New Season

Last year when I started this blog I needed to stay encouraged and positive and have a purpose but after a year, life is different. I am slowly learning who I am and what I'm passionate about. My heart is burdened for those who have nothing and no one to help them or advocate for them. When I'm not working, I'm either spending time with God or learning more about developing countries and their needs or reading Freedom Writers and being inspired by them. (If you haven't read the book or watched the movie, I strongly recommend them both). 


There are many seasons in life and I have one season ending and another one beginning. I will continue to do this blog but not everyday like I was; which will be very odd for me. I will focus more on the other blog I started,  A Compassionate Heart, Reaching Out because that is where my heart and happiness is. 


I hope that you will continue to read this one and also check out my other one. I will warn you, I am very passionate about helping those who have less. I feel like I am extremely blessed and have more than enough to give but I am selfish more than I like. I don't mean to offend anyone, I just have a  hard time keeping all my excitement and willingness to help inside. In my opinion I believe most/majority of the people in the U.S. have more than enough to give, we are just selfish, including me. I feel that everyone in this world has the right to have all their needs met just like mine are met here in the U.S. And I also feel it is our responsibility, those who have more than enough, to help. Hopefully I have't turned anyone away......I mean well ;-)


Happy Memorial Weekend to all! Thank you to all the courageous military men and women past, present and future! You are so much braver and stronger than I ever could be. Praying for you all. 

Rain H2O

BOATING FUN AFTER THE RAIN

 PLAYING WITH NATHAN'S BINOCULARS

 GO, GO, GO

WALKING IN THE WATER

 UNCLE NATHAN SHOWING CAMERON HOW TO 

BUILD A BOAT AND THEN SAIL IT IN THE RAIN H2O

My 4 yr old nephew HATES getting dirty, dislikes bugs and is not a typical boy. He likes to be clean and wear shoes BUT after the rain storm Thursday, uncle Nathan (my hubby) said NO MORE! =)

Nathan had just gotten home from visiting his mom in Wisconsin and had brought back all his childhood toys. One of them was a parachute with a man hanging from it. Nathan went outside in his bare feet to throw it around. Cameron wanted to come out too but he couldn't find his shoes so he wanted Nathan to hold him. Nathan picked him up and then tried to put him down. Cameron was not having it. He tried everything he could not to have to put his feet down on the wet and dirty pavement. Nathan eventually won and from there the fun began. My sister lives next door so I had to call her and show her that her son was outside with NO shoes on and loving it! I also had to take pictures of the miraculous event and then had to post them on FB with the title "he's a REAL boy." LoL

Cameron ran in the puddles and kicked and threw H2O at us. He chased me up and down the sidewalk trying to throw H2O on me in his bare feet! (such an accomplishment for him) Then Nathan got the bright idea to make a paper boat to float in the rain H2O along the street curbs. Cameron LOVED it! It eventually got too wet to float anymore so we went back inside where soon after Cameron found the binoculars. All in all it was a very fun and memorable night.

365 days= 1 Year!

I MADE IT!

3,1536,000 seconds, 525,600 minutes, 8760 hours, 365 days, all equal to a year and that's how long I've been blogging!!! AND I've done it EVERY SINGLE DAY-not an easy task. I will admit there are days I took the easy route instead of coming up with something authentic but hey life is busy;-) I don't know if there's something I've ever done everyday for a year......(besides the normal life stuff like sleeping, dressing and eating). This may be a first!


It's amazing to look back to where I was last year at this time, so much has changed. A year seems long when you're looking ahead but when you look back it flies. Last May I was living at my parents since Nathan and I were still trying to figure out what we were doing. (We had left Florida in March after our job fell though). Nathan had found a job but I was still looking. I started attending church and bible study with my sister. This blog began because I was lost and trying to keep my spirits up while trying to figure my life out. I finally got a job in July, serving (which is the last thing I wanted, but still thankful for it) and then we moved out in August/September and living next door to my sister and her family. In November Nathan and I celebrated our 1st anniversary.  Holidays came and went and in February I got promoted to Front of the House Manager. Now here we are in May.


Doing this blog I learned more about who I am and what I'm passionate about. I didn't know this stuff last year. God has been working on my heart and showing me my desires. I've found that my heart bleeds for those who live in poverty and struggle daily to find clean water and food to eat. I'm blessed beyond belief here in the U.S. with so much to be thankful for. I'm by no means rich with money but I'm rich in love. For the last three years before I settled back in Lima I was traveling and didn't get to see my family much so being home with them is awesome. To see my nephew growing up and getting smarter everyday is such a gift and amazing thing to see. Finding a church where you're supported and encouraged is fabulous. I don't know what I'd do without the love from my church family.


For the last year I've been reading about life in 3rd world countries and it breaks my heart. The love and concern and compassion I experience daily in the U.S. is 100x's better than they do in developing countries. As women in the U.S. we have so many more rights. Life for women around the world is extremely hard.

• they walk miles one way to fetch water that isn't even clean
• can only feed their children one meal a day 
• don't have the opportunity to get an education
• are illiterate due to no education
• have to ask permission to leave their home
• the sons rule over their moms and sisters
• don't get to talk or have an opinion
• have no prenatal care/don't give birth in a hospital
• girls are not taken to a doctor when sick, only boys
• are married off at a young age and having babies while they are still babies
• are beaten and raped by their husbands and families
• are raped as a form of warfare
• are kidnapped or sold into brothels-sometimes by family members
• old women are left outside their village to die

This is just a few of the hardships women face in developing countries (Africa, Asia and Muslim). After reading about it, how can you NOT be thankful for your life here in the U.S.?


In the last year I've become more aware of my spending. I try to support organizations like Tom's Shoes, 31 Bits, World Vision, Convoy of Hope, CommonThreadz, or families adopting overseas. If I'm going to be spending money I'd like it to help people, not just supply my need or want. For my best friends birthday I gave her a list of organizations like these and told her to pick something. She picked shoes from Tom's Shoes, maybe you could do the same thing next time you need a gift instead of going to the mall?


Since 2007 I've sponsored a child through World Vision but I did it before I was married. Nathan and I have been blessed with the finances to help another child so we are now sponsoring a girl from Armenia together and then I still sponsor Bless from Malawi. Child sponsorship through World Vision is a wonderful way to give a child, their family and the community hope and a future. It's only $35/month and it makes such an impact. If this is something that touches your heart check out http://www.worldvision.org/


Most people make resolutions at the beginning of the year but how many keep them? I know I don't. But this year I heard about My One Word http://myoneword.org/ . Instead of making resolutions, you pick one word and that is what you focus on all year. My word was INSPIRE. I'm working on inspiring others and myself, to do better and be better. It's always bummed me out people who think they can't ever reach their dreams or that they have nothing to offer anyone or the world or that they are just "average." I want people to know that none of that is true, far from the truth! It doesn't matter where you come from, you CAN make a difference and be the person you want. It may not be easy but nothing in life worthwhile is easy.


When I started this blog I wasn't sure if I wanted to talk too much about Christianity and God because I didn't want to turn anyone away that didn't believe. But I soon realized that being a Christian is who I am and that my hope and encouragement comes from Jesus. He is my rock and I need Him! If I didn't have Jesus, I wouldn't have anything. Plus I can't NOT talk about all he has done for me.


This last year started out rough but has been an amazing journey. I can't wait to see what will happen in this next year!

Shine

Dull as dirt
You can't assert the kind of light
That might persuade
A strict dictator to retire
Fire the army
Teach the poor origami
The truth is in
The proof is when
You hear your heart start asking,
"What's my motivation?"

And try as you may, there isn't a way
To explain the kind of change
That would make an Eskimo renounce fur
That would make a vegetarian barbecue hamster
Unless you can trace this about-face
To a certain sign...

[Chorus]
Shine
Make 'em wonder what you've got
Make 'em wish that they were not
On the outside looking bored
Shine
Let it shine before all men
Let'em see good works, and then
Let 'em glorify the Lord

Out of the shaker and onto the plate
It isn't Karma
It sure ain't fate
That would make a Deadhead sell his van
That would make a schizophrenic turn in his crayons
Oprah freaks
And science seeks a rationale
That shall excuse
This strange behavior

When you let it shine
You will inspire
The kind of entire turnaround
That would make a bouncer take ballet
(even bouncers who aren't happy)
But out of the glare
With nowhere to turn
You ain't gonna learn it on "What's My Line?"

Reality Is

Reality is, we will have bad days. Some you can control and some you can't. Woke up this morning (I went to bed after 2:30) at 8:30 b/c my dog was going nuts and needed out, then woke up at 9:30 with cramps and back pain and stayed in bed til 10:30 but HAD to get up b/c I had a hair appt at 11, which was 20 minutes away. So I got my hair cut, came back home and tried to read and be productive but no go. As soon as I started reading my eyes got heavy and I was going to fall asleep. Ugh. My day is not going the way I want. Went out to the couch to watch a show on my DVR and drink my coffee. Shows over and now it's time to do my blog b/c I have to work at 4 and need to get it done before since I won't be home till about 1 am. I'm sitting here, thinking.....what should I write about.....BTW on Friday the 27th, it'll be one year since I started blogging and I've done it EVERYDAY! It can be kind of hard to come up with something everyday! Talk about commitment!

So.......I'm trying to come up with something and I am NOT feeling motivated or even happy. My day hasn't been horrible but I've gotten nothing accomplished and I feel like I've wasted this afternoon. Plus I still don't feel 100%. Anyone else have days like this? Silly question, I know. I really wish I had this day off (which I normally do) but I don't. Am I inspiring anyone right now? HA. 

I do have a point today and I'm getting to it. As much as we would like to have fabulous days, everyday, we won't. Life is full of ups and downs and just blah days at times. This is my blah day. However we do have the power to control how we react to these days. Or how we will change things around. I think one of the main reasons I'm feeling so unhappy is b/c I got nothing accomplished. There were things I wanted to get done and it just ain't going to happen before I have to go to work. For me one of the biggest things I need to learn is to accept what is. Today didn't go like I would have liked but I have to accept that I'm going to have those days. I need to regroup and move forward. My life is going to be He** when I have kids if I don't learn this lesson. I like things to happen when I plan on them happening. I don't want to change plans. Once my mind is set, I don't like changing it. 

We really control our moods and emotions by what we think. Our thoughts determine how we will act and react. Once I get done here I'm going to turn on KLOVE radio and take a shower and get ready for work. I won't be thinking that I got behind and I wasted my afternoon. Instead I will think that I got the rest that I needed to feel better and tomorrow is a new day. 

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

A-Z

Life's Wonderful Things

A-Z

A: Art-pictures, poems, paintings, ceramics

B: blue skies and ocean blue H2O

C: Coffee and Creamer!

D: Dads

E: Early mornings spent by yourself

F: Forests

G: Gentle breezes on a Gorgeous day

H: Hammocks

I: Ice Cream on a Hot Day

J: Jokes that make you laugh til you cry

K: Kelli (me) LoL

L: Lyrics that become beautiful music

M: Moms

N: Naps when you're a grown up

O: Oceans

P: Playgrounds and Parks

Q: Quiet mornings spent with my God

R: Reading, getting lost in a book

S: SUNSHINE

T: Traveling to new Places

U: Uplifting words, music or acts

V: Verses of scripture 

W: Weddings and Weekends

X: Xmas (work w/me-not a lot of options)

Y: YOU, you are wonderful!

Z: Zealous love from God

Alone time, Yay!

In a couple of hours my husband will be leaving for almost 3 days to visit his mama up in Wisconsin. I'm totally stoked he gets to see her since we haven't seen her since October. And I'm totally stoked for some alone time=) However I will be missing Nathan greatly.........at times. Mainly when it's time to feed me (since I don't cook-it'll be interesting to see what I end up eating) and when it's time for bed; I get freaked out at night, my mind runs wild-not good. 


Does anyone else cherish their alone time? As a gemini I have the split personality (but not in a bad way). There are times when I just like to be alone. I clean better and I get more done and I can have MY music blaring. I just don't work well when others are around. Is anyone else this way? 


So some plans while Nathan is gone......haircut, cleaning, organizing, rearranging (just don't tell my hubby) and seeing how much stuff I have to sell. Thinking about having a garage sale. Also hope to get some reading and journaling in, well actually more than some. However, I seem to have an issue managing my time well though and I don't seem to get as much accomplished as I would like. Oh and I have a problem getting out of bed in the morning. That can hurt you as well. 


All in all my next 3 days are looking awesome and full. On top of all my plans I also have to work all 3 days, so it's even more important I manage my time well. How's everyone else's week looking?

This is the Day

A year ago today a high school friend lost her husband at only 29 years old leaving her and two young daughters and a good friend of my brother's lost his dad. Both were unexpected (in a sense) and tragic. You never know when someone you love will be taken away. Rian (who lost her husband) posted on fb today "In memory of my husband today, I ask that each one of my friends here on facebook to please take the time today and let people know that you love them. You never know what may happen. If you are married please spend time with your spouse. I can say from experience that the grass is NOT greener on the other side. I love you Aaron Griffith! Miss you terribly!


I know this isn't the happiest of thoughts or conversation today. However we get so caught up in living and day to day life, that we need to remember to take a break and celebrate those in our life. We need to tell them we love them and care about them. We need to refocus on what is really important. Today is a great day! Why? Because, This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Psalm 118:24 

Not the End

This question was on KLove's website and what a perfect day to talk about it........

http://www.klove.com/ministry/advice/

Question: "Is the end of the world really coming?" - Marie, NM

Answer: On the hearts of many people are the billboards and flyers people see with words that read something like this, "Jesus is coming on May21st." This campaign has raised a lot of questions. This is the one thing I do know; The time of the Second Coming is unknown. In fact, Jesus stated that only the Father knew the time. He told His disciples on the day He ascended: "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority." (Acts 1:8, NASB) We are told in Luke 19 to, "Occupy till I come." Can you imagine if all of the energy we have spent trying to figure out when he is coming back was instead focused on getting the message of Christ's love to our world; just what kind of world that would be! Occupy means to live, to work, and to be a part of the community helping make it a better place. We have a great message of hope; share it with your neighbour and friend. My hope is we will focus on beginnings not endings in people lives and see just what the Lord will do.

What a thought.....instead of worrying when Jesus will be coming back, how about we spread the message of God's mercy and love and grace! Why can't we just trust God enough NOT to WORRY. Why do we need to know everything? I know some don't like the idea of the unknown but when it comes to God, we have nothing to worry about. So much time, money and energy has been wasted by every group that thinks the end is coming. There could have been an amazing impact on this world if all that time, energy and money had been used for God's Kingdom instead of freaking everyone out about the end of the world. 

From here on out, lets trust God and His Word and not worry. Lets spread the Good News of the Gospel and change people's lives instead of spreading lies and causing chaos. 

DaySpring

This is the day...
that you get to begin a new week.
This is the day...
that you're loved just as you are.
{1 John 4:18}
This is the day...
you have everything you need.
{2 Peter 1:3}
This is the day...
that victory is yours.
{Romans 8:37}
This is the day...
that God has made.
{Psalm 118:24}
There's never been one like it before and there will never be again. You're in this moment, time, place for a purpose and you've got what it takes to fulfill it.
So to say it like we do in the South... 
Go get 'em, friend!

by Holley Gerth, DaySpring Writer

What the Cross Really says to Us

Am I loved?
Am I wanted?
Am I worthwhile?
And the cross answers back...
You are loved, really.
{Psalm 103:11}
You're valuable, truly.
{Matthew 10:31}
You're chosen, always.
{1 Peter 2:9} 
The cross is the final answer on who we really are...
the exclamation mark at the end of God's declaration of love!

by Holley Gerth, DaySpring Writer

Happy Birthday

Today is Hripsime's 6th birthday! Who's Hripsime? She's the little girl we are sponsoring from Armenia through World Vision. Growing up I always had birthday parties with plenty of presents and friends and family to celebrate with. Today I'm praying Hripsime has the same. 


Please consider sponsoring a child through World Vision (or Compassion International, however I'm not very familiar with them) and give a child who has nothing, hope and a future.


Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version) ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.


With your monthly donation you are providing that child with an education, medical help, food and clean water, and a knowing that someone far away loves her and cares about her. 

James 1:27 (New International Version) ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Jeremiah 49:11 Leave your orphans; I will protect their lives. Your widows too can trust in me.

For those of us who are believers we have God's amazing love living inside us which means we have the capacity to love a great deal and to care about those that God cares about. There is such joy in helping a child receive the things that we receive in the U.S. without a second thought. You will forever change a child's life, their families life and the community. 

Check out the website for more information:

http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/sponsor/learn-about-sponsorship?Open&lpos=lft_txt_Learn-About-Sponsorship

A Little Goes a Long Way

I was looking at different non-for-profit sites today and one fact I read stuck with me......2 BILLION people don't have a toilet! That's about a third of the world! I had never thought about this before. I've always had a toilet, it's one more thing I take for granted on a daily basis. Can you imagine NOT having a toilet in your house? Maybe some of you have not had one but not me. I really don't want to have to leave my house to go to an outhouse. I mean, hello winters. Get all bundled up with boots on  just to go to the bathroom! Does this bother anyone else? I'm not sure why this is sticking with me and bothers me so much? I guess it's one more luxury I have in the U.S. 


Did you know there are over 6 BILLION people in this world and 3 BILLION live on less than U.S. $2/day! And 1.4 BILLION live on less than U.S. $1.25. Can you imagine? Go ahead calculate what you make in a day here in the states. Big difference, huh? I know mine far exceeds $2/day. So $2/day, 365/days a year.....$730. I'm sure most of us make that in 1-3 weeks and that's their YEARLY salary! 


Check out One Days Wages! All they ask is.......you guessed it....you donate one day of your wages. Pretty simple, huh?!

From ODW's website: http://www.onedayswages.org/about/our-vision

One Day's Wages (ODW) is a new grassroots movement of people, stories, and actions to alleviate extreme global poverty.

The numbers are staggering:

• 25,000 children under the age of 5 die each day due to poverty-related causes.
• Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all sickness and disease, and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Nearly 900 million people do not have access to clean water.
• Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names. 

The good news is that, there are already individuals and organizations around the world doing amazing work to alleviate extreme poverty. We're not trying to re-invent the wheel but rather to collaborate and partner with others. In short, ODW is joining them in the fight.

Consider the impact of your one day's wages...

 which is equivalent to about 0.4% of your annual salary. 

• $20 can provide clean water for one person for 20 years.
• $10 can purchase a bed net to help prevent malaria.
• $45 can pay annual school tuition for one child.
• $100 can provide a woman with a sewing machine and job training. 

Just think of the difference you could make with one day of your wages! And what if you did it once a month? Such a huge difference made in this grieving world.

When we pray to God and ask him for something, how do you think he answers those prayers? Does he come down and give you want you need? Does it just manifest right in front of you? No, he uses US-me and you, to answer those prayers. We are his hands and feet on Earth and we get to be a part of his master plan. We get to help those who are suffering, persecuted, neglected and unloved. When all you need is a friendly smile or a "How are you?" does God show up face to face with you? Or does he send someone at the right time to do or say the right thing? Ask God to use you where and when He needs you for his higher purpose. Isn't it amazing that we get to partner with God to make the world a better place?! I know I don't want to be on the sidelines watching all the miraculous things being done all over the world everyday.

How He Loves Me

He is jealous for me 
Loves like a hurricane 
I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy

When all of a sudden
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
And I realize just how beautiful You are
And how great Your affections are for me

And oh, how He loves us so
Oh how He loves us
How He loves us all
Yeah, He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves

And we are His portion and 
He is our prize 
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes 
If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking 
And Heaven meets Earth like an unforeseen kiss 
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest

I don't have time to maintain these regrets When I think about, the way...

Fruit of the Spirit

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Would anyone like these traits? Or fruit of the Spirit?


Good news, this fruit is available to all those who belong to Christ Jesus. From my study bible "How do we develop the fruit of the Spirit?"
-Faith and obedience go hand in hand. The fruit of the Spirit is something ONLY the Holy Spirit can produce in the life of a believer. As such; it's something we receive by faith--a gift given when we accept Christ as our Savior. At the same time, as we live in obedience to God's commands, the fruit grows and develops in our lives. Our part is seen, for example, in developing love (John 13:34), joy (Phil. 4:4) and peace (Col 3:15).


John 13:34 "³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."


Philippians 4:4 "⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"


Colossians 3:15 "¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."


From Wikipedia: The word rendered love is agape in the Greek, which in the Christian context refers to unconditional love. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance describes Agape as:

Strong's #26: A word to which Christianity gave new meaning. Outside of the NT, it rarely occurs in existing Greek manuscripts of the period. Agape denotes an undefeatable benevolence and unconquerable goodwill that always seeks the highest of the other, no matter what he does. It is the self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return, and does not consider the worth of its object. Agape is more a love by choice than philos, which is love by chance; and it refers to the will rather than the emotion. Agape describes the unconditional love God has for the world. The "Agape" love is more than that, is sacrificial, demonstrated by Jesus at the Cross of Calvary.

Paul describes the attributes of this love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a:

"Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything without weakening. [Love never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. Love never fails." (AMP)

This is an amazing kind of love and a love that isn't natural to us. We need God in us to produce this kind of love. I'm striving for love like this.

Many people question how Christianity can affect their life and what is "in it" for them. A good place to look is Galatians 5:22-23. 


~Check out http://pitterpatterart.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/6-months-waiting-art-giveaway/ for a free giveaway! Laura and her husband are adopting from Africa and every month they wait Laura does a free giveaway of her art which is amazing. Go check it out and enter to win, like I am=)

Stir your Heart

What do I really want in this life? What do I want my legacy to be? Have you thought about these questions and if so, recently?


A friend of mine recently lost her dad and our newspaper did an article on him. I wasn't aware of it but he coached little league football for many years and was a huge inspiration to the boys and a father to many. He made a difference that changed those boys forever. He taught them what it meant to be men on and off the field. That is huge today. So many children lack good parents or parents at all. How are they suppose to learn if no one is there to teach them? Ray may not have been an actor or a professional athlete or someone rich but he lived a rich life, full of love and compassion and concern. He may have been an "average" man but to those boys he was much more. He was someone that loved them and cared what happened to them. Is there anything better than that?


"Research confirms that a huge majority of people—more than three out of every four adults—say they want to make a difference in the world; they want their lives to account for some lasting, positive outcome."


I am definitely one of those three people who want to make a difference in the world AND I want my life to account for some lasting, positive outcome. When I read this statement I instantly thought of Ray and his devotion and love for those boys in little league football. It may not have been done on a grand scale like helping disaster victims or help in 3rd world countries but nonetheless just as important and valuable. 


I just want to H-E-L-P the hurting and lost and forgotten. I don't care if I ever get recognition. I just want to give hope and happiness and courage to others. I want people to know the wonderful, awesome love of God and that with God all things are possible. My goal is that people benefit from my time on this earth now and after I go to be with Jesus. 


"When you were born, God instilled many things within you. One of them was a great cause that He wants you to embrace. In His unique grandeur, He created a universe in which the cumulative effect of all people faithfully pursuing the cause within them would result in a transformed world -- one in which everyone's needs would be met and every servant's heart would be filled with the joy of blessing others. Unfortunately, we live in a traumatized world -- in part because so many people fail to identify and pursue the cause He has given them. Even though it would provide the happiness and fulfillment they have been seeking, they have failed to build their lives around that cause.


From the outset, let me point out that I don't know the details of the great cause residing within you, but I do know that it is related to people—specifically, how you can make the world a better place by serving other people, whether one-on-one or behind the scenes. A transforming cause is never about you—promoting yourself, achieving greater fame or fortune, experiencing more pleasure or comfort, amassing great power. It is always about using the resources God has given you—skills, relationships, experiences, money, time, intelligence, and all the rest—to make a positive impact in the lives of others."
from: http://ordinaryheroblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/finding-cause-within-you.html


What are you passionate about? What cause stirs your heart? We were made for more, are you up for it? Are you looking for it? This life is much more than house payments, carpooling, dinner out and vacations. We have the opportunity to be God's hands and feet and make a huge impact in a fallen, grieving world. Does this excite anyone else?!

Psalm 37

Psalm 37:1-9 and 23-24
¹ Do not fret because of those who are evil 
   or be envious of those who do wrong;
² for like the grass they will soon wither,
   like green plants they will soon die away.
 ³ Trust in the LORD and do good;
   dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴ Take delight in the LORD,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart.
 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
   trust in him and he will do this:
⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
   your vindication like the noonday sun.
 ⁷ Be still before the LORD
   and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
   when they carry out their wicked schemes.
 ⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
   do not fret—it leads only to evil.
⁹ For those who are evil will be destroyed,
   but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

 ²³ The LORD makes firm the steps
   of the one who delights in him;
²⁴ though he may stumble, he will not fall,
   for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

Grateful for the U.S.

I think I've mentioned before I'm currently reading Half the Sky. The book talks about oppression of women around the world. As a U.S. woman it can be hard to read. We have so many rights here that we take for granted.

In other countries women are denied medical care, die in childbirth, are accused of cheating without any proof and then either beaten or killed, left to die by starvation or eaten by wild animals (old women are taken outside the village to die!), don't have free speech, have to cover all parts of body, are not educated, are forced into marriages (as young as 12!), kidnapped or sold to brothels (some by family members!), are treated as less than human and sons have power over moms and sisters--just to name a few things.

As a women living in the U.S. I can go to a doctor or hospital anytime I need to, I graduated from H.S. and went on to get a Bachelor's Degree, can wear whatever I want, picked my own husband and married when I wanted to, can say and do whatever I want without family members or a husband threatening to beat me or kill me, would not be stoned to death if I cheated, have plenty of food to eat, and I can buy by own house if I so desire.

We have so much freedom here and are treated as equals. I know this isn't the happiest thing to talk about but to know good we need to know bad. By knowing how unfairly others are treated, we can be more grateful for our blessings and the life we live. Our burdens, concerns, problems can seem minimal compared to what others are facing in other parts of the world.

Reading the devastating stories of these women and seeing them triumph over the bad is inspiring and moving. It puts things into perspective.

Who's Backwards?

Yay! Blogger is back up. Here is my post from yesterday and I'll have another one later today, for today=)

Is our world backwards? Or is God and the bible backwards?

Bible-Greatness comes through servant-hood, and leadership through becoming a slave to all.

Matthew 23:11-12 “The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Mark 10:42-45 “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

In today’s world, people care about money, possessions, titles, ranks, authority, and prestige. We view a successful person as someone who has a lot of money or a lot of stuff. We view a servant as someone less than us or others. But is this true in the bible?

In Mark chapter 10 a rich young man asks Jesus what he must to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said you know the commandments and the young man replied he has kept them all since he was a boy. But Jesus said there was one thing he lacked-“Go sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

“At this time the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!’”

Mark 10:31 “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

This man’s attachment to his possessions kept him from God.  Is there anything keeping you from God? Is there anything you aren’t willing to give up? What has hardened your heart toward God?

This idea that to be great you must become a servant or slave is crazy, isn’t it? Or maybe not…….?

What if we ALL had this mentality? What if we stopped thinking about ourselves and thought of other’s more? What if we stopped supplying our wants and started supplying other’s needs? What if everyone’s basic needs were met? Would there be war and conflict? If CEO’s weren’t out to get as much money as possible would jobs be safe? What if we were content? Would we give more? What if we had the mentality of “ours” instead of “mine?” What is the point of life? Why are we here? To have all our wants met? To see who can live the best life and die with the most money? What will we take with us when we die? Nothing so why are we trying so hard to obtain so much?

Our world is sooooo competitive but why? Who cares who has the nicer car! Does it get you from point A to point B? Do you need more than that? Why can’t we celebrate with someone who just got a promoted instead of coming up with reasons why she’ll fail? Who cares if Suzie bought Wal-Mart jeans instead of CK jeans? Does that change who she is on the inside? Why are we so superficial and petty and judgmental? To make ourselves feel better? Are we that insecure?  We waste so much time when we care too much about what other people think.

Philippians 2:6-8 “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

Are you interested in becoming a servant or slave to others? Do you see the value? Or does this idea just seem crazy to you? 

To Do List From God

I ran my life in search of worldly things;
My time and will were firmly in control.
I thought I had no need for what God brings;
I gave no heed to murmurs from my soul.

“You’re planning, doing all the time,” it said,
“But something else is missing deep inside.
Your mind is whirling, but your heart is dead,
So turn to God and let go of your pride.”

I did, and God said, “Here’s My plan for you:
Give your life to Me, and just let go.
Have faith and pray, and read the Bible through,
And you’ll have blessings more than you can know.”

So simple, yet it brings me perfect peace,
Living life for God the way I should.
Direction, purpose, fullness and release—
Life with God is very, very good.

By Joanna Fuchs

Listen To The Sound

Are you in over your head 
Are you in water so deep you're drowning 
Do you think you've been left 
And there is no one to feel your hurting 
Well, everybody has been there 
And everybody's felt lost 
If you're in over your head 
Lift it up, lift it up 

(Chorus)
Oh, listen to the sound of hope that's rising up
Over your horizon 
Listen to the sound, listen to the sound 
And listen to the sound of a new beginning 
Oh, this is where the old is ending 
Listen to the sound, listen to the sound 

I hear you say you're alone 
I hear you saying that you'll never make it 
I've got to tell you you're wrong 
‘Cause I have been down this path you're takin' 
You'll never know what faith is 
‘Til you don't understand 
Sometimes it takes a silence 
To finally hear His plan 

Chorus

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound 
I once was lost, but now I'm found 
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound 
I once was lost, but now I'm found 

Chorus

His Grace is reaching for us 
His Grace is reaching out 
Listen to the sound, listen to the sound 
Wherever you are

Building 429