One Word - The 2018 Edition

It has been a year since I posted and I think I will be getting back into this a bit more. Going back to school in my late 40's has posed a challenge when it came to writing other stuff. However, I wanted to kick the New Year off the way I have the past few years.

Since 2013 I have been encouraging people to seek the Lord for a word for the new year instead of making a new years resolution. The idea is one I originally picked up as a Compassion blogger.

The words over the years have included: PRAYER, TRUST, PEACE and BEGINNINGS. I never know how the word will be applied, what circumstances will arise, but when I reflect on the year that passed, I always see God has been true to His word.

For 2017 I felt the Lord was speaking COMFORT. Well our world was turned upside down in may ways this past year. We took some hits and have been navigating some new waters as a family. I will admit, there were times we felt like giving up. Yet we end the year with the COMFORT that God has helped us through these troubled waters and met every need, both spoken and unspoken! He used friends, family and strangers to speak words of COMFORT and to put action to those words as well.

Now we are on the cusp of 2018 and I have been praying for days asking the Lord what He is speaking to me for this year.

The word is a repeat of one from a few years past: PEACE.

As I prayed and read the Word of the Lord leading up to this post, I was drawn to the book of Titus. There is  a greeting of peace and Titus 3:2 says this, "..to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all  men." Though that is the extent of the word peace as found in Titus the theme of peace is there, especially starting in 3:9 where it talks about avoiding dissension.

I don't know what 2018 holds but I know God is in control. He has sustained me for 47 earthly years and sustained me in the faith for 34! I know whatever happens, He is the God of peace...the provider of peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7)

I am excited to see how this word applies to the coming year.

So what is God speaking to you for the New Year?

One Word - The 2017 Edition

It has been awhile since I posted, going back to school at 46 doesn't allow a lot of free time. However, I wanted to kick the New Year off the way I have the past few years.

In 2013 I became a Compassion blogger. I was drawn to the idea for 2 reasons. One, I love Compassion and have sponsored a few children over the years. Two was the challenge they put out encouraging people to seek the Lord for a word for the new year instead of making a new years resolution. I enjoyed the idea and have asked God for a new word each year since.

In 2013 I felt that word was PRAYER. In 2014 the word and pray I did.  Lots.  Things happened (concussions) which forced me to my knees in prayer before the Lord.  In fact I think I only survived that year due to prayer!

In 2014 that word was TRUST. Looking back over that year, I saw areas both personally and professionally where I had to learn to trust God more than ever.  I also saw God open amazing doors as I learned to trust Him more.

In 2015 I felt that the word He had for me was PEACE. A lot happened that year and my peace was challenged greatly at times.  Yet through all of the ups and downs, I felt the peace that passes all understanding!  (Phillipians 4:7)

In 2016 I felt the word the Lord spoke was BEGINNINGS. It was definitely a year of new beginnings. My daughter moved to Germany and my wife and I went back to school. We moved to Winnipeg and are now training to become Salvation Army Officers. Of course beginning mean endings as well and we had a few of those, from the loss of family to the moving away from our home town of 12 years. Yet God was and is good and sustained us through it all.

I never know how the word will be applied, what circumstances will arise, but when I reflect on the year that passed, I always see God has been true to His word.

Now we are on the cusp of 2017 and I have been praying for days asking the Lord what He is speaking to me for this year.

The word is COMFORT.

Two Scriptures come to mind. The first is in John 14:18. In the NIV it says, "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you." Most translations use the word orphans but the KJV uses the word comfortless.  The second is 2 Corinthians 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort."

I have been a spiritual orphan but then I found Christ. I have lost one of my earthly parents, and Christ comforted me through that time. Many think of loss and comfort together. Yet I look at this word for the year and my thoughts drift to words written by Samuel Bringle. In his book Guest of the Soul he wrote, "When He comes, He arouses and quickens our dull minds, He opens wide the closed eyes and sealed ears of our soul, and we see and hear things that were hidden from us. He brings our inner life into harmony with the mind of God as revealed in the Bible." That to me is comfort!

I want that kind of comfort! I don't know what 2017 holds but I know God is in control. He has sustained me for 46 earthly years and sustained me in the faith for 33! I know whatever happens, He is the God of all comfort. I just want to lean into Him.

I am excited to see how this word applies to the coming year.

So what is God speaking to you for the New Year?

One Word - The Tradition Continues

Back in 2009 Compassion began challenging people to seek the Lord for a word for the new year instead of making a new years resolution. This challenge has been sent out to their bloggers every year since.  I enjoyed the idea so much that in 2013 I joined the ranks of Compassion bloggers who write about their one word.  I have asked God for a new word each year since.

In 2013 I felt that word was PRAYER and pray I did.  Lots.  Things happened (concussions) which forced me to my knees in prayer before the Lord.  In fact I think I only survived that year due to prayer!

In 2014 that word was TRUST. Looking back over that year, I saw areas both personally and professionally where I had to learn to trust God more than ever.  I also saw God open amazing doors as I learned to trust Him more.

In 2015 I felt that the word He had for me was PEACE. A lot happened this past year and my peace was challenged greatly at times.  Yet through all of the ups and downs, I felt the peace that passes all understanding!  (Phillipians 4:7)

As we approached the new year I asked the Lord for a word for 2016.  That word is BEGINNINGS. 

I was drawn to this passage in Isaiah:

"Behold, I am doing a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:19)

As I read and reflect on that passage of Scripture I can't help but get a bit excited. I also get a bit nervous.  Beginnings can signify change.  Change is not always easy or comfortable. However, I believe the Lord is speaking this word for a reason. I don't know what 2016 holds but I know Who holds 2016!  I can makle plans but God can take things in any number of directions. I am usually suprised by how significant the word becomes by the end of each year.

My ultimate goal is to know Him and His will more. 

I am excited to see how this word applies to the coming year.

So what is God speaking to you for the New Year?

Closed Doors and Open Windows - Guest Blogger Teri Gerdes

I am away on vacation.  While away, a couple of Compassion Bloggers have agreed to make guest posts on my blog!  Enjopy and check out thier blogs for regular doses of awesomeness!

Closed Door and Open Windows
 
Our children had the blessing of attending a Christian school.  One of them from 5th-12th grade.  One of them from 2nd-12th grade.  One of them from Kindergarten-2nd grade.  This school was very small.  It was a school where our children were nurtured in the Word and ways of the Lord.  It was a family.  It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it was perfect for us during that stage of our lives.  Our daughter was a member of the last graduating class in 2008.  Closed doors.

My husband was a member of the Board of Directors for this school.  Making the decision to close the school was not easy, but it was wise.  The economy in our area just didn’t support a school such as ours. For a few years, a local preschool program rented the building from the Board which brought in some income as the Board was trying to decide what the future held for a Christian school such as our humble little one.  In 2013, the preschool organization decided they wanted to buy the building.  Open windows.

The bylaws which the Board of Directors needed to abide by stated that any money left in the account when they disbanded was to be given to Christian organizations that had something to do with education.  Each member of the Board was allocated a certain amount and given the freedom to choose the organization that they wanted their portion given to.  My husband chose Compassion International.

Compassion International’s Leadership Development Program (LDP) to be exact.  Compassion’s LDP is an amazing program!  I had personally met some LDP students while on sponsor tours and at the Advocate conferences I attended.  I desperately wanted to have the chance to pour into the lives of these dynamic young adults as they studied in University to become all that God intended them to be. But I needed a major act of God.

And God did it.

My husband was given a check with a sizeable amount written on it.  All we had to do was choose our students.  It was fun to read through so many biographies of so many deserving students.  To pray and ask God which students He wanted us to have in our lives.  We knew we were going to Colombia that year, so we chose Reyner from Cartagena.  Ecuador also held a deep place n my heart, so we chose Marco from Machala.  We were able to help these two fine men through their entire college career.  And we still had money left over!  So, we chose Elkana from Kenya, who only had a little over a year left. And we still had money left.  So each of them got money to use for a laptop computer or another necessity for their classes.

Recently, Reyner made the choice to leave the LDP.  It was his choice.  We were disappointed.  Closed door for him.  We hope he remains in school to finish out his dream, but that is a decision he will have to make.  We know that we poured ourselves into him through a visit with him and many letters.  We showed him Jesus every chance we could.  We love him still.  That will never change.  But we had some funds left over from his account that needed to be allocated somewhere else.  Open windows.

Again we looked through biographies and asked God who He wanted in our lives.  That is when we chose Rebecca and John, both students in Uganda.  They both only had a few months left.  Then another open window.

We learned that Marco, our student in Ecuador, would be finishing his studies MUCH earlier than anticipated.  Open window.

Back to the website to look at more students.  It was then that I saw Pablo from Nicaragua.  I could hardly believe my eyes!  Just a few months before seeing his picture on the website, I had met this young man.  I was on a sponsor tour in Nicaragua, and Pablo was one of the students who addressed our group.  To say he was a dynamic speaker would be an understatement.  I knew that we had to use the extra funds we had to sponsor Pablo.  So we did.

Never in my wildest Compassion dreams, did I ever expect to be able to have even ONE LDP student in our Compassion family!  But God, in His Ephesians 3:20 way, saw fit to add SIX of them to our hearts!

Sometimes closed doors can be really hard.  Even heart-wrenching.  I am so thankful that God opens windows to soothe the pain and heart-ache.
Reyner MarcoElkanaJohn RebeccaPablo (in white shirt)

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ever ask for or imagine…to Him be the glory, both now and forevermore.”  Ephesians 3:20

Teri Gerdes blogs at https://iamgivinghope.wordpress.com

Summertime, Sum Sum Summertime - Guest Blogger Michelle Kelly

I am away on vacation.  While away, a couple of Compassion Bloggers have agreed to make guest posts on my blog!  Enjopy and check out thier blogs for regular doses of awesomeness!

Summertime, Sum Sum Summertime! 

Summertime, a wonderful time of year with a gentler pace for many families.  Away from the schedules and demands of the school year there is time to explore and experience different things together as a family and individually.  The title of this post may bring a song to your mind, just know that I’ve been humming that song for days.  I guess that is one way to come up with a title!

Sharing purposeful times with our kids

Often in the summer, when my children were younger, we would have “summer fun” camp and ministry related experiences that just didn’t fit in the rigorous days of scheduled learning.  The activities and experiences we planned were based upon a couple of the goals we have as parents.  We desire to inspire our children to love God and men, to be lifelong learners, to be givers, to know this world is bigger than our backyard, community, state, country, and continent.  We also want to be intentional about experiencing life together and making memories that will bring joy and give direction in the future.

The summer camps often included local cousins and always included the library reading program.  Our local library system has a wonderful summer program.  Among other things, they give fantastic prizes that include tickets to various activities and places in our town.  With those tickets we discovered many interesting places and enjoyed being tourists in our own community.

Pursuing a lifestyle of lifelong learning and global awareness

As I said, often times our activities made us tourists in our own town and got us outside.  Other times we had intentional opportunities to explore the world outside our community.  We sponsor children through Compassion International and have a few international missionary friends.  One way I found to expose my children and build relationships with those other places and cultures, was to choose a particular geographical place and pick up a few books from the library.  If there were some interesting videos, I would also pick those up.  Then we could choose recipes from this list, and prepare a meal from that country or area.   These countries and areas would usually be related to our sponsor children.  Doing these things helped us to “know” these kids better and give us better understanding of their lives.

Family Ministry with Compassion International

Compassion International has various items on their website to help parents in developing a global mindset, activities at the Compassion Offices, aka the Global Ministry Center in Colorado Springs, as well as publications that you can receive in your home.

One such publication and activity is Step into My Shoes.  I only learned about Step into My Shoes last summer, and since then have discovered much more about this fantastic opportunity.  Last August, my youngest daughter and I had the opportunity to participate in Step into My Shoes at the Compassion Offices.  The highlight of this activity was definitely having a skype call with children at a Child Development Center in Bolivia.  My daughter got to take part in the conversation and was able to ask and answer questions.   While we were able to participate in Colorado Springs with the program, the website has a kit and other resources that you can order to do a Step into My Shoes series of activities in your home or small group.

Learning, growing, exploring and experiencing.

A great way to spend summertime!

Michelle Kelly blogs at byquietwaters.com.  She is a Jesus follower, wife to one, marme to many and nana to just one.

Proud Papa

We are blessed to have two wonderful kids.

Our daughter, our blessing, came to us at just the right time and has been just that. She has an aweesome voice, is a talented writer and has a such a heart of compassion that even her dear old dad looks up to her! She has been an encouragement and blessing to her parents and we are so thankful God gifted us with her presence seventeen years ago.

Our son, our miracle, was just that.  We did not think we could have kids anymore after my wife had complications during her first pregnancy.  Yet one day, many years after disposing of our baby items, this miraculous bundle of energy came along. He loves to play soccer, wrestle with dad and create worlds of adventure with his Lego.

A Blessing and a Miracle.

I am a proud to be a papa.  Not everyone is so lucky. 

In addition to my two awesome kids, we have had the privelage and honor of sponsoring three wonderful kids via Compassion.  Our first, Tsehay, was from Ethiopia and we decided to sponsor her after seeing her precious photo at a Rebecca St. James concert.  We decided to sponor another child after Tsehay grew up and graduated the program.  Our second child, Luiz from Brazil, left the program after a few months when he moved away.  We then found little Wycaro, also from Brazil.  His letters are so cute and he shares many interests with our own son.

All three of our Compassion Kids photos are on our fridge and we have written many a letter back and forth over the years.  These kids are part of our family.  We have all read the letters, looked at the photos and sent pictures, drawings and other things to our kids over the years.

This Father's Day, why not become a Proud Papa to a child in need?

Why not go to www.compassion.com/fatherless today to sponsor your own bundle of joy! 

Just One Word

A couple years back Compassion sent a challenge out to their bloggers  to seek the Lord for a word for the new year instead of making a New Years Resolution.  I enjoyed the idea so much I have asked God for a new word each year since.

Literally, ONE word.

If the Lord was to give me one word for 2015 what would it be?

In 2013 I felt that word was PRAYER and pray I did.  Lots.  Things happened which forced me to my knees in prayer before the Lord.  In fact I think I only survived that year due to prayer!

Last year that word was TRUST. Looking back over the last year, I have seen areas both personally and professionally where I have had to trust God more than ever.  I have also seen God open amazing doors as I learned to trust Him more.

Now with 2015 upon us, I asked the Lord what word He wanted to give me for this year.  I feel that the word He has for me this year is PEACE.

As I prayed about this year I felt the Lord remind me of two passages from His Word.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phillipians 4:6-7)

I don't know what 2015 holds.  I am making plans (vacation in Tennesee, book promotions, church, ministry) but I also know God can take things in any number of directions. My ultimate goal is to know Him and His will more. 

I am excited to see how this word applies to the coming year.

So what is God speaking to you for the New Year?

Dancing Without a Care!

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." (1 John 3:1)

Today I went out to eat.  A local hotel has hosted an annual breakfast for the community for the last 15 years.  The event is geared towards families and includes hay rides through the snow, Santa and other characters and music provided by local fiddlers and musical groups.  All you need for entry is a can of food for the food bank.  The community was extremely generous and many, many boxes of food were provided that will help the food bank continue to reach out to those less fortunate.  Many of those receiving the food will be under the age of 13.  

I sat at a table watching another group of kids dance in circles to the music on the stage, holding hands and falling down.  They jumped up and down and laughed without a care.  Some would climb into their parent's laps and snuggle before darting back to play.  One fell down and cried before his parent came to comfort him.  All was better after that.

It was beautiful imagery of how our Heavenly Father cares for us. I believe He delights in seeing us, His children, dance and play with joy.  He loves to see us laugh without a care, snuggle in His lap and dart off again to enjoy the life He has given us.  Occasionaly we get hurt and need His comfort and care.

He also loves those children in need of speacial care.  Those who have no joy, no food, no home and no chance to dance without a care. 

Just as the community came together today to provide food for the local food bank, I believe God calls each of us, as His children, to come together as a community to share that love with kids around the world. 

There are so many ways we can get involved. We can volunteer at a local Salvation Army, at a food bank, church, school or other community programs that reaches out to kids in need. We can also help kids around the world who are in immense need via wonderful organizations like Compassion International. 

As children of God, we should love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and love our neighbors as ourselves.  Children of God should reach out to all of God's children, wherever they may be.  Every child should have the chance to dance without a care!

Confessions of a Kid at Heart

I am a kid at heart.  Growing up I loved to read comic books, play with toys and collect baseball cards.  I have a confession to make.  I still collect baseball cards...and read comic books...but you won't catch me playing with toys...when anyone is around!

I look back on my childhood with fond memories.  Sure, like any family we had our problems, but I always had a warm meal, a loving family and plenty of friends and things to play with.  We were not rich by any means.  My dad lost his job when I was a teen and we went through some very hard times, eventually ending up homeless.

Having experienced life on both sides of the economic coin, my heart breaks for those caught in a life of poverty, hunger and need.

Which is why being a Compassion sponsor is so important to me.  My wife and I have sponsored children with compassion since  2001.  After our first child graduated the program and our second moved to a new region, we are now sponsoring our third child.  A little boy from  Brazil a little older than my son CJ, who is 4. 

We love getting the letters from our sponsored child and reading not only of his growing knowledge of the Lord but how much he loves the things a kid should love.  Through his letters we have found that he loves soccer and playing with cars. A typical child in an economically depressed area of Brazil.

I know that being a Compassion sponsor helps the child and his family.  However, I have also found it helps our family as well.  It reminds us that we are called to show Christ's love to the nations.  We can't all travel overseas but we can make a difference in our own communities and via organizations like Compassion, communities and families around the world.

I invite you to remember what it means to be a child at heart and to sponsor a child today: Compassion Sponsorship.

Feel free to share your own Confessions of a Kid at heart in the comment section.

What I Learned...

A friend has passed away.

He will be missed.

He taught me so much over the years.

Things like compassion, love, humor and respect.

All attributes he displayed to me over the last 8 years.

Some looked at him and saw his "issues", I looked at him and saw Jesus Christ.

I will always recall the hours we spent talking about the Lord while sitting on the couch.

I will never forget the day he made the choice to follow Jesus.

Today he is in glory, walking and talking with the Lord.

I look forward to the day I see him there.

His race was long and hard, but I know Jesus was smiling when he walked into the Kingdom!

-----------------

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."  Zephaniah 3:17

No one is beyond redemption. 

Everyone needs compassion.

We are called to love one another.  Let us share the truth of Jesus Christ in love and compassion.  By doing so we can see God change lives, including our own!

Hope Rising

I usually avoid books on alleviating poverty as I find that many are either unrealistic in their approach or the author heaps on so much condemnation you want to just give out of guilt or give up out of frustration.

What drew me to this book was the fact that it was written by Compassion International's Senior VP of Global Advocacy.  Though I was not familiar with the author, Scott Todd, I was very familiar with Compassion.  My wife and I have sponsored children via Compassion since 2001 and we love the organization and the work they do.

So, with that out of the way, I wasn't sure what to expect from Hope Rising.  What I found was a book that definitely fits the title.  I found that hope truly was rising within me.  The basic premise is that EXTREME poverty can be eradicated.  Scott Todd speaks about our low expectations that extreme poverty can dealt with and then goes about showing how much has truly changed even in the last 20 years.  I did not know so many inroads have been made in the war of poverty.  I found myself encouraged to do my part.

I really enjoyed Scott Todd's look at Matthew 26:11.  This oft-quoted verse on poverty has just as often been misquoted and Scott looks at the entire passage in context.  If anything else, this chapter should be required reading for anyone who feels nothing can be done re. poverty!

I highly recommend this book for every believer who believes God can make the impossible possible and wants to do their part in seeing lives forever changed!

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I received a free copy of this book via the Booksneeze review program

Compassion International's iPad Magazine

Compassion International is broadening its impact.

You can now access Compassion Magazine via your ipad.

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Being able to have more content and to write your sponsored child via your Compassion iPad magazine is pretty cool.

If you have an ipad, make sure you add this to your device.

Compassion Magazine for iPad is free and currently available three times per year in winter (February), summer (June) and fall (October) and the latest edition is now available. To receive the iPad version of Compassion Magazine, go to:

MyAccount –> Magazine Preferences –> Check the box that says “Compassion Magazine iPad Version.”

Courtesy of Compassion International: http://blog.compassion.com/expand-your-world-with-our-new-ipad-magazine/#ixzz2vnhmy5JP

If you are not sponsoring a child through Compassion, what are you waiting for?

Just follow the link and change a life today:

http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm

The Super Bowl, Human Trafficking and an iPhone App

The Super Bowl is one of the larger venues where human trafficking is rampant.

The USA Today has an article up right now that talks about the Super Bowl and human trafficking:

Human Trafficking at the Super Bowl

 

Sponsor a Child at Risk

Here is some info on Human Trafficking from the Salvation Army: http://salvationist.ca/action-support/human-trafficking/

In addition, the Salvation Army has launched the first ever app that helps people spot the key signs someone may be being trafficked.

It is available on all iPhone and Android phones and is free to download http://sar.my/ahtapp 

One Word

Compassion sent a challenge out to their bloggers  to seek the Lord for a word for 2014 instead of making a New Years Resolution.

Literally, ONE word.

If the Lord was to give us one word for 2014 what would it be?

I did this a couple years ago and the word then was prayer.  

Like before, I knew my word before I was even sent the email from Compassion. The Lord gave me that word a few weeks ago...and it began with a conversation with my Area Commander's wife!

I am not one who "rests" well.  I am more the restless type.  I do relax by reading, writing, etc but it seems I have a built in spring, always bouncing up to see what else I can get into.  We've been in the midst of the "busy season" at work this month.  Christmas kettles, budgets, food drives, etc. keep one hopping.  Days off seemed like a luxury.  

I mentioned that I was looking forward to resting over the holidays...while leaving the cell phone on in case of emergency.

I was challenged by the word given to me by my AC's wife.  That word was TRUST.  In a nutshell she defined rest as trust.  Can I relax, turn off my cell and trust God will look after my unit without me for a few days.

I had to chew on that one.  I still am.  She was not the first one to ask me that question in the last 2 months.  I think God is trying to tell me something.  TRUST.

I was reflecting on this word when I was reminded of Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."  Sadly, I am not always trusting in the Lord when life get's busy.  I feel like I have to keep going like the energizer bunny.  I know I need to stop, rest and trust.

I want to be like the psalmist who says, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." (Psalm 20:7)

I am taking the word to heart.  Over the last few days I have left my cell phone alone and it has been way more relaxing.  I went a step further and stayed offline for a couple days as well.  It felt like I was in a detox!  I was able to play more with my family and focus more on other things.

 I could get used to this trust thing!

So what is God speaking to you for the New Year?

The Man At The Counter

The man standing at the counter was pouring his heart out.

"I may not make it through the winter.  If I die, will you remember my name?"

We could see his pain and began praying for him.  He doffed his cap, and bowed his head.  As we continued praying, tears rolled down his cheek.  After we finished praying, he began to cry out to the Lord.

He mentioned his struggles, his addictions and the fact that he felt his life was near it's end.  Yet he also began to pray for us.  He prayed that God would bless the work we do, that God would watch over us and help us to help others like him.

Some would write this off as the rambling of an intoxicated man. 

Yet that line, "would you remember my name", resonates with me.  I assured him that we knew him, would never forget him and more importantly that Jesus would never forget him. 

How often do we forget though?  How often do we forget that each person we meet has a story.  We can write off whole segments of society, or write a check for others to do the work...but we are all called to be ministers of grace, ministers of hope. 

How often do we listen for the stories of those around us?  We often ask people how they are but do we want to hear the truth?  Do we take the time to actually listen?

Jesus did, He still does.

Lord help us to have listening ears, listening hearts and to be your hands of grace to everyone we meet.

Looking Through His Eyes

I no longer wanted to be around people.

Honestly, I no longer wanted to live.

I was done with life.

Then I had an encounter with the Living God.

While driving down the road and looking for the right tree to run my car into, I cried out to God.  I remember clearly telling Him I could no longer take it anymore.  It was at that point I felt the Lord speak to me.  That moment began a movement from surrender, to brokenness and finally an understanding of my Identity in Christ.

A friend who was walking with me through this process gave me a Scripture to reflect on.  It has now become my life verse:

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

That verse has changed my life in so many ways. 

I found that, as I recognize who I am in Christ, He began to change me in profound ways.  Where I once hated being around people, ignored friends and hid away from life, I have now become more fully engaged in all aspects of life.

Which is how I became a Compassion blogger.

I was already sponsoring a child through Compassion.  The more I checked out the organization and what it does, the more excited I became.  I started blogging a few years back and while checking out the Compassion website, I came across the Compassion blogger program.  Any chance to see more kids sponsored appealed to me so I signed up and have been promoting Compassion online whenever I can.

Your contribution of just $38 a month connects your child with a loving, church-based Child Sponsorship Program.

Your support provides: food and clean water, medical care, educational opportunities and important life-skills training. Most important of all, your sponsored child will hear about Jesus Christ and be encouraged to develop a lifelong relationship with God.

Help a Child

It's About Giving

I love to give gifts.  I am the guy who buys Christmas presents and wants to give them weeks before Christmas.  I would be happy to give the presents as soon as I purchase them.  My wife says I am like a little kid when it comes to giving gifts.  I guess I am.

Though I love to give gifts, I also have come to recognize that we live in a very wasteful society.  Go into any thrift store and you will see the abundance of leftover stuff we have given and received on a regular basis. 

There are really two kinds of gifts you can give.  Gifts that are temporary and gifts that can change a life.

The temporary gifts are the ones that end up getting tossed aside when Christmas is over, or get replaced when a newer or better one comes along.  It's the "must have" item on our list that we lose interest in a few weeks later.

Then there are the gifts that change a life.

For example, one year my brother and sister-in-law gave us a Kiva gift certificate.  It allowed us to give a micro-loan ($25) to individuals around the world who are trying to grow their own businesses to provide for their families in nations where poverty abounds.  They pay the loan back over time and when it comes back, you loan it to someone else.  We've made 5 loans off of this one gift!  That's a life changing gift.

Another life changing gift are the ones you can give via Compassion.  Readers of this blog know that my wife and I are passionate about Compassion and have sponsored a child for years.  This Five Star charity has now released their annual Christmas catalog: 

Compassion Christmas Catalog

Did you know that you can protect a child from Malaria for only $18?  You can teach a mother to read for only $22!

You can also equip a family with livestock for only $280.

Their catalog is filled with life changing gifts starting for as little as $4.

I invite you to check out the Compassion catalog and change a life today!

#itsaboutgiving

Dear God

Dear God,

I am writing today asking that you bless Tsehay, our sponsored child through Compassion! We've known her for over 10 years now Lord and have prayed for her and loved her like one of our own.

Each time we get a letter from her, it touches our hearts and helps us to understand that much more why sponsorship is so important.

Lord, my heart also rejoiced this week when I read that 837 children were sponsored this week. September is blog month for Compassion and the work is already paying off. I can only imagine all those precious children being told they have a sponsor.

As exciting as that number is, there are 2,271 to go this month. Each one waiting for a sponsor.

Father I pray that each one of those children find a sponsor this month.

Thank You Lord,

Rick

PS, for those of you reading this, why not make my prayer come true and check out the sponsorship page? Sponsor A Child

Come to the Party!

I am late to the party but I still hope you will all open the gifts!


This month Compassion is trying to find sponsorship for over 3,000 children.

Here is the Sponsor a Child page!

I want to challenge you to go to the page and to pray over the children. Pray for sponsorship, pray for them to know Jesus, pray for God to protect them.

When we receive our updates on Tsehay, our sponsored child of 10 years, we get so excited to see what God is doing in her life. She is in a poverty stricken area of Ethiopia, yet we have seen the reports and read her letters of all that God is doing in her life and in her family.

I want to challenge you to checkout the Sponsor a Child page and spend time asking God to reveal His heart for the poor to them.

Maybe it seems over the top to make that challenge in these economic times. However, I believe God will provide the means if you follow His leading. My family has had it's fair share of financial struggles but have never missed a month of sponsorship.

What do you have to lose?

I dare you to check the page out!

Survive125: I dare you!

Could you survive on less than $1.25 a day?

Survive125 is a game brought to you by 58:, a global initiative to end extreme poverty by living out Isaiah 58. And Compassion is part of the 58: Alliance.

In Survive125, you are asked to make the daily decisions nearly 1.3 billion people living in extreme poverty face every day. In doing so their struggle becomes yours.

My daughter and I tried the game. We couldn't make it. Are you ready to play?

Well hang on. It's 8 minutes long but I want you to check out this video first.



What is 58?

58: is an unprecedented global alliance of Christians, churches and world-class poverty-fighting organizations working together to end extreme poverty in our lifetime.

Three of the organizations I am passionate about are a part of 58: Compassion, International Justice Mission and Living Water International. Who's missing? YOU!

Play the game, watch the video and remember, for 1.3 billion people around the world, poverty is not a game!