Where Does the Lord Want You?

"Poverty is not necessarily an issue to solve; it is an opportunity to serve. As we go through each day, our heart's cry should be, Lord, where would you have me give, serve, and invest myself to bring hope to the poor?" 

~Orphan Justice author, Johnny Carr

Over the past couple of days, I've learned something about the Savior that I never knew. I learned about His purpose for being called a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23). Warren W. Wiersbe said it best in his book, "The Wonderful names of Jesus". He stated that Nazareth was a despised and rejected place. It had a mixed population of Jews and Gentiles. Nazareth, despised by men, was glorified by Jesus Christ because He identified Himself with it. Jesus of Nazareth identified Himself with publicans and sinners, the unwanted, and the outcasts.

I believe that it can be rightly said that Jesus identified Himself with poverty and the poor (1 Corinthians 8:9). A synonym for the word poverty is insufficiency. A definition for the word poor is deficient or lacking in something. If you read the scripture above, you will see that Jesus served a purpose in identifying Himself with the poor. The poor were lacking in something. But when Jesus identified with them, He became to them what they lacked. He made them complete. The poverty of the people in Jesus' day became the opportunity Jesus needed to serve. Wherever He saw the need, He was there. When we study the life of Jesus, we see that God had a purpose for sending His only Son (John 3:16). He saw the need of His people. God placed Jesus right where He needed to be.

There are children today who live in poverty all across the world. Just like you and I, they need someone to identify with them. They need someone to meet their need. Can you recall a time in your life when you were poor and in poverty? It could have been physical, spiritual or emotional. When someone came to meet your need, how did you feel? For me, I felt relief. To identify with children in poverty is to say that you desire to meet their need.

In the quote above, there are listed several ways you can identify with these children: giving, serving, investing, and bringing hope. Where does the Lord want you? Sponsor a child today. Identify with them in their time of need.

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The Face of Innocence

 

He stands looking. Unaware of his stare, his mind is running with so many thoughts. Need fills his eyes. As I look at him, he looks back at me. "What are you saying to me?", I wonder. Your voice I cannot hear. But your eyes, your eyes are doing the talking. I see before me, the face of innocence.

"You precious child." I think to myself. Somehow, from the look on his face, I can sense the need that he has. It's as if, I already know. "He needs a sponsor". He needs someone who cares. He needs hope. He needs love.

 

I relate back to my own children. I recall times when I looked at them, stared into their eyes, and knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that they needed me. That's when I wanted to help them in every way that I could. I desired within my heart to give them hope. And just like my children's eyes, this little guys eyes scream out the need to be loved. What looks as a silent whisper is more of a desperate cry. Underneath, the smudge-stained shirt is a heart that beats. A heart that longs for affection. And when you wipe away the dirt from his face, again you shall see that face. The one that speaks of innocence.

 

I realize that he didn't choose the life that he is living. But yet, he lives. He walks, he talks, he plays. He's human like you and me. And like you and me, he has a need. Like the many others I've seen, I'm not able to ignore the fact that he has a need. And although, I can't help them all, I can help one. Will you help him? Don't pretend that you can't see his need. He needs you. Become his sponsor today. Nuture this face of innocence. Click the link below.

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Three Things About One Word:

Hope

She wanted to quit. And when I say quit, I mean that she wanted to give up and die. But why couldn't she do it? What was keeping her from taking her own life? Her answer was found in this one word......Hope.

As I complete my second assignment for Blog Month, my mind goes back to the many children living in poverty who feel like the girl in the story. But because of the many hearts, like that of Jesus, there are those who care enough to reach out to these children and provide them with hope. 

So what is hope?

Hope is a place. A place of safety and security. It's a place where, when the world seems to be falling apart around you, you can go and feel safe. A place of peace. A place where you find the covering of warmth that provides the security needed that can't be found anywhere else. You ball up like an infant in your mother's womb. Hope is where you find refuge.

I ask that you will close your eyes and imagine yourself as this child in this place of hope. Can you see yourself lying there? You're balled up like an infant in your mother's womb, covered under the warmth of hope. You lie there thinking of a better tomorrow. You lie there thinking of all the things you desire happening in your life right now. You see yourself having meals placed before you each day. Because at this present moment, you are hungry from not having eaten in two days. You see yourself able for the first time getting proper medical care when you get sick. Because at this present moment, your family cannot afford it at all. You see yourself wearing a shirt and a pair of pants. A pair of shoes even, because at this present moment, you're walking around in only your underwear and barefoot.

One day you know that when you get a sponsor, things will look a little brighter. Hope has now become the feeling you have inside. You smile because hope has made things look better for you. This hope of a brighter future, you carry everyday in your heart. Lying there in hope, a tear streams down your face. Hope has made you feel that there is someone out there who cares enough for you to become your sponsor. Now, you have decided that no matter what, you will look and wait on that day you too will hear the good news. Hope has given you an anticipation with expectation. You lift yourself from that place. You can now face your days with confidence. Hope has given you three things: a place of safety, a feeling of joy, and expectation.



Open your eyes. You have just imagined yourself as this little child. Now imagine yourself becoming a sponsor of a child like the one you pictured yourself being. There are many children like the one you became all across the world today who are living in hope. The hope of having a sponsor. Will you become one who will play a part in giving them an expectation? Sponsor a child today. Take part in their hope. Click the link below.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,

says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil,

to give you a future and a hope.

(Jeremiah 29:11)

 

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"The Same Clothes Every Week"

A Word of Encouragement to My Childhood Self

This is not the picture of me in the pink sailor shirt and purple pants. It is however, the closest picture I could find of me as a little girl.

It was my favorite outfit. A pink sailor-type shirt and the cutest purple pants (at least I thought). Here I am, twelve years old in the sixth grade, just trying to make some friends.  I was already as quiet as a mouse. My face, broken out with acne. And let's not forget, the biggest glasses with the thickest lenses you have ever seen. Hey, I'm just a girl trying to make friends.

Being the new kid was never easy for me. All of the stares from your classmates. I see them as I go to my new assigned seat, lean in and whisper God knows what to each other. The whole time their eyes are fixated upon me. "Are they talking about me?"  I wonder to myself. "They don't even know me." I say. But after a few days, I was fine. The ice of being the new kid had been broken.

Now months have gone by. The class and I are outside for our break. And all of a sudden the words hit me smack in my face. "Erica, you wear the same clothes every week!" As if I didn't know this already. How could she say such a thing? Did she not notice that it didn't bother me that I wore the same clothes every week (or did it?) Did it not occur to her that maybe my mom couldn't afford to buy all of those Designer clothes that she always wore?

Truth be told, I was already uncomfortable with having to wear the same clothes every week. And the fact that she said something about it, made me feel even more uncomfortable. "If only I could get just one new outfit." I thought within myself. Talk about the pressure of fitting in. The pressure of being accepted and liked. Talk about being in a situation that you're too young to do anything about.

I'm much older now. Guess what? I still wear the same clothes every week. But there's a difference in me today than when I was twelve. Somewhere in all those years, Jesus Christ found me. He gave me a new outlook on material things. He spoke comforting words to me. He told me to be content with food and clothing (1 Timothy 6:8). Jesus showed me that what was more important was me, not what I wore.

Although I've never thought about it before, I wonder what I would say to my twelve-year-old-self, knowing what I know today. I believe that I would tell her exactly what Jesus told me. In fact, He still tells me these comforting words today. I would say, "Don't listen to her, Erica. She doesn't know what she's doing. She's just a kid. Besides, greater is the one inside of you than he who is in the world. And He says that you are beautiful. He says that you are more important to Him than what you wear." "So what if you wear the same clothes every week. The most important thing is that you have clothes. There are other children in the world who may not have that." "Put a smile on your face, Erica. You are blessed."

Today, I think about my sponsored child and the many that are around the world, even in my own neighborhood that may be going through the same thing. I imagine what they must feel having words such as the ones spoken to me being spoken to them. I pray for their little hearts. Oh that God would keep my sponsored child in perfect peach as she grows up in the life that she's been given. I pray that God helps her to understand and to know that it is not about what she wears. The most important thing to God is she and that no matter what she has or has not to wear, she is still blessed by an Almighty God.

What about you? What did you face growing up as a child that you wish that you could go back and give him/her the words of wisdom that you now know that would help him/her through that time?

 

"Having food and raiment

let us be therewith content."

(1 Timothy 6:8)

Sponsor a Child today.

This post was written as part of an assignment that I receive each month in a mission and partnership with Compassion International to help get children who live in poverty sponsored. Will you join me and the many others? Help us reach our goal of getting 3,160 children sponsored this month. It will be the best thing you will have ever done.

Sponsor a child who has been waiting over six months for a sponsor.

 

• Waiting 339 days            

                   
  

  Gabriel

  Indonesia

  12/27/2005

  Sponsor Me
  Learn More

 

      

• Waiting 339 days
  
  
  Seraphine
  Togo
  9/17/2006
  Sponsor Me
  Learn More

 

      

• Waiting 309 days
  
  
  Wans
  Haiti
  9/13/2003
  Sponsor Me
  Learn More

 

      

• Waiting 216 days
  
  
  Anghela
  Bolivia
  7/9/2009
  Sponsor Me
  Learn More

• When you sponsor a child in poverty, your sponsored child will be linked directly to you. Your sponsored child will know your name and you will be able to write letters to each other.
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