Video about Sophia's Heart

Our Stories

I have been thinking a lot lately about my testimony. It is a story that I love to tell. I enjoy telling people about the pit of despair, hopelessness, and bondage that God brought me out of on January 25, 2000. It is a day that I will never forget and not a day goes by that I don't stop and appreciate the freedom and life that God gave me on that day. Revelation 12:11 talks about how we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. I find it a great honor when I get to share my story with others, when I get to use it to bring encouragement to someone that is hurting and feeling hopeless. I get so excited as I watch hope be restored to them through the healing power of Jesus. Lately, However, I have been challenged to have a daily testimony. See, I want a story of what God did in me, for me, or through me today. He didn't stop working in my life on January 25, 2000. He had just begun. There are so many amazing things that He has done for me and through me since then. These are all testimonies of His grace, mercy, favor, and blessings. I am not negating my salvation experience, as it was a turning point in my life.....a defining moment of the woman that I would become. My life was forever changed that day. However, I want to live my life having a daily testimony. I want to run after God with all that is in me knowing that if I listen to Him, if I let him guide me I can be used by Him everyday to impact someone's life for the kingdom. 

Things at Sophia's Heart are going good. We are working on remodeling a wing of the building to prepare it for families. We currently have one family and they are making great progress. We are working hard to prepare to take in more families and anxiously awaiting the day that this is possible. We are currently second place in a bank contest. This bank will be giving $30,000 to the charity with the most votes at the end of April. If you have any spare time, please go and vote as much as possible. The website is http://www.wsbonline.com/anniversary/Default.aspx. You don't have to sign-up, register, or give any personal information to vote. 

Thank you all so much for your endless love and support!!

Hugs,

Dallas

Update on Sophia's Heart

I realize that it has been a long time since I've blogged and I know that you're all waiting in great anticipation to hear how things are going since I've been in Nashville. So....here goes.

I hit the ground running pretty much the day that I arrived in Nashville. I am working for an organization called Sophia’s Heart. We were recently given an rehabilitation hospital and we are turning it into transitional housing for displaced families. When we are finished and complete we will be able to house up to 45 families. I am the assistant program director so I have an active role in choosing what families we have the ability to help and rehabilitate (not always the fun part). Last year Nashville teachers reported 2, 177 homeless kids. That being said, there will be a lot of families that we will be unable to help. I also have a big responsibility in working out how we will do things logistically (like feed people) as we take in more people and when we get to full capacity. In addition to that I get to help develop the curriculum for the classes we will teach to the families, such as finances. 

We took in our 1st family about a month ago and they are doing great. We are going to start classes with them in about two weeks. This job has definitely been a learning experience and a bit challenging at times. However, I really enjoy it and feel blessed that God has entrusted me with such a position. I have made some incredible connections since being in this position as well as made a new friend or two. I work with an incredible team that all have such a heart for people.

On a personal note, I am working on my 30 day devotional book that I started like 3 years ago. I am close to having the 30 days completed. Upon completion of the 30 day I think I have decided that I will work on a 365 day devotional with the first goal being to get 6 months written.

That's all I really have right now. I'll try to write more in the next few weeks. I hope you are all doing well!!

Much Love,

Dallas

Front of the 77,000 square foot building

One of the rooms

One of the bathrooms set-ups. They don't all have tubs.

Private Courtyard that is completely surrounded by the building. You can't get to it from outside of the building.

This room isn't complete yet but this is an idea of how we want them to look when complete.

Lesson Learned

I read the other day that "life has a funny way of kicking you in the face but that you need to NOT stop believing in yourself." I am adding to this statement that you need to also NOT stop believing in God. After all, "if our God is for us then who can be against us." I know that when you are being kicked ... and circumstances are stacked against you ... and you can't see the way out ... that it's easy to become discouraged and to lose sight what the word of God says. It's easy in those times to withdraw and surrender to the circumstances that weigh you down; to become so inwardly focused that you develop tunnel vision. You can get so focused on your immediate circumstances that you forget there is a whole world out there. You sometimes can even  forget that you have the one thing that matters, the one thing that can turn everything around and that is God. He has the answers, the provision, the vision, the hope, comfort, and healing that you need. I have learned that during these times you need to turn your focus to God, to who He is. The Bible says that "no weapon formed against us can prosper." That is such great news! Nothing that happens to us is too big for our God to handle. We just have to let him. 

Many of you know back in August I moved to Amarillo for a job that fell through shortly after I relocated there. The next four months were filled with failed attempts to find employment, discouragement, near homelessness, and many other obstacles. It seemed like the harder I tried to work things out the worse things got. I became so frustrated with my life and couldn't understand what was happening. I even began to lose sight of the dreams that God placed in my heart and was thinking that they were never going to happen and that maybe I should just stop trying. 

Then...One day not too long along I had lunch with a friend. After lunch I got in my car and said "God, I don't know what else to do." I have done everything that I know to do and nothing is working. Just tell me what to do and I'll do it. I just can't go on like this anymore. I really believe that this was the first time I said that to God during this whole endeavor. See, I had been trying to do it all on my own. Dallas was trying to take care of Dallas instead of letting God take care of Dallas. 10 minutes after saying that to God I received the call about the job with Sophia's Heart. 10 minutes after I gave up control I was called and offered a dream job. Then, within the next week God provided everything I needed, including the funds,  to make the move to Nashville. It has been honestly one of the easiest transitions I have ever made.

All this to say that we need to remember who our source is. It isn't us. It is God. The Bible says "He knows the plans He has for us; plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans for a hope and a future." To trust in Him with all our heart and He will direct our paths. I wonder how much trouble and discouragement I could have saved myself if I would have trusted Him instead of trusting me. No matter what you're facing remember to give it to God and let Him have control.

Much Love,
Dallas

Exciting News

I have some exciting news to share. I have accepted a position with Sophia's Heart Foundation in Nashville, TN. They are opening a shelter for homeless and disadvantaged families. I am going to be the live in assistant program director.

Sophia's Heart Foundation exists to help mend and heal the hearts of children and families who have been touched by poverty, sickness, disease, broken families and broken dreams.

I am very excited  and humbled about this wonderful opportunity and I can’t wait to see what God does through this foundation. This is a dream job come true for me. I don't have all the details yet in regards to when I will be moving to Nashville.There are still a few details to wok out but I will make sure to keep you all informed as things continue to unfold. Thank you all so much for your love and support. It means so much to me.

Much love,

Dallas

If you would like more information on Sophia's Heart Foundation you can visit the website at www.sophiasheart.org. or find them on facebook, just search for Sophia's Heart Foundation.

You are for me

I heard a new song this week. I don't know if it's actually a new song but it's new to me. It is called " You Are For Me" by Kari Jobe. I encourage you to listen to it if you have not heard it. This song has really encouraged my spirit this week. Here are the words:

So faithful, So constant, So loving and so true, So powerful in all you do, You fill me, You see me, You know my every move, You love for me to sing to you.
 
I know that you are for me, I know that you are for me, I know that you will never forsake me in my weakness, I know that you have come down, Even if to write upon my heart, To remind me who you are

So patient, So gracious, So merciful and true, So wonderful in all you do, You fill me, You see me, You know my every move, You love for me to sing to you

I know that you are for me, I know that you are for me, I know that you will never forsake me in my weakness, I know that you have come down, Even if to write upon my heart, To remind me who you are.

Sometimes, we don't understand our present circumstances or why we are in a certain season or feel like we are taking one hit after another. Sometimes nothing that is going on in our lives makes any sense. Often during these times we think that God has abandoned us or that we will never see our dreams come to pass. Sometimes we even get mad at the people around us because great things are happening to them and they are living their dreams and we aren't. We even get to the point that we can't stand to hear them talk about the great things that are happening to them because it just feeds into our feelings of discouragement.

I love this song because it is a GREAT reminder that God is for you. He hasn't left you. He hasn't given up on you. He hasn't written you off as a failure and passed your dreams on to someone else. He says I am for you. He has a plan for your life. A plan to prosper you and not to harm you. A plan for a HOPE and a FUTURE. He says you will have trials but take heart because He has overcome the world. There is nothing you are facing today that has God surprised. There is nothing that you are facing that He can't handle. If you are in a place of discouragement, allow God to encourage your spirit. Stand on His word and His promises for your life. Combat the lies of the enemies with the truth of God and remember that your Heavenly Father is for you and if He is for you, who can be against you? God will never forsake you!! Be encouraged today and hold your head up knowing that your daddy God is on your side.

Much Love,
Dallas

Things aren't always what we expect

I have been in Amarillo for a month now and it has been an adventure. I went treasure hunting at a block party 2 weeks ago and was able to pray with 7 people for various things. God told me that there would be a Hispanic male with a knee injury at this party. He was there and allowed me to pray for healing of his knee. He didn't speak English and I don't speak Spanish so I wasn't able to find out if his knee was better but I believe God that it is. I love to tell people about Jesus and His love. There is no greater honor than to be used by God to minister to people. I have been attending a church called The Summit. I really enjoy it and the presence of God is definitely there. I have made a couple of friends from the church so that's good.

Most of you know, I came to Amarillo to take a job with a cake and cupcake company. The company has decided not to open the location that I was going to work at and manage. Therefore, right now I am currently job searching; one of my favorite things to do...NOT!!! I have interviewed with Starbucks and have a second interview tomorrow. I am praying that if Starbucks is where God wants me then I will get the job. If not, I am trusting that He will provide the perfect job.

Last week when I found out that my job with the cake company fell through, I thought to myself SERIOUSLY!!! I just got here. I just moved half way across the country for this job and now I don't have it. Are you kidding me??? My next thought was that it was time to pack up and go back to Birmingham. After all, what was keeping me in Amarillo? I don't really know anyone. I'm not plugged in at my church yet. I have no job. The logical thing is to call it quits and move home. However, the Holy Spirit is keeping me here. When I came here God said it wasn't so much about the job as it was a connection; a connection that is vital to my destiny. I wasn't expecting to lose the job so quickly but I know that God ordains our steps and He has me here for a reason. Things have not turned out like I have expected, like I had planned out in my mind. I don't know what's next for me here in Amarillo but I do know that God is faithful and He never leaves us or forsakes us. The bible says in Jeremiah 33:3 Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come. He always knows what is around the corner and He is never surprised. I do know that God has a plan for my life and call to do great things for the kingdom, a call to speak to the nations and to be a mouthpiece for healing and restoration. I do know that I will not relent, I will not back down, and I will not give up on what He has called me to do for Him.

I will leave you with this; I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. ...I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back!!!! Philippians 3:12-14 (MSG)

Hugs,

Dallas