The Monticello Hotel opened for business on July 23, 1923 and was the centerpiece that the City of Longview was built around. The “fire-proof” 200-room hotel housed prospective residents and visiting business people who had come in search of property. Originally named “Hotel Monticello,” it was the first building to be completed in the planned city. The name was chosen in honor of the first pioneer community on the Cowlitz River, which was named after Thomas Jefferson’s plantation.
1) I am thankful that I can say thank you. So many people don’t stop and say thank you. Gratitude is an amazing gift from God. When we say thank you we are blessed in so many ways. When you make a lifestyle of being thankful (which Jesus told us to do in the first place) it becomes easier and easier and even in painful, stressful, terrifying situations you can always find something to say thank you for. Doing this blesses God and amazes blesses the people around you. If you are alive, have something to eat, clothes to wear and some sort of shelter, you have four things to be thankful for. If you don’t have great shelter or are feeling blue you might even be more thankful for the beautiful weather today because being stuck outside in the rain is not nearly as fun as dancing in the sunshine. If you have someone that loves you or many people that love you, you are rich indeed! (more…)
1) I am thankful that God planned be before the foundation of the earth and set me on a path He created just for me. I am thankful for my salvation and the fact that God is always working in me and blesses people through me. (more…)
I would have nothing but death
and with a broken heart You made plans for that
You said there would be war
and rumors of war
You said You would come back
and I would take my eyes off You in order to guess
Even this is more proof of You
My neighbors revel in gossip and drama
while people You love
starve and sleep in the street
You said humanity would breed evil
and it has
I have tried to avoid dancing with them yet still I must repent
You know how hard I have tried to be good
and failed
Your love is so deep and encompassing and honest
Trust founded in you
has been raped by our greed
But in my heart You remain
You overwhelm me with Your grace
So I would be happy to look more like you
You said I would be persecuted
by liars, tramps and thieves
Your salvation is complete
even while I still remain ready to compete
I hear the song in my heart cry with You
because You replaced mine with Yours
You see me through Your Son even through my sin
I am slowly losing my first site and sound of judgement
because You require me to give up all
While You are my amazing gain
I live in a glass house You built
I am hidden by Your Name
You are Promise and Truth
You are Overcomer and Savior
I am because You are
1) I am thankful for my printer! I have had so many issues with printers that more often than not I don’t have one and although it is nice say hi to the folks at Copies Today SpeedyLitho…it costs too much to make copies for committee meetings so I often don’t have much to hand to Karen Gidderon, Jamie Holloway, Lynn Brown, Angelique Yoder, Clarence Beerman and Jacob A Beerman and guests…BTW in case you haven’t read your emails…we have a Living Ministries meeting tonight at 6 pm at Life Works…
I recently went through a huge loss. I lost a friend; or I lost the illusion that I had a friend. It has been hard to heal from this loss. After 3 years I have come to the realization that this is not a healthy relationship and although with time and prayer I will be able to forgive, I will not be reconnecting with this person. I don’t believe that we can encourage growth in each other and some actions kill any incentive to rebuild trust.
Although I have come to this decision, I have not shared it with her and yesterday morning I woke up to a text message from her that referred to me as Beloved. Just another reason that I need to let go. (more…)
1) I am thankful for my marriage. I have been best friends with Karen Gidderon for 12 years in October. Since we have been married, I feel like there are parts of me that were broken that are no longer broken, parts of me that were weak that are stronger, and parts of me that I knew were missing that have been found. There is an unmeasurable greatness in knowing that I have someone beside me always that wants what I want. Both of us have blossomed by knowing that. Professionally, personally and spiritually we have seen growth. We love taking care of each other.
2) I have lost two relationships since May and although accepting the loss and the good parts of the relationship that are no longer, I am thankful that the end came. I am a dedicated person and in the past have accepted a lot of emotional abuse, control and manipulation as part of relationship. I am not called to do that. Until these two people left, I didn’t understand the turmoil and stress they were causing in my personal, professional and spiritual path. I am grateful to My God who has carried me through the loss and pain and also showed me the bigger picture. (more…)
1) I am thankful to have landed. Being homeless sucks bigger than I imagined. This is not a permanent home but I am here now and I am safe and I don’t have to pack my things up in the morning and take them with me to a place I am not sure of. In the last few years I have learned to respect homeless people for their ability to survive; I now know more than I wanted to know. I am blessed because we had resources enough to stay in motels and have one good meal a day. So many don’t know what this feels like because they have forgotten and to them, I tip my hat. They are resourceful, brave and stronger than I have had to be. (more…)
You want me to live in your box
Your invitation is perpetual
and you think you won
In the black and white
I die
The death you embrace
The rigid walls cut my skin
You spend resources
to name my life as yours
Writing rules is your passion
You poke and prod
You question and assess
but you do it for you
while I fight to hold still
Powers and principalities
push me out of your realm
Push you into yours
The realness of fear
keeps us in opposition
It is not just flesh and blood
that makes us move
It’s life
Making the most of it!
Since 2010, when we founded Living Ministries, there have been several times that Karen and I have looked at each other and said, I never thought I would be here. Most of these times have included us dealing with other people that were having a hard time. I now know that having empathy can never fully compare to experiencing it yourself.
I can’t say this for Karen. For a time she was living in her car. She was so positive and ambitious that no one caught on for months. She has never told me details about the experience but I have seen a look come over her eyes that tells me I don’t really want to know. Honestly, I hope this experience is not something we will share, but it is an option if our money runs out before we get into an apartment.
No one pays me for what I do here.
If you would like to buy me a cup of coffee please do.
Thank you for reading and make sure to leave a comment.
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