It is a blessing that we have a national holiday called Thanksgiving. It's so easy for us to fall into a state of ingratitude not realizing everything we have comes from God. In the spiral of sin Paul describes in Romans 1 he says this in verse 21.
"For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened"
This verse shows that it is a fundamental and natural response that we should give thanks to God recognizing that our very breath comes from Him and every good gift. It is our sin that has broken that response. I've been relearning again recently how dependent I am on Him. If gratitude is missing it is a sign that something is broken.
I hope we will all take time this Thanksgiving season to recognize the goodness of God and his blessings to us. With that in mind I want to express my gratitude to each of you. The Lord continues to change the lives of those we serve at The Joy House, but that would not be possible apart from our partners. Through your gifts, prayers, and volunteering you are a part of every life that is changed. THANK YOU!!! |
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Chase and I have been Girls House Parents at The Joy House for just short of a year now. Working with these teenage girls and their families has been nothing short of amazing. People ask Chase and I all the time how we have it in us to be a House Parent or to work with so many teens at a time. The only thing I can answer to this is by the power and grace of God. Many people that hear that we are House Parents say "What a hard job you have". But in all honesty, it's not about the "hard work". This is simply another day for us to show these girls the love that God shows us daily.
Every morning that we wake is a new day for us to be disciples of Christ and help those who ask for it. It is so rewarding for Chase and I to see these girls flourish in all they do and to watch their relationship with their families flourish too, When Chase and I first started praying about this new position, we knew almost instantly that this was God's calling for our lives here in Georgia. Tiffany Smith, a fellow House Parent back in Moblie, Alabama once said "I would much rather grieve the loss of a child leaving our home knowing that while they were with us they 100% saw the love of Christ." and it has stuck with me ever since.
When a teen comes into our home, I want them to know that we here to walk alongside them the whole way. The change of heart is what we are looking for, not a change of personality. Chase and I always tell our girls, they are not here for what they have done, they are here for what they can BECOME. Watching these girls grow in so many different aspects of their lives is why Chase and I do what we do. We are so thankful for The Joy House and how this ministry daily serves families to restore their relationships and help lead these teens down the best path for their future. |
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| This last month we were able to share our mission of bringing Christ-centered restorative care to struggling teens and their families. One day we had a group of Pickens County social workers and on another we had a group of Cherokee County social workers to The Joy House campus. We were able to listen to their stories and glean knowledge from them on what is going on in teens lives at school today. It was such a blessing to be able to share with them a little bit about our journey and what we can now provide for teens that are struggling. If you or someone you know would like more information about what we are all about please contact us at 706-253-7569. |
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| The new girls' home build is at the part where it all starts coming together. The walls are being painted. The cabinets are going in and are also being painted. It is the culmination of so many hours of prayer and hard work coming to life. We are so thankful for all the people that have been a part of this build. From the partners that have helped us in such a huge way financially to the laborers that have crafted the home with their hands. THANK YOU!! Here are a photo of where we are at now so that you can be a part of this building journey. |
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| We are currently seeking a married couple for a full-time house-parenting position in our boy’s home. With the building project getting closer to completion we are excited to take this next step. No prior experience is needed, as training will be provided. Must be a mature Christian couple that has a strong desire to share Christ’s love with the teens and their families. Applicants must be married at least 3 years with no more than 2 children of their own. While modeling a Christian family, we ask the house-parents to provide care, nurturing, and structure for up to seven teen boys. They are supported by a five-person treatment team all focused on helping one another serve the teen and family in need. |
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