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Who Rescued You?

Penned by | Wednesday, Aug 22nd, 12:28 pm | Filed under Uncategorized

Our Franklin Manager, Ashley's pup - SO excited for her return home!

 

This morning, I was reading the daily posts from Dog Bless You (A great organization which helps to donate service dogs to wounded war veterans, among many other amazing things) and the heading read ‘Who Rescued You’.

Normally, the answer is a pretty quick and precise one, the Lord, but today it got me thinking about my [rescue] dogs, which I am 100% certain rescued me while I just supplied them a home and forum in which to do so.  Whether I realize it or not, just the thought of their little snouts waiting by the door for me to return home after a long day can have the beautiful effect of bringing both tears to my eyes AND a smile on my face.

That effect led me to thinking about something even more – a quote that was shared to me from Mrs. Christina (the owner of our trusty shop) – ‘Be the Person Your Dog Thinks You Are’. It’s as simple as that really.

Your dog greets you at the door with a smile and tail wagging – he/she knows that you probably just had a rough day, or maybe it was exciting, or maybe it was bland, but none the less that tongue is just waiting to lick your face and show that no matter what, they know you did good, just in returning home.

Without it sounding too cheesy, it reminded me a little of our store and it all came full circle.  The purpose of us being here is really, truly just to love on our customers.  There is true excitement each time we see a familiar face, or meet a new passerby that we can turn into a memory. It absolutely matters to us and we are endlessly grateful knowing that each day, you walk in and rescue us just a little bit.

Encourage one another daily, while it is called Today. – Hebrews 3:13
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Second Annual PARKLIFE Event!

Penned by | Thursday, Aug 9th, 8:33 am | Filed under Charitable, Devotions, Fun

Being able to walk through the doors every day here at Philanthropy is a gift we can whole-heartedly be grateful for.  We know we are given so much, to have not only a roof over our head, but a constantly loving, giving and caring work/home to return to each morning.  We would like to say we all can understand, or imagine, what life would be like to be homeless without those things – most of all, without the opportunity to be able to know those things – but we know, with complete honesty, that is an impossible thing to do.

Our belief is to unconditionally love and to do what we can to walk a mile (or many many more) in another’s shoes, to try to help and to understand their needs.

When we speak of ‘their needs’, we know that the largest need of our homeless population is just to be seen as Human, not a homeless man or woman and not someone who needs help, but just as a human being who needs love and ONE opportunity to be able to walk a path and stand on their own two feet.

Today we want to spread the news and EXCITEMENT that next Saturday, August 18th, will mark the Second Annual PARKLIFE Event in Nashville.  This amazing (free) event has been created with the sole purpose of helping open the gates of opportunity for Nashville’s Homeless to create their own paths.

 “The aim of PARKLIFE is to raise $20,000 to finance the final stage of Lambscroft-The Cookery; a culinary arts training and catering center. Providing training and restorative life skills with opportunities of employment for the homeless and poor of Nashville.”

For more information on this event, or how you can help please check out  www.parklifeconcert.org

“Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’” – Matthew 25:44-45

 

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To Conquer by Continuing

Penned by | Friday, Aug 3rd, 9:51 am | Filed under Devotions
 

‘We conquer – not in any brilliant fashion – we conquer by continuing.’

~George Matheson

If you’ve read the scripture we posted yesterday, it might be evident that we are inspired by the ability to conquer – to be strong and to be courageous.

When you are able to see things in the shades that we have created through our trials, it is easy to realize that we are each painting our own beautiful portrait.  During the moments of intense reds, calm blues and vibrant greens each color represents a different period in our lives, full of the positives and the negatives – the times of ease and the times of struggles we must each go through.

We know God has a plan, and in the end, that plan and that path will result in a glorious picture of a rich and plentiful journey through life and through times we ourselves could not have understood before hand, but can be grateful for and rejoice in.

Whether you have experienced loss and hardships, or a bounty of good fortune this week, we have been inspired by each individuals ability to have courage and grace in holding on as well as in letting go, and letting your wondrous work of art take shape.

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