March 6th-20th: Marching On

I am constantly amazed at how fast life can fill up. We have so much that constantly bombards us. Everything from billboards and ads on TV or the radio. Troubling news of countries that are struck with tragedy of natural disasters or human hand. So much. Every day. Wow.

But then, there are those times that I can relax in a bubble bath with a good book and forget about my skin getting pruny because I am feeling so rejuvenated by the inspirational words or messages. I did just that on Thursday night. After I started my blog, my sister told me she had a book that was perfect for what I was trying to do. She mailed it to me and encouraged me to read it. I am so glad that I did! I read "Life of a Daymaker" by David Wagner. He is the founder of Juut Salon Spa in Minneapolis. I highly recommend reading this book and taking to heart his message. Basically, his goal is to make someone's day...every day. Sound familiar? I thought so too. He had a great backstory to his mission and encouraging ideas and points to ponder. The book is also filled with great quotes to remember, write down, and read often.

March 6th to today has been a busy time for me. I have been job hunting, house shopping, lesson planning, house cleaning (okay, maybe not), and trying to keep up with everything that is being thrown my way. Luckily, I have spring break coming up. A time to rest and catch up on all of the things I have on my ever-increasing to-do list.

In the past couple of weeks I have honestly not been very good about keeping up with my challenge. I have done some things, like donating blood, donating money to support a friend who is walking in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, sponsored my nieces in their schools' Read-athon fundraiser, signed up for the Pound for Pound Challenge to get food for food banks, sent encouraging letters for friends who were down and out,  read for Mr. Ray, taught children's church, emailed a company about their choice to use chocolate that is not fair trade and other such things.

While I am falling behind on meeting my goal, I have to make tomorrow a fresh start. I need encouragement and support. So, if you are reading this...please hold me accountable. I need to do one thing each day and record it. I know what I have to do. Plan. If I plan what I am going to do, and I schedule things like volunteering at a soup kitchen or something, I am more likely to follow through. So, that is the goal.

Looking ahead to the week:

I am finally cutting my hair on Friday. I am going full-force and chopping off 10+ inches to donate for Locks for Love. I am excited for the change and to know that I am helping someone in a very personal way. I am looking through my list of 365 things to do to see what else I should pre-plan so this week can be successful. I'm open to ideas if you have any!!!!

Lately, I have felt like I should not blog about what I am doing, but rather what others have done for me or what I have seen others do. I have been so blessed these last couple of weeks by the generosity and kindness of others. A sales person at a store at the mall made my day by allowing me to return a defective product without a receipt. This saved me $50! Wahoo! I have seen a 7 year old boy and his mom use the horrible situation they are in to touch the lives of others. He is battling cancer and trying to collect a pillow pet for every kid in America who is ill as a way of showing God' love and providing comfort. Stories of people coming together to help with the efforts in Japan. I am seeing so much good in the world. It's been quite an amazing journey so far to see my heart changing and to view the world through a different lens. There is a song that talks about viewing the world through the eyes of God. I have been praying that prayer and trying so hard to look at things with an eternal perspective, rather than an earthly one.

So, that's it for now. I pray that this week will be successful and that I will give the glory to God in all I do.

Lots of Love!
Chieko

February 18-19: Revolve Tour

I volunteered to serve at the Revolve Tour on February 18-19. I originally volunteered because I wanted to be a part of something that I knew would be good, fun, and encouraging for girls. Then, I found out that as a volunteer, I would get two free tickets that I could give to girls to come to the event for free. How exciting! I originally asked one of my friends if she wanted to go, but she was unable to. So, I prayed and prayed and asked God to tell me who he wanted to have the tickets. I hadn't heard a name, but rather to just offer them up. So, I asked my Pastor's wife, Tracy, if she knew anyone who wanted them. The night before the event, two girls from youth group asked if they could have the tickets.

One of my friends from Bible Study and church also decided to volunteer. We were looking forward to going together and watching the Lord move in the lives of all the girls that would be there. She too brought two girls from youth group.

The Stage

My Badge

The event was awesome! I had so much fun listening to the speakers and meeting some incredible people. I even made a new friend. I was part of the usher team, so I helped escort girls to their seats and direct them to the nearest restroom, etc. I knew that this would be part of ushering when I volunteered, but I didn't know that the ushers also helped control the lines of girls waiting in line to meet and greet the artists and speakers. It was crazy! There were multiple signing times and several artists at each. The artists would sit at tables to sign the autographs. I worked the table for Britt Nicole, Kathryn McCormick, and Jenna Lucado Bishop. I had so much fun watching how excited the girls got when they met the artists. The Revolve Tour also had Chad Eastham, Hawk Nelson, Group 1 Crew, and Jamie Grace.

Shannen, Jenna L.B. Mandee, and me!

The highlight of the entire conference was when one of my youth group girls, Mandee, saw a girl who really wanted to meet Group 1 Crew but didn't have a ticket, so Mandee gave up her ticket to meet and greet. I was so proud of her! I could not believe that she would be so selfless to give up her ticket for her chance to meet the group. Actually, I could believe it. Her heart is always so kind and concerned about others, she is just that kind of person. I got an idea in my head. I wondered if there would be any way for her to meet the group backstage. I knew that Group 1 Crew was already done with their signing times. So, I asked the head of the usher crew (not his official title) if he could help me help her. I told him the story of her selfless act and he said he would do what he could. He told me to get her and bring her down to the backstage staircase. When I returned with Mandee, there was Manwell from Group 1 Crew!!! She was so excited and I have to admit that I was excited too. Watching her face light up and knowing that she got a personal meet and greet was really special.

It was so much fun to serve and to be filled up through powerful messages, beautiful music, times of worship, and being surrounded by sisters in Christ.

Marching into March

Last month seems like a blur. I am so far behind on blogging that I feel overwhelmed. So, in an effort to take a giant step forward, I am going to start my blog from March 1st. Hopefully, I will find the time to go back and fill you all in on the amazing things that happened during February. February was so fantastic and full of incredible things that I had no time to blog. But, all the more reason to tell you all about it. :0)

March 1: I was running late for an appointment. I blazed into the parking lot, threw my car into the first spot I saw and made a mad dash for the door. As I was about to break into a full on sprint, the driver of the car parked next to me asked if I would be long. I explained that I was not sure how long my appointment was but that I was running late...really late. She said, "Okay. Never mind." She turned her head away and I couldn't help but notice that something was wrong. I stopped and asked her why she was asking. It turns out her car battery died and a co-worker of hers was on the way to help jump start the battery. She was hoping to have the parking spot open so she could easily reach the two cars with the jumper cables. There really were no other parking spots open and I could certainly see her dilemma. I apologized as I ran into the building. I felt horrible. I wanted to help her but I could not afford to pay for a "missed" appointment. In that moment, that was all I could think about. As I finally entered the doctor's office, I felt a terrible burden for the lady I just met. I apologized for being late and explained the situation to the receptionist. Luckily, the receptionist was sympathetic. I excused myself and darted down to the parking lot to move my car. The lady was so thankful!

I know this is not exactly a perfect story of how I thought of others before myself, or that I jumped her car myself. Instead, it was a reminder to me that sometimes I am "that" person. You know. "That" person who is too busy to care about others, or "that" person who seems needlessly rude. "That" person who seems to not be able to give a single moment of their time to help someone who was really in need. Yes, the story ended alright, as I was able to move my car. But what a better story it would have been if I was able to express to this woman that she was more important than an appointment. Imagine how important I would have made her feel if I just took the extra moment to move my car right then. She was already stressed and I could have eliminated some rather than adding to it. Or even better, to jump her car myself. I had jumper cables with me. I know how to use them. This was a good reminder for me to stop and think about how other people see me and how my actions, or in-actions, can affect others even in the moments that I don't "have time" to think about it.

March 2: The PTA at my school does a great job. Right now we are enduring the daunting task of administering the CSAP (Colorado Student Assessment Program) and the PTA has worked hard to provide snacks for all of the students taking the assessment. I thought it would be nice to help. I have used donated popcorn from AMC Theaters in the past for youth group events, so I thought that perhaps AMC would like to donate for the students. Sure enough, they agreed to donate popcorn. I knew the students would be excited. I spoke to the coordinator of the snacks and told her about the donation. She was so excited. Evey day next week I will pick up a bag of popcorn and help eliminate some of the work from this busy PTA volunteer and to brighten the day of the students. It also makes me happy that the popcorn won't be wasted, but enjoyed by many instead.

March 3: I visited Mr. Ray and read his mail for him.

I am now volunteering to read to a blind man named Mr. Ray. I have volunteered for a little over a month now and have been so blessed to have him a special new friend. We have a good time together and he has taught me a lot about what it is like to be blind and the modifications he has to make in his daily life.

March 4: As I mentioned before, CSAP testing is currently underway. About a month ago, I went through the training required for all those who wish to proctor the test. It is a good thing I did, because there have been several times when I have been asked to proctor. While proctoring is certainly not fun, it does make me feel good that I have been helpful to the staff at my school. CSAP is stressful, and knowing that I have been able to eliminate a little stress makes me feel good. We are half way through at this point. Next week will be full of testing too.

March 5: Richard gave me some Legos that he wanted to donate. I was happy to give the Legos away to a teacher at my school. I love watching things be reused instead of thrown away. I also spent my morning cleaning the kitchen. I checked the dates on everything and purged, cleaned, and organized everything. I was so glad that I was able to recycle a lot of things instead of just trashing them.

While I am happy to share these things, I also feel that I must share with you how my family was blessed this week.

Maile at Christmas

My best friend, Amy, agreed to let our dog out. This was a huge blessing as my husband and I did not want to pay the money for doggy daycare. Amy has been great about taking care of our pup and also sending me reassuring text messages. Usually, when someone in the family is out of town, Maile gets sick or acts strangely. It has been so nice to not worry about Maile. Last night, my husband read on Amy's facebook page that her daughter has been ill. I had no idea! Amy never mentioned anything and she still took care of our baby. Amy is always so selfless and kind. She truly was a blessing to my family this week.

Well, that's it so far. Like I said, I will do my best to go back and fill everyone in on February. But for now I will just keep my goal at staying caught up from here on out.   Hugs and love, Chieko   :0)

Time Flies!

My last post was January 23rd. I had just gone to the Life and Justice Conference and I promised to fill you in on all that I learned. I am so sorry that I have been terrible about blogging. I am pleased to say that I have been too busy "doing!" It's a good problem though, don't you think? I will post about the conference on a separate post. This post is to share some of the happenings of the last month.

Admittedly, I have done something everyday but I have not logged what those things were. Here is a list of some of the things I have done to keep my challenge going:

1. Gave a hungry student food
2. Cleaned a toilet for someone else
3. Cleaned someone's home
4. I am now reading mail each week for Mr. Ray, a blind man (this will be on-going)
5. Spoke at a youth group about choices and the love of Jesus
6. Joined the "Missions Team" at church (this will be on-going)
7. Volunteered to teach Children's Church (this will be on-going)
8. Provided groceries for someone in need
9. Returned stray grocery carts from the lot so they wouldn't hit anyone's car (in the freezing Colorado weather!)
10. Volunteering at the "Revolve Tour" (2/18-19)
11. Donated tickets to "Revolve Tour" to two girls from youth group
12. Raising awareness about human trafficking with everyone and anyone who will listen
13. Apologized and sought forgiveness from someone
14. Provided a ride to someone in need
15. Planned a screening of the documentary "The Dark Side of Chocolate" and have worked hard to get a Fair Trade chocolate company to donate chocolate. The screening is on February 26th at 7pm!

January 15-23: Catching Up

I have found it very challenging to find the time to blog over the past week. So, I will do my best to remember what things I have done and to share with you the experiences I had that I wanted to remember to share with you.

I last sat down at my computer on January 15th but I did not blog about the events of that day. It is from that day that I will begin.

January 15: Write a letter to my sponsored child from Compassion International. (Link to Compassion)

January 16: Volunteer to provide cookies for the meal my church is serving at Open Door Ministry in downtown Denver. (Link to CATR and Link to Open Door Ministry). This ministry serves the homeless and needy in Denver with a church service, fellowship and a delicious, hot meal. The person coordinating the meal was getting a bit frantic about the lack of volunteers to provide food. Once I heard the need, I immediately volunteered. This was a lesson on doing something myself instead of thinking (or wishing) that someone else would do it. I did not see the sign up get passed around so I had thought that the sign up was already complete. Instead, I just kept missing it. I should have just inquired instead of assumed. I am happy to report that the sign-ups were filled and all of the food needed was provided. Way to go church! :0)

January 17: MLK Day! When I was at the grocery store, I took some extra time to wrangle up some of the carts left out in the parking lot. People were leaving them all over the place making it difficult to park. I felt like the opportunity presented itself to do something good. Turns out, one of the grocery cart attendants saw me. He came up to me with a look of shock on his face and thanked me. Not only did I help make sure cars were not going to get hit, but I helped him out too. It was a little thing, but it made a difference.

January 18: This was my first day of school for student teaching. I had a great day getting to know my students and getting my feet wet in the new school. After school, I was so blessed to find emails, text messages, Facebook posts, and voicemails inquiring about and wishing me well for my first day. I was so touched! My "thing" for the day was to learn as many names as possible and to learn at least one thing about each person. Sure, I am going to learn about my students' academically, but I also want to know them as unique individuals. Their likes, dislikes, friends, family, and other things that are important to them should also be important to me. I believe this is one way I can be sure to really love my students and to help them succeed. While I did not get to know all of the students, I certainly made good headway. (As of Friday, I learned all of the students in my homeroom and most of the students in the other classes as well. I'm making progress!) I was really touched by one particular student who offered to stack my chair for me. It was a small gesture but it really brightened my day. I made sure to tell him so.

January 19: I was surprised to see so much snow on the ground as I left school. The roads were really icy and it seemed as if everyone was on the road trying to get home. Instead of getting frustrated about the snow, traffic, or how long it was taking me to get from point A to point B, I spent the time in prayer. I prayed for all of the people on the roads to be safe and to get to their destinations without frustration. As I got closer to home, my heart broke as I saw a car on the side of the road laying on its top with bits and pieces scattered for quite a distance. I knew this accident was very serious--probably fatal. I prayed and prayed and prayed. I also prayed for those who were without heat or shelter. My "thing for the day" didn't come until much later, however. I went to pick my husband up at the Light Rail station and saw another man cleaning his car off with his bare hands. I offered to clean it off for him or to loan him my snow brush. He seemed thankful for the offer but kept clearing the snow. I offered for him to sit in our warm car as his warmed up. Again, he declined. Even though my offers were declined, I still did my part to try to help care for another person. That is, after all, all that I can do.

January 20: I ran into a friend of mine at a local coffee shop. She told me that she just had to put her dog to sleep. I couldn't help but empathize with the pain she was feeling. My husband and I were on a date night, but we both knew that our conversation could wait until later, as my friend needed a listening ear that was free from distraction. (How many times have I tried speaking to someone only to feel like they were not even giving me their undivided attention?) I think it is so important to live according to my priorities and at this moment, she was a priority. She was a "walnut." I was sure to follow up with her too, to let her know I would be there for her.

January 21: One lesson I have been learning about is that of accountability. Garrett spoke about it in his sermon, I have been learning about it first hand through this challenge, and also through scriptures I read in my quiet times. I was faced with a situation where a dear friend of mine needed to be held accountable. Holding someone accountable can be so scary! Man, I was shaking...at least on the inside. But, I do believe that scripture is clear on things and we need to hold each other accountable in loving ways. No judgment. No justification of wrong. Truth and love. Simply done with truth and in love. So, I found myself speaking truth to her and praying that the Lord would speak through me and use me as a messenger. I had to be bold and honest, but again I knew that the message needed to be shared in love and with open arms. How often is the church presented with an issue (cursing, homosexuality, adultery, lying, cheating...) and we do not approach the issue with love. Rather, we judge and cast aside those who need the healing hand of God or the grace of God to touch their lives and to be embraced by those who call them friend. Man, this issue is near and dear to my heart as I have been going through some learning curves with this topic. How do I tell my non-believing friends about the love of Jesus when all they see are the shortcomings of the church? I know I sound preachy. I'm sorry. I just have to learn to really let the scripture of "Love thy neighbor as thy self" sink in to a level that is so deep that it becomes part of my very being; my core and essence of who I am even. It is in that true love that we can hold each other accountable in the way that I believe Jesus really intended. So, today's "thing" was holding someone accountable with love and grace. In the end, I bought her a cup of coffee, prayed over her, and loved on her for the rest of the night. I will continue to pray for her and to try to encourage her too.

January 22: I attended the Life and Justice Conference and volunteered with a friend. It was great to serve and be a part of the event. I will be writing a completely different post for this event and day because it simply deserves a whole post to itself. AMAZING and very eye-opening. Thing for the day was to volunteer and I also learned about the issues of human trafficking and genocide. Now, it's time for me to share what I learned with the world. Stay tuned...

January 23: Today, I was a busy girl. I dropped of the cookies for the Open Door Ministry and I was hard at work sharing all that I learned about human trafficking and planning a screening of a movie I learned about at the conference. The movie is "The Dark Side of Chocolate." The gal I went to the conference with and I are going to be hosting a screening and Fair Trade Chocolate party. If you want more information, just ask.

Well, that's it for now. I have finally caught up! Whew! I will be back to share everything about the Life and Justice Conference, but for now it's time for bed. Tomorrow I go back to school. I am so excited to see my students and I look forward to another great week ahead. I pray that the Lord will bless you this week and draw you closer into a deeper relationship with him. If you don't know the Lord Jesus as your personal savior and you want more information, please don't hesitate to ask me. I would love to share his love with you so you can know him too. Here's a link for you too.

Much love and sweet dreams, Chieko

January 14: Prompts and Purses

We did not get along. It has been over a year and I can still remember the tension between us. So then, why was God telling me to give her my purse? Sure, she once offered to buy it from me. I mean, I knew she liked it, but I really did not want to see her again nor did I want to give her my purse. I was fine giving it to Goodwill or another worthy cause. But her...? For a little over a week now, I had been feeling like I was supposed to drive to her work and give her my purse instead of simply giving it to Goodwill. Not only did I not want to give it to her, I did not want to drive the 20+ miles to give it to her. It was much easier to just put it in the box with the other stuff to give away. But I could not shake the feeling that I was supposed to give it to her. I wasn't seeking amends. The past was the past, we both had apologized and moved on. So why on earth was I supposed to give her my purse???

I was reading my Bible in the morning (I've been reading through Matthew) when I felt it again. So, I decided I might as well be obedient. I wrote it on my To-Do List.

I walked into her office and asked the receptionist if he was there. The receptionist told me that she was out of the office. I asked if I could leave the purse for her. The receptionist got all excited and said that she would be happy to put it in her office. Then she told me...

"She will be so excited! I know that she really liked this purse. She has been carrying around this tiny purse for a long time and it would not hold all the things she needed. Just last week, her purse was stolen! Not only that, but her jacket was stolen too and her wallet was in the jacket pocket. She has been wanting a new purse. I know that this will certainly cheer her up and she will be so happy to have such a nice purse. She is going to be so excited when she sees it!"

Seriously!?! Her purse was just stolen? Last week? Really!?! "Okay God, I get it. You know better than I do."

Needless to say, I was quite humbled as I walked out the door. As I drove home, I was reminded of the verses I had just read in Matthew.

"I ask that you will please forgive me for not having been obedient immediately and my poor attitude, selfishness, and all of the other rotten things that were revealed to me in this situation.Thank you Lord for allowing me opportunities to act in accordance with your word and to learn the lessons I need to learn so that I may grow closer to you.  Amen."

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. --Matthew 6:21

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

 ¹⁶ Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”   ¹⁷ “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
 ¹⁸ “Which ones?” he inquired.
   Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, ¹⁹ honor your father and mother, and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.”
 ²⁰ “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
 ²¹ Jesus answered, “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.”
 ²² When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.


Matthew 19:16-22

January 13: Discovering Strengths and A Welcome Home

I attended my Bible Study for the last time today. I am sad that I will not be able to go anymore now that I am student teaching. The ladies in that group are so unique and special. Each one of them has a special thing they bring to the group: humor, gentleness, wisdom, hospitality, support, encouragement...the list goes on and on. Tracy (the group leader and wife of the church's pastor) was sure to share these things with each of us. Over Christmas break she wrote out a list of the things she appreciates about each woman in the group and she shared them aloud for all to hear. It was so nice to hear someone edify people publicly. As I listened to Tracy read the list, I could not help but think about how the Body of Christ is represented by that group. Our unique gifts, talents, characteristics and personality traits are special and blend together in an amazing way. I so appreciated hearing Tracy point out things in other people the way she did because it helped me to put words to my feelings and to recognize traits in others that I do not know very well. It was a very unique and special thing to be a part of. Having someone publicly recognize your strengths and qualities is both humbling and encouraging.

At the end of Bible Study, we closed in prayer and one of the ladies lifted me up in a special prayer as it was my last day. I felt so loved! I can't remember the last time I had someone pray over me like that. It truly touched my heart.

I returned home feeling so loved and cared for. I know that I have a body of believers behind me to love and support me through everything. After all, that is what the community of church is all about. Those feelings made me feel like I was floating all day. It was wonderful.

I have been reading a book by Marcus Buckingham called Find Your Strongest Life. It has helped me learn more about myself and how God uniquely created me. I highly recommend this book. I am learning about my strengths so that I can use them more effectively. I just thought it was ironic that all of these things happened in my life at the same time. Not only was I learning more about myself, but I was hearing how others saw me and what they appreciated about me.

After Bible Study, I returned home to work on some things and to put the finishing touches on the house before picking up my parents at the airport. It was so nice to welcome them home! My dog was sure excited to have them home again too!

My "thing" for the day was again in the form of preparation. I had volunteered to work the Revolve Tour in February. As a result, I was getting some free tickets, so I invited a dear young friend of mine (she's practically a sister) to come as my guest. In addition, I signed up to volunteer to work the Life and Justice Conference on January 22nd. Even better was that I found out a friend of mine was interested in volunteering with me. So, the two of us will be volunteering and attending the conference. I am truly looking forward to it. I'll be sure to blog about both events when they happen. Stay tuned...

January 12: Preparation

I spend the majority of the day working on my parents' house again. I am working hard to make it spotless and perfect. After a full day of cleaning, I went to an orientation meeting for a volunteer opportunity I have been presented with.

Back in December, when I was preparing for the challenge, I spent some time researching places for me to volunteer at. I found one called Seniors' Resource Center. I was interested in the opportunities they have and services they offer, so I signed up to attend the orientation meeting. While I did not actually do any serving, I was happy to know that I was getting prepared to do so. I look forward to seeing what comes of this opportunity.

January 11: A Listening Ear

Yesterday I had the chance to serve others through manual labor. I worked hard to give to others. Today was quite different. I did nothing more than sit all day, but I feel as though I gave just as much, if not more.

I drove across town to meet a friend for lunch. We had a nice time catching up as it had been months since we last spent quality time together outside of just passing or chatting briefly at church. She is going through some hard times as her son is really ill. I was happy to listen to her and I tried to encourage her the best I could. I will be praying for her and her son in the coming days, weeks, and months and I know they have a hard road ahead of them.

After lunch, I drove across town again to meet someone else for coffee. I did not really know this person very well, but I felt led by God to call her up and try to establish a relationship with her. Boy am I glad I did! She too is going through some really hard things and I was happy to listen to her. Again, I tried to encourage her and I will be keeping her in my prayers as well. It is amazing how we can go through something so hard but then see how the Lord can use it for good and for His glory. Within less than 24 hours, I was able to share a very painful piece of my past to help people. I literally saw beauty from ashes. My pain was not wasted, but rather used to glorify God and reflect His goodness!

Sometimes, all we need is someone to stop what they are doing, give us their undivided attention and show us that someone in the world really cares about us and what we are going through. Sometimes, it is nice to love waiting instead of judgment. Sometimes, we need to be reminded of our worth and how much God loves us. Sometimes, we need to borrow someone else's faith as we feel like we are running on fumes. I know I need these things, and today it was great to be the giver. I had spent a lot of time in the morning reading my Bible and preparing for what the day would bring. I asked the Lord to use to me to show love to others. By listening and genuinely caring for others, I feel as though I was able to be obedient.

I knew I would be putting on some miles, so I put the leftover sandwiches in my car. I was hoping to see people to give them to but I did not see a single homeless person. I was saddened by the fact that I was not able to give the food to anyone, and because I was reminded of how cold it was and how much some people were suffering as a result. I am still very aware of the homeless and needy. On the cold nights, I say an extra prayer that God will protect and provide for those who need it most.

January 10: Silent Servant

I had a great day on Monday because I was able to take the entire day and serve others! I spent hours cleaning my parents' house. They have been out of town for the last three weeks taking care of a sick relative. I know they have been cleaning her house, and taking care of her every need, so I thought it would be nice for them to come home to a clean house. I worked from top to bottom cleaning, scrubbing, vacuuming, and washing. I just turned up the music and got to work.

I took a "break" and decided to shovel the driveway and sidewalk. All the snow the day before had left a heavy blanket just waiting to be shoveled. I spent an hour or so shoveling the driveway and sidewalk and was just about ready to go inside when I looked over to the neighbor's home and saw that they had not shoveled yet. I picked up the shovel again and got to work. Over an hour later, I was done. I was sore, but I was done.

I enjoyed a hot cup of coffee to warm up and then I got back to cleaning. I cleaned until it was time for dinner. I cooked dinner and then I cleaned some more, and more, and more... I cleaned until midnight! To be honest, it was quite enjoyable because I knew how much it would mean to my mom and stepdad to come home to a clean house. They are always taking care of other people, now I had a chance to return the favor.

I would have loved to have seen the look on my neighbors' faces when they returned home, but I was happy to keep it my own little secret. I had such joy in knowing that I spent the entire day serving others.

January 9: Taking Opportunities

Sunday was a very snowy day in the Denver Metro area but I could not let that stop me from getting to the other side of town. I had the whole day planned out: church, help make sandwiches for the baby shower, baby shower, then coffee with a dear young friend.

I prayed a prayer of protection and safety as I got in my car. Luckily, I made it to church without a problem. I was looking forward to seeing everyone at church. I also wanted to share some good news with friends and give flowers to a friend whose birthday was the day before. After church, I faced the snowy streets again as I made my way to the grocery store to buy the bread for sandwiches. Then, I headed over to a friend's house to make the sandwiches. I knew that this was a big help to her and I was glad that I was able to. We enjoyed a nice chat as we worked in the kitchen. Then, off to the baby shower! The snow was really coming down at this point. I was sure glad when I walked in the warm house and out of the snow. The shower was delightful as all the ladies "ooed" and "awed" over all the baby stuff. I was happy to present the expectant mothers with the scrapbooks I had made them. Some sandwiches and deli meat were left over, so I offered to deliver them to the homeless downtown. I also took the bag of tissue paper home so I could fold and keep the paper that was good enough to be reused and recycle the rest. These two opportunities presented themselves and I decided to take them as "the daily tasks."

As I left the shower, I was pleasantly surprised to find Garrett (the pastor's son who gave the sermon the week before) and one of his friends cleaning the snow off all the cars! This act was the icing on the cake for me. I thought they were so sweet and thoughtful to drive over to the shower and take time out of their Sunday afternoon to clean the snow off the cars. Seriously, let this sink in a minute. These are teenage boys I am talking about here! 

I went straight from the baby shower to a coffee shop to meet one of the youth group girls. We enjoyed a nice conversation for a couple of hours before I braved the snow again for the long drive home. 

As I drove home in the bitter cold, I couldn't help but feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The day was so full of blessings and I enjoyed having the time to reflect and give thanks for them: church, fellowship, good friends, birthdays, babies, thoughtful boys, hot coffee and, yes... even the snow. 

Too Good Not to Share

GOD, GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE PEOPLE I CANNOT CHANGE, THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE ONE I CAN, AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW IT'S ME.

THE NEXT TIME YOU FEEL LIKE GOD CAN'T USE YOU, JUST REMEMBER....

NOAH WAS A DRUNK
ABRAHAM WAS TOO OLD
ISAAC WAS A DAYDREAMER
JACOB WAS A LIAR
LEAH WAS UGLY
JOSEPH WAS ABUSED
MOSES HAD A STUTTERING PROBLEM
GIDEON WAS AFRAID
SAMSON HAD LONG HAIR AND WAS A WOMANIZER 
RAHAB WAS A PROSTITUTE
JEREMIAH AND TIMOTHY WERE TOO YOUNG
DAVID HAD AN AFFAIR AND WAS A MURDERER
ELIJAH WAS SUICIDAL
ISAIAH PREACHED NAKED
JONAH RAN FROM GOD
NAOMI WAS A WIDOW
JOB WENT BANKRUPT
JOHN THE BAPTIST ATE BUGS
PETER DENIED CHRIST
THE DISCIPLES FELL ASLEEP WHILE PRAYING
MARTHA WORRIED ABOUT EVERYTHING
THE SAMARITAN WOMAN WAS DIVORCED,

MORE THAN ONCE
ZACCHEUS WAS TOO SMALL
PAUL WAS TOO RELIGIOUS
TIMOTHY HAD AN ULCER
LAZARUS WAS DEAD!

NO MORE EXCUSES NOW. GOD CAN USE YOU TO YOUR FULL POTENTIAL. BESIDES,YOU AREN'T THE MESSAGE, YOU ARE JUST THE MESSENGER.

1. GOD WANTS SPIRITUAL FRUIT, NOT RELIGIOUS NUTS!
2. DEAR GOD, I HAVE A PROBLEM, ITS ME.
3. GROWING OLD IS INEVITABLE, GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.
4. THERE IS NO KEY TO HAPPINESS. THE DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN.
5. SILENCE IS OFTEN MISINTERPRETED BUT NEVER MISQUOTED.
6. DO THE MATH, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.
7. FAITH IS THE ABILITY TO NOT PANIC
8. LAUGH EVERY DAY, IT'S LIKE INNER JOGGING.
9. IF YOU WORRY, YOU DIDN'T PRAY. IF YOU PRAY DON'T WORRY.
10. AS A CHILD OF GOD, PRAYER IS KIND OF LIKE CALLING HOME EVERYDAY.
11. BLESSED ARE THE FLEXIBLE FOR THEY SHALL NOT BE BENT OUT OF SHAPE.
12. THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN YOUR HOUSE ARE THE PEOPLE.
13. WHEN WE GET TANGLED UP IN OUR PROBLEMS, BE STILL. GOD WANTS US TO BE STILL SO HE CAN UNTANGLE THE KNOTS.
14. A GRUDGE IS A HEAVY THING TO CARRY.
15. HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS IS STILL DEAD.

IN THE CIRCLE OF GOD'S LOVE. GOD'S WAITING TO USE YOUR FULL POTENTIAL

A Nugget of Wisdom

I read a great article just now and wanted to share it. Follow the link by clicking here. Enjoy!

January 8: One Week In and the Jolly Postman

One Week In

It is January 8th, which means I am 8 days into my challenge. That leaves 357 more days until I have met my goal. I have had several people ask about my progress. So, here is my reflection on the past week.

I have learned that this challenge is...well, challenging. However, anything worth doing is usually hard. I am evermore excited about the challenge that lies before me. This past week, a lot has been revealed to me through prayer, scripture, conversations with others, self-reflection, and situations. I am excited to learn these lessons as I know they will only make me stronger, wiser and more equipped to serve Jesus. The situations that have unfolded have been incredible. I have met wonderful people too. And this is just the beginning! Wow! How much more there is for me to look forward to. Most of all, God has certainly been faithful and it has been great to watch Him work. 

The challenges are not what I expected, however. I thought the time factor would be the hardest part; keeping committed, carrying out the daily tasks, and blogging. But I have found the hardest part to be what no one else sees. The doubt that I have every time after clicking the "Publish Post" button launching the new post live on the web. It is scary to bare my soul to the world and not knowing if someone will misinterpret something I have written or if I have misinterpreted or misrepresented scripture. I certainly feel as though I am walking under a cloud of uncertainty. That is something I had not expected to face, but I am not surprised by it. I pray that the Lord will remove this doubt from my mind and instead bless me with wisdom, courage, and dedication to stay the course. 

I am trying so hard to keep my identity anonymous as I do not want to be the focal point, but rather for God's glory to shine through. In every word I type, I pray that this is conveyed but it is hard to share personal experiences without revealing more and more about myself. My strengths, weaknesses, and struggles are now public knowledge. Again, I must remind myself that this does not matter if the Lord is glorified through it. While I may be uncomfortable, I hope that others can identify or at least appreciate my honesty.

So, there you have it. If you think about it, I would sure appreciate your prayers. :0) Thank you!

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The Jolly Postman

Yesterday, I had a chance encounter with the mailman. My dog is just a little chihuahua mix, but she would be darned to believe her size matters. I think she is under the impression that she is a Pit Bull or Doberman! Point being that she likes to be "intimidating" and "fierce" when she sees men she does not know. (Our pup is a rescue dog and we think she was abused by a male.) I was taking her potty when the mailman turned down our cul-de-sac. I waved as Maile went about her business. He waved back. She barked and barked and barked! Man oh man did she bark! He was so nice though. He pulled up and asked if she would like a treat. I said he could try as she is quite picky about her treats. He gave her a treat and she just kept on barking. I did my best to calm her down. Eventually she devoured the treat and then went right on barking. The mailman and I had a nice conversation over the barking. He was a nice guy and goes by Bubba. He was so patient and kind to my little Maile. After enjoying a friendly conversation for several minutes he continued on his route and I took Maile back inside. I was so embarrassed by her behavior! I marched right upstairs and grabbed a cute card with a dog that looks very much like Maile on it. Using my opposite hand for effect, I wrote an I'm Sorry and Thank You card for Bubba. I know this was a silly thing, but I hoped it would at least brighten his day. 

More importantly than writing the card, I was happy to have met Bubba. Now, if I could only get up early enough to meet the paper boy...

January 7: Planting a Seed

Today, instead of using words of my own, I want to share something straight from the Bible. The following is from the book of Luke. It is my prayer that this touches your life in a powerful way. --Chieko 

Parable of the Sower

   ⁴When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable:
   ⁵"The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up.
   ⁶"Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.
   ⁷"Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.
   ⁸"Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great." As He said these things, He would call out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
   ⁹His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.
   ¹⁰And He said, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. 
   ¹¹"Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.
   ¹²"Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.
   ¹³"Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
   ¹⁴"The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
   ¹⁵"But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

January 6: Simply Stop to Listen

I love to talk. Ever since I was a young girl, I have been a chatterbox. My parents often warned me to think before I speak and to not make my words cheap. In addition to talking, I love going to my weekly ladies' Bible Study. I enjoy learning more about the Bible and God's love and having the fellowship with the incredible woman that come each week. This week was no exception. My pastor's wife, Tracy, leads the group with such grace and wisdom. The joy I get from being a part of that group is indescribable.

At the end of Bible Study, we close in prayer after we share our prayer requests. All too often, things get heavy and we are reminded of the gunk that fills our lives. There are some seriously strong women in that group who are faced with some really big stuff. Let's face it, life is hard and there are some not so fun things we have to deal with simply as a result of living in a fallen world. There are women in that group that I applaud and recognize for not giving up and for being strong in the midst of their situations. Through the muck and mire and in the depth of the pit, there is good news! Not only do we have the opportunity to share and be a part of a community of believers without facing persecution, we have a mighty God who can do amazing, miraculous things! After sharing some heavy concerns, I was grateful that Tracy pointed this out. We do not have to go through hard stuff alone. We do not have to carry the burdens by ourselves. I am grateful for being part of such a great group of women and for the loving support they collectively give to one another. On Thursday, this blessing became very obvious to me. I was blessed by four woman at the end of Bible Study. One woman made herself vulnerable by sharing the struggles she was facing; she was crying out for help. Four women, myself included, sat and listened to her for nearly an hour after Bible Study. You may be asking, "How did this bless you?" I'll tell you. I was blessed because I recognized how hard it was for this woman to open up and share the struggles she was facing. She was asking for help and support. But it doesn't end there. The other women sat there with her, fully engaged in listening.

Have you ever felt alone in a crowded room? I know I have. We all want to be heard, but how many of us have someone to actually listen? The better question I had to ask myself was how often to I really stop and listen to someone else? How often do I actually stop what I am doing and put someone above my agenda instead of hurrying to the next thing or checking off that item on my to do list? Do I stop in the busyness to put forth what really matters, people? How often do I actually listen, Not just hear, but listen. (There is a difference.)

I have to ask, why are we so afraid of sharing our fears and struggles with one another? I think it is because we may be believing the lies of the enemy. Lies that tell us we have to keep secrets and not reach out for help, or that other people won't love us if they knew the truth. I think that one of the greatest struggles in our culture that we face today is not being honest with others and ourselves. I heard a sermon last summer about the "dangers" of suburban life. The pastor shared that too many people are living in nice homes with manicured lawns, driving cars that are more of status symbols than for transportation, and hiding behind closed garage doors with drapes drawn. The pastor asked us to write down the names of our neighbors. Then, he asked us to write down three personal things we knew about each one. Then, he asked us if we knew if they were believers or not. I was ashamed to say that I could only name three neighbors and I did not know a single thing about them. Not just personal things, but anything.  Are we missing that human connection? Are we missing the joy of sharing stories? Stories are cultural and get passed down from generation to generation. What are we going to pass down if we are not sharing our stories? Not only that, but are we living life surrounded by people but being totally alone? Like I said before, this is something I was confronted with over the summer and found myself revisiting on Thursday.

I know that the Lord blessed me with one mouth and two ears so that I will listen twice as much. So today the way I showed love to someone was by simply stopping to listen.

UPDATE!!!!

It is January 8th at 10:36pm and my blood in racing in my veins with excitement. I have had emails piling up as a result of not checking them regularly. So I decided to take the time to clean out my email inbox. I had so many emails that I had not opened yet. Including one from a friend that included a video. Now, I must admit that I am often "too busy" to watch videos and sometimes delete emails without taking the time to read them if I know they are forwards. But I decided that it sat in my inbox long enough so I should take the time to watch it. All the email said was, "Awesome Testimony! Please watch this video, it's short but amazing." 

As I shared, I had been praying about friends of mine who are ill. I stated above how important it is to not only say a prayer, but to have faith that God will and can answer. (He might not answer the way we want him to, but he still answers.) Well, I watched the video and immediately felt like it was an answer to my prayer! Here is the video for you to enjoy! Click here.

God is still answering prayers and performing miracles! We need to celebrate and share these stories!!!!

January 5: A Day Unplanned

I was supposed to volunteer on Wednesday, but I was stricken with a terrible stomach ache and ended up staying home. I felt horrible about not volunteering and keeping my commitment but instead of moping around the house I tried to make the best of my day by doing what I could still do...pray.

I spent the better part of the day lying in bed, reading my Bible and praying. I sent encouraging e-cards to people and spent time in prayer about the prayer, specifically over the requests I received through the church emails. I received a prayer request for a dear young friend of mine who has been struggling with severe stomach issues. I was certainly empathizing more because of my situation but I knew that she was really in a lot of pain and distress. In addition, I received an email from a couple at the church asking people to pray for their son who was also having medical issues. One after another, I was hearing about or being reminded of people who were struggling with their health. I found such comfort in reading my Bible and praying because I knew that God was (and is) in control.

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.   ---Matthew 4:23


I love reading the Bible stories of Jesus healing the sick. I also love hearing stories of people who are healed right now. It's not like Jesus stopped healing people 2000 years ago. No, he is the great physician and he is still touching the lives of many and healing the sick. So, as I laid in bed praying for the sick and broken hearted, I felt such comfort in knowing that Jesus is still healing. Perhaps my favorite story of healing is that of the woman who had such strong faith that she believed she would be healed if she just touched the hem of Jesus's garment (Luke 8:40-48).

⁴⁰ Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. ⁴¹ Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house ⁴² because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

   As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. ⁴³ And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,^[c] but no one could heal her. ⁴⁴ She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

   ⁴⁵ “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

   When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

 ⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

 ⁴⁷ Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. ⁴⁸ Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

A few years ago I went to the Women of Faith conference and saw Nicole C. Mullen perform her song "One Touch." It is a song about that very same story with application to today. I have included a link for you to watch her music video. Click here. It's powerful and amazing. Grab a tissue.

During the last week I have learned a lot about really placing my faith in God. As humbling as it may be, I must confess that I have often uttered a prayer without actually placing my faith that God is not only listening and caring, but that He can act. The prayers came from my head, not my heart. The quick prayers before meals or bed have not had the actual heart connection that they have needed. This is something I have realized and have been working to rectify. I know that I must place my faith in God! Simply saying a prayer is only half of the equation. Do I have the faith in Jesus that the woman in the Bible had when she reached out her hand to touch the hem of Jesus's garment? The answer is yes. My prayer life is something I have been working on. As much as I did not enjoy having the stomach ache, it did provide me with time to stop and really pray. Wholeheartedly. With faith. Surrendered.

While the day did not pan out the way I had originally planned, I was so pleased to have spent the day with Jesus--talking with him, reading my Bible, and resting in his arms.

So, as I pray for my young friend who is suffering from stomach pain, and the other people that crossed my mind that day, I wholeheartedly place my faith in the healing power and comfort of Jesus. Ultimately, I pray that God will use the situation to draw them nearer to him and for God to be glorified through the situations. I pray for the will of God, "For not my will but thine be done. Amen."

 ²² “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. ²³ “Truly^[f] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. ²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.                           ---Mark 11: 22-24

UPDATE!!!!

It is January 8th at 10:36pm and my blood in racing in my veins with excitement. I have had emails piling up as a result of not checking them regularly. So I decided to take the time to clean out my email inbox. I had so many emails that I had not opened yet. Including one from a friend that included a video. Now, I must admit that I am often "too busy" to watch videos and sometimes delete emails without taking the time to read them if I know they are forwards. But I decided that it sat in my inbox long enough so I should take the time to watch it. All the email said was, "Awesome Testimony! Please watch this video, it's short but amazing." 

As I shared, I had been praying about friends of mine who are ill. I stated above how important it is to not only say a prayer, but to have faith that God will and can answer. (He might not answer the way we want him to, but he still answers.) Well, I watched the video and immediately felt like it was an answer to my prayer! Here is the video for you to enjoy! Click here.

God is still answering prayers and performing miracles! We need to celebrate and share these stories!!!!

January 4: Using My Talents

I love to scrapbook! It is something I am passionate about and it is a hobby that both relaxes and rejuvenates me. Not to mention that I am quite good at it (if I do so humbly say so myself).  A couple of years ago, I had been hired by a neighbor to complete her wedding scrapbook. I was quite pleased with how the scrapbook turned out. It was exactly what my neighbor had asked for and she too was pleased with the finished product. However, she did not want to journal in the journaling boxes I left scattered throughout the book as we had originally planned. Instead, she wanted me to do the journaling for her because she did not like her own handwriting. I have been extremely busy with school and such so I had not had a chance to complete the task for quite some time. Once my Christmas break came around, I called her up to finish the scrapbook. On Tuesday morning, I went to her house and we worked for a few hours on finishing the book. Instead of getting mad at the fact that I had more work to do on the book, I just tried to take it in stride and embrace the opportunity to get to know her better and be a good neighbor. We had a nice conversation and enjoyed the time together.

On Sunday, I will be attending a dual baby shower for two ladies at my church. I have been making a scrapbook for each of them as a gift. So, on Tuesday as I worked on these scrapbooks, I tried to really focus on giving thanks to God for my talents and to use the skills I have as a way of blessing people. In keeping with the idea of a prayer shawl (where you pray for the recipient as you make the shawl), I prayed for the babies and the families receiving the scrapbooks as I assembled the pages. It was neat to focus on praying for the baby while I created something very personal. I hope the mothers will enjoy the scrapbooks as much as I enjoyed making them. 

I had an great conversation on the phone with my step-brother last night. Among many other things, we were talking about how much we both wish we could sing so we could be part of the praise and worship teams at church. We agreed that sometimes it is hard to pinpoint what talents you possess and how to use them to glorify God. Some talents are more obvious than others: singing, dancing, playing an instrument, etc. But other talents are less visible or widely viewed as a talent...like scrapbooking. I had not really thought of scrapbooking as a talent before, rather just a hobby. I also had not thought of it as a way to show love to others or to glorify God. After I realized that scrapbooking is both a hobby and a talent I possess, I started to examine my life to see what other areas I am overlooking. Here's a snippet of what I came up with...

God created each of us with a unique set of talents, gifts and abilities. So, I might not be a talented singer, but I certainly have the ability to other things. I do not so much enjoy cleaning, but I am really good at it (when I actually do it!) because I pay strong attention to detail. Right now my mom and stepdad are out of town. I am embracing the fact that I am able to clean, and I am planning on spending some time next week using my elbow grease because I know what a relief it will be for them to come home to a clean house. No, I am not a "talented" cleaner, but I am able to do it and to bless someone as a a result.  There are a lot of things I can do because of the unique set of talents, gifts, and abilities God blessed me with. Now, it's just up to me to identify and use them. It's kind of exciting to see what else I will be able to do in the future. I am so thankful for the ability to do things and to bless others and out of that thankfulness comes the giving.

I am looking forward to returning the finished scrapbook to my neighbor. I know she will be so happy now that her precious wedding pictures are preserved in an album instead of sitting in an old shoebox. I know that this simple book will put a smile on her face. In addition, I am looking forward to giving the scrapbooks to the moms at the baby shower. What they will see is a scrapbook to preserve memories. What they don't know is that I spent hours praying for each of them by name. That is something that does not come with a bow. It'll be my little secret as I watch them flip the pages of the baby book. 

Looking at myself is only the first step. I need to be more aware of the talents, gifts and abilities of others. It is important to celebrate how God created each of us, for we are wonderfully made! Often times I find myself appreciating the talent or gift someone else possess but I keep these thoughts to myself. I am going to start to make a point of celebrating the talents, gifts and abilities of others.

For you created my inmost being; 

you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

your works are wonderful, 

          I know that full well. 
         
                                    ----Psalm 139:13-14

January 3: Kicking Off the 365 List and A Day on the Streets of Denver

New Years Day was the beginning of my challenge to do something every day. I thought I should keep true to my word and share what I have been doing.

January 1: Thank you cards. I wrote thank you cards to thank people for their generosity and thoughtfulness during Christmas. While this might seem like a small task, I believe that an attitude of gratitude is imperative and thank you cards are important. Simply expressing thanks to others is good practice for the heart.

January 2: Thanks to some generous people, my husband and I were able to enjoy a lovely date together. We went to a restaurant for dinner after seeing a Christmas light display. The server did such a great job that we just had to tell him. I wrote a nice note complimenting our server and we placed it on the bill when we left. Too often good things go by unnoticed. I wanted this man to know that he was not only great at his job, but he was appreciated. After paying the bill I had to use the restroom. My husband waited outside the restroom for me. We was able to see the waiter read the note and watched as his expression on his face totally changed. It made us both feel good to know that we brightened up his day. Before we left, we were sure to notify the manager on the great service we had.

January 3: My husband had today off as his New Year Day holiday. We had been thinking about fun things we could do since we rarely have weekdays off together. We had thought about a movie or going to the mountains but nothing seemed just right. Immediately after church yesterday, my husband told me that he knew how he wanted to spend his day off. He wanted to go downtown and give food and Bibles to people on the streets. This is something we had said we wanted to do for ages so I was thrilled when he told me this as I had wanted to do it too. We woke up this morning excited about our plans. We enjoyed a nice, quiet morning together before heading out into the city. Before we got there, we purchased some gift cards from Subway as well as granola bars, bananas, and bottled water. We already had scarves, hats, hand warmers, and Bibles to give away.

As we were coming off of the highway, we saw a man with a cardboard sign standing on the off-ramp at the intersection. We were unable to hand him anything because the light changed. We decided to drive around the block, park, and walk to him. We approached the man and asked if he was having any luck making money. We were able to strike up a conversation with him. We learned that his name was Mike and he had come from California but he was on his way to Mobile to see his mom. He wanted to be a guitar player and tour the world, but he had made some bad choices in his past. He left home at 18 and started doing drugs. He had cleaned up for a while and then fell into drugs again. As a result, he lost everything. Now, he had been clean and sober for 18 months and wanted to make a new life for himself. He had on a nice jacket, baseball hat, and boots. He also had a very nice backpack with a sleeping bag. It was clear that he had money at some point but was now down on his luck. We asked if he had ever heard of Jesus. He said he had but that it had been awhile since he thought much about him. We asked if he would like a Bible and he said yes. I was so proud of my husband for boldly speaking to this man about Jesus. His words were gentle, non-judgemental, and honest. He shared his faith with a total stranger. Before we left, we asked him if we could pray with him. He seemed surprised but happy with the offer. We all bowed our heads and stood in a circle. Mike folded the cardboard sign in half and folded his hands as best he could with gloves on. My husband prayed. There we were, the three of us, standing on the off-ramp of 1-25 and Speer praying. I could only imagine what the people in their cars must have been thinking. But it didn't matter. For those precious moments, all that existed were the three of us joining together in prayer. Afterwards Mike thanked us and my husband and I began the treacherous walk over the ramps and back to our car.

We drove down Speer near the Auraria Campus because I knew that there were always people asking for help standing on the corners. For four or five intersections, we saw someone on every corner. My heart broke. We found parking and prepared ourselves to walk around the streets of Denver ready and willing to be used by God. We walked across the street to an intersection where two men were standing on opposite corners. We approached a man holding a sign that said he was a disabled veteran. He even held up his ID as a form of proof. I quickly read it and learned that his name was Scott. We introduced ourselves and started up a conversation. We learned that Scott had been in Afghanistan and was injured by an IED. He pointed out his battle scars and voiced his frustration in how long it was taking to receive his benefits. In the meantime, he had to beg on street corners and sleep under bridges. Again, my husband and I asked if he knew Jesus. Scott told us that he did. He was raised Catholic and was anxiously awaiting the return of Jesus to come and get him off of the streets and into heaven. His candor was refreshing. We gave him food and offered him a Bible. He said he had one but thanked us anyway. We asked if he had been to church lately. He said that he didn't know of one where he would be welcomed now that he was homeless. Again, my heart broke. (Is this really the state of our church? We no longer welcome all people, only those with homes, clean clothes, and full stomachs? I did not want to believe the bankrupt condition of the church as observed from the eyes of a homeless man who once served our country.) We shared about Open Door Ministry and encouraged him to check it out.
Then we walked across to the other corner and met Zach.

Zach was also holding a cardboard sign asking for help. He was very open about why he was homeless. He told us immediately that he really liked beer, but that he was not an alcoholic. He confessed that all the money he was collecting was going to help him by more alcohol. Throughout the conversation, we learned that Zach was originally from Dallas and he had served time there. He was a convicted felon. I was surprised by his honesty. We had a nice conversation on the street corner before offering him some food and a gift card for Subway. He thanked us but told us that he was not allowed to go to Subway because he was a bum. We told him that he should be welcome there if he was a paying customer and now he had the gift card. He was still unsure about the whole thing and nervous that he would be kicked out before he could get some food. So, we asked him if he would like to join us for a good meal at Subway. Surely they would not kick him out if we were all together, right? We was elated but every skeptical! The three of us walked across the street toward Subway and all the while Zach was telling us more and more about his life. As we walked past two more corners, another homeless man approached Zach. Zach told him he was going to Subway and the other man stopped dead in his tracks. Zach told us the other man's name was John. John had both hands bandaged up so much that he could not put gloves over them. His coat looked thin and he looked both hungry and very cold. We invited him to join us. He said he didn't have money for a sandwich. My husband handed him a gift card. He looked at both of us in a peculiar way---sheer disbelief. He told us that we didn't have to do that. I replied with something to the effect of, "we all need to help each other out, right?" John looked at me and said, "Yeah, that would be nice if people did that. That's how it's supposed to be, but it's not that way." We asked if he would like to go to Subway for some food and to warm up. He was so hungry that he agreed to the food, but he admittedly was embarrassed. We tried our best to be sensitive to his feelings and to help him feel welcomed. He walked into Subway and handed the card back to my husband. He said, I'll just have the cheapest thing on the menu. I am not sure exactly what unfolded between them as I was sitting down at a booth away from where they were standing in line. All I know is that John got a hearty sandwich and gave the gift card with the remaining balance back to my husband.

My husband followed John outside and did not return for several minutes, maybe 5 to 10. I stayed inside with Zach as he ate his meal. I asked when he had a good meal last. He thought for awhile and said he didn't remember. My husband returned and the three of us sat and had a nice conversation for over an hour as Zach ate. Throughout the course of the conversation, we learned a lot about Zach. We learned about his life up until that day and we learned about his dreams and beliefs. I honestly believe that Zach has a mental illness. He confessed that he suffered from manic depression but I think there was more to it than that. He repeated himself constantly and told crazy stories of his life and family. I'm not sure what was true or false, but I do not know the only time he seemed lucid was when we discussed Jesus. We asked him if he knew the gospel and he said he did. Then he began to tell us what he knew. Clearly he did not know the true gospel. He had no idea of the real Jesus Christ who died on the cross for his sins and who loved him. We asked if he would like a Bible. He said that he loved to read but he didn't have a safe place where he could read. He always had to be on the lookout. Police, other homeless people trying to claim territory...so many aspects of life on the street were brought to my attention. However, we took the opportunity to sit and share the true story of Jesus with Zach. His face became red and his eyes were teary as he read scripture aloud. I started to recite John 3:16 and he joined in with me. He knew the verse. He might have known the verse, but I think that he did not know the true meaning of it until today when he learned that Jesus loved him despite the fact that he was a convicted felon. He did not know of the grace that come from love. The Bible we gave him had several reference study guides in the front. One was about grace and forgiveness. I asked Zach to read it aloud. As he began to read his entire demeanor changed. His words made sense and he seemed like a totally different person. He read aloud the Beatitudes as well. We asked if he had ever heard any of this before and he said no. There was something so incredible about hearing Zach read the scriptures aloud. I cannot even begin to describe the beauty I saw in that moment. Zach said he really wanted to read the Bible, but he reiterated the fact that he did not have a safe place to read it. My husband asked him if he could read it at Subway. He said he felt safe there with us. We sat with Zach for awhile pointing out different scriptures and Zach read them aloud. My husband challenged him to stop picking up the bottle and to start picking up the Bible instead. We told him about Open Door Ministry as well. Eventually, we parted ways but not before praying with him. As we began to pray, Zach reached out and held both my and my husband's hands. It was amazing.

Later, my husband told me that John had once been a successful employee of a big company but lost everything including his family. John was a believer and he had a Bible. He was open to prayer so my husband prayed with him and afterwards he said, "I love you brother. Thank you," then walked away. I'm not sure what happened in John's life to get him to the place that he was today. I spent the least amount of time with him than anyone else but I feel as though he touched me the most. He seemed as though he just needed to see kindness from someone and to have a little hope restored. I can only pray that this was the beginning of something great in his life. This educated man went from making a substantial amount of money and having a family to being alone and homeless. He seemed so riddled with grief that it almost came across like he was trying to punish himself for something or that he thought he deserved to live like that. Thankfully, God is bigger than all of that.

I am not sure exactly what happened in the hearts of these men, but Jesus does. All I know was that my husband and I tried to share the love of Jesus. We were scared to death to step out of our comfort zone and share the gospel but I am so glad we did.

After leaving Zach, we drove around Denver distributing the water, food, and scarves that we had left. We came across three men, one was with his wife. Everyone seemed so grateful.

Matthew 7:9-12 says, "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you."

I cannot tell you how many people I have passed by and not stopped to help. I have smiled, waved and looked into the eyes of people needing help and have even said, "I have nothing to give." How ashamed I am that I have been so selfish. I have been so richly blessed! How dare I keep what I have if another is starving or cold. I know that I cannot save the world, but shouldn't I do my best? Even today, my husband and I passed by nearly a dozen other people asking for help. I know that we cannot help everyone, but isn't this where the church is supposed to step in? As I stood on the street corner before heading over to meet Scott, I remember looking around and taking a mental picture. There were at least ten people with cardboard signs asking for help on three intersections. Ten people. Now, how many cars and other pedestrians were there surrounding them? I could not say other than to say well over one hundred. If everyone did something, could you imagine how much the world would change!?!

I certainly was aware of the things I have in my life. My husband and I were both well aware of the cars, food, clothes, warm home, safe neighborhood, loving family, education, hot shower, clean water, comfortable bed, safety, security, future, hope, and Jesus...just to name a few. It truly is amazing how much we take for granted every day.

Both my husband and I feel as though our whole life has been changed since yesterday morning. It is amazing how much can happen when we are obedient and faithful. Today was one of the best days I have ever had in my life. It was not glamourous or anything but it was one day that I will remember for the rest of my life. I just hope I remember the feelings I experienced and the lessons I learned. I hope this is a step in the transformation of my heart that I have been praying for.