Who Can You Help?

There are two things I've never been accused of:  speaking too gently, and not having enough passion. So. Read at your own risk. 

Do you know what the problem with people in this country is?  Lack of commitment.  People will get married because they can always get divorced.  People can sign up for something because they can always quit.  Everything in our society is geared toward immediate gratification from microwave ovens to overnight delivery.

I corrected inmate Bible lessons for almost 15 years.  Now, I write inmates via Christian Pen Pals.  Why?  Because I can, and because as a Christian, it is my DUTY to do what Jesus commands.  A couple of my pen pals are lifers.  So I may be writing them for the rest of my days.  Might I get sick of it?  I might.  Will I quit?  NO.  Why?  Because I made a commitment. And because it's the right thing to do.

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. “ Hebrews 13:2-3

There are many people who will sign up to volunteer for these two specific hours once every two months because then they can appease their conscience and check off their "I volunteered" column on their Christian "to-do" duty list.

Hear me clearly:  You don't have to help me.  I am finding my own way with the help of a few friends.  But for the love of GOD, help SOMEONE.  And KEEP helping them.  Someone with chronic illness, barring the direct Hand of God, will not get better overnight (ergo the name "chronic" illness).  EVER.  A person who has a life sentence in prison will never get out. Therefore, the need does not go away. But I can promise you the volunteers do.

Jesus said in Matthew 25:43-45:
 ^"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.’"

Let that really sink in.  Read it again.  Ponder it in your heart.  That voice you’re hearing? It’s the Holy Spirit.  You know what he’s telling you to do.

I realize that some seasons of life are different than others, and you may be able to help one person for a while, and then circumstances change and you can't help that person anymore.  But that doesn't give you the choice to just check out.  Find someone else to help.  Everyone can do something.  You don't have to help everyone.  You don't have to have super powers and you can't save the world.  But YOU, yes, YOU reading this, might be the ONE person who can help to make a life-changing, Christ-like difference in someone's life. 

Please find them. 

They are there.

They are waiting.

They need YOU.

If you are interested, here is the link to Christian PenPals.  http://www.cppministry.com/ Please consider writing to someone who may, as of right now, have absolutely no Hope.

Catching Up

I am purely ashamed at my lack of posts lately.  Some posts I wrote in my head, and then thought better of publishing... My mouth (or posts in this case) can get me in trouble, so I'm glad my brain is actually AHEAD of the words for once.  Unfortunately, that means I haven't been blogging as much because of that.

However, I'm done censoring myself.  I don't like it.  I'm not diplomatic, I'm not politically correct, my Biblical views probably really annoy the crud out of some people, but ya know what?  I have decided that I thoroughly do. not. care.  I will NEVER purposefully offend someone.  NEVER.  That is from my mouth to God's ear.  I won't do it.  However, if I inadvertently offend someone by expressing MY opinion, oh well.  I'm DONE worrying about it.

Anywho. Enough drama.  I'm just back to being me.  PLUS, seriously, homeschooling is taking WAY more time than I had thought.  AND I have a craft show on November 10 that I have been preparing for.  NOTHING on my jewelry site (www.facebook.com/MGKerriJewelry) is going to the show.  I have over 100 pendants, 100 cell phone lanyards with charms, 100 cell phone dust plugs with charms, and I still have to do more wine glass rings and wine bottle "necklaces."  IIIIIIIIII know.  I'm crazy.

So what else has been going on....

{crickets}

Okay then.

No really....between homeschooling, trying to take care of the house, medical appointments and jewelry, that's pretty much my life.  Oh, and my pen pals and CBI stuff.

Speaking of pen pals, I want to put the link to Christian Pen Pals on here, because I think it's very important.  It's a ministry a lot of home-bound Christians can do.  It's a serious commitment, however, and one not to be entered into lightly.

You can check my sidebar for the link.  Just check it out, go over the guidelines, and see if it's a match for you.  Besides Matthew 25:35, 36 and 40...

"For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;  I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’....  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.’"

...the author of Hebrews (Who is really God, since He authored the whole Bible) tells us in chapter 13:3 to "Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."  

I may not be able to GO to a prison or jail and minister to people, but I SURELY can remember them in prayer, and by writing to them.  Of all of society, those incarcerated are probably the most forgotten.  Some of them have NO ONE.  And that breaks my heart. As lonely as I get, at least I have a home and a family.

Anywho.  Enough for now.  I am committing to doing a better job of blogging.  Last year I wrote 175 pages of my book in the month of November, so while I'm not going to do this again this year, I AM going to try and post every single day.

Wish me luck!

Losing What's Left Of My Mind!

Good grief!  I'm tellin' ya.

I have been out of my mind busy.  Doug has decided he didn't feel like waiting for any help (from Love INC) to start the house.  Now he's got the siding from 2 sides of the house ripped off, built a box around the brick chimney, and is or has repaired boards.  But, he's not ready to Tyvek it yet.  So if it rains......  UG.

In the meantime, I've been doing doing doing.  Laundry, dishes, bills...oh, wait a minute, I do all that anyway!

In all fairness, Doug cooks supper most days.  But the house is in utter chaos...it needs to be cleaned, the office is a wreck (still)...I'm in the process of switching most of my bill pay stuff from one bank to another (yeah, that's a riot)...

Got lots of sick MG friends...I have 3 penpal letters to write (through Christian Pen Pals....you should check them out....there are hundreds, if not thousands of inmates waiting for a Christian penpal...), plus I've got 3 CBI letters to write to send off my lessons (Crossroad Bible Institute... same thing, you should check them out. They do inmate Bible studies and need people to correct them... Go to http://www.crossroadbible.org/ and see if you can help!)

So there's that, then jewelry to make, a business to run...doctor appointments (had 2 yesterday, went by myself)...Doug's been hammering on the house for 2 days....I'm about to lose my mind....what's left of it.  I've got a book review to write....and the list goes on.... Oh, yeah, sorted 4 loads of laundry this morning...I think I'm on load 3. Yah, like THAT'S getting folded today!  Not so much.

AND we have a meeting with Love INC in 2 hours. 

Calgon take me away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!