Parkgate Banquet Info!

what do you worry about? not being good enough, or being fully His?

I recently heard this quoted on a children's movie that I was watching with my younger sister.  It made me think, because I think in many cases & for many people, it is true. 

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson

in Return to Love

We are powerful because God within us is powerful, and as images of him we can't even HIDE the glory within, even though we often try.  Everything good in us is Christ.  Even when we try to hide from our goodness, even when we run away from Truth by way of sin, we are still His kids! Our identity, regardless of our acknowledgement of it, is inherently wonderful.  It is a beautiful gift to which we only have to surrender!

Parenting Classes have begun!

Parkgate parenting classes started up this week! 20 girls signed up between 2 classes on Tues and Thursday night:-). This is a place for expecting moms to learn about child birth and the first year. Parkgate gives each girl a diaper bag and every week they go into the baby boutique and get one item for their baby until...l the last class. On the last night we do a baby shower! Also The health department does car seat safety. Each girl gets a new car seat and is taught how to safely put it in the car! Food is provided at each class!

happy labor day

Labor day means a work-free monday, family, relaxation, and no white sandals! But it is also a time to think about the Laborers of the past who have helped to make our great country what it is today!  One image that I ran across in my brief research was this working girl:

The "Rosie the Riveter" campaign, brought about during WWII when women were encouraged to join the work force in the absence of their men, is still considered THE most successful Government campaign.  Pretty impressive!! (and kind of intimidating.)  But she definitely has a CAN DO attitude that you have to love & be encouraged by and she is still respected today for her hard work.   

May God bless America and your Labor Day Monday!!

EXTRA extra!

Parkgate just released its August electronic newsletter.  It will be a great tool to help others learn more about Parkgate's mission and purpose in the NE MS community! More information on how to join Parkgate's mailing list can be viewed here!

"the hope I've come to know"

song by Ginny Owens called "Fellow Traveler!"


You can't change who I am
Or the way that i think
I won't change how you live
Or the words that you speak
But neither of us is a stranger to joy or pain
No matter how we're different
We're very much the same

*Fellow traveler let me take you to a place where Ive found rest
Fellow seeker let me show you where I've found true happiness
Fellow beggar I have good news, I know where there is bread
(I'll show you where there's bread)

I don't know where you've come from
Or where you've been along your way
But I can tell you what I've lived through
And how I made it here today

Let me share with you the story of hope I've come to know
A love that's always for me
And a peace that frees my soul

*
So if you are hungry come to the table with me
And you won't go hungry ever again

a phrase that the preacher said in church yesterday triggered this song in my brain.  i love this song because it motivates me to share with others "the hope i've come to know" not because i am "smarter" or "better" or "self righteous."  God doesn't call us to share because we are those things. . .because none of us are! all of us have fallen wayyyyy short of His glory.  Christians are called to SHARE as if we were beggars SHARING bread.  Because that's what we are!! humble before Jesus and hoping for his word to fill us up. . .let this be the posture of our witnessing and sharing GOOD NEWS!

sending the right message

today i probably sent approximately 50 text messages without even thinking about it, blogged twice, wall-posted on facebook, tweeted out my daily activities. . .i sent out a lot of messages.  To my friends, mostly, and I meant to send each message.  but what about the messages i didn't meant to send?  what about my body language and attitude, my interactions with people walking about my apartment complex, or what about the words on my t-shirt.  we are all sending out a message.  what's yours? think about it.