My Friend, Laura

I wanted to tell everyone about my dear friend who I met through Union Mission, Laura Stewart.

We have known each other for about 5 years and she has been a constant source of support through several trials and hard times. Some time ago she moved from Savannah, but despite the distance she has remained a true friend.

Union Mission

Today I wanted to tell everyone about my friends over at Union Mission.


Union Mission is non-profit management company that provides social services to Savannah's homeless population and helps to address common issues they face, such as shelter, substance abuse, job and lifeskill training, and employment assistance.

Union Mission has helped me, and countless others, in my steps to getting my life back on track.  I hope my story helps to encourage you to visit Union Mission and help.

To see how you can help, please visit their website below:

http://www.unionmission.org/



At this time I also wanted to express my sympathies for everyone in Boston, and send prayers that the Lord helps to heal all of those affected.

The Healing That We Need

Why, O Lord, does it always seem


That we often get no reply?


When we are so very desperate


For all the answers why









When we need a special touch


To heal all of our sickness,


A miracle that only you can do

Restoring strength to our weakness









We do not know the reasons 'why'


You don't answer straight away,


We only need to have faith in you

And be persistent when we pray









You may choose to heal much more


Than our needs of the physical


So much more is the spirit inside


That may be in need of a miracle









For you care so much for us


And want to see us healed,

Not only in this body of ours


But in our souls as well









For healing is for every part,

Our body, spirit and soul


And God just wants to touch each part


And make us truly whole









We needn’t feel so downcast


As we wait upon the Lord,


For the answer will come in His time

Then we shall be restored.



© By M.S.Lowndes

http://www.heavensinspirations.com/healing-we-need.html

We Shall Overcome

Forty-five years ago yesterday, civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN. Since then we have accomplished much, but more still needs to be done.

Oh Freedom
and before I'll be a slave, I'll be buried in my grave
and go home to my lord and be free
no segregation, no segregation, over me
no more dogs... biting me
nothing but freedom... over me
No more shootings... over me
no more mourning... over me
ohhh freedom... over me

We Shall Not be Moved
We shall not, we shall not be moved
We shall not, we shall not be moved
Just like a tree that's planted by the water, we shall not be moved
We're on our way to victory, we shall not be moved...

We shall overcome, we shall overcome, we shall overcome someday
Oh oh oh, deep in my heart I know that I do believe, we shall overcome someday
We are not alone, we are not alone, we are not alone today - deep in my heart...
The truth shall make us free, the truth shall make us free, the truth shall make us free -
someday
deep in my heart...
We shall overcome...

The Bridge Builder

"The Bridge Builder"
-Will Allen Dromgoole

An old man, going a lone highway
Came at the evening, cold and gray,
To chasm, vast and deep and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned when safe on the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.
"Old Man," said a fellow pilgrim near,
"You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide
Why build you the bridge at the eventide?"
The builder listed his old gray head:
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been naught to me
To that fair-handed youth may pit-fall be,
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."

And I will do everything that I can as long as I am President of the United States to remind the American people that we are one nation under God, and we may call that God different names but we remain one nation.
-Barack Obama



Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.
- Martin Luther King Jr (Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech)

I chose to share these quotes & pictures of these two influential men in celebration of Black History Month. They have both helped to encourage me & inspire me to push forward in life & hold my head up high! It is amazing to me how through the power of God, that these men were able to accomplish so much & it is through the same power of God that I am able to accomplish goals in my life. I would like to take this time to thank all of my friends who have also helped me through my journey.

There is also a new opportunity in my life that I am grateful for and it is because of my dear friend, Terri Schell. She has been helping me with a new project and I hope to be able to give an update soon of good news. This new project has allowed me to visit Atlanta and I will be going back this month. When I go to Atlanta I am able to meet new friends & enjoy my time there.

The Big Mans Got It!!

I'm Your Disease

I hate meetings. I hate HIGHER POWER. I hate anyone who has a program. To all who come in contact with me, I wish you death and I wish you suffering.

Allow me to introduce myself. I am the disease of addiction. Cunning, Baffling, and Powerful, that's me. I have killed millions and I am pleased. I love to catch you with the element of surprise. I love pretending I am your friend and lover. I have given you comfort, have I not? Wasn't I there when you were lonely? When you wanted to die, didn't you call me? I was there. I love to make you hurt. I love to make you cry. Better yet, I love when I make you so numb you can neither hurt nor cry. This is true glory. I will give you instant gratification and all I ask of you is long-term suffering. I've been there for you always. When things were going right in your life, you invited me. You said you didn't deserve these good things; I was always the one who would agree with you. Together we were able to destroy all things good in life.

People don't take me seriously. They take strokes and heart attacks seriously, even diabetes they take seriously. Fools that they are, they don't know that without my help these things would not be made possible.

I am such a hated disease, and yet I do not come uninvited. You choose to have me. So many have chosen me over reality and peace.

More than you hate me, I HATE all of you who have a twelve-step program. Your program, your meetings, your Higher Power all weaken me and I can't function in the manner I am accustomed to.

Now I must lie here quietly. You don't see me, but I am growing bigger than ever. When you exist, I may live. When you live, I only exist. But I am here... and until we meet again, if we meet again, I wish you death and suffering.


NEVER GIVE UP

No matter what is going on
Never give up
Develop the heart
Be compassionate
Not just to your friends
But to everyone
Be compassionate
Work for peace
In your heart and in the world
Work for peace and I say again
Never give up
No matter what is happening
No matter what is going on around you
Never give up

St. Joseph's/Candler SOURCE

Today, I'd like to talk about St. Joseph's/Candler SOURCE, a program that provides my healthcare and case management. I've been on the program for about 10 years, and it allows my medicaid benefits to reach me without having to live in a nursing home. My case managers have helped me out quite a bit over the years. We have had a pretty good relationship, meaning that we don't always see exactly eye to eye, but we get over it. I also have a good relationship with one of the managers at SOURCE. She's not my case manager, but she helps me out whenever she can.

I go down to the SOURCE office at the Georgia Infirmary fairly often, and it's nice because everyone knows me, just like most of Savannah. That's what happens when you've grown up here.

After my strokes, SOURCE helped me get into physical therapy to help me recover and gain back strength.

I've also worked with a lot of volunteers over the years. We do things like update my blog, learn how to work with my dynavox speaking computer, and various art projects. I like meeting new people, and its nice to consistently have volunteers around. Mike is the current volunteer and his year is about to end in a couple of weeks. He's helped me stay in contact with people through email and facebook, and we've kept up on posting to the blog too.

I'd like to say a quick prayer for the people who have helped me over the years, not just at SOURCE, but everywhere.

Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.

For Think is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Big Man's got it!