Story to a Novel

Once again sitting in my office (Starbucks) listening to "Mumford and Sons" and thinking back on yesterdays events. These events is like seeing a story take off and one that you sit back and just look in awe at it. This story started about 3 months ago when I met a family on the streets. Greg, Angela, and Jade, three people who find themselves surviving in the woods. As I got to know them, I discovered that they are happy, maybe not about their situation, but that they are together. Even at their camp site they already had a Christmas tree set up in the middle one of their tents. The church that I am serving with decided to step into this families life and basically adopt them. So let me get to yesterday.

Brevard Rescue Mission wanted to pay for a weeks stay at a efficiency and the church did the angel tree deal. So I went and got a real christmas tree, some lights, and candy canes to decorate it. Then I met Trudy, who has been helping me on Tuesdays, with the presents that were gathered. As we were bringing them in we met Cathy who was staying at the same hotel with her very nice, big, pit bull. We told her what was going on and she said she wanted to buy something for the daughter. She came back not even a minute later with tears in her eyes and a $50 gift card for the whole family. The card she received from her sister and the tears because how God has blessed her and gave her an opportunity to bless some else. You see Cathy told us her story that took place 34 years ago when she gave up her daughter for adoption, but her story had redemption as she reunited with her daughter this year and welcomed her back into her life.

As we were still hearing Cathy's story the room service lady came in to vacuum up the fallen pine needles from the newly awesomely (okay maybe not awesomely) decorated tree. Cathy yelled to her and said what we were doing. The lady said "We need more people doing this." After that was all done we were leaving down the hallway of the hotel and the owner of the place was walking towards us. She said she heard what was going on and wanted to help. She then said "the week is on us." I even said "you know it is for a week, right?" She then said "Use that money to help them get something when they get a place."

You see how a simple story can become a epic novel, a novel that may never end. So during this Christmas season, no wait, during the rest of your life, look for that story that you can step into and help it become a glorious novel.

Not looking to do a temporary deal!

In my last post I talked about the family homeless not giving up. Well they continue to be strong and they all have such an awesome spirit about their situation. I told some people at the church I serve at about it they wanted to know how they could help. I told them that I would look to see what they would need. Greg, the father of the family, said, "Ivy we just need water and coleman fuel for our grill, oh and if you could maybe a tarp to cover our tent and nails for our other shelter." I was able to get that for them right away.

Last Tuesday, I came back with what they needed, which was now only a tarp, and the pastor said they don't want to do a temporary fix. They want to walk with this family and help get them back on their feet. We are looking for housing for them and the church wants to possibly pay for the whole year and then also help mentor this family. We are looking to find a dentist to repair the wife's teeth to help give her confidence in job interviews. They want to help Jade, a sophomore girl in high school, have a great Christmas. I am so excited to see so many people wanting to walk with this family and walking with them is not temporary, but a journey hand and hand.

What if the church did this, you know, instead of making a temporary fix and feeling like they did something, but actually stepping and walking with a family or a person through their given situation? Even if it is ugly, broken, and shitty. (crappy just doesn't cut it sorry for the language)

Isn't that what making disciples would actually look like? Being Christ so they can be Christ.

thoughts?