Deaf Ministry

It occurred to me, while I was blogging in my Tumblr account (http://www.tumblr.com/blog/codymariebolton)

I realized that I never really made a pitch about my position in CB Deaf Ministry.

I know that this blog has been seeing some people.

But I do want to make it known that I am the Adoptions Coordinator for CB Deaf Ministry. I encourage all of you who are interested in either Adopting, or sponsoring a Deaf child to email me at: codymarie@cbdeafministry.org to ask me how to help a Deaf child in need. There are Deaf children from all around the world who need someone to take care of them. And it breaks my heart during this time of the year when people have a bunch of presents under the tree, but will pass by a homeless person without a glance.

If it is in your heart to help in some way, or even just give a one time donation, please email me and I will help :)

God Bless and Merry Christmas to all!

Cody Marie

please check out our website: http://www.cbdeafministry.org/

http://www.cbdeafministry.org/Deaf-Adoptions.aspx

What is this Season?

I was watching NBC News and the it was reported that this time of year we have "Random Acts of Kindness" and that this is what this time of year means.

I have a problem with that.

Random Acts of Kindness should NOT be confined to December, or Christmastime.

What we do during the Christmas season, all the gift giving, the helping, the being kind to others isn't something that should be only one time of the year. It should be all times.

Isn't that what Christ did? He did "random" acts of kindness by healing those who never asked for it, He gave the ultimate gift of salvation for all and He did things for people that no one else would do.

So why are we not doing this all the time? Why not buy the mocha for the person behind you in line, why not tell someone they dropped a $1 instead of putting it in your pocket.

Why not love people and do things for people like it was Christmas all year 'round? Why not treat everybody the way Christ did all year 'round?

What kind people are we really? (I am guilty of this too)

What this economy needs more than anything is not to separate the "poor" from the "rich" but without even thinking about reward for ourselves, giving to the less fortunate, because there is someone who is even poorer than you are.

Father God, I ask that we all take a lesson from Jesus and the selfless people in the world. Help us to help others, no matter the time of year, no matter what happens. Help us to realize that this world and everything in it isn't just for us alone, but for everyone, everywhere to share. And when we do not do kindness to others, remind us with conviction with the help of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name. Amen

May God Bless you this Christmas Season and to remember is isn't just about us.

Cody Marie

Have you ever heard....

...the saying, "If I touched/reached out to only one person then it was worth it?"

When I was called to Deaf Ministry, I had no idea that I would be honored enough to influence someone else to do it too, and one willing enough to do it with me.

:)

I can't believe how blessed I am to be able to influence one person into Deaf ministry....I think I will cry for joy every time I influence a Deaf person's life.

:')

Father God, I pray for those that I come in contact with. Those that I will meet and those that I am blessed with as friends. Father, this experience has made it much more clear to me how much I can influence people. I pray that you give me patience, and wisdom to understand when I am doing not so great things, that I don't rub people the wrong way and influence them in a negative/non-Christian way. Thank you God for everything you have done for me. Forgive me for the times when I have not been Christ-like in my character. In Jesus' name. Amen.

New Project

This semester has been crazy busy for me to sit down and actually blog about all the cool stuff that is happening. Although I do not have a lot of time, I do want to blog about a project that I am currently working on. It's a fundraiser for Deaf children at a school in Kampala, Uganda.

I am raising money for these Deaf children so they can have full bellies and a place to sleep at night and to have the basic school supplies necessary for them. These children hand made necklaces and bracelets for fundraising. I am currently selling their items to family, friends, school and church to help them. The price is $10 a piece (usually the bracelets come in a pack of two-four). 100% of the proceeds go back to these kids for food, clothes and basic necessities that we all need to survive. (Most of them receive just one meal a day).

If anyone is interested in purchasing the jewelry, please contact me by phone, email (idaho_freak2010@yahoo.com) , Facebook (facebook.com/codymariebolton), twitter (twitter.com/codymariebolton) or ministry email (Codymarie@cbdeafministry.org)

God bless and I hope that you will consider giving these children a chance. :)

Cody Marie

Prayer

So far, this semester has blown my mind at all the stuff God has placed before me. Specifically there is one "door" that seems to be open and I need prayer for direction. Last week, a woman from my class was talking to me about my vocation and she told me that her church missions director is looking for someone to train so she could retire. I thought to myself, THAT'S AWESOME! I'D LOVE TO DO THAT! And, since I knew Labor Day was a few days away, that I wasn't going to be in contact with her right away. Then in my Intro to Christian Ministries class, we did a prayer exercise, a meditation if you will, and I felt this overwhelming tug at my heart to NOT going to this church to do that job. And I felt this overwhelming sense that God wanted me to spend time with my grandmother while I'm living with her and going to school. This feeling from God was SO overwhelming that, that was the only thing I could think about and after class I went to the professor to ask for prayer about it and I burst into tears.

I am asking for prayer for guidance and wisdom to exactly understand these feelings so I can get a better sense of what God would like me to do. Thanks guys and God Bless

Cody Marie

Summer 2011

Apparently, I need to keep better record of blogging, because it's now September, and I haven't blogged since May. But then again, I have been SUPER busy, but the experiences I've had over the summer were AWESOME and I am SO blessed to have had the summer I did.

I successfully completed my first year of Northwest Nazarene, getting myself out of the academic probation and now I have good academic standing with the school. :)

I ended up with 2 As, 2 Bs and 2 Cs, and still no Ds or Fs on any of my college transcripts! (Can't ask for anything better than that!)

To recap: May was nice and peaceful, my finals were in the first week, so I had three weeks to spend with my grandmother, and homework and school didn't get in the way. And my club became official! WHICH ROCKS! lol

I came home for the summer because my home church: Emmaus (which is "loosely" Nazarene based in theology) offered me a Children's Ministry internship with my favorite children's pastor Kathryn! :D What a blast to see all the kids I have known now for 4 years, all grown up (A year away will do that) and it was awesome to learn what goes into children's ministry, the problems that occur and how to, every Sunday, tackle all the issues/problems that arise so church can go on!

One of the most critical things I learned wasn't so much about Children's Ministry, but methods of problem solving and using the StrengthsFinder 2.0 to discover my potential as a person.

:)

Summer went by way to fast....I mean WAY TO FAST! And before I knew it, it was August again and I had to pack all my stuff up for a second year of NNU.

So far, it's been a really, really busy start....I've been back a week and a half and I'm only halfway done unpacking all my stuff. And with how busy I've been, it will probably be until October I'm all settled in again. :/

This semester I am taking a lot of my minor classes (My minor is Bible) and I know this will be the most rewarding set of classes I have taken so far. Hardest too, because I signed up for Biblical Hebrew...I'm having trouble with the alphabet (alef-bet) and the vowels.

Many blessings to you all and God bless!

Cody Marie

Father God, I am asking for wisdom, strength and a willingness to never give up, no matter what comes my way (both positively and negatively). Thank you Jesus. Amen.

Deaf Ministry is Coming to Light

Of all the things I could have thought I would be doing for the kingdom of God, for ministering to Deaf people, and to bring Light to Deaf people, what has just been thrown in my lap is BEYOND anything I could have ever thought or conceived.

Currently I am volunteering for CB Deaf Ministry. I am the Adoptions Coordinator. I add profiles and information about Deaf children around the world who need adoption and place their information on the ministry's website to help Deaf children find homes. Several children have been and are in the process of being adopted since I have taken over the position in January! And really, I thought I couldn't be happier! Helping Deaf children find homes was the coolest thing I though I could be doing this year--until today.

I have an AMAZING opportunity to be able to help with the creation of the first official Deaf/ASL only church in the entire Southwest Idaho. (There is a hearing churches who provide services for the Deaf). I am completely dumbfounded to be able to have an opportunity to be able to really be a part of a chance to help minister to hundreds of Deaf people who, if Christian already, are immature in their faith. There is such a need here that there are only a few, I mean like 3-5 Deaf people who could even officially pastor Deaf people!

There is a Deaf pastor out of Maryland who does virtual leadership to Deaf churches and Deaf people (he is Deaf) who cannot afford to pay for a pastor for a church and he has already agreed to help!

The concept of this church has only been around for just over a month and there are already many people willing to volunteer and pastor the church. And not to mention there is a building available FREE OF CHARGE for us to use for this church! :D

It blows my mind of the awesome power of Jesus Christ and how He moves through and with people who want to further the kingdom of God.

You know, when God called me to a life of ministry almost 9 years ago (yes I'm only 22) I never even conceived all the possibilities and experiences this calling would bring and I have a feeling even though I cannot contain myself writing this...and it is amazing to see how just saying Yes to God that mountains move....well here they are flattening so that more Deaf people in this area can know Christ! :D

Please keep praying for me and for this ministry and for this Deaf church

God Bless all of you!

Cody Marie Bolton

Full Speed Ahead

And it seems as though the full speed thing has been running away from me. It is the 5th month of 2011 already! And I already have one year of NNU under my belt (And I can't believe it!) It's been incredible! And I am SO blessed to be able to have the chance to learn there! And I'll be there again in the fall! Now it's officially summer and I'll be going home at the end of the month to start an internship at my home church! :D

Unbelieveable

Wow.

It has been awhile since I have blogged about anything!! So to quickly catch up: Going home for Christmas was the exact thing for which the doctor ordered. Even though two weeks was NOT enough time

Classes are already halfway done. Spring Break is in two days and I am really happy to be able to take a break from school. My ADHD has been acting up a lot lately making it very hard to be able to focus i classes, especially in Human Biology. I love the professor but I just cant seem to be able to keep it together in her class. I wish my gade reflected how much I feel like Im trying...

I ended up on Academic Probation at the end of the fall semester with a 1.94. technically I got all Cs but because of a C minus I went under.

And Im getting a club started. Its called The American Sign Language Ministry Club. it just needs to be approved by the SGA Senate.

And I am really really liking Theology...maybe a second major?Who knows...

And finally today is Ash Wednesday. Ah Lent season is finally here! I cant wait to see what God has instore for me this Lent.

God bless you!

Cody Marie