Archive for February, 2010

Children come to Shepherd’s Gate from all backgrounds imaginable. The Lord has blessed us with a trained staff who accept these kids unconditionally. In time they come to experience love and joy. And they begin to laugh and wonder like precious ones who are healing by God’s amazing grace.

Here is a poem written by Jenifer, our child-care supervisor. I recently found this in one of our older newsletters and was so touched I wanted to share it with you.

Children Come

They come in hurting,
Abused,
Neglected,
Needing love.

Jesus loves me this I know
For the bible tells me so.

People say they are autistic,
ADHD,
Mean,
They need love I say.

Jesus loves me this I know
For the bible tells me so.

They come from disorder,
Chaos,
Confusion,
They need consistency,
Order,
And love.

Jesus loves me this I know
For the bible tells me so.

Within a few weeks or sometimes days,
They are smiling,
Singing,
And listening.

Jesus loves me this I know
For the bible tells me so.

So many times
I have seen
Their eyes brighten when I walk in the room
Running over to give me a hug.

Jesus loves me this I know
For the bible tells me so.

Are there poems or scripture that especially encourage you? Please leave them as a comment here so we can share with our residents. Your words will mean so much.

Jen Harp
Director of Marketing, Shepherd’s Gate

Each month, we like to highlight a woman from Shepherd’s Gate who is turning her life around for good with God’s help. This month’s Woman of Courage is Josie — one of our October 2009 program graduates.

Josie searched online for information about a California women’s shelter and recovery program because she had hit rock bottom and wanted a new start. Little by little, alcohol and depression had completely taken over her life following a heartbreaking divorce and loss of her home, and she wasn’t able to function well enough to even care for her kids. She was sleeping in her car at night to avoid driving drunk.

Josie tried many times to get sober, but each time life got to be too much, she’d go right back to the alcohol to numb her pain. “I noticed the destruction but did nothing about it but drink and put myself in unhealthy places just to be near my drug. I lost everything.”

So she looked up Shepherd’s Gate and began to call. “When I walked in the front doors of Shepherd’s Gate I sensed a feeling of relief, like I’m safe now. I felt stronger, encouraged, and determined to work on myself.”

She came to Shepherd’s Gate to get sober, but Josie found much more here: she discovered how much God loves her. She’d never been to church as a young child, but now she finds new strength in the love and grace of Jesus.

“Believing in the Lord gave me something to live for. Everyday that goes by, living at Shepherd’s Gate, I’m feeling the Lord in my heart more and more which gives me the best warm feeling I have ever had. I don’t think about the bad stuff that happened to me the same way I used to, if I even think about it at all.”

“I am encouraged to move one day at a time knowing I am not alone, going through this journey of recovery . . . a new life.”

I never get tired of hearing stories like Josie’s, because they are such a clear picture of God’s love for His children . . . He never gives up on us.

Today, I ask you to keep Josie and other women like her in your prayers. It takes a lot of strength to overcome their addictions and find freedom, but we know through Christ all things are possible!

Feel free to leave Scripture verses of encouragement for the precious women who are in our program . . . we’ll share with those here as a reminder that they have others praying for them on their journey.

Carla McRee
Associate Director, Shepherd’s Gate