Hand to Hand

I pray this post rocks you and that it challenges you. A Man died and went to heaven. When he met St. Peter he told him how grateful he was to be in Heaven, but he wanted to know how much better Heaven was than Hell. So he asked Peter to let him glance in Hell for just 10 seconds. That a way he could know just how grateful he could be. Peter said OK. When the man looked in Hell he seen a large table as far as the eye could see filled with the best food he had ever put his eyes on. Then the kicker! He asked Peter why everyone around the table were like bones and very malnourished? Peter told him in Hell they have to eat with 5 foot long chopsticks and you could never get the food to your mouth from the table because of the chopsticks being so long. That’s why they are starving to death. So Peter closed Hell up and began to walk with the man through Heaven. Then he took the man into the Banquet room. In there was the same table with even better food on it. Like Fillet steak, poppy seed chicken, shrimp, crab legs, krispy creme donuts (hot n now) if you know what I mean, you get the picture! But the man noticed something everyone around this table was full and looked very healthy! So the man asked Peter “What do these people eat with?” Peter replied, “The same 5 foot long chopsticks!” So then the man asked Peter “how it was possible for the people in Hell to starve but the people in Heaven to be very healthy. When they used the same 5 foot long chopsticks?” Peter then replied, “In heaven we feed each other from across the table. Those 5 foot long chopsticks work if you are willing to serve one another.” This is just a joke but I think we can learn a lot from it! In our own communities people are starving for things like: Love, Security, Feeling wanted and needed, a purpose just to wake up in the morning. I have a real hard time with this because in my home community we have people who are homeless, hungry, and want to change but can’t seem to find anyone to help them! In America we have so much on the table of opportunity with those same chopsticks trying to feed only ourselves. Reach out today feed someone else. You reap what you sow, if you feed others you to will be fed! I have some question and then I’m closing this post out. Are you willing to feed your community? Is your Church reaching out? We as Churches have a lot of resources and a lot on the table. We must serve; it’s what Jesus Christ said we should do!!!! When people with Passion partner together things get done inside the Church and the Community! I am so thankful that I have the resources and energy to do this very thing within my own community! Thank you Jesus, for everything. It’s my prayer that eyes will be opened through this post and people will begin to feed others instead of themselves! With Love Jason

Giving God your ALL!

Let me just say before I write anything we at "The LOT Project" give Jesus Christ all honor, all glory, and all praise for what he did through this family's situation. The very fact that he would choose us humbles me as i write this. It all started when I got a phone call at 9:30 pm on a Friday night from a ministry leader here in Anderson. He said "I have a 28 year old single mom who has been in an abusive relationship. She has a nine year old, a 21 month old, and a newborn. She has packed up diapers, wipes, i hamper of clothes, and she is headed to Anderson. That's all she has. She has nowhere to go". He told me that he had called every program and every woman's home in the upstate and that there were no openings anywhere. Then he said something that at the time made my heart scream. He said "You guys are our last hope. Jason, I know you guys can make this happen". So I immediately went to the Lord and prayed "Use us. Have your way with us. Bring your people, together to make this happen." I didn't know how? I didn't know when? I just know Jesus spoke very clear to me and it literally sent chills from my head to my feet. His exact words to me were "I will give you strength, I will give you resources but you are going to have to step up and lead this situation and know that I've got you." I met the mother and the 3 children at Wendy's off exit 19 in Anderson. Seeing those children and that mom in need broke me to the point that I would do anything to help them and that's what I told Jesus! We took them to a local hotel owned by a friend and put them in a room for five days! With some help from other folks we stocked them with food. Then I began looking for a house. I made 1 phone call and boom we had a house. I was told the house needed a lot of work and that if we wanted to redo it we could. So on Sunday we began working on the house. I called all our volunteers, shared the story and they were all in! Many of them dropped everything they were doing, even their jobs (They took days off from work!) and began helping! The Haven of Rest in Anderson replaced the porch. We replaced all the carpet. The bathroom and parts of the kitchen were redone. We painted and boy did we clean. We were able to paint the outside of the home and even landscape the yard! Then came the fun part decorating and moving furniture in for the family. We got the house finished, which only took 4 days (yes I know our God is HUGE!). Other folks were able to fill up the fridge and cabinets with food, cleaning supplies, dishes, pots, pans, Heck everything! It was one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done, but I assure you it was not easy! I learned several things through this. The most important thing I learned however was that God has surrounded our ministry with people that truly LOVE serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! We as a ministry are 6 months old and God is doing huge things. That rocks my world! I pray this story encourages you but at the same time challenges you to get out of your comfort zone and trust Jesus to lead you! If it's God"s will, its God's bill. We all do things like this everyday if we unite as one body!!!! Thanks again to all who pitched in to make this happen. This family's life has been forever changed! Check us out on the web @ www.thelotproject.com. We are also paying this family's bills for a year so get on board and help us help others! You can donate online and it's safe and easy JUST DO IT! Love you all through the LOVE of Jesus thanks again to all who helped, Jason Ashley.

Grace Killers

Yeah, I know the title of this blog seems a little intense already! Have you ever heard the term "grace killer"? I read a book one time and Pastor David Rice talked about the Definition of a "grace killer".This stuck out to me today that's why I’m blogging about it. A "grace killer" is a person that goes to church just to criticize it or try to take away people's joy. That’s sad but it is happening in churches all over this nation. The most common things attacked by these people are Music. We as believers want to worship Jesus and praise him, they however attack the style of music. They say “It’s not traditional” so it will not work and be effective! Wow! They forgot to tell Jesus about this. I believe whatever the music, just worship Jesus and not the music and he can use anything for his glory. These people also attack the Giving within the church. We want to worship Jesus with his money yes I said his money nothing is ours and they want to know everything purchased and try to tell the leaders how to spend it! They love stirring up controversy within the Body of Christ! We want to reach a fallen world for Jesus and they tell us we are doing it all wrong. They simply say this because we don’t do it according to the way they would do it or don’t use the same methods they would use! Last time I checked the Holy Spirit leads us, not man! You see it’s a pattern anywhere there is change taking place and lives being changed for Jesus. These people come out of everywhere trying to destroy the move of God. They don’t realize how deadly this can be. God will not let them get away with these kinds of actions! Grace Killers will fall flat on their faces. They ain't happy so they don’t think anyone else should be full of Joy either! Good news folks keep your eyes on Jesus and forget about these types of people. Life is too short and Hell is to Hot! So tell the world about Jesus and if somebody has something bad to say about you or the way you do it! Dust off your feet and press forward. If you are getting criticized you are doing a great job. Jesus got criticized, beat up, spit on and by the way it was the RELIGIOUS PEOPLE who did it to him! So smile and if you just got pissed off reading this blog, quit "Grace Killing" and criticizing people!

Random

As I sit here thinking of what to write about my mind and my spirit are in total peace. I think about where I was when God saved me. I think about the friends and family Jesus has blessed me with. I think about the ministry God has placed on my heart and the vision he has given me for The Lot Project. I think about how tough life is at times but I rejoice in the suffering this life has to give. I know my God is huge and he is over all things, he is supreme. I feel so loved by Jesus its unexplainable and I want to LOVE others like he loves me. I think about my Father who has been in Prison for many years and will soon be free. I think about my Wife who is carrying our 3rd child. I think about how she LOVES me and how blessed I am to have her. I think about my 6 year old son who is already serving Jesus and understands what Jesus did for him. I think about my Mom who has sacrificed for me so many times. I think about my best friend who loves me and my kids like we are family. I think about the fact that Jesus gave his life for all. I think about my future and I know God has got me and I know his will for my life will be fulfilled! I pray that this City, this State, and eventually this Nation will be surrendered fully to Christ. I pray that Christians will serve like we should and not question Jesus! HE IS OUR PROVIDER AND THAT'S ALL WE NEED! I LOVE YOU ALL and that was a random post but its what was on my heart and mind!

LEADER or GRUNTER?

What is the first thing that pops in your mind when you here the word man? Leader pops in my head so here we go launching right in to the post! That's what the man should do is lead the home and family. We look around our falling nation which is still blessed compared to other countries and we see a Crime Rate that is out of the roof, Abortion is at an all time high, Teen pregnancy is climbing as well as drug abuse in our teens. One question, who is really to blame is it the world or is that just the excuse we use for bad parenting. I'm convinced it's the Fathers not being present in there child's life. See anyone can be a Dad but it takes a special person to be a Father. Someone who is at the kids functions and events instead of Mom having to do it all because the Dad had to close on a business deal. Whats more important? Money or your Children's future. For to long the Dads out there have not been leading. The bible reads in (Proverbs) Train up a child in the way he should go and he will never depart from it. That my friend is the truth but in our culture its not happening because the Dads refuse to lead there family. Here are more scriptures to look up about Fathers. Ephesians 6:4, Luke 11:11, Colossians 3:21. Check them out for yourself. I'm not saying there are not Fathers out there trying there best i know of several and i commend you. Do me a favor sometime this week if you are a Dad slow down get in total silence and think about whats important. Let God speak to your heart. If all the Dads out there started leading and being true Fathers we could change this country with one generation. Love you guys O dont forget to check out our new website @www.thelotproject.com

Whats your TEMP?

Had help from a great friend of mine named James on this post. Good evening friends! I am going to write about temptation tonight so here we go. Luke 4:13 Even when you defeat one temptation, Satan only leaves till a more opportune time which is when you are weaker or a better opportunity to strike presents itself. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No matter what temptation has overtaken you it is common to all man you are not the only one who struggles with it. However it is within human resistance to defeat. God is so compassionate that he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your ability to beat it. But with temptation he will give us the strength and a way to escape. Look at the life of Job. 1 Peter 1:6 We should be glad when we are distressed by temptations it is so the genuineness of our FAITH may be proved. 2 Peter 2:4-9 Even as God spared Noah and his family and saved Lot but destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah he will also rescue his children from temptations. So from now on when you feel overwhelmed by temptations cry out to God with your whole heart and stay on your face in front of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the true example of how to defeat Satan and his temptations. He stayed prayed up and he defeated Satan with his Holy Father's words. So I challenge you to fill up your hearts and minds with God's word. Are you spending time with Jesus daily? Are you running to win? Or are you running barefoot struggling to take your next step. Love you all Jason. Also check us out online @www.thelotproject.com

PASSING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW! Its great to be back. I have been taking a blogging break, which is great to do once in a while. I am simply going to just share whats going on in my head and my heart. If you are offended I DON'T apologize. Here we go the other day I received a phone call (Which happens a lot about 130 received a day) and I was disturbed by what I was asked to do. I was told "Jason I just ran into a homeless guy he has no food and he is hungry so I gave him your card" WHAT THE HECK? You mean to tell me you depend on me to do everything? Just because I am a homeless outreach and street minister does not mean I can meet every need!!!!!!! I was not mad or angry in a bad way! I was just disturbed that the person seen the need, had the resources to meet the need and instead of being obedient to Jesus and feeding the hungry the person passed it off on someone else!!!! I truly believe that's the problem in Christian culture...people see needs and instead of meeting them when they have the resources to do so THEY PASS THEM ON TO SOMEONE ELSE!! Ever wonder if that person might have been put in your path for a reason? That's one thing that I love about the church in the book of ACTS they seen a need they met it. No matter what the need was the bible says there were no needy among them!!!! So they set the standard for how we should meet needs on an individual basis and as one body that has many parts. But if the body has missing parts it can not function like Christ intended it too! For too long people have been giving the Lord a half hearted effort! Then we wonder why the Church in America is steady declining!!! IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS AND DON'T SERVE ONE ANOTHER. People in the church depend on the leaders to do it all when in reality there is only ONE LEADER... THAT'S JESUS CHRIST! We are all commanded to LOVE one another and it's not a suggestion ITS A COMMAND! I will end with 2 questions to ask yourself. Are you serving the needy or passing it along to someone else? Are you serving your home church? I pray in Jesus Holy name that this blog post breaks through to those who read it and I pray for people to have the LOVE Jesus has! Remember ONE GOD, ONE LOVE, ONE WAY!