Blog

Female Veteran of the Quarter Teresa Childress-Gilliam - Veteran's Outreach Ministries - Delaware
30 Aug
0

Female Veteran of the Quarter – Teresa Childress-Gilliam

by in Veteran of the Quarter

I am a West Virginia native. I graduated from Greenbrier East High School, Fairlea WV in 1973 and attended West Virginia University and Center College shortly after. I left college and started working for the State of West Virginia, Charleston WV but at the same time found myself involved in a volatile relationship. Domestic violence rapidly became a part of my daily life: at home, at work, at social functions… it became all-consuming.

In 1980, I returned to my hometown of White Sulphur Springs WV in an attempt to get out of my abusive relationship but little did I know, it isn’t that simple! Leaving the abusive relationship did not fix the problem. Things quickly escalated and long story short, I was seriously injured by my abuser, but he was arrested, charged, and convicted.

There were many times when I didn’t know what my future held, whether or not I would survive this great ordeal called domestic violence… but I did survive! In 1982, I was finally free and safe to live my life. I relocated to Philadelphia, PA where I initially worked at the University of Pennsylvania Science Center as a data entry clerk.

In July 1984, I enlisted into the U. S. Army Reserve. I went to Basic Training (BT) at Fort Jackson SC in last 1984 and to Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Sam Houston TX in early 1985. My first assignment upon completion of training in May 1985 was at the 361st Evacuation Hospital, Folsom PA as a Patient Administration Specialist (71G). Upon arrival at the 361st Evacuation Hospital, I immediately began inquiring about other jobs.

I enrolled in the Medical Supply Specialist (76J) correspondence course in August 1985. I completed the Medical Supply Specialist (76J) correspondence course in July 1986 and also attended and completed the Administrative Specialist (71L) course in August 1986. The completion of these two military occupational skills (MOSs) early in my career, greatly influenced my promotion potential in my latter career.

In 1986, I also started working for the Department of Treasury (Internal Revenue Service). In 1989, I completed phase 2 of the Medical Supply Specialist (76J) course and became a Department of the Army (DA) civilian. I retired as a DA civilian in March 2014.

I continued my Army Reserve career until December 2013, retiring at the rank of Master Sergeant. I served in the greatest medical units in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and Germany under the 79th ARCOM, 99th RSC, and ARMEDCOM (commands). I graduated from the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy in 2007.

I held five military occupational specialties (Patient Administration NCO, Human Resources Manager, Medical Supply NCO, Finance NCO, and Retention/ Transition NCO) and I was an Army Instructor.

There are no words that can express how the Army changed my life for the better… and it still does today! As the Delaware Libraries – Veterans/Military Families Program Developer, I hope my military experience and passion for Veterans has helped me develop and implement training, events, resources, etc. to enhance the lives of our military service members, Veterans, and their families in Delaware. I love working alongside other Veterans who are committed to our military community. My heroes wear dog tags! God bless our troops!

Read More
EFT Tapping - Veteran's Outreach Ministries
30 Aug
0

Emotional Freedom Technique – How It Can Work for YOU!

by in Health and Wellness, Interest

By: Rebecca Rondone
Owner of Pura Vida Yoga
& Physical Training

I’m honored to share this practice for all readers. I’ve had the privilege to share with Police and Fire Professionals, Cecil County Health Department, Voices Of Hope, Peer Specialists, and Girls and Boys Club of Harford and Cecil County. The practice consists of tapping with your fingertips on specific meridian points while talking through an emotion and or traumatic memories. Suitable for ages child to adult.

What is a Meridian Point?

Put simply, meridian points are certain points that can be mapped throughout the body. Energy circulates through your body along this specific network of channels. You can tap into this energy at any point along the system.

All negative emotions are felt through a disruption of the body’s energy. The body, like everything, is composed of energy. Restore balance to the body’s energy, and you will mend the negative emotions and physical symptoms that stem from the energy disruption. Tapping restores the body’s energy balance, and negative emotions are conquered.

How does Tapping Work?

The basic technique requires you to focus on the negative emotion at hand: a fear or anxiety, a bad memory, an unresolved problem, or anything that’s bothering you. While maintaining your mental focus on this issue, use your fingertips to tap 5-7 times each on 9 of the body’s meridian points. Tapping on these meridian points – while concentrating on accepting and resolving the negative emotion – will access your body’s energy, restoring it to a balanced state.

Acupoint tapping sends signals directly to the stress centers of the mid-brain, not mediated by the frontal lobes (the thinking part, active in talk therapy). Because EFT simultaneously accesses stress on physical and emotional levels, EFT gives you the best of both worlds, body and mind, like getting a massage during a psychotherapy session. In fact, it’s EFT’s ability to access the amygdala, an almond-shaped part of your brain that initiates your body’s negative reaction to fear, a process we often refer to as the “fight or flight” response, that makes it so powerful.

Think of your amygdala as a personal alarm system. When you experience trauma or fear, the
amygdala is triggered and your body is flooded with cortisol, commonly known as the “stress hormone.” This intricate chain reaction – your stress response – significantly influences and sometimes even causes whatever it is that troubles you, whether that’s an illness, injury, emotion, or even an external problem such as an issue with a friendship.

It’s estimated that 10 million people worldwide have used tapping.

What’s so exciting is how incredibly quickly it can eleviate issues like depression, anxiety, insomnia, PTSD, physical pain, and even illness. By stimulating these parts of your body – as we do in EFT Tapping – you can drastically reduce or eliminate the distress that accompanies or gives rise to these problems you face. By doing so, you can often eliminate the problems themselves!

Tapping is simple and painless. It can be learned by anyone. And you can apply it to yourself, whenever you want, wherever you are. It’s less expensive and less time consuming. It can be used with specific emotional intent towards your own unique life challenges and experiences. Most importantly, it gives you the power to heal yourself. Emotional Freedom Techniques is a form of counseling intervention that draws on various theories of alternative medicine including acupuncture, neuro-linguistic programming, and Thought Field Therapy.

1. Identify the issue

In order for this technique to be effective, you must first identify the emotion or ailment you have. This will be your focal point while you’re tapping. Focusing on only one problem at a time is purported to enhance your outcome.

2. Test the initial intensity

After you identify your problem area, you need to set a benchmark level of intensity. The intensity level is rated on a scale from 0 to 10, with 10 being the worst or most difficult. The scale assesses the emotional or physical pain and discomfort you feel from your focal issue.

Establishing a benchmark helps you monitor your progress after performing a complete EFT sequence. If your initial intensity was 10 prior to tapping and ended at 5, you’d have accomplished a 50 percent improvement level.

3. The setup

Prior to tapping, you need to establish a phrase that explains what you’re trying to address. It must focus on two main goals:

  • acknowledging the issues
  • accepting yourself despite the problem

The common setup phrase is: “Even though I have this [fear or problem], I deeply and completely accept myself.” You can alter this phrase so that it fits.

4. EFT tapping sequence

The EFT tapping sequence is the methodic tapping on the ends of nine meridian points.
There are 12 major meridians that mirror each side of the body and correspond to an internal organ. EFT mainly focuses on these nine:

  • karate chop (KC): small intestinemeridian
  • top of head (TH): governing vessel
  • eyebrow (EB): bladdermeridian
  • side of the eye (SE): gallbladder meridian
  • under the eye (UE): stomachmeridian
  • under the nose (UN): governing vessel
  • chin (Ch): central vessel
  • start of the collarbone(CB): kidney meridian
  • under the arm (UA): spleenmeridian

Begin by tapping the karate chop point while simultaneously reciting your setup phrase three times. Then, tap each following point seven times, moving down the body in this ascending order:

  • eyebrow
  • side of the eye
  • under the eye
  • under the nose
  • chin
  • beginning of the collarbone
  • under the arm

After tapping the underarm point, finish the sequence at the top of the head point. While tapping the ascending points, recite a reminder phrase to maintain focus on your problem area. Recite this phrase at each tapping point. Repeat this sequence two or three times.

5. Test the final intensity

At the end of your sequence, rate your intensity level on a scale from 0 to 10. Compare your results with your initial intensity level. If you haven’t reached 0, repeat this process until you do.

 

Read More
The Storms of Life - Veteran's Outreach Ministries
30 Aug
0

The Storms of Life

by in Religion

By Glenn Ahrens, Earthly Director
EL SHADDAI אל שדי CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES Inc.

Remember when life seemed so simple? You did not have to worry about being shot when you walked someplace or turning the TV on with kids in the room and be afraid they were going to see something that we would have cringed at, that we would’ve considered totally inappropriate. Today you cannot even go to church without worrying about some maniac coming in and shooting people regardless of your faith. I think the expression that we would’ve used back then about what’s going on now is “going to hell in a hand basket”.

This reminds me of the story in the Bible in Mark 4, where Jesus calmed the seas. Verse 37 and 38 state “a furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the Stern, sleeping on a cushion.. The disciples will him and said to him, ‘teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’”

How often do we get so caught up in work and things going on around us that we feel like we don’t even have time to think? So often we get so busy that we start to neglect important things like our spouses, family, and friends. I feel most importantly that we also neglect our Creator. To me the story in Mark 4 reminds me of life.

We get so involved in life that we feel like we are on a boat in the middle of a major storm. As an avid sailor I have been there and it is no fun. The problem is while focusing on the storm we allow little things to slip by us. All arguments, in my opinion, start out as tiny disagreements or misunderstandings and can grow into major battles, separations, or not talking to those that used to be our best friends or even family. We need to take time as the expression says to “smell the roses”.

Life can be the most beautiful experience on Earth or the biggest nightmare. The thing that we seem to forget is that the choice is ours to make. We often overlook who else is in the boat with us. We have a wonderful God who is always there for us. According to Mark’s account, Jesus was not happy. In his frustration he yelled, “Peace, Be Still!” The storm and the huge waves stopped immediately. The literal translation of, Be Still, taken from the Greek, is-hush! Or in modern terms: Shut up!

We need to fix the things that we have control over and pray for those that we don’t.

This brings to mind Psalm 46. 1st 10 starts out “be still, and know that I am God;”. So often we ask God for everything but don’t want to give him anything.

Unfortunately for some God does not work that way. God will always answer us but we don’t stop to listen or put down media items that so many are so obsessed with that that’s all that matters. The act of being still and getting quiet becomes a big challenge in our hectic world. The world asked us to be busy, but God asks us to be still so that we can and receive his love, peace and guidance.
God Bless

Read More
The Heart - Veteran's Outreach Ministries
30 Aug
0

The Heart

by in Religion

by Rob Matthews

Your Thoughts Control Your Actions. Proverbs 23:7 tells us “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he”.

Someone once said, “Sow a thought, reap a deed. Sow a deed, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.” What is your destiny?

A life of eternal damnation apart from GOD or a life of eternal joy with GOD! “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Galatians 6:7-8 GOD said, “The thoughts of their heart are so evil, I’m going to have to destroy them,” and He sent the flood because of the thoughts of men’s hearts Genesis 6. The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.

GOD searches and knows all hearts. Nothing is hidden from him. If the Lord were to search your heart, what would he find? Would he find compassion, kindness, love, joy, tolerance, forgiveness, peace, charity, or would he find jealousy, pride, envy, greed, unforgiveness, gossip, lying, lust?

Be sure of this my friends, GOD knows your heart. You may have your brothers, your family, your spouse, co-workers, church family and all else fooled, but not GOD.

The bible says in Jeremiah 17:9-10, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings”.

Jesus says in Luke 6:45, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh”.

What does that mean, “treasure of his heart”? Have you ever watched a pirate movie and they endlessly search for treasure… there is always a map and X marks the spot! I tell you now, we have the “X” right here in front of us. The Bible IS the treasure chest and is full of hidden treasure if we take time to read it. Let GOD’S word fill your hearts.

The heart is the dwelling place of GOD. Ephesians 3:17 expresses the desire that “Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith”. The love of GOD “is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us”, Romans 5:5.

Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding”. Psalms 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer”.

Where is your Heart?

Read More
Women in the Military - Veteran's Outreach Ministries
30 Aug
0

Women in the Military, Part 3 of 4

by in Interest, Patriotism

A Series by Lishamarie Hunter

Unique Challenges

The past two articles that I have written provided a chronological timeline of how women have served this nation’s military, starting with the Revolutionary War up to today’s modern conflicts. The growing number of women who are serving has increased from four percent in the 60’s to fifteen percent in 2015, and is excepted to increase throughout the following years.

This year West Point Military Academy saw a historical number of women enter and graduate from the institute. There are 2.2 million women veterans in the United States and they make up 10% of overall veteran population. The issues that affect these service members are unique to their gender.

One statistic states that female veterans have a 250% greater risk of suicide than civilian women. Women feel invisible, disconnected and isolated after leaving the military. Many female veterans have been misdiagnosed with bi-polar disorder, chronic depressed or having hormonal issues when they are actually struggling with MST/PTS (military sexual trauma, and or post traumatic stress). These experiences create issues with reintegration into civilian life.

Many female veteran do not identify as veterans. They often feel betrayed by the institution and do not want anything to to do with it. Statistics state that 90% of the females who have served has experienced being sexual harassed. Several have said they don’t identify because they did not fight in a combat zone or because they served during peace time, therefore, do not feel they deserve the acknowledgement of being a veteran.

By not identifying as a veteran many have missed out on the benefits and resources that would have assisted in their transition process. The Department of Veterans Affair, over the past couple of years have greatly improved the process for veterans to request and receive their benefit.

In its 2017 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimated that just over 40,000 veterans were homeless on a single night in January of that year. Of those, about 9% were women. From 2016 to 2017, the number of homeless female veterans increased by 7%, compared with 1% for their male counterparts. Returning women are 4 times as likely as male veterans to become homeless. One problem, unique to homeless female veterans, is that many have children. The institutions that provide assistance to homeless veterans often times do not have enough resources for the female veteran and their families.

While serving most women are the minority, often times they are the only female in their section. Many believe they must constantly prove themselves. In the service and out many females face challenges to their ability to preform their jobs; female mechanic have been made to work administrative positions. When they leave the service often times they are challenged on their vet status.

Two female veterans relayed their story about how one afternoon they parked in a disabled veterans parking space. When they got out of the vehicle an elderly gentleman confronted them, “that is for veterans!” She replied “I know”. He continued and followed her into the business where he wanted to know why she thought she could park there. She finally showed him her VA Healthcare card. He turned and left.

An article, 5 Things Women Veterans Want Everyone To Know, written by Goldstein in 2017 found that regardless of the person’s rank, branch of service, ethnicity or age women who had served wanted to have their service recognized not challenged or intoned They did not want the people who were suppose to provide healthcare and mental health to over look their service and sacrifice.

The majority of the women interviewed expressed exhaustion with the fact that “approximately 15% of all active duty forces are women and 20% of new enlistments are also women, yet are underrepresented and under resourced.

Even though women have served since the Revolutionary War, it was not until 1988 that the VA began offering medical and mental health to female veterans. It was described by a VA clinic manger from Salt Lake City calls it “the legacy of that exclusion is still being felt today.”

Many women do not want to be treated differently but they want their experience to be taken in to consideration, when receiving services from institution who are supposed to provide care for them. The one message that was very clear when researching and interviewing people for this subject was “A Veteran is a Veteran.”

Read More
Recipes - Veteran's Outreach Ministries
16 May
0

Custard Bread Pudding

by in Recipes

Metropolitan Life Cook Book and from the kitchen of Joan Hogate

MAKES:
8 servings

TOTAL TIME:
60 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 Cups day old bread crumbs
  • 1 Quart milk, scalded
  • 1/4 Teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 Cup sugar
  • 3 Eggs
  • 3 Tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 Teaspoon vanill

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Set oven to 325 Degrees
  2. Pour milk over bread cubes and add salt and sugar. Beat eggs and add to bread cube mixture with butter and vanilla, mix well.
  3. Pour into a 1-1/2 quart greased casserole Set casserole in a pan and pour hot water to within 1 inch of top (bain marie).
  4. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted near rim comes out clean. Add handful of raisins and a sprinkle of cinnamon at the end before serving.

MAKE IT VEGAN!

Simply substitute eggs for 1.5 cups of applesauce, use margarine and soy milk.

Read More
Women in the Military - Veteran's Outreach Ministries
16 May
0

Women in the Military, Part 2 of 4

by in Interest, Patriotism

A Series by Lishamarie Hunter

We will discuss women taking on more active combat roles in the military throughout the second part of this series. This article will highlight the women who broke barriers and provided the background for the modern female warriors in today’s military, during the Vietnam War, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and throughout Afghanistan War.

1962–1972
During the Vietnam War, over 11,000 women serve, mostly as nurses in all five divisions of the military, Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. All were volunteers. There are eight women, seven of these women were Army and one Air Force, who served in the Vietnam war and made the ultimate sacrifice during the service to their country. Their names are inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington DC.

1st Lieutenant Sharon Ann Lane, U.S. Army was killed by a rocket explosion on June 8, 1969, less than 10 weeks after she arrived in Vietnam. Assigned to the 312th Evacuation Hospital, 1LT Lane was working in the Vietnamese ward of the hospital when the rocket exploded, killing her and her patients. She was from Ohio and her name can be found on Panel 23, Line 112

2nd Lieutenant Pamela Dorothy Donovan, U.S. Army died of a rare Southeast Asian virus on July 8, 1968. Born in Ireland, she was assigned to the 85th Evacuation Hospital in Qui Nhon. 2LT Donovan is remembered on Panel 53W, Line 43.

Lieutenant Colonel Annie Ruth Graham, U.S. Army suffered a stroke on August 14, 1968. She was from North Carolina and was the Chief Nurse with the 91st Evacuation Hospital in Tuy Hoa. Her name can be found on Panel 48W, Line 12.
Captain Mary Therese Klinker, U.S. Air Force was part of an on-board medical team during Operation Babylift. Her flight was carrying 243 infants and children when it developed pressure problems and crashed while attempting to return to the airport. Captain Klinker was killed on April 4, 1975, just three weeks before the Fall of Saigon. A native of Indiana, she is remembered on Panel 1W, Line 122.

2nd Lieutenant Carol Ann Drazba, U.S. Army was killed in a helicopter crash near Saigon on February 18,1966. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, she is remembered on Panel 5E, Line 46.

2nd Lieutenant Elizabeth Ann Jones, U.S. Army was flying with 2LT Drazba and was killed in the same helicopter crash near Saigon. She was assigned to the 3rd Field Hospital. 2LT Jones was from South Carolina and is remembered on Panel 5E, Line 47.

Captain Eleanor Grace Alexander, U.S. Army had been working in a hospital in Pleiku to help out during mass casualties from Dak To when her plane crashed on the return trip to Qui Nhon on November 30, 1967. She was with the 85th Evacuation Hospital. She was from New Jersey and is remembered on Panel 31E, Line 8.

1st Lieutenant Hedwig Diane Orlowski, U.S. Army was on board with Capt. Alexander when their plane crashed on its return trip to Qui Nhon. She was assigned to the 67th Evacuation Hospital, 1LT Orlowski was from Michigan. She is remembered on Panel 31E, Line 15.

These eight women embodied courage, selfless service and sacrifice. They are American heroes who volunteered to serve their country. They joined the over 265,000 American women who served during the Vietnam era. Approximately 11,000 served in Southeast Asia. A small number of women served in civilian capacities, such as the American Red Cross and the USO. More than 50 civilian women died during this conflict. Other women were assigned as physicians, air traffic controllers, intelligence officers, clerks and in other capacities.

1973
The draft (only for males) ends and an all-volunteer military is formed creating opportunities for women.

1976
The first females are admitted to the service academies, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S.Naval Academy at Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy to be trained in military science.

1978
Women in the Navy and Marines are allowed to serve on non-combat ships as technicians, nurses and officers.

1980
The first women graduates from West Point.

1991–1992
During the Persian Gulf War, more than 41,000 women are deployed to the combat zone. Two are taken captive. SPC Coleman and MAJ Cornum were the two female POWs.

1991
Congress authorizes women to fly in combat missions.

1993
Congress authorizes women to serve on combat ships.It wasn’t until November 1993 that the patriotic service of all women was honored in the nation’s capital at the dedication of the Vietnam Women’s War Memorial.

1998
For the first time, women fighter pilots fly combat missions off aircraft carrier in Operation Desert Fox, Iraq.

2000
Captain Kathleen McGrath becomes the first woman to command a U.S. Navy warship. The vessel is assigned to the Persian Gulf.

2003
During the War in Iraq, three Army women become prisoners of war in the first days of the invasion. Jessica Lynch, Shoshana Johnson, and Lori Piestewa.

2004
Colonel Linda McTague becomes the first woman commander of a fighter squadron in U.S. Air Force history.

2005
During the “War on Terror,” Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester becomes the first woman awarded the Silver Star for combat action.

Jessica Lynch - Veteran's Outreach Ministries

Caption: Lynch was captured in Iraq in March 2003. (HO/REUTERS)

2008
16,000 women are serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Germany, Japan, and other related areas. It was during this time that woman soldiers worked with the Marines and Infantry as Female engagement Teams (FET), Lioness Teams. Their mission was to listen to women in the communities and gather information male soldier could not collect due to the cultural restraints.

2015
CPT Kristen Griest and CPT Shaye Haver were the first two women to successfully graduate the Ranger school and be awarded the prestigious Ranger Tab. CPT Shaye Haver also, went on to become one of the first female infantry officers. Women are leaders in the Marine Infantry Units, as well.

2019
The Maryland National Guard for the first time in its history has four top leaders are all female. The members are MG Linda Singh, BG Janeen Birckhead, BG April Vogel, and CSM Perlisa Wilson.

Currently, women are serving traditionally held male occupations within all the military services. They are also serving in combat zones and in combat leadership positions. With the opening up of all areas within the military, maybe one day a woman will hold the highest position and lead the strongest military force in the world as the Commander-In-Chief of the United States of America’s Armed Forces.

 

Read More
What Does It Mean to Trust? - Veteran's Outreach Ministries
16 May
0

What Does It Mean to Trust? Spiritual Message

by in Religion

Article by Pastor Rick Hagar (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.

What does it mean to trust? One definition says trust is to believe in the reliability of someone or something, to believe in the truth, ability, or strength or someone or something. In a relationship, trusting someone means you think that the person is reliable, you can have confidence in them and you feel safe with them.

I love spending time with my two year old grandson but I have also learned to be on my guard when I am with him. If you see him standing on the stairs, or standing on top of something, and he begins counting to three, you better drop everything and get ready to catch him, because when he gets to three he will jump. And he has total trust and confidence in the fact that someone will be there to catch him when he does jump.

The author of our text has already given instructions to his son and with each set of instructions, has also encouraged him with a promise that can be expected if the instructions are kept. In our text, the author is encouraging his son, and the Lord is using it to encourage us, that we are to trust in the Lord with our whole heart, or with our entire being. Just as the little boy trusts so much that he jumps off the steps, knowing someone will be there to catch him, we can have that same trust and confidence in God.

The author also points out that we are not to lean on our own understanding, or we are not to necessarily try to understand everything about what God is doing in every situation, but simply to trust Him. We are to simply jump into His arms and trust that he will catch us. In so doing, we are recognizing that God’s ways are far above our ways, and God’s prospective is much different than our prospective. We can also recognize that God has a perfect plan for our lives that we may not understand, but if we trust Him, we can know it is the best plan for us.

And with that, we are also promised that if we acknowledge Him in all our ways, that He will surly direct our paths. We can trust that He is already working out His plan for our lives and he will guide our steps in the way that we should go.
In all that we do, may we be found trusting in the Lord with our all heart, not necessarily trying to understand everything, but acknowledging Him in all our ways, realizing that, He has promised to direct our paths.

May God Bless you and Keep you
in His Love and Perfect Will…

Read More
Pride & Humility - Veteran's Outreach Ministries
16 May
0

Pride & Humility

by in Religion

I am thinking a lot about pride and humility. We all know the verses; Pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). When pride comes, there comes disgrace (Proverbs 11:2)

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves(Galatians 6:3) I mean deep inside, we all know that pride is not a good thing, right? But, how many of us regularly fall into the pride trap?

And for some of us, our daily work…our mission has fallen into the pride trap. Even though we are doing great things in ministry or nonprofit work, sometimes our motive is just not what it should be. Perhaps, we need to ask ourselves…are we willing to give up that one thing that we believe is what makes us matter to others.

Now, as nonprofit and ministry leaders, I know this is not something that is easy to talk about. Instead we focus on what we are doing, how many we are reaching, etc. And maybe we have a friend or two that we jokingly compare our results with.

And that is ok, until we begin to fill our heads full of the success we think we are achieving.

But, we can accomplish absolutely nothing without God. It is through his grace that we are able to minister in a way that is effective and reaches others. It is through his wisdom that we are able to make decisions that guide the organization in the right direction. And it is through his guidance that we are able to stay humble.

I heard a speaker this morning who said, “we cannot develop humility, it is instead a by-product of the time we spend with Jesus.” Humility comes from remaining open to the heart of God. So, I ask you today, how much time are you spending with Jesus? You might think you don’t have time, but really you don’t have time not to. When you get your security and sense of identity from Christ, it changes everything! No longer does it matter what the world says.

Have a great week!

Read More
Kammie Kilpatrick Empowerment Coach - Veteran's Outreach Ministries - Delaware & Maryland
16 May
0

Business of the Quarter – Kammie Kirkpatrick Empowerment Coach

by in Business of the Quarter

Kammie Kirkpatrick – Empowerment Coach Empowering Your Life
www.empoweringyourlife.net | www.30daysofplay.com | 1-302-983-9031

My name is Kammie Kirkpatrick, and I am an Empowerment Coach. I am faith-filled, brave, fun, compassionate, loving, and adventurous. Whether it is skydiving so a friend’s dream could come true, or doing stand-up comedy just because it sounded awesome, there are no limits to my desire to experience all the joy life has to offer. For more than ten years, I have been training in the area of personal growth and development through an organization called Landmark Worldwide. Not a day goes by that I am not grateful beyond words for my life.

My business, Empowering Your Life, was created in October of 2018. I organically developed my business to make a difference in the world. A heartbreak in my own life, and an excited teenager (with a huge dream) helped me realize why I was created…to empower others. From that moment, I haven’t looked back. I have come to realize, as human beings, we are either struggling with something or have a goal we want to accomplish. Whether it is through my creative one-on-one sessions, or powerful seminars; my goal is that people have someone committed to their success, and a partner to share their journey. I give people permission to dream. I also encourage everyone to expand their view of themselves, and most importantly, of life itself. I want to live in a world where people are blown away by the unique experience of who they truly are. Few things are more powerful and world changing than an empowered person. I believe it is why we were created, and it is my pleasure to serve you.

When I think of empowering a veteran, I don’t need to look any further than my very own father. He served in the US Army (C-Company, 3rd Brigade of the 47th Infantry) during the Vietnam War. That’s the thing about veterans… they’re everywhere! They are our sons and daughters, aunts and uncles, cousins and nephews, and yes, our mothers and fathers. It is why the topic of empowering veterans is so important. Veterans are a huge part of the world as a whole, and sometimes our whole world.

For this article, I decided to go straight to the source. My Dad. A friend suggested it, but I have to admit I was a little hesitant. I never know if my Dad wants to talk about his time in the war, and to randomly bring it up seemed harsh to me. What if it was the farthest thing from his mind that day, and I brought it to the forefront? I received an answer to that question almost instantly. “Not a day goes by that I don’t remember or recall what happened over there,” replied my Dad. His answer gave me courage to continue.

Fighting back tears, I realized my not wanting to talk to my Dad about his time in the war had more to do with me than him. It brought to the surface my own fear, heartache, and sadness, that someone I loved so much had experienced something so traumatic. As my Dad said, “It’s just not something you can get away from.” So, today, we didn’t try. Today we shared our hearts and our experiences. Even though I have never been to war, I could relate to times when I didn’t let fear win over courage, when a spirit of camaraderie was all that kept me going, or when my heart ached to make a difference where God planted me, and my intentions were misconstrued.

From our conversation I realized the best way to empower my vet was to listen. Really listen. Without trying to comfort, change, or lessen his experience. To let come up whatever came up until the next conversation, and to make sure there is another conversation. Feeling alone is death to any human being, especially someone who has experienced the reality of war. I highly recommend listening to your vet today.

My Dad described one of the many profound moments he experienced in Vietnam. It was the first time he arrived in country, and his platoon was circling over an airbase while rockets were exploding below. “In that moment, I accepted whatever was going to happen to me. If it was my time, it was my time.” I have to believe not much can rattle a man after an experience like that. Especially not a loving conversation from his sobbing daughter who just wanted to let him know he was not alone. Thank you for your service Dad, and thank you for my life. And thank you to everyone who took the time to read this.

Read More
252627…30