The world is full of injustice. Disgusting, dispicable acts against children and women that I don't even want to think about. So often we try to blame God for the injustice in the world and wonder how a God of love could allow millions of girls to be sold into sexual slavery, babies to die of hunger, children to be abused by their fathers; but our blame is very misplaced. It is OUR sin that brought injustice into this world, perpetrated by the Devil himself through temptation. It is the very consequences to OUR sin that brough death, destruction, poverty, hatred and cruelty to the world. God never intended for there to be orphans, poverty,or pain; however, our God is a God of redemption and He is a God with a plan. His plan included sending His only Son to die on the cross for each and every one of us and His plan was victorious on the day that He raised His Son from the Dead, giving us victory from death ,Hell and the grave. His plan is a beautiful plan of redemption and grace, of selfless living, of giving life to the undeserving. I, though, undeserving recieved grace from my heavenly Father. I was adopted into His family, so that I can have eternal life. In so caring for the orphans, widows and abandoned of this world, not only are we fullfilling our part in God's redemptive plan, but we are reflecting the very heart of God. Those children are His children. He wants to be their Father. How will they ever know the love of their Father if we don't reach out to them and show them? If we don't care for their needs? If we don't give them a family? God loves the orphans. They are His children as much as I am His child. They are my "brothers" and "sisters". I cannot sit here in my cushy couch, stuffing my face with my favorite snack, watching tv and do nothing about the need in this world. Proverbs 24:12 tells us, “Once our eyes are opened, we can’t pretend we don’t know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act.”
Pray that God will open your eyes anew to the need in this world. Pray that God will show you how to respond to that need. We aren't called to share out of our excess, we are simply called to share what we have.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Living Simply
I was reading through some blogs the other day and I ran accross this quote from one of our Missionaries, Glen Garrison, that really stuck with me "We must learn to live more simply so that others may simply live." What a powerful word. We in America are so blessed. We have so much stuff. We have above and beyond what we need to live. In so many places around this world, people do not even have clean water to drink. They have only 1/2 a cup of rice a day, or less. In a several countries in Africa, parents don't even give their child a name until they reach the age of 5 because such a large percentage of children die in those first few years. When I stopped to think about this statement, I wondered why I was born in America. Was it because God loves me more? Was it because I deserve it? No, God does not love me more and, no I don't deserve to live in luxury any more than an orphan deserves to live in poverty; however, I do believe that God expects us to share our blessings with those in need. He says in Luke 12:48b "When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required" We in America have been given much. What will we do with what we have been given?
I've decided this year to strive to live more simply. I've never been a person to spend money on designer jeans or purses; I've never been a person who buys name brand shoes and fills my closet with all kinds of shoes, only to wear each pair one time; but I do believe that I can live more simply. One thing I love to do is bargain shop. There is nothing wrong with bargain shopping; however, I often find myself purchasing something just because it's a good deal and not because I really NEED it! I also like to eat out, and I love my Starbucks! There's nothing wrong with eating out or an occasional Starbucks, but it does cost a lot. What could I do with the money I save by taking my lunch most days instead of eating out? I could fund a project with Mission 1:27, maybe even feed one of those orphans which I shared about in my previous post or sponsor another child through Latin American Childcare. Most of us in America live in extravagance compared to the rest of the world, where millions of people struggle to barely live. What could you do today to live more simply, in order to help someone around the world simply live?
I've decided this year to strive to live more simply. I've never been a person to spend money on designer jeans or purses; I've never been a person who buys name brand shoes and fills my closet with all kinds of shoes, only to wear each pair one time; but I do believe that I can live more simply. One thing I love to do is bargain shop. There is nothing wrong with bargain shopping; however, I often find myself purchasing something just because it's a good deal and not because I really NEED it! I also like to eat out, and I love my Starbucks! There's nothing wrong with eating out or an occasional Starbucks, but it does cost a lot. What could I do with the money I save by taking my lunch most days instead of eating out? I could fund a project with Mission 1:27, maybe even feed one of those orphans which I shared about in my previous post or sponsor another child through Latin American Childcare. Most of us in America live in extravagance compared to the rest of the world, where millions of people struggle to barely live. What could you do today to live more simply, in order to help someone around the world simply live?
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
My heart for Orphans: Mission 1:27
Today we are launching an e-touch campaign for the orphan care and adoption ministry my husband and I started in our church, so I just want to take a few minutes to share with my followers my heart for orphans around the world. As my husband and I began this journey of adoption, our heart was broken for the destitute, abandoned and abused children of the world. God began to speak to our hearts about doing something to help these children. It is an amazing story how God has begun to create in us a picture of His love for the world and out of this passion for Him and His heart for children was birthed a ministry called Mission 1:27. Today we were sent a story from one of our missionaries at an orphanage and I want to share a portion of this e-mail with you. For the protection of the children and the missionaries, I am not including the name or the location of the orphanage.
"Today we received two new children. Some policemen found these two little precious out the day before New Year's Eve, alone, trying to keep each other warm next to a concrete wall, on a pile of rubbish out on 15 degree weather. They were left to die.No birth certificate, no identity, they don't exist in our state's eyes. They were poorly dressed with what the employees from the center had brought from home.When our children saw them, they all ran to their closets and brought them clothes and toys.
Of course the clothes were too big and the new children couldn't enjoy the toys, they were too frightened. They are so tiny, beaten (the boy has cigarette burns on his bottom), unfed, never even had a bottle, the only food they are used to is dried out bread. They rather stay squeezed in a corner and can't communicate. I don't know the last time we saw such a pitiful sight. But having them and being able to care for them, blessed our hearts.
If any of you would like to help with the initial needs of these children, these are the following:
We need to run some medical tests, and because they have no id number, it all costs a lot.
We need diapers and shoes. They are so small we need stuff for 1yo and 2yo.
Also we took these children in by faith, the cost of feeding one child is $80 a month"
My heart broke for these children and for the multitudes of children like this around the world. These children need the love of Christ, and one way we can show the love of Christ is by providing for their physical needs. I wish I personally had the funds to help these children. Everytime I hear a story, I want to help; but there is no way I can do this alone. This is why Mission 1:27 exsists. If you would like to help, please go to our website at http://www.mission127.com/ and donate through our secure paypal account or mail a check to the address found on that site. Please know that 100% of your donation will go to help children such as these around the world. God has called us to make a difference and together we can! Please share this post and the website information with anyone and everyone! Spread the word and change the lives of children around the world!
"Today we received two new children. Some policemen found these two little precious out the day before New Year's Eve, alone, trying to keep each other warm next to a concrete wall, on a pile of rubbish out on 15 degree weather. They were left to die.No birth certificate, no identity, they don't exist in our state's eyes. They were poorly dressed with what the employees from the center had brought from home.When our children saw them, they all ran to their closets and brought them clothes and toys.
Of course the clothes were too big and the new children couldn't enjoy the toys, they were too frightened. They are so tiny, beaten (the boy has cigarette burns on his bottom), unfed, never even had a bottle, the only food they are used to is dried out bread. They rather stay squeezed in a corner and can't communicate. I don't know the last time we saw such a pitiful sight. But having them and being able to care for them, blessed our hearts.
If any of you would like to help with the initial needs of these children, these are the following:
We need to run some medical tests, and because they have no id number, it all costs a lot.
We need diapers and shoes. They are so small we need stuff for 1yo and 2yo.
Also we took these children in by faith, the cost of feeding one child is $80 a month"
My heart broke for these children and for the multitudes of children like this around the world. These children need the love of Christ, and one way we can show the love of Christ is by providing for their physical needs. I wish I personally had the funds to help these children. Everytime I hear a story, I want to help; but there is no way I can do this alone. This is why Mission 1:27 exsists. If you would like to help, please go to our website at http://www.mission127.com/ and donate through our secure paypal account or mail a check to the address found on that site. Please know that 100% of your donation will go to help children such as these around the world. God has called us to make a difference and together we can! Please share this post and the website information with anyone and everyone! Spread the word and change the lives of children around the world!
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