2 Responses to “Saying Yes…”

1. Tyler says:

   May 18, 2009 at 4:54 pm

   I’m still amazed by this. I don’t know about the rest of the church, but I take this as motivation to KEEP SAYING YES! If God is already moving us to help the DFW area and the Nation, don’t you think he’ll keep us moving to change the World?
2. PJ says:

   May 19, 2009 at 7:44 am

   I live in Florida, and this am was watching my local news channel, and saw what wonderful things your church is doing. I have always believed in God, trusting him all my life. I don’t get to go to church as I should, but my faith endures. Sometimes in life I believe we are given things we must go through to strengthen us to the point to listen closer to what God is trying so to tell us in our daily life. I have been given many trials in my life but this last year was full of some most major events, giving me a deeper and clearer trust than I have ever had. I lost my home of over 35 years to forecloser, and moved to an apartment for the first time in my life, I was so thankful to have a place to go! I know Gods hands were in that move step by step for I was turned down many times before I was able to find this place, with time running out that we may end up on the street. In our city crime levels are so high, and all the places I had been looking at seemed to be full of that crime. I finally found a place a very small apartment complex that had the most basic things, no dishwashers, washer/dryers, etc but it was safe and clean, and really that is all one really needs! In losing my home, this move brought me closer to work, half the distance I had been before, so that was another plus! Within two months of my move, work let me go. I have worked at a call center and my time was off sixty seconds and they wanted it closer, wasn’t that I was a bad customer service agent, they made that very clear but the client apparently wanted better call time. This was one week before Thanksgiving, and I was wondering what I would do! I am in my 50″s and one teen left at home, and my health hadn’t been the greatest. I didn’t cry nor get upset, I just said to myself, things will get better. We had little food, so my son and I went to a church which led us to a food bank and they gave me two bags of groceries, which contained a canned ham, a bag of bread crumbs, a box of instant potatoes and a can of cranberries, I had tears in that office, because I felt I could still make a Thanksgiving dinner with that! My son seemed upset with my tears in that office but I don’t think he understood how really urgent things were. I also in November applied for unemployment and food stamps, which I was told could take weeks to arrive, I just kept my chin up and we waited, and looked for work. One morning I was on my way to the car to go to a job interview, it was only for the weekend but I thought it surely would help not hurt to take it. Had all I needed in hand and as I rounded the apartment corner, I noticed my car was gone as well… I know I had not paid it in almost three months but I figured I still had more time to get things together, I was wrong. I felt so empty at that moment, it was enough losing the home, then my job but oh my now my car!!! I have shortness of breath from smoking to many years, and have been told I have COPD, and it ran through my mind how am I going to do this! This was the first week in December 2008 that they took my car, and that morning had to call the job I was to apply for, and tell them I couldn’t come. I felt a bit embarrassed and guilty, but I knew I had to keep going. The next weeks were very hard, we were almost out of food and the food bank wouldn’t give but every so many weeks, and Christmas was coming soon. just prayed and prayed, God I know your still there, I just need a little help, please! My ex job called to tell me I had one more check there, and I was able to get a friend from there to bring it. It was truly a blessing, coming just at the right time, because the first electric bill came, and they were going to turn the lights off soon if I didn’t do something. So, this check was able to pay that, plus give us some food from the store. It was several blocks to the grocery store, and not knowing anyone in the complex much we had to walk. I not breathing well had to stop many times but we made it, back and forth. My son and I managed to decorate some for Christmas with things we were able to bring from the home I had lost. It felt good to have some food, lights and a feeling of home! One day before Christmas my first unemployment and food stamps checks came. I just thanked God for his help!!, both agencies tried putting a rush on them knowing we were in trouble. The next few months were very intense for me, even in Florida it gets cold, and it was hard on me walking, but each time I did I just thanked God I was a live and had as much as I did! Don’t get me wrong there were days I wanted to cry so hard, but I kept my faith. I had forgotten that I didn’t do my income taxes for two years, and my mother wrote me a letter telling me to hurry and get it done it might make a difference. I was able to get all my papers together and we found there was a small shuttle bus system near by after walking for two months, that was very inexpensive, and would take us straight to the library where the taxes could be done for free, by the AARP group that was in town. To my surprise, I was getting enough money back to buy a used car, and recently was able to do so, its in very good condition, and its totally paid for! Everyday I get in it I thank God in prayer! I am still looking for employment, trying to find an online job that will allow me to be at home, because of my health. I am thankful that I still have unemployment coming, for awhile longer, and will stay positive in my job searches, trusting God every step I take! I will always be thankful for the lessons I have learned these last months, to know that even when you feel you are so low down, that there is hope! Its alright to ask for help, if you really need it! Sometimes we must go through more than we think we can bare to get where we need to be! That there is nothing that you can’t do with the strength of God. There are so many more I have learned as well. Couple huge ones are, that I was able to face myself, that I am not a perfect person, that things aren’t always perfect, and that there are warm hearts out there with open arms, when you feel so all alone, that we must trust one another more. One most important thing is, that family, my son, my youngest one was a pillar of strength these last months, when there was one last piece of bread he offered it to me, I never took it, I always let him have it, but to know his deep inner kindness made my heart so happy. Our lives can get so busy we can lose touch with what things are most important, and with these lessons I have learned I intend to give back, the food bank will receive needed food for the community from us, and will spread the story of God’s giving powers to others. That we just have to listen to him, show him we are a reflection of his love on earth, and let him know we are his!