Showing posts with label Compassion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Compassion. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Monday, November 18, 2013
Dear Friend
Dear Friend in the Philippines,
To brothers, sisters, parents; to teachers, to police officers, to rescue workers.
To Lorraine, a friend I've never met personally but written letters to since I was young; and to Audrey, our precious 9-year old sponsor child.
I cannot imagine how your life has been turned upside down in the last week.
I'm not sure how to express my sorrow for you and your lost homes, family members, and resources.
I feel guilty sitting here, safely indoors with a blanket and cup of tea, unable to comprehend the depth of pain and chaos that your country is going through right now.
I would like to hug you, invite you into my home, cook you a warm meal, and pray for you.
To brothers, sisters, parents; to teachers, to police officers, to rescue workers.
To Lorraine, a friend I've never met personally but written letters to since I was young; and to Audrey, our precious 9-year old sponsor child.
I cannot imagine how your life has been turned upside down in the last week.
I'm not sure how to express my sorrow for you and your lost homes, family members, and resources.
I feel guilty sitting here, safely indoors with a blanket and cup of tea, unable to comprehend the depth of pain and chaos that your country is going through right now.
I would like to hug you, invite you into my home, cook you a warm meal, and pray for you.
Image Credit: CNN News
I don't understand how or why such catastrophes happen.
But I want you to know that you're not alone.
I want you to know that though we've never met, I'm praying for you. And though I can't personally comfort you, I know that our Father in heaven has promised the greatest Comforter of all time - the Holy Spirit, to be with you forever.
And I also know that you need more than prayer. Your country is devastated and your countrymen are in need of basic supplies. That's why I've donated to organizations such as Compassion, who are helping provide urgent aid to affected children and families (click here to donate, too). And there are dozens of other groups, ministries, churches, and people who are stepping up. You aren't alone.
In the middle of such enormous loss, I am encouraged to hear reports about how God WAS there, and how He IS there still.
In the picture below, you can see a what looks like a piece of cake (upper left corner) that was spared from the typhoon.
This is the area of Bacolod, Philippines, where there are numerous prayer houses situated. A personal testimony from a Christian brother in this area reports, "The weatherman explained that a 'miracle' happened because the eye of the storm SKIPPED US, and we were affected only by the tail or sidewinds. THE FURIOUS WINDS AND RAINS COULD NOT ENTER OUR [AREA]. We literally cried in thanks to God for his answer to prayer..."
The Lord is your Defender, your Healer, your Strong Deliverer.
He "upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow..." (Psalm 146:7-9)
and sustains the fatherless and the widow..." (Psalm 146:7-9)
May you know that sustaining love today; that peace, comfort, protection and freedom.
And may you be well-fed, warm, taken care of, and loved...knowing that you're not alone.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Rejection
Came across this hilarious and awesome video clip today from Jia Jiang, a man who decided to face his fear of rejection by asking for 100 different outrageous things, expecting to be told "no."
His "rejection therapy" included things like asking a police officer if he could drive his car, and asking a stranger if he could play soccer in his back yard. The ironic thing? Every. single. person. said. yes.
You can view his 25 minute speech on this website: Jia Jiang Teaches Us How to Love Rejection
There's 3 things I know about rejection:
1) Everybody faces rejection at some point in their lives.
2) The answer to being rejected is not to try to prove yourself. I read again this morning these 4 short verses from Matthew 11, where Jesus speaks against the cities that rejected Him. He - the Mightiest Man Who ever walked the face of the earth - performed most of His miracles in the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, yet they did not believe Him, did not repent, and He was rejected as man and God. He warns them that they will suffer the consequences of their choice, but He lets them have a choice. He doesn't manipulate, doesn't overpower, doesn't force them to believe.
And I realized the same should be true for you and me. The answer to rejection is forgiveness. We think we know better; we think we could have decided better; we think we deserved better; we think, we think. And maybe we're even right! But was Jesus' mission over because of those cities that rejected Him? Had he failed His own destiny because not every single soul received salvation? Not at all.
When we learn to forgive, move on, and not take responsibility for other people's decisions, we find hope. And we're even willing to face rejection again because we know it can't shake our foundation, our identity.
3) The third thing I know is that hurt people hurt people. If we have not learned to forgive and move on, we are more than likely to take out our hurt and anger on others, causing them to also feel hurt by us. But if hurt people hurt people, the opposite is also true - healed people heal people! And imagine what a difference we could make in the lives of others if WE became those people that say "yes"! Yes to the downcast, yes to the one with low self-esteem, yes to our spouse, yes to the needy, yes to our kids, yes to God. Of course setting boundaries in the midst of everything so we don't get burnt out, but defaulting to saying yes instead of rejecting others.
And in case you're looking for an opportunity to say "yes" to today, I have an idea for you. I'm participating in Compassion Blogger's Month, and our goal is to get 3,160 kids sponsored...children who have faced rejection their whole lives, sometimes even by those closest to them. They've experienced rejection from educational systems, rejection from their parents and own family members, and many feel rejected by God. And they're waiting for someone to say yes to them.
If this is something you're interested in, feel free to leave a comment, or else check out Compassion's website here for Canada or here for Germany. My husband and I sponsor a little girl from the Philippines and I'd be happy to answer your questions about our experiences with this organization! One thing I can say is that through this program both our little Anne's life, and our lives have been changed, through one word - yes.
His "rejection therapy" included things like asking a police officer if he could drive his car, and asking a stranger if he could play soccer in his back yard. The ironic thing? Every. single. person. said. yes.
There's 3 things I know about rejection:
1) Everybody faces rejection at some point in their lives.
2) The answer to being rejected is not to try to prove yourself. I read again this morning these 4 short verses from Matthew 11, where Jesus speaks against the cities that rejected Him. He - the Mightiest Man Who ever walked the face of the earth - performed most of His miracles in the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, yet they did not believe Him, did not repent, and He was rejected as man and God. He warns them that they will suffer the consequences of their choice, but He lets them have a choice. He doesn't manipulate, doesn't overpower, doesn't force them to believe.
And I realized the same should be true for you and me. The answer to rejection is forgiveness. We think we know better; we think we could have decided better; we think we deserved better; we think, we think. And maybe we're even right! But was Jesus' mission over because of those cities that rejected Him? Had he failed His own destiny because not every single soul received salvation? Not at all.
When we learn to forgive, move on, and not take responsibility for other people's decisions, we find hope. And we're even willing to face rejection again because we know it can't shake our foundation, our identity.
3) The third thing I know is that hurt people hurt people. If we have not learned to forgive and move on, we are more than likely to take out our hurt and anger on others, causing them to also feel hurt by us. But if hurt people hurt people, the opposite is also true - healed people heal people! And imagine what a difference we could make in the lives of others if WE became those people that say "yes"! Yes to the downcast, yes to the one with low self-esteem, yes to our spouse, yes to the needy, yes to our kids, yes to God. Of course setting boundaries in the midst of everything so we don't get burnt out, but defaulting to saying yes instead of rejecting others.
And in case you're looking for an opportunity to say "yes" to today, I have an idea for you. I'm participating in Compassion Blogger's Month, and our goal is to get 3,160 kids sponsored...children who have faced rejection their whole lives, sometimes even by those closest to them. They've experienced rejection from educational systems, rejection from their parents and own family members, and many feel rejected by God. And they're waiting for someone to say yes to them.
If this is something you're interested in, feel free to leave a comment, or else check out Compassion's website here for Canada or here for Germany. My husband and I sponsor a little girl from the Philippines and I'd be happy to answer your questions about our experiences with this organization! One thing I can say is that through this program both our little Anne's life, and our lives have been changed, through one word - yes.
Friday, September 6, 2013
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A nurse.
Can't quite believe I answered with that when I was younger; today I can't imagine working in the medical field! I'm very thankful for the people who do, but I know I'm definitely not cut out for it. Uh-uh. No way.
A teacher.
Now that's more like it. I remember playing with a friend when we were younger, setting up all of our stuffed teddy bears, stuffed monkeys, stuffed penguins and stuffed-everything-else on her bed, and teaching our "class" together (also disciplining when the big stuffed moose caused trouble!). My heart is still for teaching, and although I've never exactly studied it, I thoroughly enjoyed my semester internship as Teacher's Assistant at Prairie Bible College, and love the opportunities that I have now to preach the odd time, teach English, etc. If I were to get into the working world, I think I'd go in the direction of teaching.
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
How did you respond to that question when you were little?
I think I can assume some of the answers you didn't give.
Stressed.
Uneducated.
Discriminated against.
Dependent on social systems for financial support.
Without access to health care.
Poor.
How is it that we can so easily end up where we never wanted to be? But what if you were never aware of another option?
The theme of social justice remains on my heart, and I'm becoming more and more convinced that poverty isn't just a physical state of need; it starts in the mind. It's easy for us (rich? educated? advanced?) people to look at beggars or homeless people and think, "Oh, just get a job." Or to hear stories of plight, awful stories of children sold into sex trafficking, and wonder what is so wrong with the family that they didn't see that danger coming, and believed their daughter would really have a better life with that stranger who offered to marry them.
But if poverty was all you'd ever known, all that your parents grew up with, and what their parents before them struggled with as well, wouldn't you also begin to believe that poverty was simply your lot in life?
I read a super interesting article the other day about how "poverty taxes the brain." This website discusses some new, groundbreaking findings which conclude that "poverty imposes such a massive cognitive load on the poor that they have little bandwidth left over to do many of the things that might lift them out of poverty – like go to night school, or search for a new job, or even remember to pay bills on time." Even something like struggling to be a good parent can be connected to not handling finances well. "Poor people live in a constant state of scarcity (in this case, scarce mental bandwidth)." Poverty, as well as everything that accompanies it (discrimination, dependency, stress), puts such a burden on the minds of those caught up in it that it's like a loaded mental bandwidth, where "in the case of the poor...you’re just more likely to not notice things, you’re more likely to not resist things you ought to resist, you’re more likely to forget things, you’re going to have less patience, less attention to devote to your children when they come back from school.”
Our dear brothers and sisters living in Third World countries, living in slums, sleeping in shelters, or even living across the street from us...they can't always help themselves.
And I was convicted again when I read from Provers 14 this morning: "Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God" (v. 31).
I know that decisions have consequences and that you reap what you sow, but I also know that probably none of the people whom we find easy to judge set out as a child to be "poor" when they grew up. Or to be a bad parent. Or to be an addict. Or to not be able to provide for their family.
They had dreams...and they still do.
This online article concludes with some good news:
HELPING PEOPLE...that's the key. And that is good news!
~~~~~~~~
Friends, I'm currently working on a little design project, and would like your ideas. I want to make bookmarks to give away, with a list of things people can do to "practically engage in the fight against injustice." Sometimes the need seems so great and we don't know where to start so we just do nothing at all.
What resources, what causes, what links or ideas could you add to my list below?
Your suggestions?
Can't quite believe I answered with that when I was younger; today I can't imagine working in the medical field! I'm very thankful for the people who do, but I know I'm definitely not cut out for it. Uh-uh. No way.
A teacher.
Now that's more like it. I remember playing with a friend when we were younger, setting up all of our stuffed teddy bears, stuffed monkeys, stuffed penguins and stuffed-everything-else on her bed, and teaching our "class" together (also disciplining when the big stuffed moose caused trouble!). My heart is still for teaching, and although I've never exactly studied it, I thoroughly enjoyed my semester internship as Teacher's Assistant at Prairie Bible College, and love the opportunities that I have now to preach the odd time, teach English, etc. If I were to get into the working world, I think I'd go in the direction of teaching.
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
How did you respond to that question when you were little?
I think I can assume some of the answers you didn't give.
Stressed.
Uneducated.
Discriminated against.
Dependent on social systems for financial support.
Without access to health care.
Poor.
How is it that we can so easily end up where we never wanted to be? But what if you were never aware of another option?
The theme of social justice remains on my heart, and I'm becoming more and more convinced that poverty isn't just a physical state of need; it starts in the mind. It's easy for us (rich? educated? advanced?) people to look at beggars or homeless people and think, "Oh, just get a job." Or to hear stories of plight, awful stories of children sold into sex trafficking, and wonder what is so wrong with the family that they didn't see that danger coming, and believed their daughter would really have a better life with that stranger who offered to marry them.
But if poverty was all you'd ever known, all that your parents grew up with, and what their parents before them struggled with as well, wouldn't you also begin to believe that poverty was simply your lot in life?
I read a super interesting article the other day about how "poverty taxes the brain." This website discusses some new, groundbreaking findings which conclude that "poverty imposes such a massive cognitive load on the poor that they have little bandwidth left over to do many of the things that might lift them out of poverty – like go to night school, or search for a new job, or even remember to pay bills on time." Even something like struggling to be a good parent can be connected to not handling finances well. "Poor people live in a constant state of scarcity (in this case, scarce mental bandwidth)." Poverty, as well as everything that accompanies it (discrimination, dependency, stress), puts such a burden on the minds of those caught up in it that it's like a loaded mental bandwidth, where "in the case of the poor...you’re just more likely to not notice things, you’re more likely to not resist things you ought to resist, you’re more likely to forget things, you’re going to have less patience, less attention to devote to your children when they come back from school.”
Our dear brothers and sisters living in Third World countries, living in slums, sleeping in shelters, or even living across the street from us...they can't always help themselves.
And I was convicted again when I read from Provers 14 this morning: "Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God" (v. 31).
I know that decisions have consequences and that you reap what you sow, but I also know that probably none of the people whom we find easy to judge set out as a child to be "poor" when they grew up. Or to be a bad parent. Or to be an addict. Or to not be able to provide for their family.
They had dreams...and they still do.
This online article concludes with some good news:
"Conversely, going forward, this also means that anti-poverty programs could have a huge benefit that we've never recognized before: Help people become more financially stable, and you also free up their cognitive resources to succeed in all kinds of other ways as well."
HELPING PEOPLE...that's the key. And that is good news!
~~~~~~~~
Friends, I'm currently working on a little design project, and would like your ideas. I want to make bookmarks to give away, with a list of things people can do to "practically engage in the fight against injustice." Sometimes the need seems so great and we don't know where to start so we just do nothing at all.
What resources, what causes, what links or ideas could you add to my list below?
- Pray!
- Donate to organizations (such as?) who are already "on the ground," running with a vision.
- Buy Fair Trade (lots of items, such as chocolate and coffee, can be found in normal grocery stores. I was excited when I recently found a small shop in our city that sells directly imported, hand-made products such as stationary, jewelry, and bags!)
- Sponsor a child, and help them escape the cycle of poverty and fulfill their dreams.
Your suggestions?
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Enslaved.
"Today has been declared Shine A Light On Slavery Day by the folks at the End It Movement."
Did you know that:
- there are 27 million men, women and children, just like you, living in the shadows. In brothels. In factories. In Quarries. Working as slaves. In 161 countries. Including our own.
- YOU can do something against it
The Lord has been stirring mine and my husband's hearts lately about the whole theme of social justice. Sometimes the need seems so great - what can we do? And when, if ever, are we doing enough? The "seashell story" is a huge encouragement, a reminder to never underestimate the impact we can make in one person's life, therefore changing the world.
My parents taught me that "the need is not the call." It's been a helpful guideline in my life as I've learned to say no to certain things and not let myself be pulled in all directions. Obedience is all that matters, not people-pleasing or doing good works to feel good about myself. But, as my husband added, "Although the need is not the call, sometimes we miss the call because we aren't willing to see the need."
If we would just open our eyes and let God "break our hearts for what breaks His," we would see need all around us! And more importantly, opportunities to meet that need. And if we would just obey the Holy Spirit - each of us doing his part - the world around us would be transformed.
I don't necessarily need to invent the wheel, so I want to recommend this article from Shaun Grove's blog: "4 Ways You Can Help End Slavery." It's moving, but not just in the emotional sense; it motivates to action.
And what are we doing to "End It"? A couple thoughts:
- Being informed is a great start. Letting our eyes be opened. I came across a trailer recently for a movie being released this Friday in America....My friends in the USA, could you go for me? I have no idea when it will come out in Germany, but I would love to see it! It is called "Not Today" and focuses on the issue of human trafficking in India. More information here: http://www.nottodaythemovie.com/ "Your ticket in is their ticket out..."
- I've written about it before, but one simple yet practical way my husband and I believe we are making a difference is by making informed shopping choices. The "Fair Trade" label is of huge value - ensuring that the people who work to produce our clothing, our chocolate, our coffee, or harvest our fruit were all paid fair wages, treated well, and were not abused at the hands of the slavery spiral.
- And thirdly, as I've also written about before, another step could be child sponsorship. I am now officially an Advocate on behalf of Compassion Deutschland, and would love to give you resources or help connect you if you're interested in finding out more. Did you know that their method s are scientifically proven to work? Check out this research project: http://www.compassion.com/poverty-facts.htm?referer=128018. Investing into one child's life could protect them from becoming enslaved! Help "Release a Child from Poverty in Jesus' Name!"
- I read Isaiah 61 this morning and the words hit me again: "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon ME..." How does God want to use ME to make a difference? To promote justice? He has "anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captive and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor...to comfort all who mourn...and provide for those who grieve..." Who in my life today needs good news? Needs binding up? Needs freedom, needs light, needs favor, needs comfort? God wants to use my hands and feet, and tangibly display His glory through me in the details of this day.
From James 2:
"Dear friends, do you think you’ll
get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do
anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really
has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and
half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be
filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a
coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that
God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?"
Friday, February 22, 2013
Ebenezer (no, not Scrooge...)
There is an old hymn that I love, but unfortunately, like many familiar songs, I often go over the words without understanding what they really mean. Verse two of "Come Thou Fount" is one of those parts that I often sing without really worshiping.
What exactly is an Ebenezer, and why does the person who wrote this song want to raise one? They were for sure not talking about Charles Dickens or A Christmas Carol. And definitely not referring to cold hearts, traditions, or even Christmas at all.
Instead, the reference is to Samuel, the Israelites, and the Philistines. Yes, from the Bible...
The story is recorded in 1 Samuel 7. The Israelites were in the hands of the Philistines (their enemies) because of their own mistake, and the Lord had raised up a prophet - Samuel - to deliver them. The people of God repented of their idolatry, determined to serve the Lord only, and Samuel offered a sacrifice to Yahweh.
So what did Samuel do? "12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far has the Lord helped us.' 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again."
There it is - Ebenezer. And it's meaning is the second line of that verse in "Come Thou Fount" - Hither by Thy help I've come. Or, as Samuel said, "Thus far has the Lord helped us."
The Ebenezer stone was to serve as a reminder of the works of the Lord and His faithfulness. Abraham did something similar throughout his life; every time he had a significant experience with God, he built an altar in that place and worshiped there. Or it's like the story in Joshua 4 where, after crossing the Jordan, the people were told to take 12 stones (1 for each tribe of Israel) from the river, and build an altar on the other side. The reason? "In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”
We have an empty jar that we will fill throughout the year with notes about good things that happen, funny moments, etc., and on New Year's Eve we'll empty it and look back on 2013, praising God!
Another simple way to honor God for what He's done in your life is by telling others about it! The power of giving testimony is often underestimated in Christian circles, but do you realize that it's one of the ways we overcome the enemy (Rev. 12:11)?! We proclaim God's acts before a "cloud of witnesses" (Heb. 12) and that confirms to us what took place, and at the same time asks God to do it again in the lives of others. If He can provide for me, He can provide for you. If He healed me, He can heal you!
And one more practical way that my husband and I try to be intentional in is the discipline of giving. When we are generous with our money (whether it be tithing to our church, helping out a friend in need, or sponsoring a child through Compassion),we are reminding ourselves that God has blessed us so richly, and as an act of faith that He will continue to provide, we raise the "Ebenezer" of our wallets and say "Thus far has the Lord helped us."
So where has the Lord helped you? What markings can you set up, what traditions can you develop or have you developed that help you celebrate and remember the help of the Lord?
I'd love if you shared your thoughts and ideas in the comment section below!
"Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by Thy help I've come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wondering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood"
Hither by Thy help I've come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wondering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood"
What exactly is an Ebenezer, and why does the person who wrote this song want to raise one? They were for sure not talking about Charles Dickens or A Christmas Carol. And definitely not referring to cold hearts, traditions, or even Christmas at all.
Instead, the reference is to Samuel, the Israelites, and the Philistines. Yes, from the Bible...
The story is recorded in 1 Samuel 7. The Israelites were in the hands of the Philistines (their enemies) because of their own mistake, and the Lord had raised up a prophet - Samuel - to deliver them. The people of God repented of their idolatry, determined to serve the Lord only, and Samuel offered a sacrifice to Yahweh.
"He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Car."
The Lord always responds to the worship of His people. One of His names in the Bible is DEFENDER (but that's a topic for a different post!) and He responded in this instance by wiping out Israel's enemies.
There it is - Ebenezer. And it's meaning is the second line of that verse in "Come Thou Fount" - Hither by Thy help I've come. Or, as Samuel said, "Thus far has the Lord helped us."
The Ebenezer stone was to serve as a reminder of the works of the Lord and His faithfulness. Abraham did something similar throughout his life; every time he had a significant experience with God, he built an altar in that place and worshiped there. Or it's like the story in Joshua 4 where, after crossing the Jordan, the people were told to take 12 stones (1 for each tribe of Israel) from the river, and build an altar on the other side. The reason? "In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”
There should be times in our lives where we "raise our Ebenezer" and remember with gratefulness what God has done for us. And those times should happen often! Times like Christmas and Easter are natural seasons to reflect on the birth, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus, but we need more than that in our everyday, personal lives. We need to develop a culture in our own spiritual lives and families where we celebrate how the Lord has provided, protected, guided, spoken, comforted, equipped, encouraged.
So...what is your Ebenezer? What do you use as a reminder for yourself, a testimony for others, or as a symbol for the next generation, of what God has done in your life? Are you building "altars" in your life - places of remembrance, places of celebration, places of significance?
It's not about "spiritual photography" and trying to preserve memories, emotions, or experiences. The Christian life isn't about trying to live from one high to the next! But we are going from "strength to strength" and are called to keep our gaze focused straight ahead; and at the same time there are moments where we need to look back, to remember where we came from and what God has taken us through.
For me, one practical way of celebrating and remembering is by journaling. Each week, I try to read through my journal of that point in time the year before, and it is always amazing to be reminded of what the Lord taught me, the decisions I was faced with, how God provided, etc. It's often easy to forget that it's "by Thy help I've come."
Another idea my husband and I are beginning (inspired by Pinterest) is this "Remembrance Jar":
Another simple way to honor God for what He's done in your life is by telling others about it! The power of giving testimony is often underestimated in Christian circles, but do you realize that it's one of the ways we overcome the enemy (Rev. 12:11)?! We proclaim God's acts before a "cloud of witnesses" (Heb. 12) and that confirms to us what took place, and at the same time asks God to do it again in the lives of others. If He can provide for me, He can provide for you. If He healed me, He can heal you!
And one more practical way that my husband and I try to be intentional in is the discipline of giving. When we are generous with our money (whether it be tithing to our church, helping out a friend in need, or sponsoring a child through Compassion),we are reminding ourselves that God has blessed us so richly, and as an act of faith that He will continue to provide, we raise the "Ebenezer" of our wallets and say "Thus far has the Lord helped us."
So where has the Lord helped you? What markings can you set up, what traditions can you develop or have you developed that help you celebrate and remember the help of the Lord?
I'd love if you shared your thoughts and ideas in the comment section below!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Monday, January 23, 2012
Grocery Shopping Isn't So Simple!
Clothes.
Chocolate.
Tea.
Coffee.
Spices.
Fruit.
Sugar.
And all the while, trying to look for this label on products:
The topic of justice simply hasn't left my mind (or my heart) lately. I decided to try doing a bit of research online to see what I can do. I've been through phases where I've thought through all the atrocity going on in the world, and all the huge needs there are, and been overwhelmed to the point of not doing anything. {Where does one even begin?} But I've been on mission trips to Africa and Mexico, and I know the power of making a difference in just one person's life. (Not that I've only seen that principle played out in foreign countries, either.) My husband and I sponsor a little girl in the Philippines through Compassion, and it is at least one step in the right direction.
I recently read an article on CNN's website about child slavery and chocolate. In some countries, children as young as 7 years old are forced to work in cocoa fields for the chocolate industry. And the majority of these children have never tasted chocolate; most of them don't even know what cocoa is used for!
There's something wrong with this picture!
I figured one practical step we can take, at least in our family, is to be conscious of how the items we consume are produced, and to choose to only buy items that we know are not supporting child labor or other forms of injustice.
So we get to the grocery store, and the first aisle we walk into is full of chocolate. We notice that the chocolate we normally buy doesn't have a Fair Trade label, but we find lots of other options that are variations of the Fair Trade principle. They're a bit more expensive, but worth it. In the next aisle I reach for a package of tea. "Wait!" my husband says. "Do you know how this was produced?" No, actually I didn't know if this was a fair trade product or not. And I couldn't find any other kinds that seemed like better options. Maybe the one marked "Bio"? But what does that even mean? (It's becoming a popular thing in Germany, but no one knows if these special products actually have anything special about them or not!)
So began a not-so-simple grocery shopping trip. HELP! This is something I really want to be aware of and become involved in, but I'm blogging about it today because I realize I have no idea where to start.
Is anyone else passionate about this? Do any of you readers have experience in buying Fair Trade products (or making it a lifestyle?) We opted for the package of Bio noodles instead of the general brand, because we knew it was produced in Germany (it was obvious since it was 1.5 times more expensive). We bought yogurt and milk from a local farm. But it got really tricky when we were trying to decide on buying chicken and tea and spices and fruit and on and on and on and on...
Suggestions? Is looking into Fair Trade products actually the best way to go about trying to be intentional about social justice? We hear a lot about donating money to various causes, but it finally clicked in my mind that we can also help by not spending money on other things. I'm confused with all the labels and terminology that is out there - Bio, Organic, Fair Trade, Local, etc. And I never paid that much attention before when I was in Canada. Does Europe have different standards or "movements"?
We're attempting to re-orient our lifestyle––living (and especially eating) healthier, and being more aware. We want to take small steps to do what we are able to. But this is proving to not be such a small step, and I think we'll have to transition slowly.
So please, if you are passionate about this, or if you have some knowledge or experience of practical ways to be involved, please let us know! I would love if you left a comment (even if it was to join the conversation of the whole area of social justice), or shared a website or a blog or a book or an organization that you've found helpful. Or share with your friends and we'll discuss this together! Maybe if there are others who are also willing to look into this, we can help each other out and hold each other accountable.
Chocolate.
Tea.
Coffee.
Spices.
Fruit.
Sugar.
And all the while, trying to look for this label on products:
The topic of justice simply hasn't left my mind (or my heart) lately. I decided to try doing a bit of research online to see what I can do. I've been through phases where I've thought through all the atrocity going on in the world, and all the huge needs there are, and been overwhelmed to the point of not doing anything. {Where does one even begin?} But I've been on mission trips to Africa and Mexico, and I know the power of making a difference in just one person's life. (Not that I've only seen that principle played out in foreign countries, either.) My husband and I sponsor a little girl in the Philippines through Compassion, and it is at least one step in the right direction.
I recently read an article on CNN's website about child slavery and chocolate. In some countries, children as young as 7 years old are forced to work in cocoa fields for the chocolate industry. And the majority of these children have never tasted chocolate; most of them don't even know what cocoa is used for!
There's something wrong with this picture!
I figured one practical step we can take, at least in our family, is to be conscious of how the items we consume are produced, and to choose to only buy items that we know are not supporting child labor or other forms of injustice.
So we get to the grocery store, and the first aisle we walk into is full of chocolate. We notice that the chocolate we normally buy doesn't have a Fair Trade label, but we find lots of other options that are variations of the Fair Trade principle. They're a bit more expensive, but worth it. In the next aisle I reach for a package of tea. "Wait!" my husband says. "Do you know how this was produced?" No, actually I didn't know if this was a fair trade product or not. And I couldn't find any other kinds that seemed like better options. Maybe the one marked "Bio"? But what does that even mean? (It's becoming a popular thing in Germany, but no one knows if these special products actually have anything special about them or not!)
So began a not-so-simple grocery shopping trip. HELP! This is something I really want to be aware of and become involved in, but I'm blogging about it today because I realize I have no idea where to start.
Is anyone else passionate about this? Do any of you readers have experience in buying Fair Trade products (or making it a lifestyle?) We opted for the package of Bio noodles instead of the general brand, because we knew it was produced in Germany (it was obvious since it was 1.5 times more expensive). We bought yogurt and milk from a local farm. But it got really tricky when we were trying to decide on buying chicken and tea and spices and fruit and on and on and on and on...
Suggestions? Is looking into Fair Trade products actually the best way to go about trying to be intentional about social justice? We hear a lot about donating money to various causes, but it finally clicked in my mind that we can also help by not spending money on other things. I'm confused with all the labels and terminology that is out there - Bio, Organic, Fair Trade, Local, etc. And I never paid that much attention before when I was in Canada. Does Europe have different standards or "movements"?
We're attempting to re-orient our lifestyle––living (and especially eating) healthier, and being more aware. We want to take small steps to do what we are able to. But this is proving to not be such a small step, and I think we'll have to transition slowly.
So please, if you are passionate about this, or if you have some knowledge or experience of practical ways to be involved, please let us know! I would love if you left a comment (even if it was to join the conversation of the whole area of social justice), or shared a website or a blog or a book or an organization that you've found helpful. Or share with your friends and we'll discuss this together! Maybe if there are others who are also willing to look into this, we can help each other out and hold each other accountable.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
No more bananas...
Birthdays are a funny thing. They seem to provide some type of reasonable opportunity to be completely selfish all day.
This past Saturday we were preparing for my birthday celebration, and I was quite looking forward to being pampered and spoiled and showered with attention all the next day, on my birthday. We were planning on having some friends over for a chocolate fondue, so we went shopping for the supplies:
Fondue pot - check. (Thanks to my sister, who gave one to us for our wedding last year!)
Chocolate - check. (Mmm...German chocolate!)
Pretzels - check. (I like the whole sweet and salty thing)
Fruit - no check? My favorite is pineapple, but none of the pineapples were ripe. Oh well, I guess we missed the season for good pineapples. No big deal. Next, we searched for bananas - the second best option. But we couldn't find any. We didn't see any left on the stand except for special mini bio bananas that were three times the normal price. We called over a sales guy...he went and checked the back room, but came back and said there were no more bananas. No more bananas?! This could ruin the whole fondue idea! But what to do? It was already late and the store was closing, and the next day was Sunday, when hardly anything in Germany is open. No bananas! Since when has a big supermarket ever run out of bananas? Trying to quickly make up our minds, we settled for 6 bags of the mini ones and some grapes. That would have to do.
Mogi and I shook our heads on the way home. What do we know about not having enough food? It wasn't even a need of ours - only a desire. We had the money to get the other kind. We could have even gone to another grocery store. We could have decided on a cake or different dessert instead. Why were we complaining about having no more bananas?
Almost exactly one year ago, Mogi and I were confronted again with the reality that the majority of the world's population have no more bananas. In fact, they don't have access to much food at all. They don't even have water to bathe in or drink from. This is their reality.
I read the other day that if
Through the ministry of Compassion (click here for the link to Compassion Canada's website), just over a year ago we became the sponsor parents of a sweet little 6-year old girl named Audrey Anne, whose family lives in the Philippines. Over the last year we have written and received letters, photos, and drawings. We have been blessed to participate in giving her hope.
Sometimes the world's problems seem too big to change. I often wonder, "where do I start?" And because it takes effort to think about, it is usually easier instead to just do nothing at all. But I've found that sponsoring a child is a simple but practical way to take the first step and get involved. Maybe I can't solve all world hunger, heal all those with AIDS, rescue all the children in the sex trade, or ensure that third-world families have clean drinking water, but I can make the difference in one person's life.
And so can you.
I want to encourage you to think about sponsoring a child. Actually, don't just think about it. Do it! Check out Compassion's website to find children who need you today.
I also recently ran into this blog online and think you should check it out: http://shaungroves.com/ It is the website of Christian songwriter and speaker, Shaun Groves. God has given him a huge passion for social justice and he currently travels, speaking and leading music, on behalf on Compassion, telling the story of children who are in need. His writings are funny, inspiring, challenging, and come from the depths of his soul.
The topic of social justice is one of the main themes of the Bible. If it's not something that concerns us, we are not truly Christ's followers. James 1:27 says, "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."
I admit I have a lot more growing to do in this area. I've sung the song many times - "break my heart for what breaks yours" - but I'm still learning what that means. But I know I'm not going to learn more by sitting back and observing. Growth happens only by doing.
Please consider what you can do to help. And please feel free to add to the discussion below, and share your own thoughts or experiences about justice. If you have questions, let me know. Oh, and you're welcome to pass on this blog if there are others you think would be interested - hit one of the buttons below to share on Facebook, Twitter, or via email.
This past Saturday we were preparing for my birthday celebration, and I was quite looking forward to being pampered and spoiled and showered with attention all the next day, on my birthday. We were planning on having some friends over for a chocolate fondue, so we went shopping for the supplies:
Fondue pot - check. (Thanks to my sister, who gave one to us for our wedding last year!)
Chocolate - check. (Mmm...German chocolate!)
Pretzels - check. (I like the whole sweet and salty thing)
Fruit - no check? My favorite is pineapple, but none of the pineapples were ripe. Oh well, I guess we missed the season for good pineapples. No big deal. Next, we searched for bananas - the second best option. But we couldn't find any. We didn't see any left on the stand except for special mini bio bananas that were three times the normal price. We called over a sales guy...he went and checked the back room, but came back and said there were no more bananas. No more bananas?! This could ruin the whole fondue idea! But what to do? It was already late and the store was closing, and the next day was Sunday, when hardly anything in Germany is open. No bananas! Since when has a big supermarket ever run out of bananas? Trying to quickly make up our minds, we settled for 6 bags of the mini ones and some grapes. That would have to do.
Mogi and I shook our heads on the way home. What do we know about not having enough food? It wasn't even a need of ours - only a desire. We had the money to get the other kind. We could have even gone to another grocery store. We could have decided on a cake or different dessert instead. Why were we complaining about having no more bananas?
Almost exactly one year ago, Mogi and I were confronted again with the reality that the majority of the world's population have no more bananas. In fact, they don't have access to much food at all. They don't even have water to bathe in or drink from. This is their reality.
I read the other day that if
Through the ministry of Compassion (click here for the link to Compassion Canada's website), just over a year ago we became the sponsor parents of a sweet little 6-year old girl named Audrey Anne, whose family lives in the Philippines. Over the last year we have written and received letters, photos, and drawings. We have been blessed to participate in giving her hope.
Sometimes the world's problems seem too big to change. I often wonder, "where do I start?" And because it takes effort to think about, it is usually easier instead to just do nothing at all. But I've found that sponsoring a child is a simple but practical way to take the first step and get involved. Maybe I can't solve all world hunger, heal all those with AIDS, rescue all the children in the sex trade, or ensure that third-world families have clean drinking water, but I can make the difference in one person's life.
And so can you.
I want to encourage you to think about sponsoring a child. Actually, don't just think about it. Do it! Check out Compassion's website to find children who need you today.
I also recently ran into this blog online and think you should check it out: http://shaungroves.com/ It is the website of Christian songwriter and speaker, Shaun Groves. God has given him a huge passion for social justice and he currently travels, speaking and leading music, on behalf on Compassion, telling the story of children who are in need. His writings are funny, inspiring, challenging, and come from the depths of his soul.
The topic of social justice is one of the main themes of the Bible. If it's not something that concerns us, we are not truly Christ's followers. James 1:27 says, "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."
I admit I have a lot more growing to do in this area. I've sung the song many times - "break my heart for what breaks yours" - but I'm still learning what that means. But I know I'm not going to learn more by sitting back and observing. Growth happens only by doing.
Please consider what you can do to help. And please feel free to add to the discussion below, and share your own thoughts or experiences about justice. If you have questions, let me know. Oh, and you're welcome to pass on this blog if there are others you think would be interested - hit one of the buttons below to share on Facebook, Twitter, or via email.
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