Many Needs.....

I was talking with someone this week about the obvious and many needs here in the Dominican Republic.  As we spoke I told him it is hard.  There are so many needs.  Sometimes helping actually hurts.  Kind of the like the sign at the duck pond, "Don't feed the ducks, because then the ducks can't feed themselves".  Handouts of food can give false hope to a family who waits on the next hand out without looking for work to help themselves.  There are many here that are making due.  Living off the $15 US dollars a day which is typical for work. They survive, their bellies are full, their pants are tight.  Rice is cheap, red beans add a little protein.  Chicken, beef or fish is a treat and only comes infrequently if at all.  Veggies and bread are plentiful and are available off many trucks and motos that drive around the villages.

I am reminded that if I have the means, then I should help.  Not just by a hand out, but by loving, sharing God's love and equipping.  In September  I met Carina and her four precious children.  She is Haitian and lives here in the Dominican in Boca Chica.  She had a husband, she had a house, she had a better life.  But her husband died and then a very short time later, her house burned to the ground, literally.  Life as she knew it was not the same.  She has no family here and her mother in law helps as much as she can with what little she has.  So she found a place to live, a one room apartment with a double bed for the 5 of them to sleep in, a chair and a table to hold the few possessions she has.  She asked how we could help her.  I can't help everyone but I can help the ones that pop in my face.

Carina and her 3 girls and little boy

This is what is left of Carina's house

I asked, "What does it mean to help?"  She has asked if I could build her a new house...like the one we just built for another family.  I explained to her that it wasn't me that built that house, but God provided the funding through people who loved Jesus and gave generously of their own money.  I told her it might be possible in the future to build her a home.

For now, I can hire her to clean my house and give her a little extra money each week.  Her little room that she has provided for her family costs a mere $20 US dollars a month and the little extra I give her is about $5 US dollars a week.  I could very easily give her the money each week and month, but I wanted to give her a feeling of providing for her family, for working for it.  I also give her a wonderful food product that we have from SERV International that gives her family the needed nutrients to fill their bellies.  Not all her kids like it, but hope they will learn to like it over time.  I dug through the kids drawers and gave her our access clothes.

I found out her kids were not in school.  Due to paperwork (which I don't really understand) issues they couldn't go to school and she didn't feel right about them walking across the busy highway to go to school.  I am sure she fears losing something more having them so far away and not close to her.  Miguel one of our Dominican friends took an interest in helping her and took her to numerous appointments to get the paperwork for them to go to school.  Took her to the fire station to get documentation that her house did indeed burn to the ground.  After a month or so, the paperwork was all in place and her four children were ready to go to school.  The next week she came to my house with a list of all the things the kids would need to go to school.  Uniforms, backpacks, shoes, tennis shoes, notebooks, pencils, etc.  So Mike and Miguel took her to the store with all the kids.  I wasn't home so I didn't get to see it, but I would have loved to see it!  Her little boy who is 5 I think loved riding in Mike's truck.  Later he told Mike, "I don't have a daddy" and Mike responded back with "Neither do I, but I have a Father in Heaven who loves me very much, and He loves you too!"  Momma responded with "Amen" and he just had a look of surprise on his little face.

Today when I picked her up, always with a smile on her face, I asked if everything was OK with the kids and their new school.  She said they don't have the money that they need to pay for the school each month.  Ok, so how much is that I asked?  Public school is free but they are not at a private school.  It is by no means a private school, but a school that you do have to pay.  It is about $50.00 a month for all 4 kids.  We are personally helping a lot of other ministries here and doing what we can to help those in need.  We sponsor a little girl, Rosaly in an orphanage in Boca Chica, here in the Dominican.  We sponsor a man in the Amazon who is spreading the love of Jesus there.  We help our friends in the inner city of Atlanta serving with FCA.  We still have a Compassion child in Africa that we have had for years.

So here is where I ask for your help!  Are there 2 people who can help sponsor Carina's family at $25 each?  Or someone who can do the whole thing?  Is someone looking for a family to sponsor for the holidays?  Is there someone that wants to spearhead raising money to build her a new house?  She owns her property, so we would need labor to help and money for materials.  Could you help raise $10,000?  I can hook you up with SERV International who can facilitate it for you.  Save her picture, print it out, and put it on your fridge so you can remember to pray for her and her children or see where God is leading you to help.

Email me at jodilynne21 at gmail or leave a comment here.

There are MANY other needs here that I know of, so if you are lead to help, get in touch with me and I can tell you what the needs are.  Have a heart for women?  There are prostitutes who are off the streets and need sponsoring.  Or a heart for kids?  There are orphanages, a boy's home, or a day care that need people to sponsor their kids.


Hebrews 13:16
And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

In His Grip and Loving His People,

Jodi Shaheen

Twenty Cans of Success

I am reading a book called Victory Over the Darkness ~ Realizing the Power of Your Identity in Christ by Neil T. Anderson.  My friend Whitney had it here in the DR and we were talking one day and she said, "I have a book for you to read".  Then about a week later the same book came up again and another person mentioned the SAME book.  So I started reading it right after that.  There is SO much good information in that book, but in Chapter 6 I found this amazing gem and it really touched me deep in my soul.  

Twenty Cans of Success

1.  Why should I say I can't when the Bible says I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13)

2.  Why should I worry about my needs when I know that God will take care of all my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)

3.  Why should I fear when the Bible says God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)

4.  Why should I lack faith to live for Christ when God has given me a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)

5.  Why should I be weak when the Bible says that the Lord is the strength of my life and that I will display strength and take action because I know God (Psalm 27:1; Daniel 11:23)

6.  Why should I allow Satan control over my life when He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)

7.  Why should I accept defeat when the Bible says that God always leads me in victory (2 Corinthians 2:14)

8.  Why should I lack wisdom when I know that Christ became wisdom to me from God and God gives wisdom to me generously when I ask Him for it (1 Corinthians 1:30; James 1:5)

9.  Why should I be depressed when I have hope and can recall to mind God's loving-kindness, compassion and faithfulness (Lamentations 3:21-23)

10.  Why should I worry and be upset when I can cast all my anxieties on Christ who cares for me (1 Peter 5:7)

11.  Why should I ever be in bondage knowing that there is freedom where the Spirit of the Lord is (2 Corinthians  3:17)

12.  Why should I feel condemned when the Bible says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)

13.  Why should I feel alone when Jesus said He is with me always and He will never leave me or forsake me (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5)

14.  Why should I feel as if I'm cursed or have bad luck when the Bible says that Christ rescued me from the curse of the law that I might receive His Spirit by faith (Galatians 3:12, 14)

15.  Why should I be unhappy when I, like Paul, can learn to be content whatever the circumstances (Philippians 4:11)

16.  Why should I feel worthless when Christ became sin for me so that I might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21)

17.  Why should I feel helpless in the presence of others when I know that if God is for me, who can be against me (Romans 8:31)

18.  Why should I be confused when God is the author of peace and he gives me a knowledge through His spirit who lives in me (1 Corinthians 2:12; 14:33)

19.  Why should I feel like a failure when I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loved me (Romans 8:37)

20.  Why should I let the pressures of life bother me when I can take courage knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and its problems (John 6:33)

So with these promises we are reminded that God is all powerful and sovereign.  Print these out for the next time you need a reminder of the promises when you follow Christ!

In His Grip,
Jodi Shaheen

Prayer

I have not been the best at praying.  I am good at praying when I need or want something or when I am at the end of myself.  I never just prayed to pray and pray without ceasing....all the time!  I still struggle daily with my quiet time with the Lord.  I mentioned a book before called Confession of a Prayer Slacker, and it had this to say about how to do quiet time with God:

1.  Read at least (AT LEAST) one chapter from the Bible per day.

2.  In a journal write out the following:

A. At least (AT LEAST) one thing you are thankful for

B.  Confession - pray this, Search me o God and know my heart, actions, thoughts, words, attitudes, things I neglected to do, times I ignored God's promptings, and times I have yanked back control in certain areas of my life.  Once you are done see what comes to mind and confess it and ask for forgiveness.

C.  Prayers for others - family, church, church family

D.  Urgent Prayers - natural disasters, etc.

E.  Prayers for America - President, leaders and military

F.  Prayers for those needing saving faith

G.  Personal Prayers - husband, children, self

Another good model to follow is

A - Adoration
C - Confession
T - Thanksgiving
S - Supplication

This has helped me tremendously as I need to have structure to what I am doing, and I am a visual person.  I started out using a piece of paper folded in half and I had a half side of one full sheet for each one of the areas above.  I wanted something that I could change out easier and thought of a spread-sheet but thought it would be too formal.  So I bought a notebook at Target (when I was back in the states) and I have a pocket in the front for my journal, pens, blank business size cards, printouts, special things etc.  Then I bought the business card storage inserts and I have them in there and I have have a page for each of the areas of prayer above, then I write a prayer on each card and slip it into the holder.  I can then remove prayers when they are answered and put those towards the back. In that front pocket I even have an index card with the instructions above.

I am finding that I still need help with prayer so I searched the web and found this video and it took my prayers to another level!!  When I think of prayer as not a petition (what I want or need) and more of a inner mystical awakening and a dialog with God then it is so much more!

Two things really spoke to me in this quick video:

Hover over me God, remind me you are there.

~ Teresa of Avila

and

Please enter where you already abide ~ Marianne Williamson from Illuminta

Here is the rest of the prayer here, I printed this out an put it in the pocket in the front of my prayer binder.

Morning Prayer

Dear God,
I give this day to You.
May my mind stay centered on the things of spirit.
May I not be tempted to stray from love.
As I begin this day, I open to receive You.
Please enter where You already abide.
May my mind and heart be pure and true, and may I not deviate from the things of goodness.
May I see the love and innocence in all mankind, behind the masks we all wear and the illusions of this worldly plane.
I surrender to You my doings this day.
I ask only that they serve You and the healing of the world.
May I bring Your love and goodness with me, to give unto others wherever I go.
Make me the person You would have me be.
Direct my footsteps, and show me what You would have me do.
Make the world a safer, more beautiful place.
Bless all Your creatures.
Heal us all, and use me, dear Lord, that I might know the joy of being used by You.
Amen.
- from Illuminata
Marianne Williamson

It was there all along

Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

I have this scripture on the wall going up my stairs in my home back in Georgia.

I was just reading an article from Proverb 31 Ministry and at the bottom I saw a link and it said Do you know Jesus? I often still think I am not doing enough or I could be better, so I wanted to read it. Really make sure that I know what I need to know.  It can't hurt right?  I felt like I agreed with what it had to say.  And then I got to the part at the bottom, so you now know Jesus so...now what do you do?  Where was this back when I invited Jesus into my heart 8 or so years ago???

Number 4 says this, and references MY scripture from MY wall, that I looked at every day, multiple times a day but I guess I didn't know what it meant.  Right there in front of my face and I didn't get it!!  Oh so frustrated with myself!

#4  Pray and read your Bible daily:

God communicates His will for your life through His Word and prayer.  Ahem....read that again!  Then it referenced my scripture.

Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

I shared in my last post about how I feel I wasted a lot of my life after I invited Jesus into my heart back in a Women's Conference about 8 years ago.  I beat myself up because until recently in the past year and a half, I didn't know the TRUE importance of spending time in the Word of God and my personal intimate relationship with Jesus. You know as I write this, I hear God saying "In MY timing, my love! I did this on purpose for your testimony to be what it is.  For you to have the message of this most importantly. Because you didn't get it quickly enough in your mind, you will be able to tell others not to make your mistake. Well I knew then, and know now, what I am doing".

I constantly struggle with the fact that I get these aha moments where I get all fired up and feel like I am finally getting life and my calling and I want to do so much, then I see something shiny :(  I hate how distracted I can be.  I wish I could just drill it into my thick skull that I can only take it one day at a time.  I can only wake up, spend my time in the Word and with the One who created me to be me.  I then can take my day and use it to glorify Him!  Maybe I don't get all the laundry done, maybe the tub still doesn't drain because my hair that is falling out by the bunches, has made it by the foolproof hair catchy thingy that I bought off Amazon.  Well I can be ok waiting outside of an office for my new friend who needs help getting her kids into school.  I can sit and enjoy the sounds of the island, or catch up on some emails, or read my Bible.  I can use the time I would usually feel like I was wasting while I thought about all the things I have to do for good. Instead of thinking too much when I can't do anything anyway, I can sit and pray for my new friend.  My friend who now has to go to the fire station to prove that her house really burned to the ground just months after her husband passed away.  I tear up at her precious heart that now needs to relive that day.  To see those fire trucks that maybe didn't make it to her house in time.  As the little bit of normal she had went up in smoke.  She does it because she wants to see how she can get her 4 kids into school.  She and her children are Haitian and she may not have the right papers and surely not the money to pay for them to go to school.

I need to slow down and not be so concerned about what other people think I should be doing with my life.  I know I need work on my Spanish.  I know I waste time on facebook catching up on all the friends and family I left behind when I came to this country, but it comforts me to feel like a little piece of me still is there.  I need to do what I feel is important.  I need to be a better wife who doesn't always interrupt her husband or yell at her kids.  I need to be a better follower of Christ.  I need more Truth in my life.  I want to leave a legacy.  I want to make a difference.

In His Grip,

Jodi

I am not sure who I wrote this for....

As I write this, it is the 11th anniversary of 9/11.  11 years ago I am sure we all know where we were.  We made promises, wanted to change our ways, love better, be nicer, finally do that one thing we had put off.  We may be the lucky ones because although many of our fellow Americans had died, we were not rocked to the core like those who lost loved ones that day.  But we were still effected in some way.  Life became more precious and we weren't quite as safe as we thought we were.

I see "Never Forget" all over facebook today.  I hope this means that we will always remember.  Remember those loved ones that tragically lost their lives.  Remember that life is short, we never know when it is the 9th inning, 2 outs, bases loaded with a full count.  Remember that we are not in control of what happens in our lives.  We are not guaranteed even another second on this earth.

I hope to see memorials to those lost, those that didn't do anything wrong.  I don't want any press given to the ones that did this.  We must remember and we also must forgive.  We must extend mercy to those that wronged us.  Pray for them.  I know this sounds ridiculous if your loved one died in those towers, but this is what we are called to do if we consider ourselves followers of Jesus.  We are only asked to do the things that are done for us by our Heavenly Father.  He loves us unconditionally and we are to love others.

Matthew 22:36-40

New International Version (NIV)

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

No if, and or buts to this.  LOVE.  I know this is sometimes hard and it can only be done with the Holy Spirit in you.  Our human minds cannot understand this concept.  Without Jesus in our heart and  filled with the Holy Spirit we cannot do this one on our own.  Too many times we want to cut and paste the Word of God to create what we think we are able to do, and this is dangerous.  Especially when it comes to this.  Oh I can love this one, but oh that one, no way, too much hurt over there.

This week has been a crazy one for me and along with 9/11 and googling brain aneurysm as my brother-in-law lays in a hospital bed when just the day before he was fully functioning, I am reminded of how life can be cut short in an instant.  I am aware that this is not our home.  This referring to earth.  As a follower of Jesus, this earth is only a temporary stop on a spiritual journey for me.  This earth is satan's playground.  Suffering, tears, disappointment, bankruptcy, death, hatred, greed, divorce, sin, sexual abuse, murder all live here.

On a walk one morning I felt convicted on how I share my faith and that I needed to do more.  A friend recently wonderfully and quickly had to defend her faith and I wasn't sure I could do the same.  I am still growing spiritually.  Well I guess we all are right?  I feel like I have these revelations one day and am fired up for the Lord, and then in the next minute I get distracted (squirrel) and I am off after the latest shiny thing that gets my attention.  I crawl back to God and ask for another spiritual mulligan.  There are days when I don't want to read my bible. I would rather listen to a sermon.  I walk by God as he sits and waits patiently for me, same place, same time each day and I tell Him "Maybe later...".  I am ashamed that I keep making the wrong choices.  This adventure in the wilderness is tough.  There are days I am in the bushes tangled up and I can't find my way out.  Then there are days I come across beautiful streams with deer lapping up the cool water.  There are days that are so dark I can barely see my eyes in front of my face and I practically break my skull on a tree right in front of my face. But I keep going.  I ask for another mulligan.  And I am given one.  Every. Single. Time.

Now even though I am a missionary that doesn't mean that I am holy or better than anyone.  I will admit, I am far, far from that.  I am just a lost soul longing for my eternal home in heaven.  God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called.  Boy is this so true!  When God called me to ministry work I was shocked that He would want to use little ole me to His service.  But He did and He is equipping me with what I need to get His work done.

My greatest struggle has been that I haven't shared the Gospel with anyone.  Well, I don't think I have.  I have fallen back on the words of Francis of Assisi "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."  I have translated that to say live in such a way that it is obvious that you know the Gospel and your actions show it.  I fall short on this even at times, but I am not doing the first part....Preaching the Gospel at all.  I don't feel I am gifted to be a preacher, but I do need to spread the Good News and tell those about Jesus.  I do feel my gift is story telling and I share my faith through my testimony, experiences and stories, but that isn't the same as Preach the Gospel is it?  

If I had some medicine that could cure whatever illness you had, would you want me to give it to you?  I think that question would get a resounding YES!!  Well what if I know something, that I didn't always know, and I know it now, yet I don't share it?  Wow...pressure!!  That is what I feel like.

I know that there was a man named Jesus Christ.  God is His father and sent Him to earth to save us sinners.  He died on a cross, was buried and three days later He rose from the dead.  I believe that this is true and He died for me and my sins so I can have everlasting life in heaven.  I know that I can't do anything to earn this salvation.  It is His free gift to me.  Once I accept His free gift of grace and believe Jesus is my Savior, I can have a relationship with Him. I am a new creation. At this time and afterwards, whenever I repent of my sins, He forgives them.  All that came before is gone.  I am washed clean.  I have a new beginning.  I am born again.  When God looks at me he sees not my personal righteousness but rather He sees Christ's righteousness instead. Instead of my feeble attempts at goodness He see's Christ's perfection on my behalf.    

That is the Gospel according to my simple little mind.  But I said the prayer, I went up for the alter call, tears streamed down my face thinking am I worthy of such love?  Who is this Jesus?  The God I knew was the disciplinarian, not this loving person I am hearing about.  Why has it taken me so long to get it?  Because I don't think that once I had it, that I knew what to do with it.  Why almost 10 years later am I coming across the sticky note that says "Hey, this is Jesus, and I need a relationship with you"?

I found this this below here, and I think it sums it up nicely....

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3). Most people believe in God, even Satan does. But to receive salvation, we must turn to God, form a personal relationship, turn away from our sins, and follow Him. We must trust in Jesus with everything we have and everything we do. "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference" (Romans 3:22). The Bible teaches that there is no other way to salvation than through Christ. Jesus says in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Notice that it says:

1. Turn to God
2. Form a personal relationship
3. Turn away from your sins
4. Follow Him

Go to Him even before you are perfect (which you will never be).  Before you have your act together.  Don't wait until you finish this, or finish that, or do this, or do that.  Now.  If you turn to Him and have that personal relationship He will reveal your sins.  Sometimes you may not have even thought you were sinning.  Through prayer He will reveal them and with the power of the Holy Spirit you won't want to act the same way again.  You will begin to act differently.  You will be convicted to be more Christlike.

That day at the Women's Convention in Cumming, GA the sanctification process began.  By definition sanctification is the process of allowing the holy character of God to be manifested in the behavior of regenerated men.  Joyce Meyer explains it to be much like a pregnancy.  There is a seed planted the day that you commit to Jesus.  No one may even know that you have made this decision.  But the seed is there and it grows.  Just like a real pregnancy there comes a time that you must deliver the baby, or in the life of a believer, share what you know.  Spread the Good News.  Tell your story, give your testimony, share the Gospel, tell others why you have the hope that you do, why you love the unlovable, why you forgive the unforgivable, why are you so different than the others.  Notice I said different...not better?

Only within the last year have I really known about the importance of a personal, intimate relationship with God.  Without this I do not think we can truly be a Christ follower.  If we just go to church and try to be a good person we will still feel empty and unfulfilled.  But without quiet time in discussion with the Lord and reading the Word of God it just doesn't happen.  I didn't get this.  Days that I don't start my day with the Lord I see how I can slowly slip back into my old life.  Slowly, without even noticing, the enemy tries to claim me back.  I will admit, that old life was easier.  I even have purposely tried to avoid the spiritual attacks that happen to me only when I am right with God and seem to disappear when I am far away.  I forget that I may suffer for the Lord. The enemy will try to ruin my day.  Little by little I will become the most ungodly person I know.  Small things will bother me and I will exhibit behavior that I am ashamed of and must confess over and over and over.  I can't do it alone.  I may wake up in the morning and say "Today I am only going to speak sweetness to my spouse and children".  But without first starting my day in prayer, repentance, thanksgiving and communion with the Lord I am sure to fail.  I can't do it alone, and as soon as I speak that "I" am going to try, I will fail.  I must invite the Holy Spirit to fill me, and with the Holy Spirit in me, I can use His words in speaking sweetness to everyone.

Question: "Is Jesus the only way to Heaven?" from this website, says it better than I can....

Answer: "I'm basically a good person, so I'll go to heaven." "OK, so I do some bad things, but I do more good things, so I'll go to heaven." "God won't send me to hell just because I don't live by the Bible. Times have changed!" "Only really bad people like child molesters and murderers go to hell."

These are all common rationalizations, but the truth is that they are all lies. Satan, the ruler of the world, plants these thoughts in our heads. He, and anyone who follows his ways, is an enemy of God (1Peter 5:8). Satan is a deceiver and often disguises himself as someone good (2 Corinthians 11:14), but he has control over all the minds that do not belong to God. "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

We are either following God or we are attached to satan's puppet strings.  We are either on Team Jesus or we are on Team satan.  By not making a decision you are by allowing satan to control your mind.  He will deceive you.  He will make you believe that success, money, a big house, a beautiful car...these are things that are important.  As it says above but he has control over all the minds that do not belong to God.

So, that medicine I was talking about....it is a relationship with Jesus.  It is more than being a fan, it is about being a follower. It is about digging into the Word of God for yourself.  These are just my thoughts, and you must find your own way.  But I suggest the following based on wishing I knew this back then....read, read and read the Bible some more.  Study. Rely on the Word of God above everything else!  Be careful of starting out with your friend's recommendation of their latest favorite Christian book.  Your favorite on-line pastor may even have it wrong.  Your parents may have it wrong.  Your wife may have it wrong.  Once you read the Word yourself, you can distinguish what is Truth and what is NOT.  Rely on the whispers from God while you are praying and worshiping and reading His Holy Word.  That day, I think I can call the day I was saved, I didn't know what to do with it.  I didn't have anyone to disciple me.  So I did nothing and that is dangerous.  I regularly went to church on Sundays and I tried to be a nice person.  I did find it difficult to read the Bible at first.  First mistake was that I opened to page one and started to read.  Not always the best way.  I think it is good to start with the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  I used a great website or app called You Version, you can find a link here.  They have many reading plans and versions of the Bible.  I had a hard time understanding the Bible at first.  I would read and start daydreaming, suddenly remembering things I needed to do, (squirrel....shiny thing) and I would read pages, and then not even know what I read.  Then I heard about The Message version of the Bible.  My husband gave me a dual Bible with The Message on one side of the page and the NIV version on the other side.   Buy the book or the app Jesus Calling.  It is a quick daily devotional that will help you understand how much Jesus loves you.  I bought my Son The Action Bible and it is great for even us adults who think we got the story the first time.  Start reading with your kids and you can learn right along side them!  Even if you can quote 743 bible verses and have read the Bible 249 times, it is still the relationship that is the most important thing.  We can be a fan and know everything there is to know, but there is still nothing like the intimate time in the Word and in prayer and this is where the relationship builds.

Matthew 7:21-23 warns us....

 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

"I never knew you"

Ouch!

Please, make sure He knows who you are.  Please.

He won't know you unless you spend intimate time in His Word and prayer.  I read a book that was helpful called Confession of a Prayer Slacker, this may be the best $2.99 I have ever spent!!

I once spent about 7 days around a young man who I am still amazed at.  It wasn't until after his death at just 16 years old did I really get to know about him and his walk with the Lord.  His name is Holt Rowland and he makes me want to be a better follower.  Here is an earlier post with more info if you want to read more.  Here is a video I made for his family on the one year anniversary of his trip to heaven.  If you have about 12 minutes, you can see what I was talking about above in action.

I would love to hear from you, if you want to send me a message you can do so at jodilynne21@gmail.com.

In His Grip,

Jodi

My new friend

So in the back of my neighborhood there is a home.  It is not your typical home.  It is not a building.  It is kind of like a fort.  You can't see it good from the road.  It is made out of the bushes.  There is a little path.  The way I knew it was a home was from the smoke coming from the small cooking fire.  From the clothes that were hung off the bush.

Since we have lived here since January, I wondered who lived there.  I didn't see anyone, but it was evident that someone did live there.  So the other day I saw him working in a garden near by.  I said good morning to him and he responded back with a big smile, hello and a wave.  I walked back home and found a Jesus loves you backpack, some snacks, a couple of lifesaver candies and a Messenger (audio bible with New Testament and Charles Stanley messages) in Spanish.  I just handed him the backpack and told him I had a gift for him.  He thanked me profusely over and over and over again.  I don't think anyone pays much attention to him.  Ever.

We wave to each other and say hi each morning.  He is up early working in his garden.  In the hot, hot sun.  He chops away with his machete.  Every morning.

Today I walked up to him.

Asked his name.

He said his name Licien.

He is my new friend.

I love him.

In his grip,

Jodi

Popcorn Theory

"You can't help everyone. 

But you can try to help the hot ones who pop right up in front of your face."

~ Lee Ann and Sean Tuohy from In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving

I guess I am falling prey to the whispers, not from my almighty God who hung out with prostitutes, tax collectors and the sinners, but from the evil one.  Yesterday if you read my post, some friends and I met some special orphans on the beach.  Immediately I went into "how can I help, what can I do" mode.  As I am rushing around with my mind constantly scheming on ways to help these boys, I hear a critical voice say "How can you really help, there are so many of them, they are all a bunch of thieves, you are going to get ripped off or hurt, who are you anyway, why are you so special, why do you think what you do is important or can make a difference".  I am reminded that in life, and especially in ministry, or even just as a Christ follower, we should be wired to help "the orphans and widows".  How often to we turn another cheek and get distracted with the busyness of the world?  My friend sent me the quote above this morning, which I love!  It was just the remedy I needed for my negative thinking.  A divine message from God that I am on track with loving His people well.  I also love what Katie Davis , who is a missionary in Africa and author of Kisses from Katie, writes about in her book "During the first few months I lived in Ugands, in fall of 2007, I wrote "Sometimes working in a Third World country makes me feel like I am emptying the ocean with an eyedropper".  How can one drop out of an ocean of water make a difference?  Well when that dropper full represents a person, a human life, it can be a big difference!  It only takes one person, believing in another person to change a life!  I can't be hung up on what I can do, but faithful that God can do much more through me to fulfill HIS purpose.  Katie goes on to say later in that chapter "And if one person sees the love of Christ in me, it is worth every minute.  In fact, it is worth spending my life for."  Here is a link to Katie's blog and her book.

So here is an update from yesterday.... A bunch of us went to the beach to find the boys again.  Whitney and I walked the beach looking for them.  We had told them we would be back around noon, but it was around 2 when we finally got there.  We walked and were harassed by every restaurant owner who wanted us to sit in their chairs and drink their best pina coladas (which they offered both with or without alcohol).  Looking back now I see a firestorm of spiritual warfare trying to keep us away from those boys.  We kept firm, saying no thank you and continuing to walk.  When we were walking back we found Elvis, Samuel and a new friend sitting at one of the restaurants sharing a dish of noodles and rice and a Coke.  They passed the plate around the table sharing the food.  The sweet things even offered us some of their food.  We had a bag full of more food.  We had a hot meal of lentils, rice, protein and vitamins from SERVE International's feeding program (you may remember the million meals that came to the DR a few month's back), a few bananas and guayabas (a common Dominican fruit) that we planned on giving them.  They asked for some of the food and each took a banana.  Elvis talked about how hungry he was during the recent storm Isaac.  There weren't many people on the beach so he couldn't beg for pesos as usual.  He usually gets about 100 pesos a day (about $2.50 US) and can buy some food.  After they finished eating we went to join Whitney's husband, his cousin Austin and our other Dominican young friends who were playing ball in the ocean.

I took a quick dip in the hot water of the ocean that was usually cool and refreshing and then I had to leave to get my kids from school.  Everyone else stayed and played then later Whitney and Dave went down the beach to find a man they had met the day they originally met these boys.  He owns a restaurant and he allows some of the orphans to sleep on the floor of his restaurant at night.  Whitney, Dave and I discussed about asking him if he wouldn't mind cooking up the feeding program food (you just need a big pot and water) and feeding the boys.  The boys we had already met and any other boys that happened to show up.  I had my doubts if he would even want to.  I hoped he would.  In ministry it is always better to be able to equip and supply the locals with things to help each other than it is to have an American swoop in and save the day with our resources.  We have the food, we can get it to the restaurant owner and he then can help his own.  I haven't met him so I am not sure if he is Dominican or Haitian.  I don't know if he is a Christian or not.  He is at least a man who cares for these boys.  These lost boys.  These forgotten children.

So we were so excited last night that we found one way to help these boys.  God had placed the right people in our paths.  Food is great, but that is not all they need.  It was great to see them climb all over Austin in the ocean.  Typical boys they wanted to be physical.  Really physical.  There were times we thought we had to rescue Austin.  I yelled out "Just say 'No mas por favor' if you want them to stop" which means "No more please" but he said, "Don't worry I almost have them".  Boys will be boys I guess!

I had reached out earlier in the day to some friends here in the DR that run a boy's home in San Pedro.  I was thinking this could be perfect for these boys we can find a place safer for them to live.  Immediately I wondered if they would even want to go live in a place like this.  This place I speak about is 4 homes with 8 boys in each home with a set of house parents.  It is different than an orphanage.  Although they don't have parents or a house to sleep in, they have each other and it is what they know.  I knew there was one house that already had 8 boys.  Our friends who are the directors had been looking for a set of  house parents, but I wasn't sure if they had their prayer answered yet.  There was a lot that was unknown but I needed some answers.  Well I heard back and the one house is indeed full.  There are new house parents (thank you God) but they aren't taking any new boys during the transition of the new house parents (which is totally understandable.  Now the big bummer, they only take boys that are 4-8 years old, MAYBE 10 if they feel it is the right thing.  Our boys are much older...they are 13.  Sigh.  Frown.  Bummer!  

Please pray for another opportunity.  Please pray for guidance from the Lord as to our next step.  Pray for Elvis and Samuel and Jooney (I think that was his name, Whitney is much better with names than me).  Pray for all the lost boys in Boca Chica.  To be continued.....

Thank you!

In His Grip,
Jodi

Sweet Elvis

This is Elvis (far right) with his friend Samuel and my beautiful, sweet friend Whitney (even though we had just walked and she would say she is hot and sweaty) this morning on the beach in Boca Chica.  This little boy was in my mind last night.  I had never met him until this morning.  This morning as he awoke, eyes still sleepy.  His arm tucked in his shirt for warmth and protection from the mosquitos.  His dark, beautiful skin covered in a light layer of beach sand.  He peeked out from atop a stack of blue beach chairs.  On the beach.  This is where he sleeps.  Today he didn't have his blanket that he hides during the day while he shines shoes.  Today he had a bucket and some white paint on him.  I figure he does what he needs to do to make it another day.  By himself.

Yesterday Whitney had told me about him over lunch.  She and her hubby Dave met him when they were walking the beach right before the storm Isaac hit the DR.  He told them his story, that he was Haitian orphan who sometimes lived with his Grandmother, but would rather sleep on the beach in order to avoid her abusiveness.  One of the restaurant owners told Dave and Whitney that this boy is not like the other orphans that are just tigres (thieves).  This boy is different, he is special.

I laid awake last night because I knew about this boy and could only imagine what it must be like to be that young and not have a home, parents, possessions, or love.  What could I do?  How could I know and not do something.  It breaks my heart.  I know he is not the only boy like this.  There are children all over the world, even the USA that have similar stories.  But I didn't know their stories.  I only had heard about a little boy named Elvis.  Now I have looked into his sweet innocent eyes and I can't help but want to run back to that beach and bring him home for a shower, a hot meal, some fresh, clean clothes, and a hug.  I would want to tell him that it is all going to be OK.  God loves him and has a plan for his life.  I can't get him out of my mind.

If you have some time today, can you please pray for Elvis?  Please pray that God will reveal what we can do for this boy.  My mind has already started thinking, scheming of a plan to help this boy.

In His Grip,
Jodi (with a pile of tears gathering on my chest as I write)

It wasn't what I wanted, but I got what I needed

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he raised his voice to his father and said "With all your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. And as he did, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss the Lord’s blessings and answers to our prayers because they do not arrive exactly as we have expected?

This story makes me sad.  Not because this boy never got his car, but because his father gave him the gift of everlasting life, a story that would preserve his life so he could live forever in eternity,   but selfishly all he wanted was the car.  He missed that his father loved him enough to give him something that would be worth more than any car.  

I may just be jaded from watching the political conventions.  I am sickened by all the talk about prosperity, becoming rich, deserving things, being entitled, and all the negative bashing political talk going on so close to the election.  Obviously my life has been flipped totally around since moving to a 3rd world country about a year ago.  I see people each day working their little tails off to just make about $15 US a day.  They do back breaking labor like mixing concrete by hand and lifting it by hand with a rope to a rooftop.  They don't complain, they don't feel entitled and they go home to their humble little house exhausted and call it a day.

I don't know if I can ever live in the US again.  It makes me so disheartened to see the greed, the waste, the spoiledness of the people.  3 trips to Starbucks is more than the people make here in the DR per day.  A good salary per year is about $5,000/year (US).  There are 10 million people who live on this island and there are not opportunities for them to make much more money.  What I do see is people who live within their means, live humbly in small homes with no wasted space, with rooms they use every day.  They aren't in debt.  The didn't finance their house, they built what they could afford.  And it is enough.  They make it work. 

Now if I were to ask any of them "Would you like to go to the US and live the American Dream?"  I am sure 100% of them would say yes.  This dream is really an oasis.  It only looks good, but when you get up close, there is nothing there.  It is over spent, financed and losing value quick.  From the outside, how cool do Americans look?  Driving fancy cars, eating out at nice restaurants, designer clothes, mansions with 4 car garages.  But you hear of millionaires going bankrupt all the time.  It isn't real.  Too many are keeping up with the Jones'.  Many American's are a mila-second away from bankruptcy as they have financed their life away in hope that tomorrow will pay for yesterday.  All for the oasis, all in the name of "I have worked hard and I deserve it".

Back to the boy with the Bible holding a key.  Now this is something that you can bet your life on.  A relationship with God, a surrendering, confession of your sins, and belief that He is the only way.  What is that sports car going to do for you long term?  Material things only bring temporary fills.  They distract from what is really important.  Planet earth is satan's playground, and he loves when we lust after material things.  What Jesus did for us on the cross...now that is something worth investing in.  Too much time and energy is spent on material things and not enough on eternal things.  Investing time, intimate time spent with God is the real key.  The key to an everlasting life.

In His Grip,

Jodi

252 square feet

Today we met with Mrs. Perez about building her a new home in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic in a couple of weeks.  Her teenage son spends countless days with my husband Michael in our Fellowship of Christian Athletes ministry here in the DR.  Her two little girls play outside in a cardboard box with a couple of real toys.  Her other son sucks on two fingers, listening in on the conversations about where we will place the rooms in his new house.  The older sister, who has the best smile, peeks out the front door to watch the 8 of us plus the contractor discuss the project.  Another brother comes and goes as we continue to discuss when to pour the floor slab over the uneven rock bed that we stand on.

Mrs. Perez lives in a house that is 252 square feet.  She has 6 children and a husband.  8 people in 252 square feet.  3 beds, 1 sofa, a makeshift kitchen and a toilet.  No shower, no where for 8 people to sit and eat dinner together.  One window.  She cooks outside on a single burner fueled by wood.  She always has a smile.  

She seemed shocked when we asked where she wanted the kitchen.  She looked overwhelmed.  She loves Jesus and I am sure she can't see how she is getting a new home built for her and her family.  Now when 8 people go to sleep at night, they won't only be in 3 beds in 252 square feet.  She will almost have double that space.  Bedrooms for her children, they will no longer have fabric partitions separating the modest living room from the sleeping areas.  I don't know what was going through her mind, but I am sure she was thinking that God was providing for her family, and she was blessed.

One of the little girls playing in a box, I think she is 3 or 4.

Here is a video of the house so you can get an idea of what we are working with

How can you help?  Well we are raising $10,000 to fund this housing project (they own the land already, and we are tearing down the existing home).  This afternoon we are a few thousand dollars away from raising what we need for this project.

Go to SERVE International's website and choose "Build a Home" and you can donate money there.  We also have a couple of spots if you want to come to the DR on a mission trip and help build the house.  Contact me and I can give you more information.  Two trips are coming here the week of September 17th or 24th.  100% of your donation goes to this project.  Just think, if you skip 2 dinners out with your family and easily give $100 without really missing anything.

http://servone.org/donate

Thank you ahead of time for considering helping this family!

Jodi Shaheen