Cheesecake and Jesus

Sorry It has been so long since writting. Life is getting crazier and crazier.

SO my parents came down for my Birthday and to spend the week with Joel and I. The worked with us and helped up give out food on food ministry day. It was so much fun and miracle after mircles happened while they were with us.

During the week we got a call that one of our food contacts had plums for us so Mom and I jumped in the truck and headed for the Food Bank and we picked up 6 tri-wall bins of plums. Wow

But on Thursday we received word that the rest of our food contacts didn’t have anything for us (THIS IS VERY USUAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I REPEAT VERY UNUSUAL). So all we had for Friday Food Ministry Day was plums, a half of pallet of grapefruit and a half pallet of pears that we had from the week before and of course bread. It was so disappointing for one reason only: my parents were here and I wanted them to see the food ministry in full action. Otherwise it would have been fine to have what we did.

On Thursday Port Mercy (our Home base in Louisiana) called to give me a list of food items they needed for there upcoming medical mission in October. Two of the items were pies and cheesecake. They wanted Ray to try and contact our sources for those two items. I went to Ray and asked if he would contact his cheesecake company. Ray’s Response “We haven’t had a cheesecake contact since ’93.” “Well can you call your Pie Contact.” “Dess do you know how impossible that is. I can call the guy 50 times and he still won’t return my call. I had even called him last week and I still haven’t received a call back.” “Ray just call to at least say we tried, Please!!!!” I begged.

10 Minutes later “Dess you will never believe this I just called my Pie contact and the guy actually picked up the phone and said they have 6 pallets of pies for us.” Ray was in full shock. Flabbergasted you could say.

45 Minutes later on our answering machine “Uh Yes this is Ashley calling for Ray George, at the food bank we have cheesecake if you guys would come pick it up.” So whatever word would describe more than flabbergasted, that is what Ray was for the rest of the day while he and I went around picking up all the goodies.

So Ray and I went to the food bank not knowing how much cheesecake they had and we found out they had 20 pallets of the wonderful stuff. We ended up picking up 8 pallets. We were able to put a lot of cheesecake and pie away for Lake Charles as well having some to give out for Friday. Can I tell you we never even mentioned to the Food Bank we wanted cheesecake? It had only been an hour or more since I had talked to Port Mercy that the Food Bank then called OUT OF THE BLUE and said they had cheesecake for us. So Not only did God answer our prayers for the mission trip but we had a huge blessing for the food ministry and my parents could see more of what we did. God is so Good.

But just to add a little more humor to this praise report. The day we received all the pies and cheesecakes my parents took Joel and I out for my birthday. And they told the waiter it was my birthday. I was like “oh no they are going to sing to me.” But Praise God they didn’t and they did bring dessert. I am sure you can guess what they brought: CHEESECAKE.Thank you Lord for not only supplying our wants but in abundance.

Wow and my parents were blown away when we gave out the food to the groups, churches, and individuals. But my parents were more blown away by the prayer that each group recieves as they came to get the food.

It was so wonderful having my parents here. It was really sad to see them go.

So life here is hard but good. It is just like weight lifting. You have a goal of lifting as much weight as possible but you don't just go over to the heaviest weight and lift it. NO NO NO. You work up and push your self further each week. That is what I feel has happened over the last 4 years. GOd has been working us up to us being here as well as future things God has for us. And each time it was harder but God made us stronger and now that we are here it is REALLY REALLY REALLY hard but we have the strength to do it. Now if you would have given us this mission 4 years ago I would have probably of walked away from it along time ago. But praise God He knows what is best for us and will prepare us if we let Him.

It is hard in that we don't have friends here. Sure we talk to people all the time. But no one we can just share what we are truly going through. We need companionship. I am sure missing a friend. Some one that will understand me and pray with me and encourage me in the Lord. Most of the people we talk to, we are encouraging them in the Lord and they don't understand what we go through. There was one time I tried to share what I was going through with a lady that picks up from us. She kind of freaked out and didn't understand and then told almost everyone we give to what I was going through. Now a lot of people are coming up to me and telling me rumors they have heard. SO I have come to the conclusion that the people we give food to we can't confide in because we are the ones they look up to and need prayer from. So who is there. No one at this time. God and Joel are my only friends. But it may just be a season where God wants me all to himself. It happens. It has happened before, it can be now. God is trully all I need and will not hold anything good back from me. So I just lean on Jesus and say AMEN.

SO here are some pics of the food ministry.

HOPE CHAPEL PRAYING BEFORE GIVING OUT FOOD

LADIES FROM A CHURCH PRAYING FOR A WOMAN
BOXING PLUMS

A GRANDMOTHER AND CHILD RECIEVING FOOD

Love y'all,

Dess

Off the Hook at Stockton

Being at Stockton was off the Hook. And I almost didn't go last weekend because it was so last minute. But thanks to God giving me Peace and Joel encouraging me to go, I went. Yeah it took 6 hours but it didnt' seem that long on the way there.

I was able to stay with my closest friend Toni. Who has four wonderful fun Teens. Well 3 are teens the youngest is almost a teen. Yikes. Go Toni.

But Church, that is where I got my PRAISE ON. Oh I was so refreshed. I got my Praise on like no other. I hadn't got my praise on like that in a long time. I Praise God So hard that by the second service, after the second praise and worship with singing, I stank. I mean I was so sweety. I was a mess and I could smell myself. I felt bad for the people around me. My shirt I wore was drenched in sweet and I drank most of my water bottle by first service. It was that good. I can't wait to go back and I can't wait to move there some day.

The message was awesome. I love Pastor Rufus's Preaching. The message was "The Crowd" There was two parts. One you can be outside the crowd and they can try to contol you. The example was the blind begger yelling to Jesus but their was a loud crowd making noise around Jesus. And the begger yelled, "Jesus son of God have mercy on me." But the crowd hushed him, telling him to be quiet. SO what did the begger do he yelled louder and again. Jesus son of God have mercy on me. So when Jesus healed the begger the man got up and started following Jesus and priasing God. So what did the crowd do, they stopped making noise and started praise God. So to learn from that. The crowd can be your friend or foe. And if you don't do what the crowd wants you to do they will try to control the situation.

Second crowd example is that the crowd can blind you and keep you from seeing what is around you. Like when zechias (spell?) was trying to get to Jesus but he was short and their was a crowd around Jesus. So zechias climb the tree and called out to Jesus and in the end after zechias talked with Jesus and said he would do right Jesus said "Salvation has come to your house now I am going to go to your house and dine with you" Well the crowd didn't like that and said "That is a sinner Jesus is going to eat with"

SO Pastor Rufus put us in Jesus's shoes. That the crowd was blinding Jesus from zechias. And that as christians our "christian" clique can blind us from those that are not saved and need God. And some times we have to pull away from the crowd to reach out to the unsaved because we are way to comfortable in our christian "clique"

It was good and it ministered to me. I needed that message. I realized even more that I let the crowd control some of my actions when instead I need to step out and do what I feel the Holy Spirit is leading me to do.

So Church was awesome I didn't want to leave. And I pretty muched cried the entire time I was in church because I was so happy to be there. Praise God he gave me a chance to visit.

Well that is all. Love ya'll
Be Blessed and Don't Follow or be blinded by the Crowd!!!!

Home Alone

Hi Everyboby,

Well, i'm writing for a change. I'm writing mostly because Dess is out of town for the weekend and i'm bored. I've been playing my computer game for hours on end, and now i need to do something more productive, like write on the blog.

First off, i want to mention the fact that no one has commented to Dess' latest posts. We need some feedback and input from you guys to help us know that writing on this blog is worthwhile. So we appreciate any sort of encouragement to write that we get.

Like i said, Dess is gone for the weekend. She left for Stockton, CA on Saturday morning. It was last minute but planned at the same time. She had been trying to get to Stockton for the past couple of months but stuff kept coming up. Then this weekend she had hoped to go but we found out short notice that we were having some visitors to the warehouse. So the visitors postponed on Friday evening saying they would come later in the week and Dess decided she would go to Stockton. She may write and post some pictures about it when she gets back.

I haven't been doing a lot. I bought some cheap old roller blades from Salvation Army last weekend, so i've turned the 3rd floor into a roller rink. I've got a decent sized oval track that i can do laps. I even take Dynamite with me and he follows along, biting at a piece of rope i drag behind me. It's a good work out for him and it's fun for me.

Dess mentioned about how things have been tough. It's been an emotional fatiguing time for us. I've been numb to the world around me lately and i need to get back in tune with things.

I don't really have much to write about right now, so i'll sign off.

joel

Check out our Flickr site!!!!

Hey AlSO!!! Check out our flickr site. www.flickr.com/photos/butlerboy
Joel just put some new photos up. SO Check them out!!!

Pure Gold for Jesus!!!

The saying is true that you should be careful what you ask/hope/pray for you might just get it. (in my case I prayed and got what I wanted but not in the way I thought it would come)

So God has seemed very distant lately. I blamed myself mostly. I mean there is only two things that can keep us at a distant with God.

1) Ourselves. We can get distracted, our thoughts can be so horrible it can keep us from the presense of God, our actions, so you get the point

2) Then there is God. Some times or as Kippin likes to say some "Seasons" God will draw back from us to grow. Kind of like when you are learning how to ride a bike. My Dad would hold the bike while I was peddling and at one point he let go so I could learn on my own how to ride the thing. I freaked out and nearly wrecked when I found out he wasn't holding my bike any longer. Some times God will let Go so that we can walk out whatever the thing is in our lives to grow more.

Well lately I have been crying out for more of My heavenly Father. He has just felt so far away. So dry. Even when I worship with music I don't feel his presense.

My First reaction is to blame myself and I would say for the most part it has been my (Dad butler saying) "Stinkin THINKIN" I have been moody with my thoughts and complaining. Goodness. I am like the Israelites in the desert. Complain complain complain. As Joyce Meyer's would say. Complain and Remain. Praise and Be Raised. SO true. Sounds like it is so nerd thing to say but I can't tell you how true that is.

So things have been hard with Joel and I. Who knows why, it just has. But it has brought me to my knees. I casted my cares on Jesus. My Marriage, my dreams of marriage, and I casted Joel. For it takes two but I can't control Joel and he can't control me. So just to give my marraige over to Christ instead of me trying to take the wheel and screw up. So Here Lord I give it to you.

Also it has been hard at the warehouse. People are offended here. There is nothing we can really do about it but again it is to my knees these situations bring. I take it to the cross where Jesus conquered all. You know some times I don't feel like "more than a conquerer" but we are. That is what the bible says so it must be true and it is true. Again I cast my cares on you father God for you care for me.

Then there is interpersonal communication. (aka interaction with other people) Yikes again more casting it to God. Giving him my thoughts and actions. Praying he would help me put all my thoughts under CHrist control so I do not screw up my mood.

Because this is how it goes. You first have your thoughts. Which create an emotion which then lead to a behavior then the results.

So 1) Thoughts 2) emotion 3) behavior 4) results. Well I made the 4th one up I forgot what I was taught but the first three are true. SO inorder to put my actions pleasing to God I must first commit my thoughts to God. Then the rest will follow.

So things are hard here lately but I praise God they are because for the first time in who knows how long I feel closer to God. On Tuesday I went to church and for the first time in a long time when we worshipped with Music I could feel the presense of God again. So I do thank him for Trials. They aren't fun but they are worth all the Gold in the world for that is what happens when the refining fire (Jesus) comes, it makes us into pure gold for Him.

Turning into Pure Gold for Jesus,
Dess

Just wanted to Check in

Hey Ya'll,

Things here are really good. It is only the beginning of the week and we have 5 pallets of Pomagranet Juice, 1 pallet of artichokes, 1 pallet of radishes and 3 tri-wall boxes of plums. Tomorrow are getting 3 to 4 pallets of Yogurt.

This is exciting. To get all this free food to give it freely to the churches so they can freely give it to those in need and share Christ love. I love it.

But you know there is a downer (some of the time) Because I want to be the one praying with people and giving the food to those that need it and making sure I am Kingdom building. But that is not what JOel and I are called to do (at this moment) So we pray and trust that the churches are not just giving food out but are praying and loving on the unloveable. Those that have been rejected by society. Or just those that are in need in this season in their life. That aren't rejects but have hit a few bumps on this road called life which God has given to us as a free gift.

And who knows when we have our own food ministry that we won't have a group of our own volunteers go out and pass out food as well as other groups or organizations or individuals passing out food. You never know. IT has been in my thoughts that we could have people from around the area from different churches be trained by us and they would be considered "our" volunteers who would go out and show the love of Christ but would also invite them to their church as well. It is just a thought. Whether it is my own thoughts or a promting from the Holy Spirit, I don't know. Because the Holy Spirit does give us ideas at times. So that we might do good work for Christ which has been planned ahead of time for us to do. (paraphrase to the max, but you get the point)

YOu know I am learning more and more that there are three factors to our thinking. There is us (of course) there is God giving us thoughts, and there is Satan. Some times we don't know if it is God's doing or Satans doing until time has passed.

For an example parable whatever to help get your mind wrapped around what I am saying. Lets say I am trying to get pregnant (Which I am not, please keep in mind this is an example and not my life) So lets say I am trying to get pregnant. One day I get sick. I throw up. And I keep throwing up. I start to think am I sick or am I pregnant. Only time will tell. Same with God and Satan at times. Because Satan does mimick God . . . .. . . A LOT. Is this God or is this Satan. SO any way. I am just rambling but this is what I have been thinking about lately.

Well that is it from me. It is not much. But there is not much going on.
Be Blessed My Friends and Fam.
Dess

Has it been Since May 18th, GOODNESS

So it really has been too long since we have blogged. For one thing I have talked myself out of blogging too many times using the excuse that no one is going to look any more since we haven't blogged in forever. But then one of our good friends told us he still looks to see if we have written on our blog. So this is for you man and for those that are faithful and still look at our blog.

Yeah it has been three months and everything and nothing has happened. So where do I begin. Well the food ministry has been awesome and frustrating. It has been awesome because we are getting in more food per week and have accepted more churches to come and pick up from us. Frustrating because I feel dry and redundent in my prayers every week that we pray with each group that comes and picks up from us. I almost feel like I am not doing my job since it feels like the same prayer every week. I need a refreshing in my spirit. I need God to fill my cup to overflowing. I need a good blast and filling of the Holy Spirit. I just need more of God and less of me. CAN I GET AN AMEN!!!

So our pets are growing up. They are so cute. Dynamite is only three months and he is well over 20 lbs. The kitties are growing up as well but no where near as fast as Dynamite and Dynamite thinks they are a chew toy. Poor kitties, but they take it like a man or uh cat. Then Ms. Bird well she just wants love and attention like any other cockatiel. (Don't know if I spelled that right)

So we have been picking up more and more, this week we had a total of 39,000 lbs. Just for this week. We picked up 6 pallets of Pomagranet/Blueberry Juice, 2 Pallets of Tomatoes, 2 Pallets of Mushrooms, 3 Pallets of Yogurt, Goodness that is just some stuff I can't remember all. It is such a blessing to have the churches Kingdom build. We are all just doing our part as the body of Christ.

I love driving my Truck. I feel like a big bad trucking Mama. WEll I can say that since I am not driving it at this moment. When I am on the road I pray like no other asking for protection. That God would protect me from reckless drivers and that God would protect other drivers from ME. Hehehehe.

Well it feels like in less than a year that Joel and I might be leaving. Can you beleive it. Now this is not in stone but we both feel it is coming down to the wire. Do we know where we are supposed to go. Not as of. There are plenty of things we could do but which one does God want us to do. What good work has God prepared ahead of time for us to do. That is the question. Joel and I are no longer our own. We don't get to chose where we live and where we work. Yes God has given us a free will and we can deny anything he has for us but we don't want to. And yes we can serve God in many ways but we both feel God has something or SOMETHINGS very specific for Joel and I. I especially feel that after Friend Ships I will start other food ministries. For the past 4 years I have been put in the food ministry and back in the food ministry over and over. Some times I TRIED to get out of it but I was always put back. And now doing the church aspect of it I love it even more. It is what I want to do for the rest of my life. What I feel God is preparing me here at Friend Ships to do now and later. BRING IT ON.

So what else. Well Joel and I were able to "JUMP SHIP" and suprise my mom and dad for their 40th anniversary. Both my sisters would be in the same area as my parents so my oldest sister flew Joel and I up just to suprise Mom and Dad and celebrate as a family. It has been about 2 years since all of us girls have been together. All my neices and nephews were there and both my sisters and brother in law. It was so much fun. I didn't want to leave. I am getting more and more close to my family. Which hasn't been, so Praise God what He is doing with my family.

So that is about it. We love all of you, sorry it has been so long. We are going to be writing more.

GOD's LOVE,
Dess