“Take nothing for the journey except a staff— no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.”
-Mark 6:8
We don’t need anything but ourselves to spread the gospel—only us. Whether we’re at the pool, in school or in public we just need the belief that He is with us, and wants us to succeed. Today at the water park all of the children were so happy to be able to play, and have someone to play with. I loved being able to just share that happiness with them. Live for the moment, and make the best of it. That’s all we can hope for; living life to its fullest, while making these few moments last a lifetime.
“Now I beg You, forgive my sin…so that I may worship the Lord.”
-1 Samuel 15:18
We all need to ask for forgiveness—a chance to redeem ourselves before the majesty of the King. I need forgiveness. You need forgiveness. The children here at Fortress need forgiveness. It’s a part of the cycle of life. “Ask and you will be forgiven” is spelled out in the Instruction Manuel; but do we really ask?
I’ve noticed today that the kids long to be forgiven. They beg for it in their eyes. Love is shared throughout this whole building. Hugs and kisses and kind words fill the main room. Forgiveness (the act of understanding and accepting wrong while making peace with it) is not very well-voiced here. These precious kids long to be accepted and to feel wanted. That’s our mission.
Let me introduce a very sad, confused and lost man. This man’s name is Lonny Reyes. Sitting on the bus he readily explained that he feels the whole world is against him, and is “just ready to go home.” I’ve known him for half of a day, and already my heart bleeds for him. Lonny has been through some rough stuff. Lonny is 44 years old. He was very intoxicated, and ready to kill himself over mistakes he feels condemn him to an eternity in Hell. Lonny was an open door—a red flag for me.
Lonny needs prayer. We prayed with him, but I am afraid the darkness is dragging him down and he doesn’t understand how to find the Light. Lonny ripped my heart up and really has changed my life. Those short, emotional minutes spent with Lonny Reyes will forever stay in my memory. Please pray for Lonny Reyes. Pray that something comes in his way sent by the Father that shows him he’s needed. We can do it. I know I am rooting for Lonny Reyes. He needs Light.
-Christy Blevins
My name is Christy Blevins. I’m sixteen years old…well, seventeen in a month. I was born and raised fifteen long hours from Fort Worth in Knoxville, Tennessee.
I love children and aspire to one day teach and minister to those who don’t have access to free education. Missions – well, ministry- is my passion. I’ve traveled near and far trying to do what I can to make a difference, but I think this mission is one of the toughest because this feels real. It’s scary and this can happen to me—to anyone. I never really thought about how good life is for me.
I have a feeling that this week will change my outlook, and emotionally and spiritually test everyone while re-enforcing everything we have learned in our walk with the Father. Like a fire, the Lord and his good love is growing stronger by the minute in my heart. There is nothing that will stop this girl. I’m on a mission.
I’d heard this song before, but until Monday, I’d never paid much attention to the lyrics. Somehow, the first words caught my attention that day, and I found myself listening, intrigued, hanging on every word as I drove Dani to work.
I found God On the corner of First and Amistad
Where the west Was all but won
All alone Smoking his last cigarette
I said, Where you been? He said, Ask anything.
In my mind, I pictured the Marlboro man, silhouetted as he leaned with his back against a light pole, cigarette dangling between two fingers, his chin low, almost touching his chest. He looked out the top of his eyes, his focus grazing the brim of his traveled hat, as a young man made known his questions.
Where were you When everything was falling apart?
All my days Were spent by the telephone
That never rang And all I needed was a call
It never came To the corner of First and Amistad.
I’ve been there… waiting for the rescue, for the answer, and wondering why it never came.
[Chorus]
Lost and insecure You found me, you found me
Lying on the floor Surrounded, surrounded
Why’d you have to wait? Where were you, where were you?
Just a little late You found me, You found me
At this point, I started anticipating the lesson, the answer to the questions, the resolution.
In the end Everyone ends up alone
Losing her The only one who’s ever known
Who I am Who I’m not, and who I want to be
No way to know How long she will be next to me
[Chorus]
Early morning The city breaks
I’ve been calling For years and years and years and years
And you never left me no messages
You never sent me no letters
You got some kind of nerve Taking all I want
I love this verse, especially the last 10 words.
I love that God allows us to rant and rave and demand answers and to wag our finger in the air and tell him He’s got some kind of nerve. I love that He’s big enough to take it, and real enough to understand my need for it, and gracious enough to love me through it. As the song continued, just like in real life, I grew impatient for the reasoning, the answer, the resolution. I was sure it was coming in the next verse.
Lost and insecure You found me, you found me
Lying on the floor Where were you, where were you?
Lost and insecure You found me, you found me
Lying on the floor Surrounded, surrounded
Why’d you have to wait? Where were you, where were you?
Just a little late You found me, You found me
Why’d you have to wait To find me, to find me?
It didn’t come; the song ended with the same questions. For a half a second, I was annoyed that the lyricist didn’t wrap the story up with a neat little bow and call it a day. But as soon as that fleeting emotion died, I celebrated that it was left open-ended. It makes the song so much more meaningful.
And isn’t that the way it is in life anyway? Do we ever really know WHY God does what He does? Is it ever our RIGHT to know? Job never knew. He suffered for reasons that he NEVER had a clue about. I’m sure he asked the same questions.
In the end, “You found me.”
That’s all that really matters, isn’t it?
That IS the resolution. The reasoning is irrelevant.
“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.” -Jeremiah 29:11
- Continue to pray for Robert’s sister is dealing with pregnancy complications
- Continue to pray for Robert and Janell, for an easy pregnancy and healthy baby
- Cessilye’s aunt is in hospital and might need surgery
- PRAISE report! On Sunday, Cessilye danced for the first time since injuring her leg almost 4 months ago. It went well.
- Kristen’s mom is getting her boot removed tomorrow.
- Kristen’s brother-in-law Tedashii is completing his 2nd CD and doing a lot of traveling/driving
- Jessie is looking for an add’l part-time job to make ends meet
- Ramon prays for our beautiful, loveable, sometimes mischievous, wonderful kids, that we love them and that they love one another.
- Ms. D prays for Nookie, whose grandfather passed this morning.
- Ms. D prays for her neighbor John’s father, who lost both legs and requires 24-hour care, but wants to come home. John cannot care for him, which is very hard for both of them to accept.
- Ramon prays for the kids to slip easily back into the Fortress routine, and for staff to have consistency with them.
- Staff prays for Kristen to get well.
- Staff prays for Kathleen, who left Fortress to work with junior high girls at a church that will pay for her grad school. We pray for an easy transition and for God’s richest blessings on her as she embarks on this new journey. We’ll miss you, Kathleen!
- Staff praises God for sending Jessie our way to fill Kathleen’s spot.
Throughout the Old Testament, God reminds His people to look back and remember the things He has done. In fact, written across the door of our scrapbook ministry closet is this verse from Psalms:
“We will tell the next generation the praise-worthy deeds of the Lord, His powers and the wonders He has done.”
In one of my favorite Bible stories, God tells Joshua to erect a monument of stones to mark the spot where He stopped the flow of the Jordan River for the Isreaelites to cross. After Joshua instructs one man from each of the twelve tribes to carry a stone from the middle of the river, he says, “When your children ask you, ‘What are these stones to you?’ you’ll say, ‘The flow of the Jordan was stopped in front of the Chest of the Covenant of God as it crossed the Jordan—stopped in its tracks. These stones are a permanent memorial for the People of Israel.’” (Joshua 4:7) Verse 9 of the same chapter says that the stones are still there today. Later, after Joshua erects the monument, he again emphasizes the purpose: “In the days to come, when your children ask their fathers, ‘What are these stones doing here?’ tell your children this: ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ Yes, God, your God, dried up the Jordan’s waters for you until you had crossed, just as God, your God, did at the Red Sea, which had dried up before us until we had crossed. This was so that everybody on earth would recognize how strong God’s rescuing hand is and so that you would hold God in solemn reverence always.”
God wants us to look back and remember how strong His rescuing hand is. He wants our children to ask, why? He wants us to pass on the praise-worthy deeds of the Lord.
At our year-end staff meeting, we did just that. The eight of us reflected on the last year and offered praise for the ways we’ve witnessed God at work at Fortress. Here on this blog, we’re laying the stones… in words …a monument of sorts. Please sit in on our meeting and join us as we glorify God for the great things He has done!
Michael - This year, I was blessed by the commitment in some of the kids to strive to know Christ. James really stepped up - it was exciting to see his journey, the transformation in his life, his renewed focus in school, his determination to be a positive leader. Rosa and Jose have a tough home life - constantly moving - yet they’re always happy to be here, eager to please, easy to love. God shields them from their own circumstances so much that they’ve become a beacon of light to us!
Terri - Building Blocks has had amazing support. From the initial brainstorming to the reality of it happening, it’s been an amazing thing to see. At the last minute, things just fell into place - furniture that was exactly what we needed, teachers who were retiring who just happened to hear about us and wanted to help, etc.
Ms. D - The twins have changed so much since they first came; their language has improved. Another child came out of her shell a lot. We were in doubt that we’d have enough kids [in the Building Blocks program]. Now look at us; we have enough and more!
Kristen - I think it’s great that our [kids'] parents feel comfortable enough to contact us and share some pretty personal info [regarding finances and other confidential details, making it easier for us to minister to the kids]. This past year, Destiny was encouraged to say she’s beautiful and believe it. JC’s principal says he hasn’t been in trouble in three weeks! His aunt called to say thank you because he’s changed so much since coming to Fortress. His mentor has played a big part in that.
Ramon - I’m blessed by the staff accountability here - the trust and comfort we have with each other. It’s awesome to be part of a team that cares enough about the mission and each other to hold each other to higher standards.
Robert - I thank God that it’s been such an enjoyable experience. Watching the kids’ improvements in just one semester has been amazing. And the staff is like family - loose and fun, open and easy to talk to, but responsible at the same time, giving back. [A mentor once told me,] “The older you get, the less your life is about you.” That’s sorta become my motto, and it’s so true here.
Kristen - You really do have to be called to work here. There’s a level of commitment that… you just have to be called to do it. The staff commitment is awesome.
Kathleen - I struggled at first, wondering if I was making an impact. But so many things have happened that make me see that I DO make a difference.
Stacy - God is faithful to remind us why we’re here. I’ve shared this story before, about my stolen cell phone. I had a feeling when I couldn’t find it that one of the kids had taken it. When I asked if anyone had seen it and all the boys dog-piled on the floor - at first I thought they were just looking for it. But in reality, they were wrestling it away from the boy who had it. Up to that point, it was just a stolen phone. But in that moment, it became MY phone, and they had my back. They got it back to me. I knew then that my being here is just as much a blessing to ME as it is to THEM. It’s about the relationships.
Michael - It’s awesome to be a part of something that’s eternal and real.
Thank you, faithful Father, for gathering us here at Fortress to work with these kids, to be blessed by them, to share Your love. Thank you for working so boldly and actively in their lives, and in ours. Continue to use us for your Kingdom in this neighborhood and beyond. May all that we do bring glory to You. In the name of Your Son and our Saviour we pray. Amen.
Pray for wisdom and guidance as we continue to dream about the possibility of a new building. The land that would be perfect for us is available and at a huge savings. Pray that God provides people and resources to make buying it possible if that’s His will.
Michael has been feeling run-down and fatigued and just not himself for a month or so. He had blood work done this week to try and figure out what’s going on. Pray for the doctor to be able to see a clear reason for Michael’s malaise and to know exactly how to address it, and especially for complete healing over whatever’s ailing him.
Pancho Torres, the father and grandfather of several of our YDC kids, is having serious heart problems again. Pray about his diet, his cholesterol, his doctors, and his family, and for a complete turnaround in his overall health, so that he can continue to provide for and love his beautiful family.
Stephanie, the group leader for our regular weekly volunteers from The Mission Texas, requests prayer for two of her friends who are in critical condition in the Philippines. Pray for God’s healing hand to be evident in an area where medical care isn’t the best, and for the doctors attending to these young people to know exactly what to do. And finally, pray for comfort and unrelenting faith for the families and friends back in the States who are worried and anxious.
Stacy prays for her daughter as she seeks college admissions and scholarships this month and for the next several months, that God direct her and increase her desire and diligence to geteverything done on schedule. And ultimately, for God to open the doors He wants opened and to close the doors that He doesn’t.
Fortress is closed for the Thanksgiving holiday next week. Pray for our students, their families, our volunteers, and our staff as we travel, enjoy family, and renew ourselves for the remainder of the year.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving, and thanks for praying for Fortress!
Prayer requests from the staff meeting:
Michael prays for the Board of Directors, that God grant them wisdom and guidance, that they be good stewards of this ministry and its direction.
Kristen prays for Royleesha and the many other family and friends who are still mourning the death of her cousin Myron.
Stacy thanks God for her new postition at Fortress, that it allows her to support the ministry she loves and help support her family at the same time.
All staff gives thanks that last week’s Family Night for the Fortress Literacy Center was the most well-attended event to date, and that the parents were excited to be here and offered suggestions on how we could more directly meet their needs.
We pray that God continues to send volunteers and donors our way, especially in these tough economic times.
Michael prays for the staff, that they stay rested up and prayed up as we enter a busy season of work and ministry.
Terri prays for her 85-year old aunt who is miserable with shingles, and asks for complete healing and good health.
Stacy gives praise that her foot is healing well and she’s able to walk and drive again.
Ramon gives praise that his wife Cessilye’s leg is also healing and that she has full motion in her knee again.
God is good all the time, and all the time, God is GOOD!
from Robert, our Homework Room Supervisor:
Pray that his relationship with the Jr and Sr High students continues to develop and that they calm down and be a bit less unruly. Pray for him to show the students how to modify their behavior in a positive, encouraging way.
from Michael:
Pray for patience and wisdom as he learns as he goes, navigating the building process,. Pray for God to send people to help with what needs to happen, and for him to keep a good attitude and perspective on everything.
from Ramon, our Youth Coordinator:
thank God for each child in our care and remember that they were given to us for a reason - to love and nurture and introduce to God and His unconditional love. Pray also for Ramon’s wife Cessilye, who is dealing with a serious leg injury. Cessilye is a gifted dancer and teaches dance - pray for complete healing.