did so for the first time. Many, many, many tears were wept and I'll admit that alot were from me to. Although we only got back yesterday things just even feel alot better in the community. We all now have a new respect for each other and a fresh love for one another.

Any way one of the boys that didn't come was trying to work me (pay me out, make fun of me etc.) but this time one of the boys who came with us go this trip stood up for me and was even going to start fighting him (which is how they have learned to show love and defend honour around here) which in a messed up way is really sweet, but I just kept telling him that he was better than that and to remember what he had promised to God over the weekend.

He then backed off after I said it a couple of times and then just sat with me on the stairs and started to cry. "That's not right the way he treats you. You guys do so much for us and you don't deserve it. He shouldn't be trying you"

I was so blessed at the fact that he had even had this reaction for me because that like never happens around here. I gave him a hug then D (the boy that was trying to start me) was looking over at Keith (the boy that was defending me) and Keith was not ashamed at the fact that he was crying for me. He starting saying to D "You're lucky I have Jesus now or your be broken now."

D was all like "why are you crying. I didn't even hit you"
"You shouldn't be doing that to Jesse...." and he said pretty much the same stuff he said to me be to D.

I now feel like our community is becoming moe of a family now. The kids are coming over more with in the past 2 days just to say hey and to talk about their problems and just chill in a safe place.

Things are looking up.

Highs and Lows

This week I was very blessed to have Lyn (Lisa's Mum) spend a week here to see what I'm doing with this ministry. I enjoyed having her around (not just because the kids were more polite around her) and I know that she enjoyed seeing what I do and the relationships that are being formed between the kids and I. So that would be my high.

My low would be that one of the prostituted people that I had just started doing ministry with was murdered last night. I don't even want to type out what happened, nothing was mentioned in the media but read the 614 Charlotte blog or Leo's blog.

Bless you all.

614 WILL REMEMBER.

So as you can see Lisa and I got to see each other for our reading week holiday. Last Tuesday I got to fly (while poohing my pants because I don't like to fly) to Denver then Seattle and then drive from there to Vancouver, Canada were one of my bestest friends in the whole world (Lisa Stewart AKA Stewy). It was awesome but I'm sad that later this morning at around 7am I leave. (it's currently midnight).

I loved to spend time with Lyce and I got to meet the entire Revolution Session which is extremely cool because this has been the first time session mates have been in two different countries and the fact that we all got to meet each other is such a blessing. I love them all and we all have an instant connection and all by the grace of God. I loved just seeing what they do here, making new and everlasting friends, seeing old ones and just chilling out with no stress for a while. We also got to have our first group photo which is actually alot more exciting than you would think. (Don't worry Mum, I didn't find a guy here either. No need to stress and I'm also a long way off dating again.)

I also got to mend an old friendship that really needed to be restored. I'm blessed that God had humble me (even through all my pride) to approach the untouchable issue to seek forgiveness and to also forgive so that I could fully hand over the hurt to Jesus who is the only one with the healing balm that perminently heals us and makes us a new. I also got to pray for them and the love of his life which was a huge step because of all that ha happenedbut I feel released and God has lifted my burden and lightened my yolk. Praise Jesus.

I just chucked up a few photos of Lisa and I so you can all see what we look like now (I know I've put on some weight but I'm keeping it on for warmth) but what ever. And now you know that I am still crazy as crap. I gotta go (lisa needs her
computer.)

Blessings and Love

Princess Slumber Party

Friday morning (3:30 am)
Bang, bang, bang, bang!!!. Someone was at the door. I was the only one to wake from the noise. I walk down stairs and open my door in my PJ's an my hair all over the show. B (not her real name again) is standing at the other side of the door.
"Jesse, can I stay here tonight" said with a sound of desperation "I need to get away from there."
"Of course you can" I replied as I let her in the house.
"I sorry I had nowhere else to go" with tears welling up in her eyes
"That's OK. You know that you are always welcome here"

I then got her something to eat and drink and set up a bed for her on my couch. After a while I went back upstairs and stayed up the rest of the night praying for her.

She sleep solid all through the day until 4pm (champion effort I must say) and then left my house around 4:30 after having lunch and a chat. She was telling me that that night her flatmate tried to rape her and that is why she needed to stay at my house.
"I knew that I would be safe here. Thanks for letting me stay, it really meant a lot to me."

After she had left I was thinking, God totally brought us together the other day for a drink so that she could know that she has a safe place here in this house and that's because it is the house of the Lord too. It's a safe place.
I'm blessed that God is showing himself through us to other people so they know that he will protect and that she has a friend in us like we do with God, that no matter what time of the day it is, or how unsafe it maybe, or how scared, shaken and afraid we may be we can find a safe place in the arms of God.

So that's my blog on God's princess's having a sleepover in his safe embrace

Date with a prostitute

Last night I was thoroughly cleaning the house because we have guests coming on Friday and also when we get back from Canada and I here a knock on my back window. It was a woman who I'll call B (not sure if she wants her name on my blog). She is a new woman in the neighbourhood and she kinda stands out since she's one of the only white ladies that live in this area. She just moved here less than a month ago and I've only spoken to her like 5 times and have always told her that if she ever wants to pop around and have a coffee or anything she is more than welcome to and last night I was very blessed to have her take me up on that offer.

So I invited her in and we had a drink and just got to chat for a bit. It turns out she got married when she was 16 to the love of her life and was married for 12 years then she lost her husband 3 years ago to cancer and chose to cover her pain with crack and now to keep up her drug addiction she is selling her body.

It was so God leading the conversation because B hardly knows me and was willing to lay all her stuff out so I could know the real her (which she told me she tries to hide from most people). So that was my date with a prostitute who I love.

Marlo

So there is this little boy in our community named Marlo and he is seriously one of the cutest kids I've ever meet. He is 4 and is a pretty tiny kid for his age but what he lacks in height and the such he makes up for in personality and brains, like this kid can seriously have a full on conversation with you and you can completely forget that he is so young. He now lives with other family members so we only get to see him every now and then for a weekend at a time.

Last week he graced us with his warm smile and vibrant presence and even came to my Saturday kids cell group (church run out of our houses) and when he saw that I was running the cell group for his age group he started to do what he calls the Jesse dance. It's really cute and it's not the first time he has done this dance when he realises that I'm around and it even has words. It goes "Jesse's here, Oh yeah, Jesse's here, Oh yeah" and keeps go till I go and give him a hug so his arms will stop moving.

But on Saturday he managed to make me cry in front of him and the other little kids. I was in the kitchen of the community house heating up lunch for the kids and Marlo runs up to me and grabs my leg. He then looks up at me with a big smile on his face and says to me "Your my best friend. I missed you" and I just lost it. This 4 year old who doesn't get to see me that much anymore considers me to be his best friend and would even boldly tell me in front of others and it's not like I did anything to deserve his love, He just loves me I hug him and talk to him like he matters, because I don't just brush him to the side which is something every person should get but some just don't get any attention and don't feel special at all.

Please don't brush anyone to the side because they could end up being the biggest blessing to you like little Marlo is to me and just remember that you should be treating everyone like they are Jesus and every now and then you'll totally see Jesus in the eyes of another like I got to last Saturday.

Packages

This week was sooooo cool. On Saturday I recieved a package from my sister Sarah and inside was photos of my neice and a book that my uncle published. It's really cool and it just made me feel a little special to get something in the mail (I don't get much while here) and then today I recieved a package from my good friend Matt which had a kids cook book in it (he knows how shocking I am at cooking and that I was scared to come here because I'd have to cook for myself) along with a really sweet letter that totally lifted my spirits. It's cool how the little things like just getting mail can make someone feel special, so it got me thinking "How many people aren't feeling very special right now and all it would take is a note to let them know that you are thinking of them." It's sad to think that some won't be feeling special today and especially on valentines day.

Two more in Heaven

Tonight Heather and I were running our boys cell group as we do every Monday night (although it has resently shrunk due to some kids moving away). We played neighbourhood bingo, where we get a list of things to find and we have to mark it off once we see it and the first one to finish win a prize and the two boys in our cell won although they cheated (not at all bitter LOL jokes) then we had dinner together and the boys just started to open up on bad dreams that one had been having and how the other thinks things he doesn't want to think although he says something different because he thinks it's what people want to hear. So they ask God through pray to take these things from them and to have God take over and then asked Heather and I to pray for them. It was so awesome especially since it was so unexpected and they were the ones to bring it up. So because God told Heather and I to have dinner every Monday night and build a lasting freindship with these two boys, we will now be seeing them in Heaven which blows me away. That God will even us me as a vessel so more will see his amazing glory. Praise the Lord

One thought?

So lately I've been mediating on what I actually think about and I've come to the conclusion that I really think about jack! What I spend most of my time thinking about is really not even worth thinking about but because I've entertained these thoughts they have extended into other avenues and stay on my mind continually. Well today I'm saying no more. Every time I think about it you'll hear me giving it to God no matter how random the time or place is so be warned.

God has commanded us to love him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and the one that needs the most work for me is my mind so please pray about on my behalf so I can be more of God and less of me