I suppose it has been about a month since I have given an official update to the happenings of *LoveIs*, so I am happy to report that people are still getting fed both physically and spiritually.

What’s up with the lack of details you may be asking? Well that is just something I am dealing with in my own thoughts as I never want to relay information and have it come off as flashy, prideful or what-have-you as all things that are accomplished are by God alone (and He knows what all is being done). My want is solely for His love to be shared and to be able to continuously help (and encounter) more people (I seek no personal recognition). However, I will continue to post photos and updates on occasion just not the weekly in-depth recap that was happening as of previous (for now). However, if you are curious on an individual level, feel free to contact me and we can chat about it!

Many thanks to the rather large donation of female clothing that has been handed off to Mercy Community Church, as well as the toys and other items which were given to the Atlanta Union Mission. Should you have anything such as clothing, toys, etc (in the GA area) and don’t know what to do with them, I will happily find a home for them!  

So what else has been in my thoughts as of late concerning the ministry? This quote from Mother Teresa (should the internet prove reliable when it comes to such), “Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.” What a powerful thought if one puts it into actual practice, not just for those “in need”, but everyone. Would you yell at Jesus? Would you slander Jesus? Would you roll your eyes at Jesus? Well, surely some people would (as there was an entire group that agreed He should be sentenced to death - man, mob mentality super sucks), but yet I would say that vast majority of people would not. So the next time someone is annoying you or you have some unjustified negative thought about someone you see across a room or (especially if) even if you see someone in need, take a second glance, replace their face with the face of the Perfect One and see what takes hold.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’  

They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. ”

Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV)

SiC <3 

Just so we all know, I very much dislike being cold. I wear knee highs (under jeans) in the middle of summer on days that are too windy, I wear gloves to drive in on days in which begin in the 50’s, I will coordinate any long sleeve work attire with a fluffy coat or track suit jacket without shame – just to be warm. So today, when I woke up and it was below freezing (of course) my human nature wanted me to stay in bed and not go to L5P, but then the Spirit brought this into remembrance as told by one of the attendees, “When it is extremely cold or raining, no one comes, but it is then we need it the most. For those are the days, we do not eat”.  

*FACE-SMACK* right?

So I bundled myself up in as many layers as other people probably wear to go skiing on the alps and made my way downtown. I was delighted to see many familiar smiling faces as the egg-n-cheese biscuits and bottled water was handed out. I found peace in knowing that even if for some of them, who do not have a roof covering their head at night (as they carried their bedrolls with them and are unable to enter a shelter, for one reason or another), that they would have something tasty for their bellies to start out their day.

While sitting in the living room of my apartment last night I could hear the wind roaring outside and it’s in moments like that I think of the ones who have no home. How rough are their nights? How do they survive? By none other than God’s sustaining grace, I can assure you! Until you look into the face of someone who has spent the night outside in 20 degrees or below temperature wearing a ratty thermal shirt with patched together jeans nestled in a tore up sleeping bag, which laid upon the piercing concrete to have them say, “I am blessed and doing well today because God woke me up this morning”, well let me just say thankfulness and gratitude for your own situation takes on a whole new meaning.

Never-the-less as their bellies got filled, my Spirit overflowed today with their fellowship and in addition, as I was introduced by Pat today to a ministry that lies just a few blocks away from L5P at a church called Mercy Community. There sat some familiar faces that were warming up from the cold and new future friends who seemed as delighted to meet me, as I truly am to know of them. I met their leader Pastor Chad, who was busy at work carrying out his Sunday tasks and furthermore, made plans with Pat to visit them next Sunday after our group concludes. While driving to drop Pat off he relayed just a very brief history of how that ministry all started. It seems, that Pastor Chad, who now has four walls and a roof to call his own, started out working from his car and setting up shop on a park bench just a few steps down from where his shop is now. If hearts could smile, mine was at that moment, as within the same breathe Pat said, “If he can do it Hollie, you will be able to too. God will work it out.”  Amen, eh?

If you knew me ten years ago, you would probably never figure that this is what I would be doing today, heck even two years ago, I mean I surely didn’t. Even now sometimes I get caught up in the mental trickery of the devil, asking God “how me, why me, who am I to do such things”, but it is not by our goodness, do we do such, but by that goodness which was shown to us and that we are called to emulate to others from God, His Son and the Spirit (a la LOVE). I’ve said it once before and I will undoubtedly repeat it in the future, it is these times I look to Paul. I put my princess of the king panties on (wow I wonder if they really do make those) and say to myself (perhaps likewise the Spirit reminding me), “Now Hollie, if God can call a mega-mercenary of His people into His court to do His will, why then not you?”

*FACE-SMACK-AGAIN* right?

The same applies to ALL of His children. God has a purpose for all people, but it is up to us to listen for the call and to be a willing servant to act on His behalf. Not sure how to listen/where to go/how to start? Well picking up His love letter to us is always a great first option (aka the Bible), in addition to seeking Godly counsel or just simply praying and letting the Father know you are willing.

So in conclusion to God give the glory for all things and I hope you have a delightful evening/week/weekend. J

SiC <3