Generation Project - Feeding the Lovely

Within the past few months a "Generations" Group has been forming at my work, a Christian non-profit called Aglow. A "Generations" Group encompasses the younger generation, ages 18-35, and focuses on various projects and ideas, based on the hearts and desires of the individual group. Recently, our group has formed, right at my work site, and has been branching into the area of community service projects. Let me tell you about our latest outing...

Janice is a wonderful woman. Janice feeds homeless people in Seattle on a weekly basis. Jancie has no money. And we decided to help Janice. Can I share her story? Better yet, why don't we let Janice....

Seattle Generations - Community Dinner Outreach

Janice talked to grocery store owners in the town after seeing various stores throw out bags and bags of usable produce and meat. Janice now goes around to the stores on Sunday afternoons and picks up food for that week. Janice and her team, of three people, prep the food in the kitchen of a local church. They throw out the bad, save the good, and prepare a menu for a weekly meal served on Monday. This particular week, Janice and one of our Generation team members stayed out until 1:30 am cooking chickens as prep work for the meal served on Monday. Based on what was gathered, we prepped and served a meal of:

Chicken and rice cassarole
Sweet potatoes
Salad
Bread
Chicken Pasta Soup
Vegetarian Bean Soup
Beef and Veggie Soup
Fruit Cups with Custard
Vanilla Pudding
and Chocolate Pudding.

All of this was done with no money. Watch the video above if you haven't already. Hear Janice's heart for the homeless. I do believe that's God's heart for the homeless.

And oh yes, I didn't tell you the rest of the story! The church is opened up weekly for any and all to come and receive a free meal. Senior citizens came, the pastor came, and lots of homeless people came. One group of 4 people came as the kitchen was closing. They walked from another town because they heard food was being served - it was their first meal in two days. Our Generations team member remarked:

I made up 4 big plates of food, got out a few desserts, poured some coffee while
the guy ran back out to tell his friends that there was some dinner left for
them. They came in, cold, wet and hungry. None of them had had anything to eat
in over 2 days. One of the girls told me (after they finished eating) that she
was so glad to have dinner, because she had been getting really hungry, and was
trying very hard not to steal food.

I sat down and they told how grateful they were to area churches, since they helped them so they wouldn’t have to steal. I am not sure how they came to be living on the streets, what their circumstances were, or anything like that. I just know that the church had shown them love, and the heart of Jesus.

This was such an incredible time. Janice made sure that each person who wanted to take food with them took as much as they could. Several people even came with their own containers. After everyone had eaten, Janice packed up the remaining food with her team members, and distributed them to several large communities of the homeless in Seattle.

Surely, this is God's heartbeat....

Matt 25:37-40
37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

Me and Violet Beauregarde

I do not like blueberries. Blueberries are bitter.

About the only time I can handle them is in a giant buttery scone, crammed with grainy sugar from Starbucks, but that's about it. Because only THAT amount of sugary junk can cover the bitterness of the blueberries. "Good for you", "super fruit", I don't care - I do not like blueberries. But if you are what you eat, the fruit of MY heart might put me and Violet Beauregarde in competition for a human bowling contest. Yeah, sometimes I can let myself get pretty bitter.

Enter in Mariah. Mariah is a wonderful friend I met in college and still consider quite dear to me. I rarely see her in person, and think I've seen her twice since college. But I enjoy reading her blog and hearing about her life as a woman, wife, and mother of two cute little ones. Mariah said something recently in her blog about bitterness that really hit me. She said:

"We read that Christ drank the bitter cup with the Atonement. But I have realized that he did this and didn't become bitter. Our challenge (mine) is to drink the bitter cup (trials, drama, heartbreak, hurt, life basically) and not become bitter but to learn to have better empathy for someone who is going through the same thing. To be more Christ like."

This really hit me. So much so that I don't even want to add anything to it. God just spoke to me through this. We all drink the bitter cup at times - but do we let it make us bitter? Or do we let it make us a better person? I know this - bitter can hurt, but I do not want to be a giant, bitter, blueberry.... So long, Violet Beauregarde. Welcome back, Jessica.

Happy New Year!

Who can believe it's 2011?

Ok, I know only 'old' people say that (or so I used to think) but seriously - it feels like yesterday was my senior year in high school, and that was a bit more than yesterday.

With a fresh new year, I'm reminded of a refreshing promise from God's word. TWO of them to be exact:

1. Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

2. Luke 1:37 - Nothing is impossible with God. And I love the NIV's translation of this verse, "For no word from God will ever fail."

So what are your goals for this year? Perhaps you're like so many of us who set goals, failed, and feel too discouraged to try them again? Let me encourage you that if God is calling you to do it, He holds the victory to complete it!

Keep on pressing on - do not be weary in well doing! How will this year be different from last year? There is hope! Press into God, let Him lead the way, and walk with Him into the glorious destiny He has for you! It will blow your mind!