I had the privilege of attending a Celebration Dinner this weekend called Make A Way, in aid of Mercy Ministries UK. I along with many other former residents had the opportunity to thank the people who had once made a way for us to enter the program. Complete strangers who had been willing to give to the work of Mercy without even knowing the girls who would enter the program ( well most of them wouldn't know.) A Year or so ago I would have argued with you as to why someone would be willing to actually give to help ME! I couldn't understand why they strangers would want to help me and not even know me! three days into my Mercy journey last year they had an open day to raise money and also officially open there new extension - i was still adjusting to being there. But that day I couldn't make sense of, i didn't understand why people would do it. This was me! And they didn't even know me ( and the other girls in the program!)
At the Make A Way evening we were able to say Thank you to the supporters, treasure builders and staff who were there - and most of all to God! I was overwhelmed ( happily) by it all as we stood and declared that They had made a way and That Jesus was the reason for my Freedom! standing on the stage with around 30 other former residents we all praised God and thanked the people in the room, each one of us had our own story yet were stood there because there were people in that room who had been able to make that way possible! There were lots of HAPPY tears on that stage, REAL smiles and GRATEFUL hearts. You may not understand the power that was in that room right then, God's presence was amazing. It was a simple song being sung but WOW it was powerful because everyone one of us meant it!
The song was Here In My Life by Hillsong :
I have never walked on water
Felt the waves beneath my feet but
At your Word Lord, I'll receive Your
Faith to walk on oceans deep
And I remember how You found me:
In that very same place
All my failing surely would've drowned me
But You made a way
You are my freedom
Jesus you're the reason
I'm kneeling again at Your throne
Where would I be without You
Here in my life, here in my life?
You have said that all the heavens
Sing for joy at one who finds
The way to freedom, truth of Jesus
Bought from death into His life
And I remember how You saw me:
Through the eyes of Your grace
And though the cost was Your beloved for me
Still you made a way
You are my freedom
Jesus you're the reason
I'm kneeling again at Your throne
Where would I be without You
Here in my life, here in my life?
Today I sort of get why someone would be willing to give to be able to Make A Way, it still surprises me though and i still find myself questioning 'why' at times. But they see the heart of Mercy they see that each girl who applies to the program deserves to be able to get the help they desperately need - they deserve to walk in freedom, to feel the love of their daddy, to know the truth that they are Loved - Precious-Worth it ( and so much more) They want to help girls break free from their chains even if they don't know them, to give them a chance! They want to MAKE A WAY for God to be able to Heal the broken hearts, to Restore HOPE and to TRANSFORM LIVES! God doesn't need people's money he can do it without - however He knows that some girls need that SAFE LOVING environment to be able to grow and allow him to work in their hearts!
I know that without Mercy I would not be sat here writing this today! God reminded me of how far I had come, of how much has been done in my life - yes I still have times where i struggle with things BUT I AM NOT WHERE I WAS!!! I left the event with my head buzzing with things, really emotional yet with Happy tears and a Grateful heart! Often at events like that you have raffles, auctions etc. but that wasn't needed at all! The simple yet powerful action of residents being on stage thanking and praising God brought tears and Praise - That was all that was needed! Every single girl there was not ashamed of where she had come from, she wasn't ashamed of being a 'Mercy Girl' because it brought her to where she is today. Our scars weren't hidden under baggy sleeves, we weren't afraid of someone judging them because we knew that we were seen for who we are now and not where we had come from! The scars are part of our story and we have no need to hide them any more!
I am so Grateful to every single person who made that way Possible, from the people who pray for Mercy, who provide financially and for each and every staff member. I am so Thankful that I was given that chance, a LIFELINE, now I am offering that lifeline to other girls who I know. I am sowing seeds in other people because the seed that was planted in me years ago blossomed into a flower!
There is so much more I could write about that evening but I'm still processing lots of things from the event and the week leading up to it so there may be more. God's pretty amazing! Well Done to everyone who played a part in the evening, setting up organising it and just being there! To EVERY former resident who was there be Proud of yourselves Each and everyone one of you are amazing, was good to meet you all too ( the ones who I didn't know that is) and to Girls who I shared my Mercy journey with Keep going you are all doing awesome!
At the Make A Way evening we were able to say Thank you to the supporters, treasure builders and staff who were there - and most of all to God! I was overwhelmed ( happily) by it all as we stood and declared that They had made a way and That Jesus was the reason for my Freedom! standing on the stage with around 30 other former residents we all praised God and thanked the people in the room, each one of us had our own story yet were stood there because there were people in that room who had been able to make that way possible! There were lots of HAPPY tears on that stage, REAL smiles and GRATEFUL hearts. You may not understand the power that was in that room right then, God's presence was amazing. It was a simple song being sung but WOW it was powerful because everyone one of us meant it!
The song was Here In My Life by Hillsong :
I have never walked on water
Felt the waves beneath my feet but
At your Word Lord, I'll receive Your
Faith to walk on oceans deep
And I remember how You found me:
In that very same place
All my failing surely would've drowned me
But You made a way
You are my freedom
Jesus you're the reason
I'm kneeling again at Your throne
Where would I be without You
Here in my life, here in my life?
You have said that all the heavens
Sing for joy at one who finds
The way to freedom, truth of Jesus
Bought from death into His life
And I remember how You saw me:
Through the eyes of Your grace
And though the cost was Your beloved for me
Still you made a way
You are my freedom
Jesus you're the reason
I'm kneeling again at Your throne
Where would I be without You
Here in my life, here in my life?
Today I sort of get why someone would be willing to give to be able to Make A Way, it still surprises me though and i still find myself questioning 'why' at times. But they see the heart of Mercy they see that each girl who applies to the program deserves to be able to get the help they desperately need - they deserve to walk in freedom, to feel the love of their daddy, to know the truth that they are Loved - Precious-Worth it ( and so much more) They want to help girls break free from their chains even if they don't know them, to give them a chance! They want to MAKE A WAY for God to be able to Heal the broken hearts, to Restore HOPE and to TRANSFORM LIVES! God doesn't need people's money he can do it without - however He knows that some girls need that SAFE LOVING environment to be able to grow and allow him to work in their hearts!
I know that without Mercy I would not be sat here writing this today! God reminded me of how far I had come, of how much has been done in my life - yes I still have times where i struggle with things BUT I AM NOT WHERE I WAS!!! I left the event with my head buzzing with things, really emotional yet with Happy tears and a Grateful heart! Often at events like that you have raffles, auctions etc. but that wasn't needed at all! The simple yet powerful action of residents being on stage thanking and praising God brought tears and Praise - That was all that was needed! Every single girl there was not ashamed of where she had come from, she wasn't ashamed of being a 'Mercy Girl' because it brought her to where she is today. Our scars weren't hidden under baggy sleeves, we weren't afraid of someone judging them because we knew that we were seen for who we are now and not where we had come from! The scars are part of our story and we have no need to hide them any more!
I am so Grateful to every single person who made that way Possible, from the people who pray for Mercy, who provide financially and for each and every staff member. I am so Thankful that I was given that chance, a LIFELINE, now I am offering that lifeline to other girls who I know. I am sowing seeds in other people because the seed that was planted in me years ago blossomed into a flower!
There is so much more I could write about that evening but I'm still processing lots of things from the event and the week leading up to it so there may be more. God's pretty amazing! Well Done to everyone who played a part in the evening, setting up organising it and just being there! To EVERY former resident who was there be Proud of yourselves Each and everyone one of you are amazing, was good to meet you all too ( the ones who I didn't know that is) and to Girls who I shared my Mercy journey with Keep going you are all doing awesome!
Thanks Katie :) Amazing Inspiration xxx
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