Pause for a Moment

Imagine wandering the streets witnessing the destruction of your town.  

Imagine hearing the cries and the feelings of hopelessness.  

Imagine not knowing the whereabouts of your very own children, your spouse, your parents, your loved ones.  

You don't know if they are dead or alive.

You fear that they are in pain somewhere and desperately needing your help.

My heart breaks!  

A Super Typhoon hit the Philippines.  It caused so much death and destruction.  Something that most of us will probably never experience in our life time!    The news is reporting that over 10,000 men, women and children were lost and many more people have lost their homes, food, drinking water, etc.  

I think when things like this happen we have a choice.

We can not internalize it and move on with our day, or we can stop and say a prayer for those people.

If we have the means, we can give to help those in need.

Today I ask that you pause for a moment.

Say a prayer for the people of the Philippines.

Pray for the mothers who have lost their babies, the father's who can no longer protect their missing children, and the kids who will now grow up without the love of their parents.

God hears our prayers and answers them.

And if you feel the call to donate to bring these people relief then you can do so HERE.

Editors Note: Our family chooses to support Compassion International in the work they do in times like these and to help those in poverty in other countries.  We feel that their money goes to where they say it goes and the relationships we've made with our sponsored child and other people has truly blessed our lives.  If you have more questions about Compassion or what they do feel free to visit their website for more information or send me an email.  I'd love to talk with you more about our experience.

The Ultimate Gift

My all time favorite movie is The Blind Side.
A wonderful story of real life NFL player, Michael Orr.
A family took in a huge high school kid and gave him a home.
They raised him like their own.
When people doubted the safety of their family, they didn't think twice.
They gave this boy a home, a future and loving family that would always be there.
I cry every time I watch this movie.
To me this is a current day example of giving.
They gave so much, their money, their reputation, their comfort, the list could go on.

In a world of internet and social media it makes it easy to give.
It is easy to check off our checklist of "gifts".
It is easy to feel pretty good about ourselves when all our shopping is done.
But true giving is not easy.
True Giving requires sacrifice.

True Giving is a child giving every penny they have to buy another child a present who has nothing.
True Giving is stopping what you are doing in the middle of a busy day and really listening to a person in need.
It is giving up luxury items to be a parent to your child.
It is dropping off a warm, home cooked meal to a woman who has 3 kids and has just lost her husband.
It is a perfect, undeserving Man, dying a gruesome death on a cross to save people who betrayed and still betray Him to this day.

That is giving!

Biblical Giving is sacrificing a part of you to give to someone in need.
This Christmas how will you give?
Will you give more toys and stuff to your child?
Will you give Amazon direct shipped gifts?
Or will you use that money and effort to make a difference in someone who truly needs something?
What do you want your Christmas to look like?

I know we all have Christmas traditions that we don't want to change.
But maybe make new traditions.
Maybe get together as a family and give to a family who can't afford heat this winter.
Maybe make a huge Christmas meal and take it to a family who needs to eat.
Maybe we should show our kids what true, sacrificial, Jesus giving is all about.

Maybe we should all put together our Christmas present money and give to a family in need across the world.  Give them blankets, give them seeds to grow their food, give them things we take for granted everyday.
We all know how to do it, it just isn't comfortable.

Let's get uncomfortable.  Let's do something completely different.
Let's truly GIVE!

What will you do this Christmas to make it different?
Check out THIS wonderful option that will give to others.

Tis the Season for Giving

At a very early age, most kids learn that if they are good all year long, Santa Claus will reward them with gifts under a tree.  
However, if they are bad, they will get coal in their stocking.
My mom always told us, if we were bad, we'd get pink underwear for Christmas.
This was disappointing to me and my sister, but an outright catastrophe for my little brothers.

Let me first say there is nothing wrong with Christmas, getting presents, giving presents.  I participate in all of this and enjoy the Christmas season.  This post is more meant as a challenge to think just a little differently about the holidays.

I know that I tend to fall into the stressed out mentality of what am I getting everyone for Christmas.
My thoughts very quickly can turn into .....  "What if what I get them isn't enough?"  "What if they get me something that is more expensive?"  "What happens if I can't afford to buy others a certain present?"  You get the picture.  It's all about "Getting"

Instead of focusing on what we are getting for ourselves or getting for our loved ones?  What if we focus on GIVING?



I asked a few people what their definition of giving was and here is what I heard.

"Sharing what you have freely"

"The act of doing something for another without selfish motivation or personal gain"

"Giving is showing compassion for others"

There are so many definitions of the word "giving" but no where in there is a dollar amount mentioned.  I don't see anything about stress, nothing about matching another gift someone has given us.  It is all self-less and has NOTHING to do with us.

This year I want to make sure my motives are in check.  I want us to ask ourselves, "Why are we giving?"  Are we giving what we have or are we getting things for others that we cannot afford?

Also I challenge us to think outside our normal group of people we give to and think of others that have nothing.  Check out this amazing CATALOG.  What if instead of getting presents for each other we all get together and give?  I just wonder what Christmas would look like.

As we go through December, focus on how you can give back this month.  Last month we focused on what we were thankful for, now let's focus on giving to others because of how blessed we are!

Here are a few ideas to encourage giving this holiday season.

  

Shop here for your gifts to others and let your friends and family benefit from the gift of giving.

Focus on doing a random act of kindness for someone every day. 

Donate food to a local food bank. 

Adopt an under priveledged family that can't afford any presents this year.

Get creative!

Let's all make an effort to focus on the giving and enjoy this holiday season.

Trading Places?

Yesterday I received my very last blogging assignment for Compassion International.
September went way to fast which means the blog challenge flew by as well!

In case you missed it here are the links for this month's blog challenge!

  Week 1:  

  Week 2:

  Week 3: 

 (Follow my new pinterest board and repin!!!  Help spread pinterest awareness!!!)

And for Week 4:  I'm supposed to write about what it would be like to switch places with my sponsored child, Melly.

So here it goes.......  Enjoy!

I wonder what it would be like to wake up in Tanzania.
And I'm not talking a super nice touristy hotel, I'm talking in the heart of Tanzania.
Living like the way the majority of the people do.

The sun comes streaming in through the cracks of our concrete house.
What a beautiful morning it is.
My neck is a little sore from the hard dirt floor, but nothing that a little stretching won't take care of.
I look down at my feet.  They will never be clean, I can't waste precious water them.
I have come to find comfort in knowing my feet will always have a coating of dirt on them.
It shows I work hard, and I am proud of that fact.
God has given me the body that can work hard for others.

As I walked several miles to get water,  I enjoy the coolness of the morning.
The beauty of the trees and the sun streaming through the leaves captivate me.
Then comes the walk back... it is not as pleasant, but I know how much my family needs this water.
I haul that heavy bucket of water back to my home so it can be boiled and nourish my body.
Oh water, how much we need it, but it is so much work to get it.
Some days, there is not enough to go around.  We really have to ration it out.
Even when I'm thirsty, I know I cannot drink because I have drank my portion for the day.
I remind myself to be grateful that I can lug a big bucket full of water... it could be empty.

Next comes time for me to go to the child development center.
There are meet so many wonderful people.
A beautiful piece of paper is awaiting me with my name on it.
Someone far away knows my name.
Someone far away loves me and cares about me.
My mom and dad don't even see me or write me, but these people from the U.S. do.
These letters uplift my soul.
I love my grandparents with all of my heart.
They take great care of me, but it is so nice to know someone else thinks of me.
I have my teacher read me the letter and help me write one back.
And then I will anxiously await a new letter to come for me.

We sing to God and dance!
We read stories of how He takes care of His people.
I have more than enough!  He provides every day for me.
I am so blessed.

I walk back home to tell my grandma about my day.
She hugs me tight and tells me she loves me.
We eat our rice and beans that my grandpa has worked so hard to bring to us.
Yes, life is good.
We sit around our fire and talk and watch the stars decorate the dark sky.

And as I close my eyes, I thank God.
He loves me.
He provided for us today.
I trust He will provide again tomorrow.

My Ungrateful Heart

Dear God,

Did You know that when you made us we'd disappoint you?
Did You know we would spend our lives challenging You and Your plan for us?
Did You know that the majority of us would live in poverty?
Did You know that the blessed few that lived extravagantly would be ungrateful and want more?

Lord, I have a house over my head.
There is food on my table every night.
I have a wonderful family.
We drive not one, but 2 cars.
We are in the percent of the world that lives extravagantly, yet I long for more.
Oh Lord, forgive my selfish heart.

As I fold the laundry and cook our meals, I find my eye drift towards the picture of the angel you brought into our lives.
There she is, the big brown eyes looking at us through that camera.
Standing on a dirt floor and in front of a concrete wall.
Her letters speak of a good life.
They speak of a wonderful relationship with her grandparents.
Never does she say, I wish I didn't live here.
I wish I had a nicer house, or carpet on the floor, or running water.
Nope, she is happy where she is.

She tells me of her Bible stories she is learning at her school.
She tells me how grateful she is for Your love.
She tells me she is grateful for me.  Me?

Who I am?
I am someone that battles an ungrateful heart.
As I wish I had wood floors so I wouldn't have to vacuum stained carpet, she is happy with concrete floors.
Lord, please give me that contentment.
Please give me the contentment that our sweet Melly has.
Help me fight this battle against this never content heart of mine.

I think You knew the key to being content is loving others.
Help me love this girl, not just through our money and our letters, but through our lives.
Thank you, Lord, for the amazing gift of Melly.
Thank you, Lord, for bringing me to You through our relationship with her.

You really do work in mysterious ways!