Wednesday, February 28, 2007

God Really Does Provide Our Every Need!


I Peter 5:5-7 "Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

You are probably wondering why the toilet paper, right? Well, we are living by faith in this ministry and that means we are even trusting God's people to supply our need of toilet paper. So just to let you know being in ministry sometimes can be a very humbling experience. Did you know........

Before paper was widely available, a variety of materials were employed. The Romans used an L-shaped stick (like a hockey stick) made of wood or precious metal; at public toilets people used sponges on sticks that were kept in saltwater between uses. In arid climates, sand, powdered brick, or earth was used. Until the late nineteenth century, Muslims were advised to use three stones to clean up. One favorite tool was a mussel shell, used for centuries. Until the early twentieth century, corn cobs were used.

In the late fifteenth century, when paper became widely available, it began to replace other traditional materials. Sometimes old correspondence was pressed into service, as were pages from old books, magazines, newspapers, and catalogs. People also used old paper bags, envelopes, and other bits of scrap paper, which were cut into pieces and threaded onto a string that was kept in the privy.

Well, I said all this to say, I think our boys here at the ranch would rather be a little embarrassed when a teen 'girl' comes up to him in school to say "Hey, our church has toilet paper collected for you," instead of having to use magazines, newspapers or corn cobs in the privy.

So saying all that, thank you all who have helped us teach these boys about humility, by donating toilet paper for us to use in the privy.

I will continue to cast my anxiety on him to continue to supply our toilet paper need so I don't have to use corn cobs.

Hope you enjoyed the funny post!

Humbled servants,

Friday, February 23, 2007

He will never leave you!



Christian Clipart


Deuteronomy 31:8 (New International Readers Version) "The Lord himself will go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will never leave you. He'll never desert you. So don't be afraid. Don't lose hope."

We just did a very hard thing here at the ranch, something we have only had to do 3 other times in the last 15 years of this ministry. We just had to let the #34th boy go from this program, he was only here 8 months and because of some choices he made, we decided we can't help a young man that doesn't want to help himself. Some of the last words we, Jim, Cathy and Curtis, said to him was:

  • Curtis said, "You hurt me bad it really hurt me but...... I forgive you and I love ya, man"


  • Cathy said, "I hated your actions but I love you and the only way you will ever make it in life is if you turn to Jesus, because HE is the only true one that can help you."


  • Jim said, "I really don't feel like hugging you right now but I'm going to anyway, I'm giving up on you, but Jesus will never give up on you."

We learned to love this young man through Christ's love and it is very hard having him as a part of our life trying to teach him right from wrong, and then having to let him go, knowing that he was choosing to still go down the wrong path. We know though that our GOD is a GOD of MIRACLES and HE used US to plant the seeds and HE will send SOMEONE ELSE to water it and HE is the only one that can make it GROW!

I Corinthians 3:5-7 "What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."

Lord, Jim and I, know we are nothing, you have just chose us as your servant to be your tool, to just touch a portion of this young man's life, but we know that you are EVERYTHING to us and we trust someday you will be EVERYTHING to this young man, because you are a God of MIRACLES. Please just watch over him as he leaves our home, and put you arms around him and give him that hug everynight that we are not able to do now. We thank you in advance for what you are going to do in this young man's life and we thank you for letting us be a part of his life for the 8 months he was here. In Jesus Name, Amen

Friday, February 16, 2007

Miracles Happen Even Today!


Psalm 77:14 "You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples."
Jim and I would like to be able to share daily or weekly little miracles that are taking place at Miracles Can Happen Boys Ranch through this blog that will be posted on the website. We are in awe of what God has done at the ranch in the last 15 years. It has been a rough ride but a very awesome ride at the same time. Please feel free leave a comment; either a prayer, a word of encouragement, or a question if you have any. I hope to use this as a journal, to keep track of the daily, weekly, or monthly miracles God performs here at the ranch. He is the God who performs miracles.