God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear even
though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried
into the midst of the sea,

though its waters roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake with its swelling.

[…]

BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD… 

- Psalm 46 (Quoted by Pres. Obama today at Ground Zero)

Someone just informed me yesterday that Justin’s mom favorited a tweet of mine from my old fan account! WHAT?! Awesome sauce. // For anyone that hasn’t seen her Full Circle interview, it’s amazing! God does extraordinary things for the most (seemingly) ordinary people! :)

I once knew a girl in the years of my youth, with eyes like the summer, all beauty and truth. In the morning I fled, left a note and it read, “Someday you will be loved.” // Death Cab For Cutie

buzzfeed:

[26 Stunning Before & After Photos Of Japan 3 Months After The Tsunami]

I love that the Japanese refuse to feel sorry for themselves; no matter the situation, they always get straight back to work!

mindyourbieber:

This is Lizzie. She has a brain tumor and currently gets surgery almost everyday. She is only 4 years old and she just has ONE BIG DREAM. To meet Justin Bieber!

Now I know tumblr can make people their dreams come true. I know we can help this girl make her dream come true.

(via fuckyesjustinbieber)

mighty2save:

This is such an amazing story. I read the story this morning and just started weeping.

It’s the story of a homeless man named Curtis Jackson who has raised over $9000 thus far to help with a “down-on-her-luck” banker named “Sandy.” According to the article:

________

A year ago, everything was going right for a woman we’ll call Sandy.

She had a good job at a bank in the suburbs.

She and her 10-year-old son had a safe home.

But then the world came crashing down around the 39-year-old. She lost her job. She lost her house. And she and her son moved into her truck. Police found her and DCFS threatened to take away her son if she didn’t find a safe place to stay.

She moved into a hotel with the help of a social worker who paid for a few nights stay with her own money. That’s when Sandy’s knight in shining armor showed up. And he’s kept showing up, every day, paying her hotel bill, so she and her son can stay off the streets.

But Sandy’s Good Samaritan isn’t a Chicago big shot. He isn’t living in a Loop highrise. He doesn’t even have a job.

Sandy’s Good Samaritan is Curtis Jackson, who’s been homeless since 2004. He pays for Sandy’s hotel room because she used to treat him with dignity and kindness when she did have a house — and he pays for it by panhandling and giving the money to her.

“All I can do is get out there and put a sign in my hand, or put a cup in my hand and ask people to help me out, and everything I get, except maybe bus fare and something to eat, I give it to her,” Jackson said as he stood at the corner of 55th and Harlem.

Jackson pays the nightly bill by pouring his bucket of change on the hotel counter. Since December, he’s raised $9,000, and he’s given it all to Sandy. He said sometimes 40, 70, a hundred cars go by before someone gives him a few pennies or a few bucks.

Sandy can’t believe it.

“I’ve donated to charities, I’ve helped other homeless families — never realizing that one day we’d be in this situation,” she said. “So thank God that we did have an angel waiting for us.”

Jackson said he’s a man of faith; homeless, but not hopeless, and he’s got some words of wisdom for the people he sees bustling by every day.

“I have God. I’m one of the richest men on this earth, ’cause I have God,” he said. “Money is not my master. That’s what’s wrong with this world: money is its master.”

Sandy said she doesn’t think she’ll ever be able to repay Jackson, who’s become like a brother.

“I’m out here for a purpose: to help someone, and that’s all I’m trying to do is help someone that needs help right at this moment,” he said. “And once she doesn’t need help anymore, I’ll move on to something else.”

______

There’s so much to learn from this article:

• Never underestimate the good of humanity – even from those we often cast out to the margins.
• Maybe we shouldn’t be too quick to judge the “homeless” person with that sign…
• The best way to love our neighbor is to serve our neighbor.
• Sow kindness and generosity. It’s gonna come back.
• We’re all going to go through our down and out moments.

And how about this word of truth:

Jackson said he’s a man of faith; homeless, but not hopeless, and he’s got some words of wisdom for the people he sees bustling by every day.

“I have God. I’m one of the richest men on this earth, ’cause I have God,” he said. “Money is not my master. That’s what’s wrong with this world: money is its master.”

Wow. Amazing. Makes me wonder if we truly believe in the Gospel?

Homeless man donates thousands

This story was on the news a couple weeks ago. I’ve seen this guy before! He’s always so nice and friendly. :)

unruled:motherjones:

The view at Times Square, courtesy of the New York Times.

What a great photo.

This photo is making me all emotional! <3

(via cypriots)

I wish I was at Ground Zero right now

bestrooftalkever:

I lived about 5 blocks from it for two years in college.

For two years, I saw people take pictures in front of it. Posing. Smiling! Unsure about how to address the place, and, in the process, appearing ignorant and out of touch. But what were the alternatives? Scowl? Pose for a picture with a forced sad face?

For so long, it felt like a empty pit as unfinished as the operations that were trying and find justice for the terrible crimes on innocent people that happened there.

Tonight, it feels like a place to move forward. It doesn’t feel like a place wallowing in the uncertainty of the present, it feels like something from from the past that is being fixed for the future.

I’m seeing people standing on light posts, spraying champagne on the onlookers.

What a good night for New York City.

1dheart:

crystalh0ez:

i’m sorry but this had to be reblogged. justin bieber needs to see this.

Okay, i’m not a bieber fan but this is wonderful ♥

Fans like Kathryn are the ones that deserve to be noticed by Justin, ones who struggle but continue to persevere, because they know their future is going to get better! <3

(Source: emotional-dis0rders, via pamplmousse)

The sentence “Do not be afraid” was used 365 times in the Bible, which happens to be the number of days in a year. This only means that God wants us to have the strength to face everything, EVERY DAY. :)

(Source: zebry, via emmawatsaun)