MY NAME IS EPHANTUS, AND I AM HERE TODAY AS A TESTIMONY THAT THE LABOR OF COMPASSION AND THE MANY SPONSORS WHO COMMIT MONEY AND WRITE LETTERS IS NOT IN VAIN. I WAS BORN INTO A FAMILY OF FOUR. MY DAD WAS A DRUNKARD, BUT MY MOM WAS A COMMITTED CHRISTIAN. SHE WOULD TAKE US TO CHURCH WHILE MY DAD WENT TO THE BAR TO DOWN A DRINK OR TWO. AT CHURCH, WE WERE TOLD THAT GOD LOVES US, BUT WE COULDN'T CONNECT WITH WHAT LOVE WAS. WE DIDN'T EXPERIENCE LOVE IN OUR HOME.
THEN ONE DAY AN OPPORTUNITY CAME, COMPASSION CAME. I GOT A SPONSOR, A MAN CALLED JACK MAC DONALD, A MAN WHO WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART. FOR 11 YEARS HE WAS COMMITTED TO WRITING ME AND SENDING MONEY TO SPONSOR ME--A PERSON I'VE NEVER MET. TO SEE THAT SOMEBODY 8,000 MILES AWAY WOULD COMMIT TO MAKE SURE THAT I WENT TO SCHOOL AND DRESSED NICELY AND HAS MY HOSPITAL BILLS PAID--THAT IS WHERE I FIRST SAW LOVE. MY HEART STARTED UNDERSTANDING WHAT MY SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER TOLD ME ABOUT LOVE, AND I HAVE MY LIFE TO THE LORD.
WHEN I WAS 15, I GOT MY FIRST CHRISTMAS CARD. MR. JACK MAC DONALD WISHED ME A MERRY CHRISTMAS. IT BLEW ME AWAY THAT SOMEBODY CARED SO MUCH TO SEND ME A CARD. THAT WAS OVER 10 YEARS AGO, AND I STILL KEEP THAT CARD WITH ME. TODAY I UNDERSTAND WHAT LOVE IS. I'VE NEVER SEEN GOD, BUT I KNOW LOVE BECAUSE MY SPONSOR, WHOM I HAVE NEVER SEEN, HAS SHOWN ME LOVE.
MY DADDY WAS STILL DRINKING. HE WOULD COME HOME WITH A HANGOVER AND SIT, WONDERING "WHO ARE THESE GOOD PEOPLE WHO WOULD BUY MY SON CLOTHES AND GIFTS? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE SO GOOD?" THAT KEPT PRICKING HIS CONSCIENCE. ONE SATURDAY HE GOT VERY DRUNK AND WENT TO BED. ON SUNDAY MORNING HE WORK UP AND SAID, "TODAY I WANT TO GO TO CHURCH." FROM THAT DAY, MY DAD HAS NEVER MISSED CHURCH A SINGLE SUNDAY. TODAY HE IS A PREACHER AND IS DRUNK BY THE HOLY SPIRIT--BECAUSE SOMEBODY FROM THE U.S. CARED ENOUGH TO SPONSOR A CHILD. BECAUSE OF MY SPONSOR'S LOVE, MY ENTIRE FAMILY WAS TRANSFORMED.
THERE ARE MILLIONS OF CHILDREN IN AFRICA WHO NEVER GET AN OPPORTUNITY. BUT EVE THOUGH THE STATISTICS ARE LIKE THE BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS, I THANK GOD BECAUSE THERE IS ANOTHER STORY. LIVES ARE BEING TRANSFORMED BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GIVING US ENCOURAGEMENT, COMMITTING TO SEE US ACHIEVE SOMETHING IN LIFE.
KNOW THAT YOUR LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN. I AM JUST ON IN A MULTITUDE. THIS PROJECT IS LIFE FOR US. FOR OUR FAMILY IT MEANT MY SALVATION, MY EDUCATION, MY HEALTH, AND MY FATHER'S SALVATION. WE HAVE HOPE BECAUSE OF COMPASSION.
I HAVE NO COMMITTED MY LIFE TO MINISTER TO YOUNG PEOPLE. IT'S MY JOY TO CARE FOR THEM, TO SHOW THEM LOVE, TO PRAY WITH THEM. THE HARVEST OUT HERE IS TRULY PLENTY, AND WE ARE SEEING LIVES TRANSFORMED. IF YOUR MISSION IS JUST FOR A YEAR, PLANT CORN; IF IT IS FOR FIVE YEARS, PLANT SOMETHING THAT WILL GROW FOR FIVE YEARS; BUT IF IT IS FOR A LIFETIME, PLANT PEOPLE.
[TAKEN FROM 'HOPE LIVES' BY AMBER VAN SCHOOENVELD]
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
PRAY.FOR.HEALING
PLEASE PRAY FOR SPENCER IN NICARAGUA, WHO WAS RECENTLY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NEEDS TOTAL RECOVERY.
PRAY.FOR.HEALTH
PRAY FOR THE COMPASSION-ASSISTED CHILDREN IN BRAZIL WHO HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES DUE TO HEAVY RAINS AND ARE NOW AT RISK OF DENGUE FEVER.
PRAY.FOR.GODS.CHILDREN
PRAY FOR ATUL AND HIS FAMILY IN EASTERN INDIA. ATUL IS HAVING AN OPERATION SOON, HIS SISTER SUFFERS FROM SWOLLEN LEGS, AND HIS MOTHER NEEDS SURGERY FOR KIDNEY STONES.
PLEASE.PRAY
PLEASE PRAY FOR FIVE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS IN SOUTHERN HAITI THAT HAVE BEEN FLOODED BY RECENT HEAVY RAINS. ALSO PRAY FOR PROTECTION DURING THE UPCOMING HURRICANE SEASON.
PRAY.FOR.GODS.CHILDREN
PRAY FOR NKOMEZI PATRICK, 16, OF RWANDA, WHO HAS AN INFECTION IN HIS MASTOID BONE AND NEEDS SURGERY.
PRAYER.OF.PRAISE
WE PRAISE GOD THAT COMPASSION STAFF IN MEXICO CONFIRM THAT NO COMPASSION-ASSISTED CHILDREN WERE INFECTED BY THE H1N1 VIRUS AND THAT THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS IN HIDALGO AND CHIAPAS HAVE RESUMED REGULAR ACTIVITIES!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
ITS.ABOUT.SOULS
I REMEMBER ARI, THE GIRL WHO GREW UP ON THE TRASH DUMP. SATAN'S GOAL WASN'T JUST TO DESTROY HER PHYSICALLY. IT WAS TO DESTROY HER SOUL: TO CONVINCE HER THAT SHE DIDN'T MATTER, THAT NO ONE LOVED HER, THAT GOD DIDN'T CARE, AND THAT SHE WAS GARBAGE. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING--WHAT GOD CARES ABOUT AND WHAT SATAN WANTS TO DESTROY--IS A PERSON'S SOUL, A SOUL LIKE ARI'S. I NEED TO BE EVER MINDFUL THAT POVERTY ISN'T JUST ABOUT AIDS. IT'S NOT ABOUT CLEAN WATER. IT'S NOT ABOUT A LACK OF SAFE HOUSING. IT'S NOT ABOUT POOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. IT'S NOT ABOUT LACK OF SANITATION.
IT'S ABOUT SOULS.
IT'S ABOUT A BOY ORPHANED BY AIDS, WITHOUT PARENTS TO LOVE HIM AND TELL HIM HE MATTERS. IT'S ABOUT A MAN WHO FEELS NO DIGNITY OR PURPOSE BECAUSE HE'S NEVER HAD THE EDUCATION OR OPPORTUNITY TO BE WHO GOD CREATED HIM TO BE. IT'S ABOUT A WOMAN WHO BURIES HER SOUL AND SELLS HERSELF BECAUSE SHE FEELS SHE HAS NO OTHER CHOICE AND DOESN'T MATTER ANYWAY.
PEOPLE MATTER. GOD CREATED EACH UNIQUE SOUL AND LOVES EACH ONE AND HAS A PURPOSE FOR EACH ONE--EVEN IF THAT INDIVIDUAL IS LIVING IN A SLUM SURROUNDED BY DARKNESS, FILTH, AND DESPAIR. GOD HAS AS MUCH A PLAN FOR PEOPLE IN POVERTY--EVERY SINGLE ONE--AS HE DOES FOR ME.
[TAKEN FROM 'HOPE LIVES' BY AMBER VAN SCHOONEVELD]
IT'S ABOUT SOULS.
IT'S ABOUT A BOY ORPHANED BY AIDS, WITHOUT PARENTS TO LOVE HIM AND TELL HIM HE MATTERS. IT'S ABOUT A MAN WHO FEELS NO DIGNITY OR PURPOSE BECAUSE HE'S NEVER HAD THE EDUCATION OR OPPORTUNITY TO BE WHO GOD CREATED HIM TO BE. IT'S ABOUT A WOMAN WHO BURIES HER SOUL AND SELLS HERSELF BECAUSE SHE FEELS SHE HAS NO OTHER CHOICE AND DOESN'T MATTER ANYWAY.
PEOPLE MATTER. GOD CREATED EACH UNIQUE SOUL AND LOVES EACH ONE AND HAS A PURPOSE FOR EACH ONE--EVEN IF THAT INDIVIDUAL IS LIVING IN A SLUM SURROUNDED BY DARKNESS, FILTH, AND DESPAIR. GOD HAS AS MUCH A PLAN FOR PEOPLE IN POVERTY--EVERY SINGLE ONE--AS HE DOES FOR ME.
[TAKEN FROM 'HOPE LIVES' BY AMBER VAN SCHOONEVELD]
QUOTE
IT'S THE GREATEST POVERTY TO DECIDE THAT A CHILD MUST DIE SO THAT YOU MAY LIVE AS YOU WISH. -MOTHER TERESA
GOD.ON.THE.MOVE
THERE IS A LOT GOING WRONG IN THIS WORLD. I CAN'T CHANGE EVERYTHING. BUT I'M LEARNING THAT GOD HASN'T ASKED ME TO. I THINK THERE MAY BE ONE LITTLE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE HE'S ASKING ME TO FILL IN, ONE GOOD WORK HE'S ASKING ME TO DO. MAYBE WHEN I'M WORKING ON MY LITTLE PIECE AND MY FRIEND IS WORKING ON HER LITTLE PIECE NEXT TO ME AND SOME CHURCH IN MASSACHUSETTS IS WORKING ON ITS PIECE AND SOME CHRISTIANS IN RWANDA ARE WORKING ON THEIR PIECE...MAYBE THEN GOD'S GREAT MASTERPIECE WILL BE REVEALED. MY PIECE MAY SEEM SMALL, AS IF IT DOESN'T MATTER, BUT I'M JUST ONE PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. GOD IS ON THE MOVE TO CHANGE THIS WORLD ONE PERSON AT A TIME. WHAT IF I COULD BE A PART OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
I'M CONVINCED GOD IS ASKING ME TO JOIN HIM. GOD IS ON THE MOVE TO HEAL, LOVE, AND RESTORE, AND HE'S ASKING, "WHO WILL GO FOR ME?"
WHO KNOWS WHAT GOD WILL DO?
MY HEART CRIES OUT, "HERE I AM, SEND ME."
[TAKEN FROM 'HOPE LIVES' BY AMBER VAN SCHOONEVELD]
I'M CONVINCED GOD IS ASKING ME TO JOIN HIM. GOD IS ON THE MOVE TO HEAL, LOVE, AND RESTORE, AND HE'S ASKING, "WHO WILL GO FOR ME?"
WHO KNOWS WHAT GOD WILL DO?
MY HEART CRIES OUT, "HERE I AM, SEND ME."
[TAKEN FROM 'HOPE LIVES' BY AMBER VAN SCHOONEVELD]
PRAY.FOR.GODS.CHILDREN
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE FATHER OF INDIAN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM STUDENT DAVIDSON SEVASHISH, WHO SUFFERED A STROKE A YEAR AGO AND HAS BEEN IN A COMA EVER SINCE. PRAY FOR A FULL RECOVERY.
SUCH.A.TIME
I COULD HAVE JUST AS EASILY BEEN BORN IN UGANDA, RUNNING FROM REBELS AS A TOT. BUT GOD CHOSE DIFFERENTLY. GOD:
GOD HAS A REASON FOR PLACING ME EXACTLY WHEN AND WHERE HE DID. IT MIGHT SEEM PRETTY RANDOM, BUT IT WAS NOT.
NOT ONLY THAT, GOD ALSO PREPARED PARTICULAR GOOD WORKS FOR ME:
GOD HAS BEEN PLANNING AND PLANNING...PLACING ME JUST SO, GIVING ME EXACTLY WHAT HE HAS, THAT I MIGHT FIND HIM AND THAT I MIGHT DO THE GOOD HE HAS PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR ME. WHAT EXACTLY THAT IS, I'M NOT SURE YET. BUT I'M CONVINCED THAT'S SOMETHING.
I THINK OF ESTHER IN THE BIBLE. SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL AND CHARMING AND BECAME A QUEEN BECAUSE OF THOSE QUALITIES. SHE MIGHT HAVE LAIN BACK, EATEN GRAPES, AND GOTTEN SHOULDER RUBS EVERY DAY. I'D LIKE THAT. BUT ESTHER CHOSE TO BELIEVE HER UNCLE WHEN HE SAID:
"SUCH A TIME AS THIS." ESTHER'S HUSBAND, KIND XERXES, HAD ORDERED A GENOCIDE OF THE JEWS. ESTHER COULD HAVE CHOSEN TO SHUT OUT THE TROUBLES OF THE WORLD, STAY QUIETLY AT HOME, AND ENJOY HER VERY PLEASANT LIFE. INSTEAD, SHE USED HER POSITION OF POWER TO SPEAK UP FOR THE OPPRESSED, RISKING NOT ONLY HER COMFORT, BUT HER OWN LIFE.
COULD IT BE THAT GOD HAS PLACED ME IN A POSITION OF COMFORT AND MATERIAL POWER FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS? A LACK OF CLEAN WATER IS KILLING ALMOST 2 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR, 15.2 MILLION CHILDREN HAVE LOST ONE OR BOTH PARENTS TO AIDS, 1 BILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN EXTREME POVERTY, AND 1 MILLION CHILDREN ARE TRAFFICKED INTO EXPLOITIVE LABOR EACH YEAR. IF EVER THERE WAS "SUCH A TIME"--A TIME THAT NEEDS GOD'S REDEMPTION, HEALING, AND LOVE--THIS IS IT.
I'M DEFINITELY NOT A SAVIOR OF THE WORLD. ESTHER 4:14 SAYS,
THAT'S A RELIEF--BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT ME. IT SEEMS GOD IS ON THE MOVE, ALWAYS ON THE MOVE, ALWAYS ON THE MOVE, READY TO RAISE UP RELIEF AND DELIVERANCE, PEOPLE WHO WILL GO FOR HIM, WHO WILL BE HIS HANDS. AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, I AM A PART OF THAT PLAN. MAYBE GOD HAS GIVEN ME WHAT HE HAS AND PUT ME WHERE HE HAS FOR JUST A TIME AS THIS.
[TAKEN FROM 'HOPE LIVES' BY AMBER VAN SCHOONEVELD]
DETERMINED THE TIMES SET FOR [MEN] AND THE EXACT PLACES WHERE THEY SHOULD LIVE. GOD DID THIS SO THAT MEN WOULD SEEK HIM AND PERHAPS REACH OUT FOR HIM AND FIND HIM, THOUGH HE IS NOT FAR FROM EACH ONE OF US -ACTS 17:26-27
GOD HAS A REASON FOR PLACING ME EXACTLY WHEN AND WHERE HE DID. IT MIGHT SEEM PRETTY RANDOM, BUT IT WAS NOT.
NOT ONLY THAT, GOD ALSO PREPARED PARTICULAR GOOD WORKS FOR ME:
WE ARE GOD'S WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS TO DO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO -EPHESIANS 2:10
GOD HAS BEEN PLANNING AND PLANNING...PLACING ME JUST SO, GIVING ME EXACTLY WHAT HE HAS, THAT I MIGHT FIND HIM AND THAT I MIGHT DO THE GOOD HE HAS PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR ME. WHAT EXACTLY THAT IS, I'M NOT SURE YET. BUT I'M CONVINCED THAT'S SOMETHING.
I THINK OF ESTHER IN THE BIBLE. SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL AND CHARMING AND BECAME A QUEEN BECAUSE OF THOSE QUALITIES. SHE MIGHT HAVE LAIN BACK, EATEN GRAPES, AND GOTTEN SHOULDER RUBS EVERY DAY. I'D LIKE THAT. BUT ESTHER CHOSE TO BELIEVE HER UNCLE WHEN HE SAID:
WHO KNOWS BUT THAT YOU HAVE COME TO ROYAL POSITION FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS? -ESTHER 4:14
"SUCH A TIME AS THIS." ESTHER'S HUSBAND, KIND XERXES, HAD ORDERED A GENOCIDE OF THE JEWS. ESTHER COULD HAVE CHOSEN TO SHUT OUT THE TROUBLES OF THE WORLD, STAY QUIETLY AT HOME, AND ENJOY HER VERY PLEASANT LIFE. INSTEAD, SHE USED HER POSITION OF POWER TO SPEAK UP FOR THE OPPRESSED, RISKING NOT ONLY HER COMFORT, BUT HER OWN LIFE.
COULD IT BE THAT GOD HAS PLACED ME IN A POSITION OF COMFORT AND MATERIAL POWER FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS? A LACK OF CLEAN WATER IS KILLING ALMOST 2 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR, 15.2 MILLION CHILDREN HAVE LOST ONE OR BOTH PARENTS TO AIDS, 1 BILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN EXTREME POVERTY, AND 1 MILLION CHILDREN ARE TRAFFICKED INTO EXPLOITIVE LABOR EACH YEAR. IF EVER THERE WAS "SUCH A TIME"--A TIME THAT NEEDS GOD'S REDEMPTION, HEALING, AND LOVE--THIS IS IT.
I'M DEFINITELY NOT A SAVIOR OF THE WORLD. ESTHER 4:14 SAYS,
IF YOU REMAIN SILENT AT THIS TIME, RELIEF AND DELIVERANCE...WILL ARISE FROM ANOTHER PLACE
THAT'S A RELIEF--BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT ME. IT SEEMS GOD IS ON THE MOVE, ALWAYS ON THE MOVE, ALWAYS ON THE MOVE, READY TO RAISE UP RELIEF AND DELIVERANCE, PEOPLE WHO WILL GO FOR HIM, WHO WILL BE HIS HANDS. AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, I AM A PART OF THAT PLAN. MAYBE GOD HAS GIVEN ME WHAT HE HAS AND PUT ME WHERE HE HAS FOR JUST A TIME AS THIS.
[TAKEN FROM 'HOPE LIVES' BY AMBER VAN SCHOONEVELD]
NEEDED.PRAYERS
PRAY FOR THE 400 COMPASSION-ASSISTED CHILDREN IN BANGLADESH WHO WERE AFFECTED BY CYCLONE AILA. SOME OF THEIR HOMES WERE DESTROYED, WHILE OTHERS HAVE BEEN RENDERED UNINHABITABLE. SEVERAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS WERE DAMAGED AS WELL.
TRUE.RICHES
WHAT ARE THE TRUE TREASURES? THE BIBLE NEVER STATES EXPLICITLY, BUT I SUSPECT THAT, IN PART, IT'S PEOPLE. THE TREASURES OF THIS EARTH ARE TEMPORAL. THE ONLY THING ON THIS EARTH THAT'S ETERNAL IS PEOPLE--THE ONLY TREASURE THAT DOESN'T END WHEN THIS WORLD DOES. JESUS MAKES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN GIVING TO THE POOR AND TREASURES IN HEAVEN:
WHEN WE USE WEALTH TO HELP OTHERS, WE'RE INVESTING IN AN ETERNAL TREASURE--A LOVE CREATION OF GOD.
ONE OF THE GREAT HARMS OF POVERTY ISN'T PHYSICAL, IT'S ETERNAL, FOR IT TEACHES SOULS WHO HAVE NEVER KNOWN CHRIST'S LOVE THAT THEY DON'T MATTER. WITHOUT THE TRUTH OF CHRIST, A YOUNG BOY'S BELIEF THAT HE'S A SPECTACULAR CREATING THAT MATTERS TO GOD AND TO THIS WORLD CAN BE CRUSHED BY POVERTY. AND WHEN THOSE IN POVERTY BELIEVE THIS LIE AND GIVE UP, THESE TREASURES OF GOD ARE LOST. WHAT AN HONOR THAT GOD HAS ENABLED US, IN OUR OWN SMALL WAYS, TO SHOW THESE PEOPLE THAT THEY MATTER. THAT GOD HAS GOOD FOR THEM. THAT THEY ARE LOVED.
[TAKEN FROM 'HOPE LIVES' BY AMBER VAN SCHOONEVELD]
SELL EVERYTHING YOU HAVE AND GIVE TO THE POOR, AND YOU WILL HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN -LUKE 18:22
WHEN WE USE WEALTH TO HELP OTHERS, WE'RE INVESTING IN AN ETERNAL TREASURE--A LOVE CREATION OF GOD.
ONE OF THE GREAT HARMS OF POVERTY ISN'T PHYSICAL, IT'S ETERNAL, FOR IT TEACHES SOULS WHO HAVE NEVER KNOWN CHRIST'S LOVE THAT THEY DON'T MATTER. WITHOUT THE TRUTH OF CHRIST, A YOUNG BOY'S BELIEF THAT HE'S A SPECTACULAR CREATING THAT MATTERS TO GOD AND TO THIS WORLD CAN BE CRUSHED BY POVERTY. AND WHEN THOSE IN POVERTY BELIEVE THIS LIE AND GIVE UP, THESE TREASURES OF GOD ARE LOST. WHAT AN HONOR THAT GOD HAS ENABLED US, IN OUR OWN SMALL WAYS, TO SHOW THESE PEOPLE THAT THEY MATTER. THAT GOD HAS GOOD FOR THEM. THAT THEY ARE LOVED.
[TAKEN FROM 'HOPE LIVES' BY AMBER VAN SCHOONEVELD]
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
PRAY.FOR.REVEALED.HOPE
PRAY FOR THE COMPASSION-ASSISTED CHILDREN IN ETHIOPIA WHO ARE READY TO GIVE UP ON THEIR FUTURE. PRAY THAT GOD WILL REVEAL TO THEM THEIR WORTH AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR FUTURE.
Monday, July 6, 2009
PRAY.FOR.GODS.CHILDREN
PRAY FOR THE MOTHER OF COLOMBIAN SPONSORED CHILD MONICA, WHO HAS CANCER AND IS IN AN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT. PRAY ALSO FOR ENCOURAGEMENT FOR MONICA.
PRAY.FOR.FRUITFULNESS
PRAY FOR THE 50 NEW CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS IN INDONESIA THAT ARE BEGINNING OPERATIONS IN THE NEXT YEAR. PRAY FOR FRUITFUL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE PARTNERSHIP FACILITATORS AND COMPASSION.
PRAYER
PRAY FOR PROTECTION AND COMFORT FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY THE RECENT 7.1-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE IN HONDURAS. NO COMPASSION CHILDREN, HOWEVER, WERE HURT.
CONTINUED.PRAYER
PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE VICTIMS OF SEVERAL BOMBINGS THAT TORE THROUGH TANZANIA.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
PRAY.FOR.GODS.CHILDREN
PRAY FOR PERUVIAN SIBLINGS JULIO, 5, AND MARICIELO ARANDA IBANEZ, 3, AND THEIR FAMILY AS THEY GRIEVE THE LOSS OF THEIR FATHER, WHO DIED FROM A HEAD INJURY SUFFERED DURING A SOCCER GAME.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
TOUCHING.JUST.ONE.LIFE
THE MOST NOTABLE THING ABOUT JESUS IN REGARD TO THE POOR ISN'T NECESSARILY WHAT HE SAID. IT'S WHAT HE DID. HE HAD ONLY A HANDFUL OF YEARS OF MINISTRY, AND HE CHOSE TO SPEND A LARGE AMOUNT OF THAT TIME IN RELATIVE OBSCURITY HELPING PEOPLE IN NEED. THAT WAS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO HIM. IT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT I'D EXPECT OF A GREAT TEACHER TODAY--I'D EXPECT HIM TO INVEST HIS TIME FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT. HIT THE KEY INFLUENTIAL LEADERS AND BE SEEN BY THE MOST PEOPLE.
BUT JESUS CHOSE TO SPEND MUCH OF HIS TIME IN A WAY THAT, ACCORDING TO THESE STANDARDS, WOULD SEEM TO HAVE LITTLE LASTING IMPACT. SOME BLIND GUY IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE GOT HIS SIGHT BACK. HE MOST LIKELY DIDN'T GO ON TO START ANY GREAT CHURCH MOVEMENTS. HE PROBABLY WENT ON TO LIVE A QUIET LIFE. IT WOULDN'T SEEM THAT THIS ACT WOULD HAVE MUCH LASTING INFLUENCE OR POSITIVE REPERCUSSIONS ON THE WORLD. YET JESUS SPENT MUCH OF HIS TIME HEALING INDIVIDUALS, ONE AT A TIME, IN OBSCURITY.
INDIVIDUALS MATTER TO GOD. JESUS' HEALING OF THE BLIND MAN HAD LASTING, POSITIVE EFFECTS ON THAT ONE MAN, HIS SOUL, AND PROBABLY THE SOULS OF HIS FAMILY, NEIGHBORS, AND DESCENDANTS. THAT WAS ENOUGH TO MERIT JESUS' PRECIOUS TIME. SOMETIMES I HESITATE TO SERVE, THINKING, "WHAT DIFFERENCE WILL IT MAKE? NOTHING EVER CHANGES; POVERTY WILL NEVER END." IN THAT THOUGHT, I AM UNLIKE JESUS. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO ONE PERSON, AND EVEN IF ALL THE GOOD THAT COME OF MY SERVICE STOPS RIGHT THERE (WHICH IS UNLIKELY), THAT IS ENOUGH. IT WAS ENOUGH FOR JESUS. HE, THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE, WAS CONTENT TO TOUCH ONE PERSON'S LIFE.
[TAKEN FROM 'HOPE LIVES' BY AMBER VAN SCHOONEVELD]
BUT JESUS CHOSE TO SPEND MUCH OF HIS TIME IN A WAY THAT, ACCORDING TO THESE STANDARDS, WOULD SEEM TO HAVE LITTLE LASTING IMPACT. SOME BLIND GUY IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE GOT HIS SIGHT BACK. HE MOST LIKELY DIDN'T GO ON TO START ANY GREAT CHURCH MOVEMENTS. HE PROBABLY WENT ON TO LIVE A QUIET LIFE. IT WOULDN'T SEEM THAT THIS ACT WOULD HAVE MUCH LASTING INFLUENCE OR POSITIVE REPERCUSSIONS ON THE WORLD. YET JESUS SPENT MUCH OF HIS TIME HEALING INDIVIDUALS, ONE AT A TIME, IN OBSCURITY.
INDIVIDUALS MATTER TO GOD. JESUS' HEALING OF THE BLIND MAN HAD LASTING, POSITIVE EFFECTS ON THAT ONE MAN, HIS SOUL, AND PROBABLY THE SOULS OF HIS FAMILY, NEIGHBORS, AND DESCENDANTS. THAT WAS ENOUGH TO MERIT JESUS' PRECIOUS TIME. SOMETIMES I HESITATE TO SERVE, THINKING, "WHAT DIFFERENCE WILL IT MAKE? NOTHING EVER CHANGES; POVERTY WILL NEVER END." IN THAT THOUGHT, I AM UNLIKE JESUS. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO ONE PERSON, AND EVEN IF ALL THE GOOD THAT COME OF MY SERVICE STOPS RIGHT THERE (WHICH IS UNLIKELY), THAT IS ENOUGH. IT WAS ENOUGH FOR JESUS. HE, THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE, WAS CONTENT TO TOUCH ONE PERSON'S LIFE.
[TAKEN FROM 'HOPE LIVES' BY AMBER VAN SCHOONEVELD]
PROVERBS.14:31
WHOEVER OPPRESSES A POOR MAN INSULTS HIS MAKER,
BUT HE WHO IS GENEROUS TO THE NEEDY HONORS HIM.
BUT HE WHO IS GENEROUS TO THE NEEDY HONORS HIM.
PRAYER.OF.PRAISE
WE PRAISE GOD THAT ALTHOUGH 12 COMPASSION-ASSISTED CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS WERE IN THE PATH OF TYPHOON CHAN-HOM WHEN IT HIT THE PHILIPPINE ISLAND OF LUZON, NONE WERE DAMAGED BY THE STORM AND NO COMPASSION-ASSISTED CHILDREN WERE AFFECTED!
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