Deuteronomy 15:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

Generosity to the Poor

⁷ “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,

I have a special calling to serve the homeless. The first time I felt this calling was when our family took a trip to San Francisco in the mid 80’s. With little know-how, I gathered tooth brushes, toothpaste, soap, and other basic essentials. I made 15 small bags with a Bible verse, and put them in my suitcase. I did not share this with anyone in my family.

We traveled to San Francisco on an annual basis to celebrate my birthday, and to go school-clothes shopping, so I always used a larger sized luggage. While we were all getting ready for dinner, I made the announcement about the bags. Mike’s response was, “You did what?” I got all the bags out and laid them across the bed. Mike’s reaction: “How did you hide these bags in your suitcase?” “I didn’t hide them! I packed them.” I answered. “Well, I guess we need to get rid of them.”  Mike’s plan was to drive and hand out the bag where the homeless congregated. We dropped our son off to hand out the goodie bags, Mikos came back with his head downcast and said, “Mom, you didn’t make enough.” That was the beginning of my work with homeless people.

We are now in the biggest battle with the homeless crisis in the United States. It is no longer safe to go to Skid Row. There are now medieval diseases in the midst of homeless, and, worse yet, some are airborne. So instead of going to hand out lunches, the Lord has changed my direction to get involved in the genesis of a new program: Churches in Action.

This organization is spearheaded by Bishop Juan Carlos Mendez. Bishop Mendez has pulled together many other churches to help with this enormous endeavor. Churches in Action is an ecumenical outreach to help place homeless people into apartments. As of today, there are more that 60,000 homeless people in Los Angeles County alone! This program will help shelter 1,000 displaced people into a apartment within a year.

Bishop Mendez is working in partnership with the government to get tax breaks,  The Jewish communities of various synagogues are lovingly raising funds for this outreach. “Lavame,” which mean “wash me” in Spanish, provides portable mobile showers that are moved throughout Skid Row in order to enable the homeless to shower on a more regular basis. These are a few steps in the right direction to help homeless people regain their dignity.

Before any displaced persons is given apartments, they must attend classes like: Life skills, which  teach them to transition back into society with acceptable ease. Financial management classes will teach them how to manage the stipend they will receive to live. They will also be required to attend time-management classes to better understand how the rest of the world operates. Many churches will be available for spiritual counseling, because we all need God.

There will be counselors available for mental health, but due to the interference of  liberal groups, this cannot be a forced issue. Even though one of primary causes of homelessness is the abuse of drugs and alcohol, these groups have actually hindered the recovery of  substance abuser by making the treatment voluntary instead of mandatory. Why? Because they are serving their own interest, and not that of the displaced. This type of bureaucratic dung is what the real problems about. The good intentions of honest, compassionate people always hit a brick wall with the proposals of the misguided politicians.

Secondly these groups have put into law the protection of the trash of the homeless; therefore, no police officer or public workers can remove any garbage because it’s against the law! Now due to his new ordinance, we have developed medieval diseases.

In the Old Testament when the Israelites were homeless for 40 years, God provided them manna, this was their daily bread, they could not save the manna for the next day because it would spoil. All the officials are attempting to do is rid the streets of all contaminants that breed rodents, public official are not taking any personal items from the displaced, they are just trying to repel the rats.

Exodus 16:19-20 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁹ And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.” ²⁰ Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.

Rodenticides have been banned for the killing of rats in California. Why? Because the pesticides are killing other wild life like mountain lions when the rat is injusted. For the twenty years that I have been going to Skid Row, I have yet to run into a mountain lion. The closest thing to the big cats are domestic cats with their kittens. We need to give these self-serving politicans, a wake up call. Stop tying to save the rats, instead think of the human beings! Honestly the rats on Skid Row are dying of old age while the buffoons sit on the high hill protecting the rodents. Shame on you!

If you are really tired of seeing homeless people you can help do something about it. We are filling large boxes with the bare essentials: pillows, queen-sized sheets, blankets, comforters, pot, and pans, cooking and eating utensils, cups, plates, bowls, glasses. We also need shampoo, toothpaste, soap, towel/washcloths toilet paper paper, towels, and cleaning supplies. Please, I implore you to help.

I purchased about 50 items at The Sheep Fold, a local second-hand store, everything was 75% off! I walked in and out Goodwill because they were too expensive. The Dollar Tree has knives, spoons and forks, 2 for a dollar, plus I also purchased cooking utensils there. Another great place for silverware is Ross. Big Lots has queen size sheets for $16.99, but at Macy’s (online only) you can purchase queen-sized sheets for $15.99. HomeGoods has mixing bowls for $7.99, I purchased pots and pans with a donated Walmart gift card from Bishop Mendez.

We separate these items into twos: two forks, two spoons, etc. They will either receive one pot or a frying pan, two pillows, one set of sheets, and one set of towels. All this shopping took me about a week to accumulate enough items to fill at least 10 boxes. Instead of getting new shoes or new clothes, my money was put to better use. I call this shopping with a purpose.

How can you help? You can purchase the items yourself or you can donate the money and I will do the shopping. Either way this is 100% tax deductible, because Churches in Action is a 501-C3 non profit. You can also send the money directly to them at:

Churches in Action, 9641 Virigina Ave., South Gate, Ca 90280

Proverbs 28:27 New King James Version (NKJV)

1 Corinthians 2:6-7 New King James Version (NKJV)

Spiritual Wisdom

⁶ However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,

I celebrated my birthday last week and turning sixty-seven is another milestone a lot closer to 70, and growing in wisdom. With age come health issues. If I sit for a long period of time,  I have to ease into getting up, so I make small talk with whoever is with me, and then start moving. Mornings for my precious husband have became recitals of what is out of alignment: it could be my knee, my hips, or my back or a combination of all three. These types of pains have become a norm, but then something foreign came upon me.

My problem started the day before I left for the Holy Land. I rushed over to CVS to get a flu shot to set my mind at ease. Halfway through the trip I felt an uncomfortable sensation on the inside of my right cheek; it was red and sore. I prayed at the holy sites for a healing, but it lingered; I never got any relief.

As soon as I got home I made an appointment with the doctor. The doctor asked me if I had bitten my cheek. I may have but I wasn’t really sure. He told me to call in two weeks if it did not go away. It got worst, and the pain was very uncomfortable. In the meantime Dr. Google and I did some research; we both came up with the same diagnosis: oral cancer. I prayed against this, but I was preoccupied with worry. My daughter suggested that I should see the dentist. I did and, after the examination, he suggested that I go for a biopsy, but he suspected it was lichen plantus.

I’m grateful to God that I have coverage with Medicare, plus a great supplement, but it was nearly impossible to find an oral surgeon who would take my insurance. Finally, after 12 referrals, I found a wonderful Iranian doctor. This doctor told me it would take a week before the results were in. We were planning to meet some friends in the wine country and I still had this looming condition. I wanted results before we went on the trip.

In the meantime I had developed several small mosquito like bites on my hands and arms. Thinking that a spider did a slow waltz on my body while I was sleeping. I said to Mike, “I’m tired of getting eaten up by bugs! We need to have the house sprayed!”  Mike’s response was, ” Well if you insist on using an eco-friendly company, we will always have bugs!” We got into a little cat fight over the matter, and then dropped it. My hands and arms were itchy, but it looked different from a mosquito bite; it more like a rash.

I was so apprehensive to call the doctor about results, but I wanted to travel without having to think about this problem. The biopsy came back with what the dentist suspected: lichen plantus.

Lichen plantus is an autoimmune disorder: it is not contagious, I did not pick it from traveling to the Holy Land nor from  feeding the homeless on Skid Row, as Mike believes.  It is not life-threatening and there is no cure. There is no exact cause for lichen plantus. It may be related to allergies or an immune reaction. This could include certain medicines, dyes, or antibiotics. As a result I have hundreds of mosquito-like bites throughout my body. This miserable disorder is unsightly and it itches badly. My back resembles a constellation of stars, some bigger than the others.

For as long as I can remember, I have always suffered from allergies. For years I have taken daily doses of an antihistamines; now with this new quandary, I get no relief.

Since lichen plantus is not life-threatening, there are no support groups. No one wants to hear of the new lesions that I’ve developed overnight, or that I’m always itching.  So the only support I have is Mike, and he has grown tired of all the complaining with all my lamenting. I am taking the homeopathic route to keep my disorder at bay, and I recently went into the “light box” that the dermatologist suggested. The light box is using phototherapy to expose the skin to ultraviolet light. I’m praying this will help. This disorder can last up to nine months and go away and never return, or it could come back with a vengeance. Of course I’m praying for the latter.

There is a light at the end of this winding tunnel. I have asked God, “Why did I get this disorder? Why didn’t you give this to someone who is really evil and hateful, and not serving You?” He did not answer me, but I figured it out. I’ve experienced two miracles during the duration of this illness. Receiving these miracles was part of  God plan. He was testing me to understand that these miracles were the center of the prayers and the disorder (lichen plantus ) is just a distraction to keep me from praying. To me, it is worth the suffering in seeing these miracles come to fruition. Nothing is going to keep me from serving the Lord, and it is through this trial that I call on Him more. The Devil hates people like me because I make a difference – not because I’m so special, but because I’ve learn to battle and understand that the victory belongs to the Lord.

Romans 5:3-5 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

³ More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

I have read and researched this disorder, and it could have been triggered by getting the flu shot. We will never know, but God knows, and I trust Him!

John 8:44 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources,for he is a liar and the father of it.

The only thing we have is the truth. I recently caught a preview of the news involving a popular television host, Mario Lopez. I’ve always liked this young man, and wanted to see what the news story was about. It turns out that Mario gave an honest opinion about a subject matter that he felt strongly about. The subject was about “transgender” children and all Mario Lopez said was, that he did not believe that 3 year-olds knew anything about sexuality, and that kids should be allowed  to be kids.

Mario Lopez was the guest of Candace Owen, a conservative, black young woman. To be black and conservative in today’s society is unacceptable to many,  but to be black, conservative, and have your own show is dangerous, because if you appear as a guest, you’re going to be noticed for the wrong reasons.

Mario Lopez was called out by the usual watchdogs that prey on any misguided words that do not agree with their beliefs. Of course, Mario sent out a tweet extending his apologies for being ignorant and  insensitive, which may have worked to keep the ravaging sharks at bay for awhile; we shall see.  This is the modern- day reaction we live with for giving our honest opinions.

The interesting thing about this entire scenario is the fact that we know who owns the airwaves. Satan has a way of controlling and calling into judgment  anything that is godly, true, and just; he wants every fiber of truth to be distorted. This battleground has become a dangerous, uneven playing field. Do not step into those shark-infested waters, as you will pay a price.

I, along with everyone else, see the direction where these deceptions lead.

During the same newsfeed, a story of Jussie Smollett surfaced. Jussie Smollett is the young, black actor who created a web of lies to get attention. It is a fact that everything he staged was proven false. From beating himself up to making a noose to make it seen as if some hateful white supremacist attacked him, Jussie  layered his lies on thick, but in the end the truth prevailed. Smollett was flanked by the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Why? Because if these two black “leaders” did not take the side of a gay black man, they would be considered homophobic and racist against their own race. So to save face, they appease the masses. I honestly felt sad for Jesse Jackson because I saw something in his eyes that spoke conviction. How can good, honest, black people have respect for these two men? To me they have lost all credibility. The city of Chicago spent over $130,000.00 investigating this false hate crime, but everyone knows the truth, including Rev.Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

But now back to Mario Lopez. In the eyes of those who believe they were wronged, Mario did two unthinkable things: He was interviewed by Candace Owen, and he told the truth.

I’m sorry to say this, but Mario Lopez is now a moving target, and is branded with the infamous “Scarlet Letter.” Mario spoke what was in his heart, but to those of us who still believe in the sanctity of marriage, family and protecting our religious rights, Mario Lopez gained our respect. Mario Lopez will be included in many of our prayers, and our prayers are more powerful than any fiery darts the Enemy throws at us.

My heart goes out to those parents who have bought into the lies of our society and the way children should be taught and raised. We all have our crosses to bear, but please leave our children/grandchildren out of this confusion of “transgenderism.” Children are innocent and too young to be exposed to this complicated matter. Children don’t need to know about, he, she, them, they; children just want to play and be loved. Allow parents to parent, as their  children are a gift of God and He will give parents the right tools and discernment to guide them, and when to expose them to the things of the world.

I agree with Mario Lopez, and even though he had to apologize, we all know that he was telling the truth.

This is one of my favorite Bible passages, every day I fall short, but every day I try to become a better person… pray for me.