Tag Archives: HOPE

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How Do We Go On?

Matthew 7:12 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” 

There are many questions & few real answers. Following are just a very few thoughts.

Black Screen 2

Tragedies people suffer as in the Sandy Hook Elementary slayings or the Portland Mall shootings leave us all heartbroken, angry and in mourning. We’ll search for the reasons, look to write or improve laws to protect the innocent without taking away the freedoms of those who are not guilty of crimes.

Yet, one law is truly all that is needed, the law of grace and love in our hearts. Perhaps our actions of love will overcome more than anything else the great evil that envelopes our world on any given day. Grace abounds beyond all evil.

Matthew 22 :37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[d] 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[e] 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Hug your kids today a little tighter. Forgive those whom you should, receive forgiveness from others, too.

Love your neighbors as yourselves.

Blessings, JD

 

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Merry Christmas HOPE is Possible

At this time of year the world, not just America or your neighborhood or CitiIMPACT, is focused one way or another upon the long ago first arrival of Jesus Christ. See our video thank you for 2012 and read on please!

His arrival was highly regarded at the time, rightly so, to be the Messiah; the long-awaited HOPE. Enslaved, impoverished, forsaken, and forgotten people hoped against hope with the seeds of faith they had for a soon coming King who would free them. He was also highly hated by those who saw the reality of His power and love, and the threat He posed to their established control.

So much like He always does, the only true and living God looked past the cries of the people for hope, and granted HOPE! He granted through His son Jesus Christ eternal HOPE well past any temporal hope they may have desired, and temporal hope as well.baby Jesus

So it is this season every year, that by the design of the great and mighty God, Jehovah is His Name, that we celebrate his first arrival with an eye upon His Second Coming.

We wanted to take a moment to thank you for your partnership this year. This simple video clip doesn’t rightly share all the impact that you have had through our serving together. We hope to hear from you again soon about how we can serve you as together we Bridge HOPE to a lost and dying world.

Blessings, JD Smith     CitiIMPACT Missions      Leadership Development

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No Home for Christmas

As Christmas 2012 approaches, many are not going to “Be Home for Christmas”, as they have NO Home for Christmas. 

Tens of thousands across the USA have NO HOME.

CLICK HERE to read a recent post on this subject from our CitiIMPACT Missions group,  as they share information about CitiIMPACT Disaster Response or read on below.

Testimonials of how you have been or can be part of reaching tens of thousands with HOPE here:

Video Reports and HERE and HERE.

As we continue on together in reaching the at-risk kids through local churches and ministries, be prayerful and active with your continued participation; for which we are so filled with gratitude. Blessings, JD Smith
No Home For Christmas . . .
As we busily prepare for Christmas, let us not forget those desperately hurting this year.Over 60,000 people have been left homeless due to Sandy.  There is little temporary housing, emergency shelters have closed, and gracious friends and families who opened up their home are feeling the “inconvenience” of extra bodies.  Many are left with little choice but to live in the debris.  How you can bring HOPE to the hopeless:

  • Bring a Team:  Nothing would be better than being HOME for Christmas.You can help get them closer.

What's it like to be heroic?

The team from  Montgomery Community Church brought along 10 men recovering from drug addictions. Listen to their amazing stories of how helping others helped them.

  • Donate:   $10 puts a gift into a needy child’s hand.  Through our partners we will be serving close to 50,000 children.  We are still short about  20,000 gifts.
  • Give Thanks and Continue to Pray.  After the 15 of Dec. We, through our sponsors,  will have delivered over 100 semis of relief aid to Isaac and Sandy!

 Here are two video thank-you from church partners in NY and NJ thanking CitiIMPACT, thus all of you, for relief supplies.  Thank you for giving to make it possible.

CitiIMPACT-Sayre Woods NJ
CitiIMPACT Old Bridge, NJ Disaster Response
CitiIMPACT Staten Island NY Disaster Response
CitiIMPACT Staten Island NY Disaster Response

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People went weeks without electricity or running water after Sandy.  Yet, this is the norm everyday for the people of Liberia.  There is no electricity in the country.  Neighborhood water pumps are even short supply.  School is a luxury most can’t afford.  How you can bring HOPE to these, the least of them:

  • SPONSOR A CHILD – provides tuition, clothes, and food. 
  • Think of doing this  on behalf of a loved one as a Christmas gift or in memory of one who has passed.

    Sponsorship FAQ

  •  Provide a one time special holiday meal and gifts for needy family.  $50 covers gifts for a family and rice for the month.
  • Buy Bridge Brew Coffee.  Makes excellent hostess gifts, stocking stuffers, or teacher gifts.  Not only does it taste great, it’s fair trade, AND the proceeds go towards starting schools in Liberia thus preventing child trafficking.  Buy ten or more through Dec. 15th and shipping is on us.  Email for details.

www.CitiIMPACT.org
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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.

Thank you! JD Smith

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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

 

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SANDY: Preparation and Response to Epic Storm

As part of our overall missions projects affecting at-risk children and families, you have long seen our involvement in responding to natural disasters.
I suppose there is great truth in that every size disaster is EPIC to those who experience it.
There are few events that are EPIC in the number of ways it can be disastrous in so many forms and such a broad geographical and demographic landscape. Sandy is one of those, truly.

Our efforts will together with your help positively affect thousands of people with the HOPE of the truth of Jesus Christ love for them…in practical ways during this harsh event.

Please join in the efforts with us to rescue the perishing situations of many people as we ramp up to the holiday season.

Blessings to you, JD Smith, President, CitiIMPACT Ministries

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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

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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

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2 Steps to Refreshing Rivers

 

Waiting for God to “fill you up” with something or some things? (Isaiah 43:18,19)
1. Let go of the past. Press on.

2. Some find it refreshing when they give out all that He has already given them. That seems to make room for the New Thing or Things.


IE: Willamette River in Oregon seems to be refreshing & life-giving as it flows….
Thousands of volunteers for missions have allowed CitiIMPACT Missions to serve & connect them to meaningful sustainable projects for Fall, Winter, Spring & Summer Breaks.
People who fall through the cracks are who we serve together in multiple states.
www.CitiIMPACT.org
SCHEDULE NOW: Click to sign up to help and give out what God has given you. He’ll replenish everything for you!

When have your experienced the flow of God’s refreshing living water? I’d love to hear your story!

John 7:38 “38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

Blessings, JD Smith