..possibly one step closer?

It is not uncommon for us to get weary, disappointed or even lose hope when we take on large tasks or dreams.

For me, the "task" of this doctoral degree has seemed to be going on forever and still too far away to see the light at the end. However, there have been clear markers that I have set for myself which have allowed me celebratory points. Unfortunately, my last celebratory marker was 6 months ago and it seems the next one may be another 6 months away. Alas, I push through day by day.

Today's post isn't about the grad school journey though..its about Homes of Hope/Mercy House. Most of you who have followed this blog know about this or at least heard of it. If you are clueless, check out this post, this post and even this one!

I think I shared the prezi presentation with a "vision" of what Homes of Hope is to look like. I wasn't sure how or where to get started given the need for both a large chunk of land and multiple buildings but I've been keeping my eyes and ears open. A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to share the draft proposal with an interested potential partner. She was a breath of fresh air as her strengths were in finance, with some political ties. She helped me (us) to revisit the plan, make some changes and set some intermediary goals.

She also identified a potential place that could serve as "starter" for the homes. As with life, this "conversation" sparked others and I found myself with two others, viewing a dilapidated and disparaged piece of real estate.

The thing is though...if you look closely, through the rubble, the bee hives, the mold, the missing roof, windows, doors, plaster and lack-luster landscape, you can see- well, let me speak for myself, I can see a perfect plot of land for Homes of Hope.

Yes, that's how I feel.

The irony of the situation is that this particular piece of real estate has been associated with poverty, drugs, murders, prostitution...yes, almost every social ill that is the antithesis of what Homes of Hope represent. And I just love it.

How cool would it be to add to the story of this place of hope...or refuge, that not only the people who come there have been given a second chance of sorts but also the piece of real estate itself has been "redeemed". I get excited just thinking bout it. giddy almost.

Now, the "hard" part. Actually acquiring the property -I'm thinking at bare minimum, we probably need at least $100-150k to buy property from bank and then other financial and human resources to bring the buildings and property to a condition that is not just livable but top of the line (I don't believe in mediocrity).

Nothing for me to worry about. This vision has always been bigger than me, so I've never taken on the stress of expecting that the vision would be fulfilled only by me. 

I'll keep you updated on next steps.  But until then...I challenge you to continue to dream, to pursue passion and to fulfill your God-given purpose as I do the same.

Grace peace and love,

Gia

I painted my toes!!!

slightly swollen feet WITH pretty toes!

Okay, so that's really not much to blog about BUT at 9 months pregnant...feeling like 12 months pregnant (doesn't really exist), I've got to celebrate the small stuff.

At first I was just excited to myself...but then as I thought more about the feat that is bending over and reaching ones toes with about a 6.5lb baby in your belly and said belly hindering every.single.movement....I had to share. :)

You see, just yesterday, while at church we were celebrating. Nothing in particular...just the goodness of God. We declared and reminded ourself that God is GOOD. We danced and jumped and had ourselves a good ole time. Well, "we" is a bit deceptive. I sat and watched and wished....I found myself even getting a bit sad in such a happy, celebratory atmosphere. So, I redirected my disappointment to thank God that I have full use of my feet even though the pressure from the pregnancy made using these feet a bit more cumbersome. I thanked God that I'm having a healthy pregnancy and despite the discomforts and limitations, that I am carrying a life...a miracle indeed. I thanked God that my voice and arms still worked and so with my voice I was able to sing and shout. With my arms, I was able to clap and wave. I continued this until I forgot that I wasn't able to physically "dance" but I was still praising...it turned out to be a half dance. You know the ones you do when you can't actually get up out your seat to bust a move but you are wiggling in your seat? yea - that!

In my reflections, I realized that its human nature to not miss something until its gone...or taken away from us. In this fast paced life, we tend to take most things for granted. Seriously, when was the last time you noticed that your fingers are agile and moving and respond at will for your to hold a pencil/pen, send a text or wave goodbye?

Its my challenge today..and particularly for the rest of this pregnancy (as I experience tons of discomfort) to remember all that I am blessed with...even as I may be slightly limited due to a rapidly growing human alien and uterus to accommodate this little alien! ;)


Grace peace and love (and pretty toes),
Gia

seed to the sower

I challenged you a couple weeks ago to pay it forward, I want to challenge you this week, to consider small ways to extend your hand, share your world and give to those less fortunate.

At the very core, I'm a sapp. compassionate. I'm the giver. I really don't care about making money as much as I want to give out money. And I definitely don't think about making money as much as I want to help people. Its not anything I'm sharing to boast about...in fact most people (including some in my inner circle) would consider me (or this philosophy) dumb or stupid and I can understand that.  A decade + some years ago, this desire was fostered in naivety  but now I think I've gotten a better understanding of the world to understand that...well essentially you can't give what you don't have! ;)

However, even in this lesson...I've learned some more. Even though I may not have, or may not be focused on having, the Word of God (which I live by) tells me that:

"10. For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem[f] will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God." -2 Corinthians 9:10-12

Can you imagine how this made me smile?? Yes, I will still find practical ways to earn money, but at the end of the day...I know, if I am doing God's work, that He will make provision. He will provide me (the sower), with the seeds I need to plant. Of course, I can't just hold the seeds in my hand, because anyone, even us city folk, know that seeds do not grow in the palm of your hand. You need, at the very least...soil, water, and sunlight. At least I think that's the least of what we need...but you get the point.

This point was brought to life yesterday in Church as the minister sharing the Word talked about our dreams and gifts and our responsibility to not only dream, but to follow up with the dream (confronting our fears, mistrust, etc) and then finally to make the dream a reality...which of course requires practical funding. Without going into more details, she made a profound statement:

If you can hold it in your hand, it's not your harvest- it's your seed!!!

That shook me and reminded me, that what I have, what I earn, what I get excited about....is still merely just seed. I can plant it by blessing others, investing...sharing because when its harvest time, I will know. The barns will be overflowing. Literally.

For those of you who have followed this blog for a while, this is another example of Living on the Third River. woooot wooot. I thank God for reminding me and it is my prayer that I remain humble, pliable, and with an open hand that I may never covet the blessings I receive but share, knowing that I will help others and even through this act, will never be in lack.

What practical ways can you share, give, sow seed? food drive? packing old clothes and giving to homeless shelter? volunteering your time (which is money) to someone?

Grace peace and love,
Gia

Praise the GREAT God

"God has a first name—"Yahweh" or "Jehovah"—a Hebrew word that means, "I am." "Lord" should be translated "Jehovah," which means that Jehovah Almighty is His name. Jehovah is a personal name that reveals the very core of God's being, sufficiency, and holiness. God wants to be on a first name basis with us and wants us to come to Him just as we are, in our weakness and incompleteness. When we come before Him, sharing our deepest needs, with honesty and transparency, God then shares His last name, which is based on our current need in life."- Mary Sutherland, Girlfriends in God

Yesterday I had the humbling privilege of speaking in church for our Sunday morning service. Talk about nerve wracking. I've spoken on numerous occasions but in my head, there is something "different" about Sunday morning. Anyway...I talked about finding freedom. My message was entitled "Prison to Freedom, through Praise".



I wanted to share a short snippet of it on praise...and the quote from my GIG devotion this morning fit in so nicely.

Two things happen when we praise:

1. There is a shifting of our gaze (focus) to God: we become like Peter on the water...we can have the mental/emotional/spiritual and even physical strength to move out of the bondages [situations] that have already been unlocked and to move through the gates that have already been opened.
Also, praise helps us to re-align with God and to see a bit how God sees, that is...we get some insight into our situation AFTER we take our eyes off ourselves and look at God.

2. Through praise we establish, reiterate, remind ourselves of who God is, what He has done and what He is doing.

To praise means that we give commendation, accolades, honour to someone or something. We are highlighting a particular characteristic that we admire or like.  The act of praising means that there is a focus off of ourselves and onto the object receiving the praise.

When we praise God, I feel its easy to "get caught up". That is, to begin giving accolades about one characteristic and then easily be reminded that there is something else to give commendation to Him about.

For example, I can't help but to praise God for provision. He is Jehovah Nisse to me. There are so many situations where I know that it was Him who made the way...and in those situations, I can't help but think how He protected me and to be ever grateful that He is omniscient and loves me so much. So I praise Him for being Almighty God (El Shaddai), for being my protector and for being all-knowing (omniscient).  This then reminds me, that He sees everything...and particularly He sees me (El Roi) and my situation and He's working on my behalf. He is my Shepherd (Jehovah Rohi) and being the Good Shepherd, He will always lead me into truth and safety once I trust Him and I can always trust Him because He is faithful and GOOD!!!

Yes, its very easy to change our perspective from doom and gloom and despondency  to one where God becomes bigger and hope can rise and faith can be built!

Whatever your circumstance today, especially if its particularly heavy, sad, discouraging...shift your focus and begin to PRAISE. Recognize what God has already done, what He is doing and what He is about to do!

We were born to praise!

Grace peace and love,
Gia

Back to the vision

I have alluded to the fact that I felt there was more work to be done as it relates to Mercy House Bahamas. I feel like God has expanded and tweaked what was the original design...

The expansion of this vision is nothing unique, in fact it looks a lot like a model that I've seen in S. Florida, however, the cool thing is that the model is fairly new to the Bahamas and furthermore, the specificity of the houses will fill great gaps that currently exist in our social welfare system.

In a nutshell, I see a group of homes that address needs of orphaned and homeless children and youth.  There is an introduction of levels of care which will ensure that kids who have greater needs are not just lumped together with those who may not need as much. This is for the protection of everyone involved, as we know some kids with greater challenges are likely to become perpetrators themselves.

At the crux of this vision is one word:

So for the past month or so, I've been just envisioning this place and I finally decided to draw it out. I couldn't draw...so I decided to use one of my fave presentation tools- Prezi.  If you click the work prezi, it should take you to the vision.

It's huge. I'm definitely looking for partners, sponsors, visionaries because some of the homes are without a "parent". That is, they need someone or a team of individuals to fully develop and take ownership within what it turning into a collective effort. I'm excited.

If you have any suggestions, comments or anything..please do share!

Grace peace and love,
Gia

Choices

Every day we make choices, what are yours today.

After listening to an archived sermon from my home church -Epic Church Bahamas, I was encouraged, challenged and reminded that I must choose to continue to run this race toward my goals.

And so I will.

Make it a great day!

Grace peace and love,

Gia