Soles4Souls-Prom-A-Thon @ Studio 615

What girl doesn't love the Prom and getting dressed up? Soles4Souls had the opportunity to be involved in XClusive Moments Dress Me Prom-A-Thon on March 27th, 2011 at Studio 615. Over 90 Metro Nashville students were chosen to receive a complete Prom Makeover, including a dress, shoes, jewelry, hair, makeup and professional pictures by a photgrapher. It was quite a day, these young women who normally could not afford a nice prom dress and shoes got to experience the red carpet treatment!
Soles4Souls provides shoes for men, women and children all over the world, and some people might look at this and think that this is not an immediate "need", but if you had been there yesterday, you would understand how very important our role was in this event.
We always say that with shoes, we give HOPE. And I saw that yesterday, I saw HOPE in the eyes of young girls and their Mom's, as we fit them with sparkly prom shoes and ooh'ed and aah'ed over their beaded dresses.

We gave them HOPE...
...that they are special
...they they're worth it
...that they are beautiful and of value to many

I helped one young lady with special needs practice walking around in her high heels, and as we neared the mirror, I made her look up, and see her reflection, her beautiful smile...and I SAW hope.

I was there 7 hours, running around like a chicken with my head cut off....When I left last night, my feet were tired, my body was tired...
...but my heart was full...of HOPE.

And I remembered my first prom. We couldn't afford a fancy dress, so my Great Aunt bought my Mom material to make me a dress. And I was afraid I wouldn't fit in because my dress wouldn't look like the other girl's dresses. We lived in government housing, and my neighbors always sat on the porch, which could be quite embarassing at times when they asked my friends for a dollar...

But my Mom worked so hard on my dress, and the big day came...and my dress was beautiful, all of my neighbors told me how pretty I looked when I came out the front door with my date...and at the prom....although my dress was home-made, it was so beautiful, and different...and I felt special, and I had...

Yep, I had HOPE. And I still do.

Give HOPE to someone today....in whatever way you can...

Worship Night at Hopepark

There are just moments that you try to write about and no matter what you say, it never seems to capture it and do it justice. Last month I had the opportunity to be a part of a Night of Worship at my church, Hopepark. It is different from a regular service, it is just music, and some speaking and Scripture reading, but it is definitely a night for people to come out and come together as a community of believers and sing and worship.

And that is what we did...and it was beautiful, and the only word I can find to accurately describe the tone of it is VERTICAL. It was a unique group onstage, and all of us have our niche, and we all came together and put our egos and agendas and ourselves aside, and just worshipped, and used our gifts as a vessel for God to move through. Even before it began, you could really sense the presence of God there...which is correct, because the Bible says, "where 2 or more are gathered in His name, He is there". But sometimes He is there...and then sometimes HE is THERE...whoa, and you know it, and you feel it, and it is just big and huge and vast...and you just walk away feeling so blessed.

But its crazy to me...I have been a part of many services, many dynamic nights....but this night, on this night, I have never sensed the presence of God as powerfully as I did. It was so thick that at times I felt like I could have reached my hands out and spread it apart so I could see into it.

It was just breathtaking...and a moment I really didn't want to leave. And honestly for the few days I think many of us there we're still basking in it...

I want to share the lyrics of a song that immediately came to my mind as I left that night...

"In The Room"
The church is empty but I just can't go home
So I linger for a moment in the dark all alone
And I'm so overwhelmed at how your spirit moved
I'm just glad
I was in the room

So many stories and no one knows but you
The silent prayers answered tonight in these pews
And I don't understand how you do what you do
I'm just glad
I was in the room

Great God in heaven
How wonderful you are
Oh you're still changing lives
And it humbles my heart
That you would allow someone like me
To play a small part

So tonight as I stand here I'm reminded once more
That when any good happens it's not about me Lord
It's enough that I stand in the shadow of you
I'm just glad
I was in the room