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Category Archives: Uncategorized
SANDY Super HOPE
Super Storm SANDY Stories of HOPE from the CitiIMPACT Disaster HOPE Network.
Last night’s nor’easter was a slap in the face to millions struggling to survive following Super Storm Sandy. Thousands are 
still without power . . . OR without power yet again. Many have no heat and no water as well. CitiIMPACTand it’s network of partners and supporters are continuing to respond. Here are some Status updates, via CEO JD SMITH this morning:
- Brick, NJ: Power out again at church site. Lines down. Still cooking and sending meals out. Thousands of pounds of frozen chicken being kept cold under 7 inches of snow!
- Lakewood, NJ: 12 inches snow. Unloading trucks & feeding people.
- Staten Island, NY: Snow. Unloading trucks. relief aid distribution.
- Old Bridge, NJ: Partnering church is one who came to serve with us in IN this summer, now they are a lighthouse in own area!! Snow. Power out. Unloading semis daily. Hot meals. Secured Warehouse to serve greater community and offload supplies.
- Brooklyn. 7 inches snow. Hot meal trucks running shuttles to projects. Unloaded 2 of our semis in snow storm last night with sleeping bags wrapped around them.
CitiIMPACT is in process of moving in a semi trailer shower unit for the public to use in New Jersey. Local churches will man the unit and serve their neighbors with love of a hot shower and supplies they need. This area remains without power after 10 days. Standby for more on this and other developments.
Pray for teams coming into serve and bring supplies. One group from Charlotte ended up having to reroute as the gentleman became ill and was hospitalized. There was a car accident last night involving some folks bringing supplies from Indiana, one SUV following the truck was totaled but all are safe.
TEAMS: Ready starting 11/12 for teams of 4 or more for 3 or more days.
DONATE: $1 for a meal: feeding 20,000 meals a day! Anything will help.
Devastation Staggering; “We have POWER!”
Low lying areas in NJ under evacuation for this nor’easter.
CitiIMPACT’s volunteers & assets are safe. 
Pray fervently for the thousands of people who are homeless & suffering from Sandy.
The kids really need us all to help them.
There are literally people who haven’t eaten for a week.
PLEASE DONATE.
It costs us $1 per hot meal.
Blessings, JD Smith, President CitiIMPACT Missions
Warriors, One and All
The Lord is a Warrior; the Lord is His Name.
1. Fight for what is right. Political elections and debates are not the destiny changers we often would like to think they are. Neither are they the route to the dynasty God has in store for
you. Finding your passions fulfilled by all the promises of God in Christ Jesus is right. He has, and does, lead the way to what is right. The battles are for those who have the Warrior nature of our Lord. That can be, and should be, One and All.
2. Be strong. Now to fight the fight of right, we need to be in full armor, strong. Strong in the Lord first of all with all the possible armor His love, grace and mercy provide. Ephesians 6:10-20 is a great instruction in this. That begins, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God,so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
3. Be courageous. Aligning ourselves with the elements of armor above in #2, powered by the Holy Spirit, leads to confidence and courage. Confident in Christ to empower and Courage as a Warrior with the Warrior of all times. I mean, really, who do you want to be with you when embattled? Doesn’t the Lord, the Warrior, give you great courage?
4. Be right. Being right means, again, being aligned with the Warrior, the Lord is His Name. In alignment with Him, our assignment will be revealed with clarity, precision, power and righteousness. Warriors, One and All, meaning we are in a team, with our assignment clear; our purpose unified, our unity in the bond of peace. That is right.
Be the Warrior that is reflected by the Lord. Exodus 15:3
In this kairos of seeming diminishing power of purpose and execution in our world, it is more than a little refreshing to find those who do not shrink back from the battle.
Let’s all embrace the portion of the wholeness of the Lord in His Name of Warrior, and be about His business and battle.
What are some ways we can execute as Warriors, One and All? Let me know your thoughts, experiences and plans!
Blessings, JD Smith
7 Free DESIGNS
I’ve been working through some web site, social media, blogging and speaking issues lately. During these processes, 7 DESIGNS keep arising. Maybe these will aid you, too, as you either assess and adjust a current project, church, ministry or job. Even more important if you’re looking to start fresh or something new.
These are basics of the most important D.E.S.I.G.N.S, you! As much as I want to keep moving forward, understanding my DESIGNS is first necessary. Then I can apply them to those around me on our team or form a team better (or a better team).
D.E.S.I.G.N.S.
1. Desire. Really, do I have the desire for what is front of me, or in my situation? What motivates me towards any particular goal. Passionate expression comes from deep within us, our desire.
2. Experience. The good, bad, pretty and ugly experiences of our past groom us for today and for what is yet to come. Take stock of all that. Learn from, even celebrate those experiences. Now apply them with new perspectives.
3. Spiritual Gift. Many find that their life of faith has helped mold them for where they are, and are headed. In that depth of perspective, most find they have special gifts that rise to the occasion. Search out yours, and make the appropriate analysis and application.
4. Individuality. What is your style? How are you most comfortable? Everyone isn’t a public speaker, salesman, writer, artsy inclined, etc. What are the ways you work most comfortably in your sphere and highlight that as a strength. We might all need to work on some weak points as well. Yet, do not reject or neglect your strengths.
5. Maturation. Am I growing in the processes of wisdom? Where am I on a legitimate curve in our endeavors? Time on the job doesn’t always equate to maturity. An example is that many go to church for years, yet are not truly involved beyond just showing up. Knowledge applied is wisdom.
6. Natural Abilities. There are many ways to explain this I suppose. I like several sports, I’m certainly not a professional at any of them. My son, Caleb, loves to design and build things with LEGO blocks. He gets great joy from that. What gives us joy when we are engaged in it may be a great way to analyze something that we are naturally good at. Be joyful in the application of your talents.
7. Strategic Realignment. Basics 1-6 may cause us to understand we need to realign. Be strategic in that. Don’t “throw out the baby with the bath water”. Assess clearly where you are. Catch a glimpse of a preferred future. Plan accordingly for implementing steps towards that future.
All these 7 Basics really comprise this truth. We are all pieces of the puzzle. It takes time to build that puzzle. Often, others aren’t in place yet, so our place for our piece isn’t yet clear. But when it does become clear, and all is in place; VOILA! Now the puzzle is complete.
What situations are you in or want to be in that DESIGNS has been or could be important?
If we can encourage you in any of these areas, just contact us! Blessings! JD Smith
65000. Are you One?
You are ONE. Which ONE?
Thanks for all you do as you work forward on mission with us to serve hurting people. Many of you are paying it forward from having received Hope and Help in times past.
Blessings!
JD Smith
CitiIMPACT
5 Sure CHANGE Steps
School has started again in much of the USA & other parts of the world. That sure brings CHANGE. Today though, I’m sharing about CHANGE that is more impacting.
Inevitable, Embrace, Exasperating, Endure, Engineer, Equip, Excel
In our home CHANGE has from time to time been a little more drastic, whether chosen by us, or imposed upon us. How about you?
When we can make a CHANGE or sense a CHANGE in direction, life, occupation, ministry or mission; there are many ways we can vet that process for decisions. Here are 5 we use frequently.
1. Prayer. I’ve found far too often that it seems easier to do a lot of planning and programming, then pray it all works. That is opposed to praying first for divine guidance in my thoughts and heart for decisions concerning CHANGE. Move towards prayer first!
2.The Church. In lives involved more overtly in vocational ministry or missions, it’s pretty easy to see or say how the Church has an impact on decisions. Allowing ourselves to be submitted to those in authority over us is more intense than just speaking it when CHANGE is needed or desired. Those who are not so-called vocational ministers should also be able to find sound counsel in Church for CHANGE.
3.The Holy Bible. God does speak still today through His Holy Bible. The Bible is chocked full of great examples of men, women and even children making decisions towards CHANGE. We may not find the exact example we face, but we can sure read how leaders, and followers, made decisions for CHANGE. Jeremiah 33:3. “Call to me and I will answer you..”
4.The Holy Spirit. God has given us a great gift of the Holy Spirit who when allowed will guide us into the next right step. He will also help us avoid the next wrong step. Both of these potential steps are critical when we are in the processes of CHANGE.
5. Circumstances.Come on, let’s face the facts. Our humanity is often much moved in CHANGE through circumstances. We have a brain that is given to us to discern and make good decisions. Recognizing the signs around us called circumstances is not to be missed when making decisions for CHANGE.
You are NOT Alone.
Well, there you go, a first piece for you of how to outline your next decision for CHANGE. Next week, I’ll add in some more particular steps for us all.
Oh, by the way, YOU are NOT the only person or family in the world going into CHANGE. You’re probably not the only one on your block. Take some solace in that we are all in this together!
What decisions have you made or need to make where some of these elements have helped to guide you? How can I pray for you about the CHANGE you are trying to sort out right now?
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4 Keys to 11 Years.
11 Years ago today, August 2, 2001, we finished loading up the U-Haul truck in Charleston, West Virginia (from our house we could see the WV state capitol building) as my little family moved to the Charlotte, North Carolina area.
My wife and 9 month old baby boy drove on ahead of me that day. The next day, August 3rd, I drove the U-Haul down to meet them where new friends met us to help unload. Tomorrow, August 3, 2012, we have a little celebration lunch in honor of how the Lord has not only sustained us thus far, but on all the miraculous ways He has thousands GOING, too!
Surely there have been many times to remember why we went that help us not be fatigued or shattered in the processes of life. We went because we vetted out various ways we heard the Lord say, “GO!” Just over a month after we moved, the horrors of 911 occurred reshaping millions. if not all, of American lives.
West Virginia State Capitol
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Like many people before us, we were pretty sure we knew what “GO!” meant. It probably meant at least something of what we thought, yet, it surely has meant a whole lot more. I’m not sure we ever have seen exactly what we thought it meant, though, as that is probably still a work in progress. One thing of many we have witnessed as we did our “GO!” is how literally thousands are “GOING!”, “GONE”, or will “GO!” with us!
This week, our CitiIMPACT Missions ministry released a summary of the 2012 Summer Missions thus far. Few of those involved in 2012 were even in our spheres of influence in 2001. Back in West Virginia where we first started, we were handing off missions ministries to inner-city families and a church plant to local folks and churches in 2001. Later this year, we’ll continue to “GO!” as we take another step in Liberia for starting schools, churches and rescuing families with their children.
4 Keys we’ve learned, each category of which could be its own book if expounded.
1. DON’T presume you know all of the story the Lord has unfolding in your life. He’ll likely as not show you just what you need to know while giving you enough faith to step out and “GO!”. After all, if we knew everything ahead of time, is there any faith in that?
2. DO know that the Lord is always with you, as He tells you to “GO!”
3. DON’T be surprised or alarmed when your best laid plans go wrong. It’s no shock to Him, and He has a better plan anyway.
4. DO remember that you’re going to serve at the will and pleasure of the Lord. This isn’t about us at all. It’s all about Him and His getting more souls rescued.
American, and other nations, athletes get up and get going to train, with persistence, for the Olympics. I hope you’ve experience many of their great stories as they have moved past often being SHATTERED to victorious celebrations. Our family sure has! Like them, we all need to get GOING sometimes. Focus on hearing the “GO!” from the Lord first and foremost!
Experience has taught us many things, as it does all of us, so we know that when we GO with God, we’ll experience more than we know how to think or ask!
When has the Lord told you to “GO!” and how did you see Him work in your life?
Blessings! JD Smith
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Still today. “SHATTERED” tomorrow.
Tomorrow I’m posting an article called: “SHATTERED!”
Shattered!”
Today though, I replaced “SHATTERED” with this important post by Michael Hyatt on Stillness. Our increasingly darkening world needs for Christians to not only be intentional in Sabbath, but also in Stillness and/or Contemplation.
We’ll be better instruments of Grace for the disciplines exercised & gifts received.
Blessings.
Oh So Weary
OLYMPICS are officially starting today in London and just perhaps we’ll all be able to relax just a little from all the horror stories of the world, focusing on something that is mostly unifying. Yes, the Olympics are unifying even in competition. They are a fabulous way to see that we can all get along when we decide to not be weary in doing good. Over the years we’ve all got memories of Olympic events that even unite us around our homes and families.
Similarly, our lives are all full of activities and challenges that can cause environments of weariness. How can we help but be weary sometimes? It’s a common-to-humankind problem.
Church, which by the way IS THE PEOPLE may be feeling weary these days with all the push-back on Christian values while looking for fruitful harvest.
That certainly gets discussed in my mind and heart, oh, about once a week.
It’s good to remember that we’re not the judge of anyone. There is a judge for sure and He made pathways of Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness for us all. Of course, His Name is Jesus Christ. He made a decision to do that for us. He decided it is all about the harvest, harvest of souls.
We ARE to be instruments of grace. Build some margins, take care of yourself spiritually & naturally & move forward! We can decide to follow Jesus like that, yes continue to make those decisions. Press forward with new energy, intentional on not becoming weary, focused on the harvest of souls.
As leaders of our families, businesses, ministries, communities and…well you get the circles of your influence…following are a few quotes to help us along. These are helpful for everyone, Christian or not!
1. Galatians 6:8-10 “8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
2. Hebrews 12:3 “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
3. Matthew 11:28 ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
4. Revelation 2:3 “You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.”
How are YOU avoiding the weariness? How do you respond when YOU are feeling weary? Send us a note, we’d love to hear your experiences!
Blessings for your weekend. Find your Sabbath, avoid weariness. Press on! JD
PS I’m searching for a Virtual Assistant, working 5-10 hours per week. If you are interested or know someone, contact me. Thanks!