Kinship With A Child

COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL

They call it "sponsorship" when you give to one of these little ones who are in need.  I call it  "kinship". We can share money toward a problem.  POVERTY.  But, this.  This is "kinship" because you share yourself with a fellow human.     It's a GIVING from your heart of  LOVE and JOY and HOPE.

Don't we all want that?  Someone to share themselves their love with us.
Don't we all need that?  To feel and know that we are loved and have worth.
Isn't that what Christ did ~ gave to us himself.  He bridged the gap from our poverty of sin and offers us the food of salvation for our souls.
Doesn't Jesus want us to do the same?  Be the one who stands in the gap for others ~ just as he did for us.
Aren't we the most like Christ when we give of ourselves to others?

The Challenge:  Here's the challenge to you. Yes you!  To you who read this blog and see it on facebook and twitter or on Google+.  I challenge you to sponsor a child and see how the Lord uses this small act of kindness to enrich your life as you enrich the life of one of these small ones.  Christ doesn't call us to isolation.  To live in our own little worlds with me, myself and I.  No, he calls us to imitation.  To imitate him in service to others.

Click on Compassion International and connect with a child in kinship.

Matthew 25:45 (NLT) "And he will answer, 'I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.'

He Did Not Condemn

John 3:17 states:

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world...

Why?  The world was already condemned.  If God Himself did not condemn the world then we as Christian shouldn't be adding to its condemnation.  Instead we should be setting a Godly example and showing the world the way out of it.

THE SNOW

Proverbs 25:13
Like the cold of snow in time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him.
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

Thanking God for the recent snow and the ability to get out in it!

When the four wheel drive couldn't get us out and about we pulled the tractor out of the barn,
bundled up and headed off down the road to the store!  Yes.  They were open!

The Lot

Have you had something to come into your life that you didn't see coming?  Something completely unexpected and certainly unwanted?  Something that seemingly fell right out of the blue clear sky and right into your lap?  I think we've all been in that situation at one time or another but the question is ~ what do you do about it?  How do you handle it?  

Most likely our first response is how do I get rid of this as quickly as possible. Why?  Because it makes us feel uncomfortable, fearful, angry, emotionally hurt or even physically hurt. Whatever the case, we just want it gone and done with. Right?

Recently something like this came into my life.  I didn't ask for it, didn't want it and didn't see it coming.  But one day it just showed up on my doorstep and in my heart.  Something had happened and now it was just laying there in my lap, so to speak.

At first I didn't know what to do, how to handle it.  I knew I wanted it gone that was for certain, but didn't know how to go about getting it gone.  Like Paul I went to the Lord asking him to remove this "thorn in my side".  Do you know what His answer was ~ silence.  Humm....  That should have been a clue to me.

Then one day I was talking with God about my situation and reading His word when He brought me to this verse:  Proverbs 16:33

"The Lot is cast into the lap. But it's every decision is from the LORD."

The Lord quietly told me ~ I know all about the situation and I've got everything under control.  Just trust me.  From that I took comfort and left my situation in His capable hands.  Of course that is what He wanted me to do to begin with.  From that point I stopped asking Him to change the situation and started asking Him to use the situation to change me.  I trusted Him with it and have seen His faithfulness week by week arranging the situation for my good.  I'm pretty sure that was His plan all along.

So let me ask you.  Do you have something in your life now that is unwanted and unasked for?  If so, take it to the Lord.  Trust Him with it.  Then, ask Him to show you how He wants to use the situation to change you.

His ultimate goal for everything that comes into our lives is to make and mold us more into His image and less like our own.  Remember ~ He is in control and will prove Himself faithful.

Things Accomplished

The Lord will perfect (accomplish) those things that concern His will for our lives....(Ps 138:8)

Therefore, we shouldn't be concerned about those things He doesn't accomplish.

Warm Winter Wishes

It's mid February already and winter has settled on us heavy this year.  We received 6+ inches of snow over the last 2 days ~ plus ice too.  Brrrrr.....I'm ready for Spring!  No matter where you may be this winter we want you to know that God is with you.  We're asking Him to give you a special blessing.  He knows all about your circumstances and knows exactly what kind of  "special blessing" you need.  Whatever it may be ~ trust Him for it.  He's just waiting for an opportunity to show you that He is trustworthy. 

Start this new year committing yourself to trust Christ to supply your need.  He has already promised in His Word that He will do it.  Philippians 4:19 "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." 

Friend, we either take God at His Word and believe that He will do what He said He will do or we don't believe it.  It's just that simple.  We're trusting God this year for many things.  From our basic need of gas for the car to making house payments and beyond we're taking our requests to Him and anticipating His answer!  Join us on this adventure this year and take that first step in really trusting Christ for all your needs.  Get your best pair of spiritual waking shoes on and let's get going ~ the adventure awaits us!

Warm winter wishes!