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Blessings,
JD Smith
Tag Archives: social development
West, Texas and Boston and…
We’re all living in some very chaotic times, as we were up all night with the newest disaster in West, Texas. The rise of evil and terrible tragedies truly seems to be coming at an increasing rate. It’s as if evil is being made to seem to be good and good to be evil. I urge you to go to one of the ultimate warrior stances of perhaps all time. There are some Sparks in the Dark as we stand strong together.
Ephesians 6:10-18 We all need this, truly.
The attached video of Amanda Thatcher reflects that (the text follows the video):
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God,so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
May the Lord bless us all with His Peace again, one and all. After all, Love will conquer all.
Sparks in the Dark
I want to be like Martin in promoting PEACE, a true to life, and in death, Spark in the Dark. He’s a great example of “What Love’s Got To Do With It“.
Blessings,
Martin
No Time to Die
Ecclesiastes 3 “There is a time for everything,and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die,..”
Meet Tim Davis! A few months ago, I met Tim and his wife Pam during CitiIMPACT’s earliest First Response efforts for Hurricane Isaac in La Place, Louisiana. I shouldn’t have met Tim at all. Tim is supposed to be DEAD. 
Friday night March 8th around midnight, while waiting with Tim for an overdue tour bus full of college students, I learned that about 20 years ago Tim was given 2-5 years to live due to a catastrophic lung ailment. His life changed dramatically from a highly paid contractor for a major oil refinery to near death and poverty. Tim and his wife, Pam, had four little children and what seemed to be no hope….but God..
At the bottom points of their lives, they discussed the nearing end. At that moment, by faith alone, Tim decided, with encouragement from Pam, to live every day he had left for the glory of God, rather than lay down and die; to believe God wasn’t finished with him rather than merely believe the fatalistic but real doctor reports. That’s been about 15 years ago now. Tim no longer contracts nor makes a six figure salary, he doesn’t even have insurance. He has raised his kids. He serves in a local church in La Place Louisiana as the maintenance supervisor. I call him The Maintenance Missions Minister. I have yet to meet anyone in Louisiana who can keep up with the pace Tim has everyday as he serves, with less than half a lung. How many times I’ve heard Tim say, “JD, I can rest in heaven, people need HOPE.”
Your Missions Team can be served with HOPE, too!
As we all go through our lives, we have the awesome opportunity to live every day for the glory of God, or just wait to die. It may be less obvious a decision than Tim made, possibly not as overt. Yet, the decision must be made. Tim and Pam have experienced the grace of God for real in their lives and give Him all the glory for that. They have served about 200 Mission Teams in the last 7 months alone, who have come to the area to bring HOPE and HELP to families overcoming Hurricane Isaac. Those teams have received the same amount of real life HOPE as they have brought, from such people as Tim and Pam.
What ways are you deciding to live daily rather than die?
HOPE given on Staten Island by college women!
When have you met God at a dead-end and received new HOPE in life?
You can be part of giving HOPE and receiving HOPE in places torn by tornadoes as in Henryville IN, West Liberty KY, Hattiesburg MS, Petal MS, Tuscaloosa AL, Joplin MO.
AND in places like Hurricane Sandy. Hurricane Isaac and other disaster occurrences in life, like the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.
My prayers for God’s richest Blessings and HOPE for all of you as you LIVE! JD Smith
2 Things in common: Liberia and Myrtle Beach
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Volunteer Updates for CitiIMPACT Missions
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
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
“UBUNTU”
Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
I’m doing a Reblog from our CitiIMPACT Missions today com as it tied in perfectly to a few things I was going to write today in general.
Over the years we’ve been involved in missions and ministry, we have often seen that “a whole lot of nothing” often stands in the way of “a whole lot of something”.
Many non-Christians have to witness in-fighting between territorial missions and churches, even disaster response groups, that don’t reflect a lot of love or unity.
Truly, the Great “I AM” clearly wanted us to all be the “WE ARE” in Him. John 17 in the Holy Bible is clear on this.
Undeniably so much of how the non-Christian world operates and thinks has far too long invaded the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, His Church, His Kingdom. It’s important to remember that He is the head of The Church.
How now then shall we live? How now then DO we live?
Let’s press on to the high mark of His calling and allow the Great I AM to lead us into being the WE ARE that He intends. I’m quite sure we’ll see more fruit that remains in all categories of life when together we reach for and share the fruit together. UBUNTU!
Blessings to you! JD Smith