Clamshell Containers and God

For my job at Somebody Cares America, I've been helping complete a disaster prepardness and response training manual for churches and other christian organizations. The manual has been developed from the experience and expertise of our local and national relief parterns. Last summer, many of them met in D.C with Somebody Cares at a "think-tank," on how the church can co-labor more effectively to be our government's greatest asset when disaster strikes. Many of those at the meeting were some of the first responders in New Orleans and other places where Katrina and Rita did their thing. The stories I was able to read are amazing (I'm talking jaw-dropping)...God did so many cool things through His Church. The following is a very cool testimony from a pastor in one of the areas where Rita did lots of damage...this is just a glimpse of the amazing provisions of God...Enjoy!

"It [Hurricane relief] was just one extended adventure for me, just a great spiritual adventure. I'll give you one testimony: The Southern Baptist Convention guys showed up and they had five city block of [cooking equipment] organized and put together. The head cook came over and said 'we don't' have anything to serve [the people] in.' They were handing out food in pieces of aluminum foil, and he said, 'what are we going to do?' I said 'all I know how to do is pray,' so I put my hand on his shoulder and I said, 'Lord, Aubrey and I know that you know where all the clamshell containers in the world are, and you know what we need, and I ask you to give us what we need.' I took my hand off his shoulder, and the phone rang, and it was a volunteer from Pennsylvania or somewhere in Doug's (Somebody Cares) office. He said 'I'm so and so from Pennsylvania. I'm here just volunteering and I just got the call that somebody has some clamshells they'd like to give away. Would you like some?' And I said, 'Yes! I'll take all you can give me!" I called one of my denominational leaders (Jerry) who was going to drive that way in his car [so he could] pick them up. And he said, 'find out how many they have.' And I found out and called him back and said, 'well, you car won't do. They have six pallet loads of clamshells.' I said, 'You know, Jerry, I guess God is going to have to provide a 26-foot enclosed trailer with a one-tone Dooley truck if we're going to get those clamshell….My phone rang; It was my wife who was at our distribution center and said, 'Charles, a guy just drove in from West Texas with a 26-foot horse trailer with a one-tone truck. What do you want him to do with it?' That [miraculous provisions, etc] happened every day, over and over."

God Listens

I borrowed the title of this post from my local Christian radio station. "God Listens" is there slogan...a wonderful reminder to the city of Houston that the God of the Universe hears the prayers of His people. He really does! I got to experience this sweet and marvelous truth this past Friday night. I was in bed already, and could hear my dad coughing and gaging horribly (he has acid reflux and was hospitalized in May for about a week when the acid pierced his lung, giving him pnemonia. The horrible cough associated with the acid reflux had recently returned). So my dad was gaging it up, and my older brother was scolding him for not going to the doctor, etc, etc. As the "friendly" family dispute and the coughing was going on, I got a urge in my heart to go downstairs to pray for dad's cough to stop. I thought about it a little, and hesitated a while. After all, what if I prayed in front of them all (my 2 brothers and dad), and nothing happened? Nonetheless, I decided to go downstairs and began to pray for my dad outloud in the name of Jesus. I finished and returned to my room. I continued to pray and worship the Lord, asking him to glorify His name-that my brothers and father would see the power and glory of the name of Jesus Christ. One of the songs I sang to God was, "How great is our God," by Christ Tomlin. "Name above all names, worthy of all praise...all will see, how great, how great is our God," says the chorus. That night my family and I saw experienced anew the greatness of God and the power of the name above all names-Jesus Christ. My dad's cough stopped minutes later, and He was able to sleep like baby that night. I know God could have stopped the cough even if I had silently prayed from my room, without a single witness. However, my family was able to share the miracle of answered prayer because I decided to ask in front of them. I pray their faith was increased.

"This is the confience we have in approaching God: if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him." (1 John 5:14-15).

Thank you Lord for hearing me.

(A Grateful People by Watermark)

It is time that we give you honor
This is the day to give you all the praise that you deserve
A Holy King, of everything
inhabit the praises of your people
Have we waited far too long to surrender?
Forgive us oh God for the years we failed to seek your face
Oh Lord, your mercy turns us into Grateful people
We can't seem to find the words
so take our lives that there might be enough to tell you
how grateful Lord, we are grateful

Whatever I do???

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father (Colossians 3:17)."

How many times have we read or heard this? I have a ton, and maybe even taken it to heart sincerely. Today, though, it gripped me harder than before. Seriously, everything I do and say should be done not only as a representative of Jesus, but they should be done with a heart of gratitude and praise???? I'm challenged and convicted. I'm also thankful for my gracious God who wills and works in me to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13). There's no way I could even attempt to live us to this without the help of God. I hope you will hold me accountable to do and say everything in Jesus' name, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Happy Birthday Tia!

You're crazy and I love you!

New Job

After months, and months (and I mean months) of searching, applying, praying, and more searching, and more praying, and more applying, I have finally accepted a job! And not just any job, but a job that I am so excited about. It's been a frustrating few months of searching, getting rejected, and rejecting "good jobs," because I knew that I would be a miserable for 40-50 hours each week. (I wish I could explain the rollercoaster its been).

At last though, God has opened a wonderful opportunity. I will be working for an organization called Somebody Cares America, a network of relief/compassion organizations in the U.S. Their mission is "To let people know that Somebody Cares. Because Jesus cares, we, the church, care. As a result, through grass-roots efforts, communities are transformed and the church is uniting. This is unity with a purpose in action." I will be working with them on their marketing initiatives, fundraising/donor relations, media/communications, and many other operational things. For example, one of my first projects will be to help them finalize a diaster relief manuel to be used to train churches (and maybe other ministries and organizations??) on disaster relief prepardness, much of it based on lessons learned from Katrina and Rita. In addition, I will also be getting involved with the programs and initatives of the Somebody Cares Houston chapter and their parent organization Turning Point Ministries. There is probably a lot more I'll be involved in that I don't know about yet, so stay tuned.

Since I was about 17 years old, God had put a great desire in my heart to work for a international relief/compassion organization. It's funny how even though I toyed a lot with other career options (ones that would make more money, required less risk, made my parents super proud of me etc, etc), that desire never left me. It haunted me greatly. Graciously, God has brought me back full circle and has given me the opportunity to do something I love, something that He has put in my heart to love. I'm grateful and excited.

I also want to encourage you to not ignore those desires God has placed in your heart. Living for ourselves is far too small a goal in life. Sacrifice and risk might be involved, but if God has called you to do something, He has everything in the world at His disposal to help you achieve it. And I'm not necessarily talking about ministry. If God has placed a great desire in you to be a great athlete, musician, artist, teacher, accountant, doctor, whatever, then be the best at it for His glory (not your own), and make sure the world knows that you are the best at it for His glory.

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses [for many of us this could be jobs, degrees, money, titles, etc, etc] , but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." (Psalm 20:7)

Happy Birthday Alan!!

My little bro is 14...aaahh! Mmmhh...I remember 14. Don't think I'de ever want to go back there, but I think it beats 13.

Anyhow, Happy Birthday Alan!! I know you'll enjoy 14 with you're text messaging, play stationing ways...(Kids these day) You are incredibly special to me and our entire family. We love you more than you'll ever know.

The little guy is on his way to the airport right now. He's going to Tampa, FL to play in a big wig soccer tournament. His soccer team, the Houston Pumas, are 1 of 2 teams in their division here in Texas that qualified for this tournament in Florida...Yeah! The fam (minus me) joins him tomorrow.