Sanctus Real - Forgiven (Official Music Video)

Still in action.....

Hello friends,
It has been a while since I have posted anything, but know it is not due to a lack of missions.  Actually we have been busier than ever and I have been trying to keep up with the numerous request daily.  The word is spreading of BeGenerous and our efforts.  First of all, let me make clear that I would not be able to do any of this without the support of our community and all of your generous hearts.  I am truly blessed to be the hands and feet of the Lord.  I truly appreciate all of your help, which enables me to do so.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I will try to sum up our most recent missions in this one posting so you can feel as you are a part of it.  Your support is making a difference in so many lives.
MARCH

• March 3rd-delivered diapers to Caring and Sharing to help them cover babies bottoms.
• March 4th- Meeting in Bruce Fl supporting the Muscogee Nation and the Rural Relief. Diaper delivery to North West Community College in attempts to cover babies bottoms by helping students that are trying to better themselves but struggle to balance it all. Way to go guys!
• Deliver shoes to children all over county from Bruce to Freeport to Defuniak to South Walton. THANKS WENDY KOTOWSKE! Still sharing the 100+ shoes you donated.
• March 15th- Homeless Coalition meeting to join other community leaders that are striving to make a difference in our community.
• March 18th- Met with a amazing group of women for Business Edge's Women of Wisdom.  Each women brought diapers for BeGenerous to show their support of our ministry.  We are blessed to have been a part of their meeting and be in the presence of such Godly inspiring women. Thank you Mona Ponder. You are fulfilling your God Given Purpose in life and I am so proud of you and Mel.
• March 19th-Diaper Drive at Winn Dixie Miramar. Although our efforts there did not turn out as good as before, BeGenerous Inc was blessed by the IRON MEN of my home church DESTINY WORSHIP CENTER. Seeing 100+ men scurrying around Destin buying out of diapers in our local stores...PRICELESS. Way to go guys. I am proud of what type men represent our community. You all have stocked our shelves.
• Path of Grace blessed us with an abundance of clothing and household items to share with our local agencies and Muscogee Nation.  I personally worked over 40+ hours sorting, packing, loading and moving loads of items from their Freeport Thrift Store through the county so other local agencies could help families in need.  I helped load 2 truck loads to be donated to the Muscogee Nation/Rural Relief in Bruce (Thanks Arlee' and her hubby- members of Bruce United Methodist Church), and filled a 20ft Uhaul truck for Opportunity Place, which services our homeless community at our only shelter etc. We were so excited to spread the love. THANKS PATH OF GRACE. 
• March 26th- My girls and I helped support Food for Thought and Heartworks Kids by attending their Pancake Breakfast Fundraising event.  I am so grateful that God works as he does and plants seeds along our journey.  These are amazing women continuing efforts to help our community as well. God Bless them and their missions.
• We have provided diapers and clothing to a struggling mother of 3 small children.
• We have fed and provided clothes and diapers for a family of 5 that needed help due to father being critically ill.
• Provided help to 2 boys that were pulled from a bad situation and placed in Foster care. THANK GOD FOR WONDERFUL PEOPLE that have the heart to bring others children into their homes in order to provide them shelter, stability, love and a family. You are angels and what you do makes a much bigger impact than you know. So many people in our community stepped up to this mission providing clothes, toys and necessities they needed to make their transition easier. A HUGE THANKS TO WENDY BENTLEY for providing brand new threads and shoes that changed these boys lives forever. Story must be shared in seperate blog!

APRIL

• April 2nd we attended Family First Networks, Family Fun event in Defuniak for Child Abuse Awareness Month. What a wonderful event.  Destiny Worship Center along with many other local agencies showed their support for our community. Way to go FFN Ladies for your amazing efforts. Your hard work is recognized.
• April 16th- after a month of preparing and had been in hospital on iv's just days before I pulled it off with the help of Stephanie Bailey, Wendy Kotowske, her children and Wanda Jewell BeGenerous Inc successfully helped a local school by providing clothing, diapers, toiletries and necessities to many families at a private giveaway.  38 families were to attend and although I did not get a head count I know we moved a lot of items and blessed a lot of families.  Thanks for the opportunity MB!!! Hope we helped.
• April 23rd- Delivered a Jeep load of  shoes, clothing decor for rooms I'm helping fix up for the children and of course no kids should go without Easter baskets, off to Defuniak to help a single mom of 7.  Great visit. Nothing like having 9 kids meet "Mrs Stephanie" at her car ready to help unload.  They always know I'll never come empty handed. I received a gift as well. The oldest son made me a sand filled cross necklace.  It now hangs on my rear view mirror. So sweet.

I am leaving out several missions in between I know, as we have fulfilled many request from Dept of Family and Children, the Health Dept, Walton County Schools, etc.  Although it can be a little overwhelming balancing all this with my own family and work, I would not trade it for anything.  Thank you Father God for allowing me to be a part of this and to touch so many lives.  It is a honor and privilege.
God Bless  you all!
Steph

Hold Fast - Mercy Me

Grapes

I am truly amazed how once you really give things over to the Lord how things become so transparent or clear.  I used this analogy the other day as attended our Coalition Meeting, 'God has planted seeds before us and not just a flower seedling but grape seedlings.'  We are grapes on a vine, growing together down one strand or vine heading for one ultimate purpose.  Intertwining each of us as we cross paths. Together we are stronger. He is laying this on my heart.... I know it is the Lord because it is 5:20 am and I have been up since 3:30 and should be passed out!!!!

•  Grapes are started from seedlings Days to harvest: 3 years  . Light requirements: Full sun. Water requirements: Regular watering We are seedlings, We can take years to grow, we need need to see the light= GOD  WATER= THE WORD (BIBLE)
• Grapes have very deep roots= we are what is instilled in us
• Most grapes are not self-fertile, so you should plan on growing 2 or 3 separate vines in order for them to produce any fruit.We can not live a full life with out him we should teach our vines (children, peers, friends, family) so they can also produce and share the legacy of the Lord.
• Choose a sunny location where you have space to put up wires to train the vines for support Keep yourself surrounded with believers (sunny people) put up the wire (mission) train the vines to support it!
• Having your grapes on a trellis or other kind of support is a must with grapes-You MUST have and be the backing, someone to hold you up, a mentor, an "advisory group, thanks ladies"
• Heavy pruning is also a necessary part of growing grapes- Pruning= involving the selective removal of parts of a plant. 2 things here: 1) remove the people in your life who are not good for you.  Be selective in who you have surrounding you.  If you are surrounded by negative you will be negative. If you surround your self with well grounded, believers you will be more likely to see the works of the Lord.  2) remove all the worrying, doubt, negative thoughts, stress and frustrations from your grape(soul) Lay it all out for the Lord.  A great price was paid for you.. He does not want us to do these things, he suffered so we didn't have to.
• you want the vines to grow large grapes with good flavor. Allowing the plant to produce too many grapes will result in very small fruit with poor taste He has laid this on me...Im just speaking it.  I feel it is better to have 1 person (Large Grape) FULL of GOD, a true believer, son or daughter of GOD than a bunch of grapes(people) proclaiming it but not walking it. I WANT TO WALK IT!
• choose the strongest vine to be your future “trunk”. Tie that vine to both wires, training to grow upright-Can you be the trunk? Do you want to be the trunk? for your children, your friends, your family, OUR GOD???

WOW! I will pray because I must ask my self that same question???????
I'm out on that note...
Gmomma signing off to start the day
Much Love
Steph

Newsboys - Build Us Back

What a DAY!

Up and at it at 6 am. No, I don't sleep in on weekends either.  Big day. Cleaned a home (GMomma has to work to have gas money to get to and from)  back to my house by 8:30, then time to load up for Bruce, Fl to visit our friends at the Muscogee Nation.  Loaded shoes and diapers to the roof, along with 4 kids and we're off.  Filled our bellies because we'd have no time for an early lunch.  My little buddies we're calling to make sure i was coming to see them. It is funny that now if I don't show I will have little ones filled with disappointment.  Pulled up and they were their waiting on pine needles (pins and needles lol).  I kill me. 

Trunk pops open and we're off.  As I stocked shelves in food pantry with diapers, I notice approx 20 college students volunteering and helping families to their cars with groceries.  Emery College had a group of students come down for the weekend to volunteer their time to the Muscogee Nation.  What a blessing they are.  It is so awesome to see kids from our future generations giving their hearts and time to a great cause. 
It's really neat to see others come from so far to help "Our part of the world."  Thank you Emery College for your dedication to our world.

Shoes hit the ground.  I distributed approx 16 pairs of shoes to kids in need.  One mother came up and after finding just the right size she said, "This is awesome, he comes here barefoot and leaves with shoes on his feet. Very unexpected."  Thanks Wendy for allowing us to to provide shoes to kids in such need.  Because of your generous heart we covered not only bottoms but feet too. 

My works not done today. By the way my kids were a huge help.  They entertained Londyn and hung out with our local buddies while helping families carry groceries as needed.  They were great sports.  It is wonderful to allow your children to volunteer and see first hand what people face in our community.  It works on them and helps to teach them about appreciating even the small things we have that we take for granted. (running water, electricity, windows to keep weather out, food on our table as we bless each meal.)
So we close shop in Bruce and take Bruce with us to Path of Grace Thrift Store.  Path of Grace was so awesome to share with BeGenerous and Muscogee Nation items from their thrift store.  They gave us loads, I should clarify.... LOADS of donations to help the families in our community.  Even Little Londyn helped pull books from shelves into boxes. She loves being of help. Thank you Team Path. James I know it takes a lot of work to coordinate all you do with your move and I appreciate you and Jane fitting us in and for you all sharing the love.  Many blessings. (Love ya, Gmomma Linda.)  We load up a truck and trailer for the Tribe and send one truck on its way as volunteers and others from the tribe nation help carry loads to their cars and and pack boxes.  We call it quits around 2:30 head to the house just as dad is pulling burgers from the grill for us.  Thanks hubbie, it was just what we needed after a hard day's work. 
Home sweet home.  Soccer game cancelled, pretty out for kids to play in yard as I, of course, sort more donations and gather things to distribute to certain places.  Garage finally in order. 5:30, relax until 7:00 picking up teenager from work, late dinner, now time to share this day....baby and hubbie snuggle time...GOOD NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT.
God bless you all.
GMomma out, Steph

AWARENESS...............

Hello fellow Floridians,
I want to share with you all a little about the Muscogee Nation, an Indian Tribe in Bruce, FL.  Some of you may have heard about it and sat in wonder, some of you this will be the first time you have heard of Indians in Florida and others have been there and seen it.  What ever the case may be, I feel it is important we bring some awareness to the Muscogee Nation of Florida and find out what is going on out in " our neck of the woods."  Most in Walton and South Walton County think of  Walton County as a beach community, a  community that has not been badly effected by the economy and BP Oil Spill.  Many think, "There is no homelessness or poverty in Walton County."  STOP and shake the salt water out of your ears, and Listen carefully.  THERE IS A COMMUNITY IN CRISIS IN OUR NECK OF THE WOODS. Right out your back door and over a little bridge.  Believe it or not Walton County has 51 citites within our borders.  This is our community and WE have families and children out there in need.  Although my focus of this email is Bruce and the Muscogee Nation I want to make it clear.  Walton County is a community in crisis.  There are homeless families, parents struggling to feed their children or to cover their bottoms in diapers, sick elderly that have no way to get help. There are families in need in most of our surrounding areas, yes even out in our beach communities in Santa Rosa Beach and  Miramar Beach, FL. 
Back to Bruce....
 Some of you are already going, What?? we have Indians around here still? Yes, we do and NO!, as Ann Tucker would say, "They are not in tee pees cooking of over stick in the woods."  They are an Indian Nation that has been in Bruce, FL for 160 years. They have homes and a community within their Nation.   The Indian people of Bruce have managed for themselves for all those years not really knowing what had moved in and around their tribal nation. The Muscogee Indian Nation had been living a life as they know it to be comfortable.  It was not until Ann Tucker, Chairwomen of the Tribal Council had the trees pulled back and got a peek of the outside by a wonderful women of God, Pastor Elaine Barrow, Bruce United Methodist Church.  Ann was quickly made aware that this Nation in Bruce was no longer just her and the Muscogee Tribe, e it was a "Community in Crisis."    Ann Tucker, Chairwomen of this Indian Nation, and her husband Chuck, did not hesitate to jump in and help.  See Indians help Indian people but they also know help others when they are needed.  Regardless of what help we were over the last 100 years to these Indians, they never second guessed their role in this.  They understand that under our "Creator" we all have an obligation to women, children and elders. What Ann found down the back dirt roads was horrific. I know because I have been out there.  I have seen the rusted out trailers with no windows, roofs caved in and doors hanging off.  I have seen people living in trailers and homes that should be condemned.
I will share. We were delivering a King Mattress, toiletries, clothing and their groceries from the food pantry in Muscogee Nation of Bruce, to a grandmother of 9 kids. Yes they live with her.  She was having surgery for Uterine cancer soon so we had to get to her. Her mattress was in really bad shape. We wanted her comfortable for her long recovery.  As we pulled up the dirt driveway I notice one trailer crumbled to pieces on one side. My first thoughts were 'No, Way, this is not what this family is living in.' As I kept looking another trailer sat behind it.  It wasn't much better but it had a roof (bad roof I must add.)   An ill grandmother, 9 kids and 2 adults living in one trailer, a red blanket over a window was lifted from the outside by a child, as he  screamed in the house "Their here!" We unloaded and took in.  I won't continue.....
This family of 12 people had been living out in our community for 3 years with NO POWER and  only water because they had a generator that it was running off of.  Praise God, Village Baptist got power restored for this family and we all came together to feed, clothe and furnish them with things they so desperately needed. 
This is only one family.  There are many more like this that Ann, Chuck and the Muscogee Nation is dealing with  on a daily basis.  
What Ann Tucker and the Muscogee Nation of Florida has done to bring awareness out there is unbelievable.  She has started a food pantry that just this past weekend served approx 360 people.  A thrift Store and soon a medical clinic and a fuller house (Cold night shelter).  She has rose to the challenge, taken no color or creed, no status or situation into consideration.   She has just provided help because that is our duty and our obligation as human beings. 
When she called our state representatives, she asked, "We have a community in Crisis, what do you want me to do?"  See she didn't ask them what they could do for her and the people in our community. She knew she was going to do what she needed  to help but she was bringing it to their attention to the problem. 
We are not living in a 3rd world country (God bless those that are).  We live in America, where have neighbors to call upon, government to call upon, we have EACH OTHER!  We should not have starving children running our schools and streets, we shouldn't have struggling parents lost in despair not even knowing where to turn to in our government agencies for help.  Sick and starved elders wasting away in their homes with no companion or attention. 
On behalf of BeGenerous Inc, I want to thank Ann and Chuck, the Muscogee Nation and all the volunteers that have stepped up to help our community and our nation.  Please help support the Muscogee Nation of Bruce Fl and other organizations that are fighting for our children, our next generation and  our nation under GOD!
Visit www.mnof.org for more info on the Muscogee Nation or www.begenerousinc.org to see how you can help our community. 
HEADING OUT SATURDAY IF YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER.
Many Blessings,
Stephanie