international compassion

Since you can obviously see the title before reading the contents of this post, let me steer your opinion back. Yes, I know there are people in the United States who are very much in need, but they're not nearly as needy as the rest of the world. Let me explain.

In addition to preaching about the path to heaven, as I wrote about yesterday, my Pastor preached Sunday about how rich Americans are. Not to steal his sermon, but just to share with you ... Americans are the richest people in the world - "richer than nearly 70% of other people in the world."

You're not as rich as your neighbor, but you're probably richer than your parents, who are richer than their parents. The girl you work with drives a nicer car than you do, but hey, at least you have transportation. Oh. You take advantage of public transportation, you say? Then you no doubt have shoes on your feet so you can walk in the cold to the bus stop. Consider the people in other countries who don't have shoes. The ones who have no job to walk to or a bus coming along to take them anywhere. The ones who have no means of providing for their family because where they live, there is no money to be had.

We can't save the world, but we can each save a life.

James and I sponsor a child through Compassion International. His name is Daniel, he is three, and he lives in Ecuador. He is the most precious child - a sweet innocent face and the darkest hair. I have never met this angel, but I feel love for him. Looking at his sweet face melts me. I know that my meager monthly contribution is helping him and his family, and that's perhaps why my heart is so tender for him.

Daniel spends his days among Compassion workers, most likely in a church, where he hears Bible stories, learns about Jesus and plays to his heart's content while his mother works. She is an only parent and his grandmother lives with them. Daniel's pastor and teacher have written to me on his behalf, and I long for the day when he will learn to read and write on his own. Having a connection with a child the same age as my youngest makes him so much more real to me. If there were a way for me to visit him in Ecuador, I'd be on the plane in a second. To snuggle that sweet baby boy would be as wonderful as scooping up and loving my own.

There are many more children in need of someone to care. It's not all about the financial gift you can give them, but the relationship. We don't always know which of our words are going to stick with someone, making an impression that we couldn't have foreseen. God willing, the letters that are read to Daniel, crafted by my hand, will sink into his heart and he will feel loved. I encourage you to learn more about Compassion and see if your heart is led to help.

About Compassion
Make a Donation (included are special projects for AIDS, Malaria, Disaster Relief, Medical Assistance and more)

Help a Child

Praying for children in need,

Gettin' Her Groove Back: 3/60

everybody else is doing it

No doubt that as a child you probably looked at your parents and whined, "but everybody else is doing it!" Often, it seemed like a compelling reason (to you, not them). We haven't lost that whine. That same phrase still lies within us. Ever heard of "keeping up with the Jones'?" Yeah, that's the "everybody's doing it" mentality. The trick is to funnel that whine into something good.

Courtesy
www.TogetherWeFlourish.com

My pastor presented a powerful sermon this morning challenging us to live the life that will get us to heaven. One of the tasks laid out for us is to be His witness. As Christians, we're to go into the world and share the plan of salvation. That's tough sometimes, but one positive step to getting there is to display Christ-like characteristics - put others before yourself:

• hold the door
• let someone with less items go ahead of you in line
• say "please," "thank you" and utilize other manners yo' mama taught you
• buy the homeless person on the corner a cup of coffee as you're getting one for yourself
• share whatever you have - money, food, etc. - with someone who has an obvious need

Why are self-less tasks like I've mentioned above so hard for some people to fulfill? Because they're not the normal things to do (anymore). They're kind, humble and personal ways to show you care, which is not what our society is about anymore. No one cares about anything. Actually, I take that back. People care about saving animals, global warming and other causes that aren't important for The Kingdom.

How is it possible that we've lost the "human element" and elevated animals above each other? I'm all for adopting pets instead of accessing puppy mills, but I'd much rather my money and real efforts be used to help those who don't have hope somehow find hope. Make tomorrow count for more than yourself and the next stray animal.

I say, let's start a revolution beginning with the small stuff. Let's look to those who curl their nose and ask why we're being so nice and tell them, "everybody else is doing it." And we should add to that, "and because it's the right thing to do." Doing the right things in life are the first steps to receiving a heavenly reward. When you begin to take care of others, the walls will fall and you'll be able to move on to the deeper conversation of salvation.

What will you do for someone in need this week?

Gettin' Her Groove Back: 2/60
On my mind for tomorrow: showing compassion

a new project. y'all ready?

Last year I created an account at the site http://365project.org/, a site where users can share a photo each day for 365 days. It's a creative outlet for amateurs and professionals alike. Wellll ... I have 47 entries with my last being in November.

My 365 Project photo for August 21, 2010 of my precious
niece who is still waiting on her baby blanket.

I have good intentions when I begin projects, it's the follow-through that gets me. For instance, I began knitting my newest niece a baby blanket in either late 2009 or early 2010. She was born this past August and I have yet to finish her blanket. It's almost done! Only a few more rows! But ... I laid it down and have not yet picked it back up.

Does it come from being held to high standards at work where it's not acceptable to not complete a task? Is it just laziness? Why can't I ever finish anything I start unless I'm being paid to? I'm not going to let the questions and negativity keep me down. I'm starting a new project (smirk).

This just might drive you crazy, especially when only God knows what the content will be, but I'm setting off on a journey that begins today. A blog post a day for ... 60 days. (Let's start small. Achievable goals are always better, and not just in weight loss.)

My reason for blogging each day? I'm always near a computer and love to write anyway (heck, I get paid to write). Why didn't the photo-a-day project work out? I was always on the hunt for the perfect photo, unable to settle for a simple snapshot. That hunt equals time, plus then sitting down to weed through my captures and upload "the one". Writing is definitely more of my forte than photography, although it's a love I will always have and pursue, just not on a calendar.

To help you keep count on this project, or in case you drop off the grid for a few days or plain ol' start ignoring me, I'll add a line at the bottom of the post below my signature, just as you see on this one. It's a momentous occasion! Pray for me!

Gettin' Her Groove Back: 1/60