Growing up and hearing this I always thought honor simply meant obeying. Obedience is one way of honoring parents, and like Gods word says in 1 Samuel 15:22 …To obey is better than sacrifice..when children choose to disobey parents, or adults choose to disobey (law’s, regulations, make poor decisions) there are definitely consequences. The consequences vary depending upon the action. Some children grow up thinking “I obeyed when I was younger and was a good kid, now I can do what I want.” WRONG!! Whatever you do effects all those around you like a domino effect.

What I’m saying is there are many children who are adult children that grow up to be prodigal’s and live lives that make their parents worry and fear for their well being. It’s now that I’m a parent of adult children that I understand that honoring your parents goes far beyond obedience. For I understand what it means now to have callouses on my knees from being on them so often in prayer..crying out to God on behalf of my adult children and now my grandchildren.

With Mothers Day coming up this weekend my daughter who’s in high school asked me what I’d like for Mothers Day. As I thought about it I knew I had not desired any monetary present she could purchase for me but just the gift of pure and simple peace of knowing that my children would and are living a life that God has intended for them to lead. Then and only then would I or any parent truly be honored.

I’m not saying that when a child is not honoring we as parents stop loving or having mercy. I love this scripture of what Jesus said in Matthew 9:13  But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.  For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Our children are not perfect, but for that matter neither are we. Isn’t it wonderful to know that Jesus desires mercy? Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for each one of us. So I stop and ponder what this means as I think and pray for my adult children and those children and teens I’ve grown to love through Power House, and I remember and stand on this scripture; Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. And then I rest in the Lord as I pray and leave each one in Gods most capable hands. When I think of many of my own short comings and how I have truly fallen so many times and my Father God each time picked me up and gave me the love and mercy I so much needed..I realize I too as a parent can only do the same, for as much as I love my children God loves them so much more.

This song has great lyrics and sum’s up all that I’ve been trying to say;

TEARS OF THE SAINTS

There are many prodigal sons
On our city streets they run
Searching for shelter
There are homes broken down
People’s hopes have fallen to the ground
From failures

This is an emergency!

There are tears from the saints
For the lost and unsaved
We’re crying for them come back home
We’re crying for them come back home
And all your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home

There are schools full of hatred
Even churches have forsaken
Love and mercy
May we see this generation
In it’s state of desperation
For Your glory

This is an emergency!

Sinner, reach out your hands!
Children in Christ you stand!
Sinner, reach out your hands!
Children in Christ you stand!

And all Your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home

Yes children honor your parents, in doing so you will live long…Parents love your children, give mercy and grace and never give up praying and believing Gods plans are for good..Jeremiah 29:11. For I will unconditionally love, love, LOVE!!

Daniel had a very high position in King Darius’ kingdom. The King saw that Daniel succeeded in everything that he did, so he promoted him even higher to be in charge of his entire kingdom. However, there were some officials and royal leaders who were jealous of his role so they came up with a plan to get rid of Daniel. They knew that Daniel prayed faithfully, three times a day to his God, so with that thought in mind, they went before the King and told him to set their new law into motion. The new law, that the king made official for them, stated that anyone who prayed to any other god or man besides him in the next thirty days would be thrown into the lions’ den.

When Daniel found out about this law, he could’ve easily stopped praying and went on with his life as usual for the next thirty days to avoid being torn to bits by lions. He had every reason to stop being faithful to God; but Daniel loved God with all his heart and wasn’t willing to let anything get in the way of that love, so, as always, he went into his room, got on his knees, and prayed to his God. Daniel remained faithful to God even in the hardest of times.

Soon enough, the officials and royal leaders were back before the king, telling him that Daniel was still praying faithfully to his God, and not to the king, despite the new law. This news troubled the king greatly, the last thing he wanted was for Daniel to be harmed in any way, Daniel was his right-hand man. But, since the the officials kept on insisting and reminding him that the law was the law, he had no choice but to have Daniel thrown into the lions’ den. That same day, the men threw Daniel into the den…

The next day, at the break of dawn, king Darius hurried to the lions’ den to see if it was possible that Daniel could somehow still be alive. He called out… And there was an answer! Daniel was alive! He told the king that God had sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions and that he was not hurt in anyway.

Daniel could’ve taken the easy way out and not prayed to God, only for 30 days, but he remained faithful, even with the possibility of being thrown into a den of hungry lions. Daniel loved God so much that he was willing to suffer any pain or go through any trial to prove his faithfulness and love, and God rewarded Daniel by saving his life.

The Bible says in Proverbs 18:25 that God will show Himself faithful to those who are faithful to Him. In other words, be faithful to God, and He will be faithful to you. He wants you to show Him how much you love Him by serving Him faithfully so that He can bless you. You can serve Him by being consistent in volunteering with Power House or with other ministries that reflect His heart, you can serve Him by being kind and forgiving to people you don’t usually get along with, you’re even serving Him by ’sacrificing’ your TV or Facebook time to get into His word and pray.

There are so many practical ways to be faithful to God, and He will reward you. If not on earth, then in heaven. Be faithful to God, even when its hard, and He will be faithful to you.

By: Hilary Christman
Power House Intern

Unfortunately many of the kids who grow up in the urban environment get stuck in or sucked into the status quot of what society say’s they’ll become, or become those things around them they see as “normal” or “cool”. Parents that are afraid for their children once they start getting caught up in this environment and have had a taste for the “gangsta” life, may move, try other avenues, try coping with it or even turn a blind eye  to it with hopes that their teens will grow out of this “phase”. More often then not many of these kids, even with their parents intervention to try and pull them out of this life style may have not gotten to them in time. These teens end up in the juvenile court systems, under age pregnancy’s or worst…DEAD.

That’s why Power House is in a race to try to get to these kids before it’s too late. We want to be able to make a difference that will ultimately lead to them having the successful lives that God wants them to have (Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. )

Power House has started our first “TEEN” program on Monday’s at 6:00 PM at the Sunflower Apartments. We meet with the teens who come and have some time to hang out, play games, have a snack, and have some discussion’s and  questions that the teens have are answered with scriptures from the Bible. The source for all answers. We are praying that this will be a good way to bridge the gap from Power House’s sidewalk Sunday school that is geared more to the younger kids. We want to meet these teens where they’re at and give them some thought provoking answers to the questions they have so they will be equipped to make wise decisions.

We know it’s a big world out there and a big city we are ministering to. We haven’t gotten to so many of the youth in time… but with Gods help and the help of those who have grabbed hold of our vision and passion for these youth…we will start a revival in this city that will spread through out the United States and to the rest of the world…taking back the youth that they will rebel against the evils that try so hard to enslave them and they will take a stand for what’s right and good in the eyes of God!

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

What do you think that means? God is asking you do you love others? If you don’t is it because you possibly my not even like yourself? If you have condemnation about something you are battling, whether it be something in the past or present, you have to let go and let God. This is so this commandment can be carried out in your life. God wants to do something incredible through you and for you! Love is one of the greatest gifts that God has given each one of us. It’s a gift that needs to be received, embraced, as God pours out his love into you. You become a vessel that is able to pour into others. But if that vessel (you) are broken, just like a glass that cannot hold the contents that are poured into it if it is broken..you will not be able to receive the love gift that God wants you to receive.

My encouragement for you today is to cry out to God in a prayer, like this;
Father God, sometimes I feel so unworthy of your love and forgiveness, but I acknowledge that Jesus paid the price for my sins and has carried all that weight as he carried the cross, I lay the heavy burden of unforgiveness and I give it to you. I can’t bare it, and you said for me to cast my cares on you because you care for me (1 Peter 5:7) I release others and Father I release myself. In Jesus Holy Name AMEN.

Now you are ready to receive the love of your father God and as you receive you are able to see others in a different light, the light that’s shining from the Son of God that lives within you. This light will attract and bring others in from the dark (realization of Gods saving grace through Jesus). Before you know it, it’s not even an effort to love others as yourself. It just comes natural because of the love that God pours into you.

And now when others see you, they will see the love of God.

Galatians 5:14  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.

We had lot’s of fun playing water balloon games with the Power House kids..one of the favorites was one we played at Alexander this summer. It created much excitement for the kids as well as the neighborhood. As we were having the kids play water balloon volley with sheets flinging the balloons, the kids would scream with laughter and hope of their team getting the next point! The water balloons are done for the year and we will have to wait until next summer for all those fun filled games!

Some of the sites are going inside already and others are trying to get the most of the great weather while we have it. The leaves are changing colors as our schedules also change. Peppercorn and Yorkcreek have closed the summer impact sites and look forward to next year, we had so much fun at those locations and would’ve loved to continued there but there was not a place to be inside nor volunteers..we used many high school students to run the sites. Many of the Grand Rapids Public schools have closed over the past year, including Alexander Elementary. Power House had one of our sites in there for over 10 years. We are still trying to find a place to have that site meet inside, we know God will provide. It’s sad to hear that we will no longer be at Alexander and time is short that we will be able to run outside.

Seasons change not only in the calendar but in life and where God brings us to minister. Sometimes we have a hard time knowing or understanding why…But God’s ways are higher, bigger, better then ours. We may be sad or frustrated or confused if we are not yielding to Gods new direction…but if we just stop and submit and say “…Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” (Luke 11:2) And He will give you peace and grace for this season. Life has many seasons much more than 4 like our calendar year. And Power House also does, but our vision will remain the same.

Many teens are looking for acceptance, trying to find where they fit in, and end up finding themselves involved with a group of others they wished they had never met and don’t know how to disassociate with them. These groups can be the worst of the worst for peer pressure, bullying, and become threatening to not only them but also loved ones, friends, neighbors, and even associates (casual acquaintances).

I know all to well as a preteen going to school at Hall Elementary living in a diverse and lower income neighborhood (Roosevelt Park area) many days my brother and I would have to take an extra long way home, weaving in between houses and going blocks out of our way, in order to not be harassed and beat up by gang members or want-ta-bee’s.

That was my first encounters with gangs, not fond memories. Then as a single Mom after my divorce my kids and I moved into the house my Mom had grew up (not far from the Hall school area). My oldest sons personality started changing..I hadn’t realized at the time what was going on, I thought he was just going through a phase. I didn’t know what to think and of course no parent wants to think their kid could be involved with a gang…but that was exactly what had happened. At one point we even had a group of guys drive up to our home and get out of the vehicle and start pounding on the back and front door of our house…thank God for keeping my family safe!! My son got out of this life without being jailed, or killed…but many don’t!

Years later I still thank the Lord for His faithfulness and provision of safety for my son and that he didn’t end up like the kid I just read about and many other teens who had gotten involved in gang activity.

Yes, this young mans death bothers me!! These kids break my heart seeing that they are buying in to the devils lies and plans for them. (John 10:10) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. We need to let them know that they were created for a purpose and a plan and not for the thug life. Many will blame the fact that these kids are in an impoverished neighborhood, the fact they live in a single parent home, or possibly they have to much time on their hands. The truth is many of those reasons can play a factor, but the bottom line is they all need Jesus. They need a life changing, life altering, sold out to God transformation..a heart transplant, so to speak. They need to know and have an intimate relationship with God and have themselves surrounded with like-minded believers and a mentor who can disciple them.

Every where I looked for help when I was going through all the difficult things with my son seemingly turned up to be dead ends..one day after switching schools for him for the 3rd time it was the breaking point! I had a call that he was going to be expelled if I didn’t take him out of that school. He had only been there for a couple of weeks. I said to him that’s it..we went straight from his school where I had met his principal and to the Wednesday night service at church. I couldn’t get my daughter into her service at the time and my sons went to their service. I cried out to God and said I can’t do this any more!! I need you to take control and I finally released it all to God. It’s been a ride, I’d like to say it’s all been easy, but I’d be lying, but I do have to say when I realized God is the only answer and He wants us to cast our cares on Him because He cares for us, my life became more peaceful.(1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.) Every storm every trial every battle is Gods, He wants to give us all  the peace that passes our understanding.

First I looked for help for my son with man, but God was who I should’ve went to first. Man will let you down, but God can’t..we need to trust Him. You see God doesn’t want any to perish but all to come to repentance. We need to make a way for teens like the one who got shot over the weekend, to be able to come to repentance. It’s to late for this kid (I don’t know if he received the Lord) but we can make a difference by reaching out to teens like the one who was shot and let them know that God’s plan is for good for them, Jeremiah 29:11 says..For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

But how will they know if no one goes to tell them? These kids aren’t expendable they are valuable and God loves them and so should we.

Luke 10:2 The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Let’s show these kids it’s not hopeless..It’s to late for this boy who was shot,  but many are out there still and we can get to them before it’s to late to be reached please help us reach them!

Just this past weekend we had a flapjack breakfast at Applebee’s in Grandville. At the breakfast the kids who will be going to camp as well as Power House volunteers and L.I.T.’s (leaders in training) served breakfast from 8:00-10:00 AM.

The people who came to support this fund raiser received egg’s, bacon, all they wanted pancakes as well as their drinks. They were eagerly greeted by each volunteer and Power House kid. The kids were so happy to help earn their way to camp and in return were tipped very well by satisfied customers!

The kids made over $900 profit from this event. This money was put towards our Adopt-A-Camper fund which is now at $2,759.65. Wow!!! That’s over half way our goal is $4,240. If we surpass our goal we can send even more kids to camp!

On behalf of the kids and all of us from Power House I’d like to thank all those who supported the Flapjack Fundraiser at Applebee’s.  We would also like to thank Applebee’s Manager Jason Bolinger and his staff for helping make this fundraiser a success.

But most of all we want to recognize God and give Him all the glory in all He’s doing through Power House Ministry and all the volunteers. Without God’s hand in all that we do here at Power House we would never achieve half of the things He has called us to do for the kids and their families.

1 Chronicles 4:10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

This is my prayer for Power House that God would bless our ministry and enlarge our territory and continue to keep His hand upon this ministry that we would be a blessing to the communities that we minister to.

Although we may be saved by this grace it becomes a reality check as we live in this world. You may be saying what do you mean by this statement? I’m just saying that yes we are saved by the grace that God has extended to us. Are we extending that same grace to those who are not saved? It’s easy to be nice and act “Christ like” to those who are nice to you, but when someone does something offensive to you what do you do? How do you respond? Do you get your feelings hurt? Do you get mad, get even by reacting like the one who has not even a clue about the knowledge of Christs perfect love that covers a multitude of sins? (1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.)

Am I saying that we are immune to this world and all of it’s sin? No, that is not what I’m saying I am purely stating that how we react to them could mean whether we are able to lead someone to Christ.

Whatever you are doing there is always someone there who is looking at you waiting to see how you respond, even when you don’t think there is. As we work with kids at Power House we are constantly in a place where we may be able to pick up an offense. We need to always keep ourselves prepared by keeping in the word of God and surrounding ourselves with ways to detour the offenses and pray for those who are acting out in a way that is harmful to others and themselves. Speaking the truth in love sometimes can be hard to do, but it is necessary, especially when dealing with a new convert.  Some who are not Christians and others are waiting to see how we may react are looking at you as an example as a leader.

Boundaries are sometimes difficult to establish but are necessary and healthy for you and those who are trying to “push the limit”. This is very evident when dealing with children. Dr. James Dobson talks about this in “The Strong Willed Child” Dobson states that when you give a child boundaries it makes the child feel safe and loved. This can also hold true for adults; Think about it, if you had came out of the restroom at a public place with some toilet paper on your shoe would you want someone to tell you or would you want to drag it around all day? You’re probably saying to yourself, “what’s that got to do with boundaries?” It’s like that though if you let someone behave badly you’re letting them do something foolish and your not letting them know that you care how they act you’re letting them drag around toilet paper on their shoe! I mean you are enabling them to continue in their bad behavior and not helping them grow as individuals or as Christians if they have received Jesus. (Ephesians 4)

God’s word tells us that offenses will come and that we are not wrestling against flesh and blood.. we are in a world full of sin and offenses we need to keep our eyes on Christ and filled with His Holy word…what we fill up with is how we will react so keep in the word to live right in the world.

Ezekiel 3:18-19

We have so many awesome things to look forward to as summer approaches. Spending time in the sun and playing outside along with these things comes boredom as the kids get used to not having a school schedule.

We will have some opportunities to build relationships with the kids at our sidewalk sites by having some of them go to our kids camp in August. What an awesome chance to sow into a life of a child in this life changing experience. We have a few kids already picked from some sites who will be participating in this camp experience this year. Over the next week we will receive the rest of the applicants for our Power House campers.

Camp will be located at Springhill Camp in Evart, MI. There will be so many wonderful outdoor activities for the kids to do. There will be friends made and memories that will be good to talk about.

I look back at the experience of last year with the Power House kids and truly believe it was a very precious time for each one of them. Camp was an experience that they will always remember and I believe effected them forever. Some of the same kids will return again this year and we will have some new comers who will be able to form a wonderful memory of their own. One that they will look back on a say that was when I did this for the first time and that’s when I conquered this and I grew closer to God.

Summer 2010, I know will be something special, I look forward to seeing what God will do!

Yes, it’s true we do have many things, too many to even mention to be thankful for here in the U.S.A.

With all that being said and while hoping that I made you think and ponder what you are thankful for as an American, and if you know Jesus as your savior as a fellow Christian.

What is it that you most treasure? Is it those things that if the freedom was taken from you that you would never have even thought of? “What do you mean?” This is probably the question facing you now… What if someone told you that you could not read the Bible, that it was against the law? Or that you could not assemble together with other believers (go to church)? Or that you could not go out and share the word of God and who Jesus was to others especially in public.

That’s some of the things that I just was wondering…Hmmm if there’s so many people out there who are confessed to be followers of God and are not really doing much right now, or have had their once hot flame grow cold for serving the Lord…does that mean that they are taking the freedom that has been afforded to them by being born in or moving to a free country? Would it take possibly losing this freedom to get them zealous for what Jesus did for them? Would it take them loosing the freedom that many died for so that they could live and experience it here in the United States Of America, for them to actually appreciate it?

I’m just saying that what if??? Why wait to do what God’s word so clearly states that we should do? Many people who don’t live in a free country like the U.S.A. have to hide to assemble together with other believers (go to church) they have to share a bible between several families..they die for what they believe in, become Martyrs.

There is a movement that’s going on right now in the U.S.A. to indoctrinate our children of this nation into believing things that are untruths. To get them to think a certain way and to vote a certain way and to grow up with those values that are given to them..by the media, school, science, political parties they all have agenda’s. We have to make a choice to consciously be aware of what the world is trying to teach our children, our next generation.

It’s so important to take an interest in the youth of America..don’t get me wrong, I love all the youth of the world..but I once heard this saying, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! What I mean to say is this, how do we change the world? One person at a time…the future of this country relies on how we raise our countries kids. This means we need to take the liberty’s afforded to us by those who died for our freedom. We don’t have time to waste!! Don’t wait until it’s too late..and make this statement “I wish I would’ve taken the time.” Dust off that Bible that’s been on the shelf, get on your knee’s and talk to God, assemble yourselves with other believers (go to church)…and go out and teach, be a living testimony, share the love of God with others, go or send those out to share the word of God with others.

(1 Corinthians 9:19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.)

At Power House we are changing the world one night at a time, by sharing the love of God and the good news of the gospel with America’s future, our children the next generation…If we don’t teach them to love all those things that are valuable the world will be teaching them to love all those things that will ultimately destroy them..(John 10:10..The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full) and this country that was founded on Biblical principals…those things our founding fathers of this country and many, many afterward have fought and even have died for…

Freedom isn’t free it cost a great price for us all here in the United States by those who was before us and who fight even now for it!

Someone paid a very costly price for you and me so that we could have a relationship with our maker the most high and only living God. That person was Jesus..John 3:16, says it all.. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

He gave so that we don’t have to..won’t you receive this gift that cost Jesus so much, or if you have share this gift of love with others?

Say this prayer if you would like to receive this freedom purchased for you:
Father God, I want to receive your gift of salvation purchased by your Son Jesus Christ. I admit, I am a sinner and I want to live for you now, I ask you to forgive me of my sins (wrong doings). I turn my back on my old life and I want to live for you now today and forever. Help me to have the boldness to share this gift with others and to live right every day. In Jesus precious name Amen.

If you prayed this prayer for the first time and want follow up prayer please contact us by replying to this blog with your name and email so that we can pray for you and answer any questions you may have.