day after Christmas

all the gifts are opened, the wrapping paper is in the trash...what is left to do.  I am thankful. Thankful that as I sit here writing this I am inside, warm and comfortable.  My wonderful husband is downstairs making stew.  Sashia is doing laundry.  Enal and Dave came over to bring Ray something.  Dave got to spend Christmas with his family and he was sharing stories of his day.

Yesterday my whole family went to my mothers house, my sister and her husband were there.  A neighbor of my moms came over too.  It was a great picture of how amazing God is.  He is definitely the God of restoration.  Our addiction had torn our family apart, they had no reason to be around us, no reason to trust us but thank you Jesus!!! we were all together yesterday and I am thankful.

That afternoon all of the great people in our discipleship program joined us for another celebration.  It is great to be alive, to be loved and to be apart of God's Kingdom.  I am thankful...

I hear the wind whipping outside and my heart breaks for those who have no home, no place to go but I know that GOD has a plan for each of us.  What is left to do...make the most of every opportunity to offer the hope of Christ to each person you come in contact with.  It isn't a coincidence, it is a God thing.

Hows your dirt?

I am thankful for bad weather in the morning.  I hate that my homeless friends have to withstand the elements but usually if it is cold or raining more people come in service.  I know some are just there to get out of the weather, some for breakfast but the reality is that it doesn't matter why people come in the door.  Gods Word is spoken here and He says "My Word won't return to me void".  We say all the time if you stay around the barber shop long enough you are gonna get a hair cut, amen?!

It is the first day of the month and the streets are empty and quiet.  As I look out the window today I can hear the praise music playing, cars are driving by and it is hard to imagine the insanity that happens out there.

Today John David taught on "dirt" the parable of the soils.  Something we all need to hear, he reminded us to prepare our heart/dirt so the seed of Gods Word can be planted deep.  Each of us has a harvest coming, what are we doing to prepare for it...We don't plant seeds and just leave them alone or pray for rain. We water those seeds, pull the weeds. Why don't we give our heart the same attention?  In Psalms it says to guard your heart above all else for out of it flow the issues of life.  I need to do some pruning, how about you?

We are all called to the ministry of reconciliation and the "fruit" of that will be our crowns we lay at the feet of Jesus.  Considering all He has done for each of us I have decided not to give Him a 'Burger King' crown.  I want to challenge you to offer the Hope of Christ to the people in your life. If you have never done it before try it today. Don't worry just pray and go for it...

North St?

When I answer the question "where is the Outreach Center?"  I can honestly say that I have seen every reaction from "awe isn't that precious" to "why on earth would you go there" and generally something about "those people", nothing good can come from there.   The latter reaction always causes a small chuckle inside, you know they said that about Jesus too.

In John chapter 1, Philip finds his friend Nathaniel and tells him "We have found the Messiah, His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph of Nazareth" Nathaniel asks "can anything good come from Nazareth?" then Philip simply says "come and see".

There are lots of bad things that happen on North St, but I know that God is able to touch lives and change hearts.  I used to do bad things too but Jesus changed my heart and my life.  I know that He is able to do the same thing for each person that walks by the Outreach Center or the mall or anywhere else.  God's Word says we are all created in His image (Gen 1:27) and that He shows no favoritism  (Rom 2:11, Acts 10).  We all have to be given the knowledge of a better way, God's way and then choose it.

I am thankful for the eyes God has given me. What I see when I look out the window are broken hurting people, some who are handling their hurt in a really bad way.  Isn't that what we all are though, broken hurting people doing our best to handle hurt,  some of us just do it better or differently than others.

I want you to remember...it doesn't matter where you come from or what you've done.  What does matter is Whose you are and where you are going!

Immeasurably more

My husband, Ray and I had been radically saved by the hand of God in 2005.  We had no idea what we were doing when were asked to do a Bible study in the Homeless Assistance Center.   From the first time there we knew we had found our home.  This began a search for our own place.  After several weeks of looking we found out the building on the corner, right near HAC was available for rent.  Long story short and amazing man from our church came along and rented the building for us.

This building was the first big step on a journey that is the reason for the title of this blog.  God started right from the get go showing the He is faithful and His Word is true.  That Bible study has turned into a ministry that is definitely immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20) and to Him be the Glory.

I am talking about the Daytona Outreach Center which consists of that first little yellow building but also now includes much more; discipleship homes, worship center, thrift store.  These are just a part of the vision that God has given us.

Now that you know where I am coming from...why the name "life by the window"

The little yellow building is in an area that many call less than desirable.   There are large picture windows on 2 sides of the building and one of them is in my office.  When people come in for the first time they can look out the window, get a very quick education and see the need for the Hope of Jesus to be right there.

As I go forward here, you will get to hear about life (or the lack there of) outside this window.