Coming back around to God...

This is so moving I had to share.  As you have probably read, we have been helping a mother that just a few weeks ago was evicted and forced to live in a motel with no food, little clothing, her children and grand babies.  Since then and by the help of the generous hearts in our community (Gay, Wendy, Dianne and Steph B) she now has a roof over their heads, food on the shelves and a job at Walmart. Praise God!
She reports in to me daily just to let me know how things are going and that they are ok.  These families become an extended family of our own.  She went on to tell me how she had a rough night working and that she had developed blisters beyond on the top of her foot and how unbearable they were.  She said she was in so much pain she was in tears and felt as if she was going to have to give up.  With a few encouraging words she said, "I know God was with me and getting me through the night." she went on the explain that as she was stocking she had to walk pass the book section.  On the end isle was a wall of the Holy Bible. She said every time she passed them, it would remind her that God was carrying her through and that she could make it and could not give up since we all worked so hard to get her there.  She said all night she was thinking of the bibles and how her heart was yearning to find her bible she had packed away.  She had prayed that she had not lost it with everything else and that God would help her get back into the bible.
As she is telling me this, I was in amazement.  See I had just got off the phone with Gay Landreth.  She had just shared with me that her and her husband went to Eagle Wings Bookstore and bought all types of bibles to give out to people that needed or had the want for one.  Gay wanted this mother to have one.  That was so a "GodThing."  I told the mother about that and she just cried. "Are you serious, I just prayed tonight that I would get a bible then you say you got one for me."  Shocked she asked me to please thank Gay and Jeff for getting her that bible and because of us she is coming back around to God.  A God that she once knew but had lost along the way. 
The best part of what we are doing through BeGenerous Inc. is not just the food we feed people, the clothes we clothe people in or the bottoms we cover with diapers. It's us feeding them with hope in their lives, our community and in themselves, its clothing them with prayer and love as a cloke shielding them from despair and doubt, it's covering them with support and a sense of worth, a feeling of importance that one feels when someone takes time to show they care.  The greatest accomplishment in this all is to show people they call upon his name and he will provide.To help them find who is ultimately responsible for their second chance, GOD.
God is stirring up something and BeGenerous with your help is going to spread it like butter!
Who's in????
this GMomma is busy busy gotta go!
Much love
Steph

It's raining SHOES and lots of them....

It's Saturday and I have had a wonderful much needed relaxing day not going anywhere.  I love after many sunny warm days we get a little dark rainy cold day.  I believe that's God's way of saying slow down, today is a down day and you need to do NOTHING.  I must admit sometimes it feels good to do little to nothing.  Once again, Wendy Kotowske, made a drop off at my house of some shoes she purchased fromWalmart on sale. When she called and said she had some shoes I was excited, I had no idea what was to come.  Wendy and Jenna pulled up and started pulling bags and bags and bags from the truck. It was raining more than rain drops at my house.  It was raining shoes.  Wendy had bought 117 pairs of children shoes.  WOW!  I am totally amazed.  Wondering where to store them in my office I started thinking who needed them and boy will they go fast.  I already can account for 26 children who need them just in the families we have recently been working with.  How much fun will me and Wendy have distributing these shoes.  Bless you Wendy and thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you are doing to help BeGenerous Inc. 
Much Love,
Steph

In Motion....

Friday March 4th-Today was a wonderful day!  It started bright and early of course.  Wendy at Prime Lending/Destin was so gracious to help me out by printing flyers off for my meeting this morning when I ran out of paper at 11:30pm last night.  I swang by to pick those up and MORE diapers. Thanks!  They are all set to be a DROP OFF SITE for donations.  I really appreciate the team at Prime Lending for embracing our causes and stepping up to the challenge EVERYTIME.  Bless you all!  Off to meet Santiago, Outreach Pastor @ Destiny Worship, to load up BOXES and BOXES of canned goods, toiletries, pastas and rice etc. that were donated by our wonderful church family at Destiny Worship Center.  We couldn't go empty handed and since we were going there for a meeting.  So we then headed to Bruce with 2 trucks loaded down to the Muscogee Tribe Nation of Florida.  What a powerful meeting.   Today many came together as one and for one mission.  To serve those in need, allowing God to work through us to resolve issues at hand that the Muscogee Nation and Bruce Florida are facing on a daily basis. We all discussed what we can contribute and how we can all come TOGETHER to help Rural Relief.  BeGenerous Inc. announced that we will be dedicating our March 19th Diaper Drive to the Muscogee Nation of Florida.  All diapers collected at Miramar, Winn-Dixie, will be distributed in Bruce at the following Food Pantry day to help all the struggling families that can not purchase diapers in order to keep lights on and food on the table.  We need A LOT too.  Every other weekend we distribute approx 300 to 400 diapers and we still ahve people in need lined up for us to take their names and sizes.  I hate turning those away that really need them.  Please help our efforts as we attempt to "Cover Every Little Bottom."
One of my favorite Bruce Buddies, Abby, came in and got to see me which brightened my day!  I love the Bruce families.
I was so humbled and blessed to be amongst so many wonderful people.
Much Love to all my followers.  Thanks for your support.
GMomma Steph out.......

Help the Poor.....

Luke 6:20-21 "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are the hunger now, for you will be satisfied.

Luke 16:19 Read story.

Jobe 34:28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he heard the cry of the needy.

Psalm 22:26  The poor will eat and be satisfied

Psalm 35:10  You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.

Psalm 68:10 Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.

"He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing." Deuteronomy 10:18

"However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you." Deuteronomy 15:4

Late night trip to Wally World.

10:00 p.m. Late night run to Walmart but not for a midnight snack or groceries for my household.  We got jobs!  Ok not me and not my husband but one of our families.  Walmart hired the parents of the family we were helping this past week.  I am so proud they took initiative to do their resumes and be persistance in applying and following through on their end.  I met them at Destin Walmart to pick out clothing they needed for their uniforms.  They got to start tonight at 10pm to stock.  They are both so thankful for the opportunity. Thanks to Jeff and Gay Landreth, we got them both 2 shirts and 2 pairs of jeans with a little extra for gas to get home with no worries. When they got the call earlier today that they got the job they were thrilled until they were told the job attire that was mandatory.  They freaked out but knew if they called us BeGenerous, Dianne,Opportunity Inc or Steph B (WCS) we would find GENEROUS hearts to come up with what they needed.  I pray they get settled into their new job and that it gives them relief and a sense of pride knowing they will see the light at the end of tunnel.
I can sleep well tonight knowing they are working and making money.
Bless the Grahm family and God bless you all!
Steph

What it's all about....

March 1st-Today was a busy day.  Up and at it at 6am, start with my daily routine;

1. Turn the coffee on
2. Make 4 lunches
3. few sips of coffee while checking email, post a blog or gather my thoughts for the day before the PARTY begins!
4. upstairs for the "Rise and Shine!" each room I go one by one.
5. Back down to get breakfast out
6. dishes, sweep, check dryer, move washer then start new load
7. ball cap on to hide bed head 
8. Off to deliver children, OUT OF GAS, get gas
9. Through the car pool line I drive, 1 down 2 to go
10.  back home
11. Londyn breakfast, shower, pack diaper bag, bottle bag, email, calender book, to do list and I'm ready to hit road.

Today was a very good day. To bank, Destiny to drop jean donations off,  Dept of Health Coastal branch to deliver diapers to be distributed to families in need.  Lanie forgot lunch, Turn around to get that to her. Then off to Defuniak I head. On my way to Defuniak I receive a call from a mother we have helped (family in motel last week.)  She was calling to thank us for reaching out to them when they could not find anyone else to.  I told her it was our pleasure and that her family was a blessing to us.  I thanked her for stepping up, setting her pride to the side and reaching out for her family and especially for her babies.  It takes a lot for most to ask for help.  Many sit back and suffer or make their children suffer because they are embarrassed of what people will think of them or they have no idea where to turn.  I explained as I do very often, any one can be in these shoes and no one should suffer because they are afraid to ask.  That is why my mission is to BE THE VOICE.  I went on to tell her "The way it works is, when you run into a family that is in need and you have any means what so ever to help them, you "Pay it Forward".  We were there for you, you are up on your feet and ready to face the world, giving a 2nd chance to do it right.  Give back!  Thank God for the blessing he has provided to you and your family and for the people he seeded in your life. She explained, "Hey we did that.  While we were in Bruce a women said she needed a fridge and didn't know what she would do with all her food. She was scared she'd loose it all because her fridge is out.  We took her number in case we ran across one.  As we were moving into the new home, we found it had a fridge.  We immediately called that lady and provided her a fridge, saving all her food for her family." "That's what I'm talking about!", I replied. She cried and explained how good it made her feel to help.  The uplifting conversation went on for an hour.  Next, Lunch meeting with Steph and Dianne.  Londyn was quite the entertainment.  Off to drop donations to single mom of 7. She is in a new safe home for her babies and needed bedding, diapers, formula etc. She has taken initiative and stepped up to the plate to help herself and her babies.  She is very independent and fulfills her duties as a mother.  I'm so proud of her.  It makes me feel so good when we talk and before we let each other go we say "I love you!" It's what is all about.

While in Defuniak, I get a call from a family.  This was a hard request for them.  I told her nothing would shock me, "give it to me." They needed feminine products for 2 girls, toilet paper and bottle nipples immediately.  They didn't want to ask but ddidn't know how to get them.  Off to the Dollar General Londyn and I go.  Thanks Stephanie Bailey for the $5.00 to put towards it.  It helped.  Last stop, to make the drop.  As the mom walked me through their new home she was shining with pride and excitement that they were finally out of the motel and could see the greener pasture (literally).  It made me proud for all us that helped them.  Another family can sleep easier and under a roof.  I can go home!   YIPPPPEEEEEEE
TIRED GMOMMA STEPH OUT!

On the road again.....

Feb 26th, Saturday morning, it's 6 am and my cell phone alarms for me to get a move on!  Coffee on and in the shower I go. A sip of coffee then downstairs to once again, load my Jeep to roof. 6:30 done, one more sip of coffee, bags and boxes lined up down the drive way to make it easier to load for Jeff and Court.  Loaded up but "Ohhhhhh wait!" "Can I fit a KING SIZE MATTRESS?" If looks could kill.  J/k you know how hubbies are.  So to fulfill my cry the King size mattress get's loaded and bungeed down for our road trip!  Kids round up and as Bob Seager sings "On the Road Again!"  Off to Bruce, FL Muscogee Tribe Nation we go. 
When we arrived struggling families lined up the ramp and stairs.  I knew this would be a BIG but humbling day and I was so excited to be a part of it.  As I stepped out of the car one of our little Bruce Buds ran off "Their here!" as he called a teen girl we have became close to as well.  We ran to eachother and gave big hugs.  It's just what is all about.  I love it.  Village Baptist had a team of volunteers on the property building the thrift store and giving truck loads of furniture away.  One of our families that were just last week living in a motel we're picking out furniture for their "Home" that they found by the grace of God and our team of Angels, Stephanie Bailey(Walton County Schools) and Dianne McManus(Opportunity Inc.).  I know they have wings under their shirts.  It was so evident that God was present in Bruce this weekend, as his people all came together for one purpose and one mission.  As we met some of the families there to distribute donations we had collected for them one mother/grandmother came up to us to thank us and with tears in her eyes said "I want to tell you when people ask, how we got in this situation." I told her we needed no explanation. I stated "It is not how you got there but how you rise above the challenge that matters.We have or all will fall in our lives in one way or another." No one shall cast judgement on others, for only one can judge or question and it is not me.  She then handed me an invitation to her fathers memorial.  She continued to explain "Last year was a bad year, one thing after another.  My father died which lead me to depression, because I was a daddy's girl. I lost my job and so on."  I reached out to her and said. 'If you call upon the Lord, he will raise you up.  However, you must REALLY call his name out, and hand it all over to him. He will hear you and he will answer." She replied, "He has through you all."  To no surprise to Courtney or those who know me, I was in tears with her as she handed me a card that she carries with her everyday that her mother wrote to her.  It read,  "Trust in God!  The Bible says "Ask and you will receive" "Stay on your knees and ask for exactly what you need (not what you want or things that are frivolous but more of God and his guidance for you and your family.  Stay on your knees and keep talking to him. Praising him, loving him, Don't stop, he'll answer in his own time."

Praise God!  This was so awesome to see; homeless, no job, no clothes but what we brought, days of starving and she still looked at that and had faith and believed in him. She already knew of God through her heritage and she counted on his word to get her through.  I hope that she continues to carry that with her because I know I will. 

You know, we all need to STOP casting judgement and making assumptions of others situations.  Just give with no hesitating or what if's.  Yes, some people have made mistakes and are living the consequences everyday, some faced unforeseen circumstances that were out of their control but I can tell you MOST are humbled by the experience and are thankful to be giving another chance to make things right.  How awesome is our God to forgive, pick up and carry us when we need him.  What if our God never gave us the opportunity to repent and make better choices.  What if we were hit with unforeseen circumstances, that were out of our control and we never got a chance to recover from them. What if we never had a 2nd chance at life?  What if no one was there for you when you lost everything?  What if? 
I tell you this we could ALL BE THERE.  If you can't see that with the economy and the havoc set upon the world right now I don;t know what will wake us up.  It is reported that Okaloosa and Walton County have 2000 homeless families right now.  We could be one.  I have no sham or pride issues.  My family is one check from walking in those shoes.  We struggle each month to raise our kids with one income.  It's not easy and I never take things for granted or cast judgement because I COULD BE THERE!  We have to stop judging others for their situations. Rise up! because what would you want others to do for you if you were down?

Please, help our cause, supporting our mission to "Save our part of the World."
Many blessing to you all and your families,
Steph