Hearing the Same Thing Constanly? God Might Be Telling You Something

     Have you ever heard the same message over and over and wondered "Is God trying to tell me something?"  The truth is that when you recognize this, He usually is!  My personal experience with this has been very interesting.  I've gone through a LOT of, well, "taxing" events lately.  While I had a lot of fun with my teammates and did the best I could, we wrapped up our basketball season with a losing record.  This required a ton of patience from all of us to power through it.  I had also caved and got an iPad 2 about a month and a half ago from Amazon.com.  Two weeks later, it never shipped.  I contacted the customer service, and go figure, I got ripped off.  They then proceeded to tell me that it will be at least two more weeks before I would get reimbursed.  You know what I needed in all of this? Patience.  God has clearly been teaching me patience by putting me in situations where I would have to exercise it.  And I believe He is still teaching me.  The thing is, now that I have recognized this, I can know that these things are happening for a reason.  So while I continue to wait for my iPad, (which I still haven't gotten), I will be doing my best to exercise patience.  Try recognizing what God is teaching you in your life, and it will be easier to endure the circumstances.

Worldview

     I've  been hearing a lot about worldview lately and how it is 'how you perceive religion'.  But it got me thinking: shouldn't your worldview impact every area of your life, not just your view of religion?  When you think about it, your worldview isn't just how you view religion, but rather how you filter the world, (hence worldview), to match your beliefs based upon your religion.  For example, let's say all my friends are going to go see the new hit movie The Woman In Black, and I want to go see it as well.  If I'm careful and discerning about the things of this world as the Bible says I should be, I'll filter it through the Bible.  Often times I'll ask questions like "Is this worthy of my time?  My money?  What is the message being portrayed?  Is it made in excellence?"  And the biggest question of all: "How will this affect my actions and thoughts afterwards?"  I consider that the biggest question because any and all media will either provoke our sinful nature to pursue the junk we should avoid, or it will encourage the qualities God wants to see in our lives: kindness, courage, compassion, faithfulness, etc.  For me personally, I have noticed that the sins don't come WHILE I'm watching/listening/playing the ungodly media, they come AFTER.  This is because these things encourage my sin nature to do what feels good, whether I realize it or not.  The opposite happens when I put godly things in my head, and trust me, God honors these wise decisions.   

Backpacks For the Homeless: Success!!

Hey everybody!  Just wanted to let you know that the backpack drive a couple of months ago was a success!  I collected 44 backpacks in one week at my school, and half of them were filled with water bottles, deodorant, and other things of that nature.  I donated them to Union Gospel Mission where they will be distributed to the homeless men and women in downtown Fort Worth.  Backpacks were the number one items requested by homeless people in a survey conducted in downtown Fort Worth, and I'm so happy that we could bless these people in such a huge way.  Thank you to everyone who helped make this a success and donated!! 

Update on Worth Street Backpack Drop-Off

     Okay, so for those of you at the Worth Street campus, you can drop off the backpacks at the Faith Store on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 7:30AM-8:30AM, or 2PM-4PM.  Thanks!

Details for Backpacks for the Homeless

     Hey guys, here you will find all the details about my backpack ministry I'm doing!  The backpacks you bring can be either old or new, so don't feel pressured to buy a $70 backpack!  Also, if you feel led to, please try to fill it with toiletries, (toilet paper, soap, deodorant, etc.).
Backpack drop-off November 28-December 2 at both campuses.  There are two different drop-off locations, depending on which campus you're on:

Dallas Road/High School:  I will be in front of  the High School  from 7:25-7:40 from Monday, November 28 through Friday, December 2.  You can either give the backpack(s) to me before school, or drop them in the front office and I'll pick it up after school.

Worth Street/Elementary & Junior High:  I am working on getting a drop-off location for the Worth Street campus.  There will be another update for a drop-off location for this campus, which I will also post on Facebook.  

     If you are not attending Faith, and you would like to donate a backpack, email me at cameron1.carter@sbcglobal.net and we will find a way to collect it.  I pray you consider giving the gift of God's love to these people this holiday season!!  It may seem small to you and me, but it isn't to the person receiving it...

I Need Your Help!!

     My family and I have served for many years at a homeless shelter in Fort Worth called Beautiful Feet, where we would categorize clothes, hand out toiletries, and serve food to the homeless.  I met up with a former leader at Beautiful Feet whose passion was in that area of ministry.  As we drove around the areas of downtown Fort Worth I would usually try to avoid, he pointed out how many homeless people either had or desperately needed backpacks.  "Backpacks are kind of like their home", he told me.  "Since they don't have a room or closet to put their stuff in, they need backpacks to keep everything together and not stolen."  

     We also met a homeless couple while walking around the "hood".  When asked what is one thing they would like to tell me, the woman said, "Obviously stay away from drugs and alcohol, but the main reason we're in this situation is because of gangs.  Stay out of 'em.  They tell you they've got your back, that you're "family", but they don't.  Do that, and you'll be good to go."  She then hugged me with tear-filled eyes, and we continued on our way.  Did I feel uncomfortable at first?  Uh, yea! But sometimes discomfort is what God uses to have us grow. 

     These people are just like us, and they need our help!  So, I need YOUR help to collect backpacks for these people so they can have a "home" to put their stuff.  Let's face it, we all get a new backpack every couple of years or so, right?  Those old backpacks start to pile up!  Why not give them to people who really need them?  If you feel led, find a backpack and fill it with essentials. (Toiletries, deodorant, maybe even a scripture!)  And bring them to school!  I will be collecting them the week of November 28 after school, so mark the dates.  Please pray for me as I get this project going! 

Deuteronomy 15:11 ^"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."