Fishing Poles

My son Darius has a friend who stays with us a lot, since the beginning of summer. I know his home situation is not good. The other night I saw jsut how bad it really was. He has five siblings, ages 2 - 14. The mom is only 26. They live in a dangerous apartment complex, the mom hangs outside smoking pot. The apartment is completely filthy, with cigarette butts everywhere. Five kids in one room with not even one piece of furniture.
My initial response was to help them. Yesterday, I woke up with the desire to buy all of their school clothes and supplies and my mind was just whirling with what I needed to do for these kids. I quickly emailed some friend to see if they wanted to help.
I figured out that I was flying in the completly wrong direction. It was soon pointed out that my ideas were not the best. My eyes were opened to the fact that the mom has money for pot, for hair and nails, and for cigarettes. Also, the fact that I should probably call DCF.
I felt terrible all day. Really bad. I really felt like I had to do something, but couldn't pinpoint my place in this situation. I prayed about it. I went to sleep. And I woke up this morning still feeling terrible. I didnt even wont to get out of bed. This was so so heavy on my shoulders.
I did go to work and started talking about this with my co-workers. And thats when I got my answer...............
.........................Amy, you cant give someone a fish, you have to give the a fishing pole.

It makes so much sense to me! And its like a missing piece of the puzzle of what God has been doing in my life.
I've been trying to find my place in ministry and I've been having a hard time to narrow it down.

Now, I'm sure it has something to do with fishing poles. Sounds odd, I have so much resources at my hands. I have been through many things in my life and have overcame much. I can direct a single mom to any direction she wants to go - for sure.

I'm thinking I have many fishing poles to offer people, many fishing poles, all colors, all shapes, and any size that they want.

For now I will offer a fishing pole to this mom. Tommorrow, I will give her a print out of every school supply event that I can find. So much easier than buying 5 kids school supplies and clothes. And it feels like what God wants me to do. Maybe she will use the fishing pole to fish and ask for more or maybe it will be just a planted seed or maybe she will throw it in the garbage. Thats up to God!!!

My newest skill

HAIR EXTENSIONS!

Not just any kind of hair extensions either. Sewn in hair extensions, they last for a couple weeks.

They can be washed and styled and reused, because its human hair.

I haven't figured out how they get so much human hair???? I know some people sell there hair, but I dont think that many people do it?

My first model..........My daughter, Julia. She loves it! Too bad you have to turn your head sideways to see my picture, I don't have any idea how to rotate it.

Find your gift and give it away!

I read this while I was stalking peoples blogs.
It inspired me - the give it away part.
I have always had a passion for trying to hustle money. Everything I see, I want to do, and I do it. For example: I see really neat hair braiding designs, so I learn to do it.
I see balloon animals, I learn it.
Face painting, hair wraps.
Dreadlocks, perms, straightners, highlights.
I see a cute baby blanket, so I learn to crochet.
Cute jewelry, I learn to make it.
Acrylic nails and nail art.
From Macrome anklets to anime manga costumes.
and the most addicting is when I see things on sale, I think "I can sell it on ebay!"

..and thats just a sample of things from the past couple of years.

The motivation behing all of these ventures is money. Thats the problem. So, since I turned my life towards God, I have been struggling with this issue.
Because, even though these ventures are money motivated, I never really make any money. I put all my energy in these things, I lose time with my kids and I lose time with God.

When I read this " find your gift and give it away", I realized that I'm not giving it away. I'm trying to sell it. I believe God has gifted me with this, but I was letting Satan use my gift.

Now, I've commited to God that I wont let Satan use my gifts anymore. I will give them to God to use. No matter what!

The first thing I started with is the ebay, because its already in motion. Every penny I profit from ebay I will give away, even if I make a million! And from this point I will see how God can use my gifts.

Today I........................

................ woke up at 5:30
quickly read my bible and prayed and sort of stretched
brushed my teeth and washed my face
let the dog out
let the dog in
gave dog her eye medicine
gave aj his medicine
cleaned up the house a little
gave the baby a bottle
as I was juggling the baby around.........
packed three kids lunches for the day
packed myself up for the day
woke up three kids and made sure they got ready
fixed breakfast for two kids
dressed myself
dressed the baby
got everyone out of the house by 700

then I .....................
dropped to kids off at one location
dropped another kid off at another location
dropped the baby off at another location and picked up my friend to give her a ride to work with me

ALL OF THIS JUST TO GET TO WORK BY 800

After work at 4:00 I ......................
picked up the baby
picked up another kid
and then picked up two more kids

I came home and while juggling the baby I ......................
fixed dinner
and started blogging
and the day is not even close to being finished yet. And then I have to wake up and do it all over again, if not more.

I dont think this is at all what God has planned for me. It is very tiring! But it's the best plan that I can come up with on my own. Now I'm praying for GOD to give me a better plan, a plan that glorifys HIM!

If he don't its okay. I'll keep doing what I'm doing.
Despite the craziness - I'm very blessed and grateful for what I have. And I know, compared to a lot of people in this world, I am living like a queen!

Sales Calls

I decided this week to be nice to the people who call my house.
I admit I have always been mean to them. At my nicest, I would just hang up. Even though I did this job of telemarketing once , I should sympathise with them. It's just so hard because they are soooo annoying. But I decided to just suck it up and be nice.

So, the first call I accepted wanted me to do a survey online. I agreed, I didn't even have to buy anything or sell anything. It took me about 10 minutes, and guess what........ they sent me ten bucks in the mail.

The second phone call I nicely accepted was from the state troopers office. They wanted a donation --- I gave the ten bucks.

It's funny, its such a little thing. I'll keep being nice to the callers, it makes a big difference. My kids took notice right away. They think its wierd that I'm answering the phone and talking to the people. And the people calling are probably very happy that I am not hanging up on them.

Who knows - maybe I'll get another $10.

July - blessings

Again, God provided in many ways for me.
So many creative ways:



This past month I recieved ten dollars in the mail just for doing a 10 minute survey. It was the first phone call I took after I made the decision to be nice to telemarketers.


I recieved an exersaucer for my little one for FREE! About a $50 or more savings.


I recieved hand me down clothing for my 5 year old in his next sizes from three different people. I wont have to purchase him any clothing for the next couple of years. Big savings!!!



Did I mention that I love love love "hand me downs".


I worked out a "barter" with someone. A friend at work. I braid his hair and he takes care of my yardwork. Big relief!


My porch light broke, the maintence guy at my job came over a replaced it for FREE!


NO Car or home repairs or any extra expenses.


Two field trips got canceled at the boys and girls club. I usually pay for Darius and his friend Nathaniel , they were a little dissappointed but it saved me $100!



$25 free - for opening a higher interest bearing savings account.



2 seaworld tickets. (me and my kids have passes, but this was a blessing because we were able to bring my sons friend,Nathaniel, with us.)


Help with Darius and AJ school supplies from a few friends ( big savings! )

And, again, probably a lot of unnoticed blessings, as well.

God's provisions

A little more than a year ago I made some financial decisions that were hard but right.
More than half of my income comes from tips. I never claimed my tips to the IRS. Before I was a Christian I found no need too. I payed less in taxes, recieved a bigger tax return, and I qualified for benefits like food stamps and free child care and medicaid.
The Holy Spirit was pushing me to be honest with my finances. I had to trust God. I didnt have extra money as it was and I would be giving up about 1000.00 a month more a month just by claiming my tips. Also I was scared I would lose medicaid and I was pregnant. Then someone said to me " Amy, God is so much bigger than medicaid! " .
DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, I had faith and did it.
Since, I am still surviving. Actually, I am better off financially than before. God provides things in such creative ways. He didn't increase my income, but he provided the things I needed.
Just in the past month he provided household furniture and needed items at more than a 1200.00 savings, he provided my sons school uniforms at about a 400.00 savings, a 42.00 saving on a pair nike uniform shoes, no car repairs or home repairs, and showed me a few cut back in my budget ( about 100 per month ). There is probably more that I didnt' take notice of or forgot already.
Oh yeah, I only work 40 hours a week now instead of 60.
Before I gave up all that "extra" income I only trusted in myself to make ends meet. I always worked hard and harder and harder and worried like crazy. After I gave in to God, I had no choice but to trust in God, because it was not even possible for me to do it on my own.
Now, I see how easy God makes things if you just give up trying to do it the hard way. I dont have to work half as much and I dont have to worry at all!

The Sign of Jonah

I read this morning, Matthew 12:43 - 45.
When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.


I imagine the there is an evil spirit lurking around waiting for me to invite him to my clean house. And he has seven friends to bring with him.
If I let him in, how terrible would my life be.
I pray that no temptation would ever come to me great enough to choose to walk away from God and invite that spirit into my house. I'm terrified at just the thought of the suffering that I would endure.