Flaming to a Revolution

Today is a day of weird emotions, a day where I flash back to the night I witnessed my families house go up in flames. The day we lost all material possessions and remained glued to one another through love and faith. "You don't really know what you have until it's gone" has always rang especially true to me. As many of you know this vacation I had the opportunity to travel to New Orleans in a community that was directly impacted by hurricane Katrina. Never once before the trip did I expect to feel a connection- until speaking to two well known musicians of the area and it hit me, they too knew what it felt like to watch all the pictures and memories of a life long placed be washed away. I'm always grateful for what I have, and often I find myself frustrated in a society where people are continuously wanting more and more. To find an entire community that truly understood what it was like to live off of love, faith, & understand such a deep level of thanks was refreshing and brought more healing than I ever could explain. Today I will not dwell on what was or was lost but I will
Be thankful for all I have and remain faithful for what is to
Come. No one is granted tomorrow, live today.

Thanks to these amazing musicians for sharing their own personal testimonies as to how Katrina affected their lives. Their passion for music and New Orleans is powerful.

Comments

Learning to CLING

At first I gave my life to God during a time of deep grief. I needed a reason to believe there was something bigger and stronger than the pain I was feeling. As time went on I continued in my "faith." When times were good I praised Him. In times of pain I questioned him, yet I never truly felt the same as the night I first surrendered to Him. It seemed through the ups and downs I began to slowly drift away. It wasn't util I stepped out of my comfort zone and saw how others all around the world were worshipping the same God that I began to question my faith. My seemingly solid faith. It seemed their priorities were every different than mine. When I struggled to go to church once a week, they managed to go every night. When we were called to open our bibles, I flipped to the table of contents while others were already finished reciting the verse. Their commitment was far greater than mine. Their willingness to surrender came with willing hearts. How ...

The Power of a Smile

Stop correcting "i"The smell of burnt coffee beans fills the air. I can hear buzzes of cellphones, murmurs of friends talking in line- and the occasional whoosh of the expresso machine. As I look out the small coffee shop window I see a diverse city, a puzzle of God's wonderful creation. This week I have had the opportunity to connect with many people, all in different part of their life. Conversations have ranged from embarrassing subway stories, to struggles within the health care system, to future hopes and dreams. I answered the question, 'Where is Maine?" so many times this week I can not keep count. We are currently partnering with the Salvation Army in Harlem, New York. During the day we help at a food kitchen- mainly creating relationships with the community; loving them and praying for them. In the afternoons I help in a classroom of 1st graders, their teacher being another young college student. She is currently in school to be a lawyer...

A God of Grace

Life has a way of becoming at times over bearing. Between essays, work hours, and times of trials it may be very hard to see the good in situations. We may cry out to God in these times, questioning how long this pain will last, and what tomorrow may bring. Jesus said, "The one who endures to the end will be saved." (Mark 13:13) Peter promises the tired and broken hearted Christians, "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself, restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." (1 Peter 5:10) It is assured in the Bible that God will not cause us to fight these hardships of life longer than we can endure. Though at times the weight of the world feels heavy upon on shoulders, God is there is there to remind us always that He is the God of all grace, peace and mercy. It is said, "Through many t...

Sing Praise to Him

Search This Blog