Giver of Good Gifts - Guest Blogger

 When I read the latest Compassion Blogger assignment I immediately thought of my dear friend and fellow blogger Katie, from Walking in Unity!  I won't spoil why but read on to find out!


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God Is Good!

                  

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above......... (James 1:17)

    Please allow me to share a little of what is going on in my life as you are reading this now. I have a husband, two girls, work a full time job and currently entering into my second semester of Nursing School! - Yes a little exhausted! -But God is good!

Romans 8:28 - "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

    Over the years “I” have tried to go to nursing school several times, but life seem to get in the way. But I know now that God opened the door to this opportunity at exactly the right time. His time!

Proverbs 3:6 "In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

    Being His daughter, I smile after seeing his hand work in my life and so many others around me. I know without a doubt at the age of 33 that I am where God has called me to be. After trying on my own through the years to find my place, my way, I surrendered to God and His timing and although very exhausted, less pay and little time for sleep, He has given peace and strength I have not known before.

    This all being said let now share something special to my heart. One Saturday night, tired and in debate if I really wanted to go, I went ahead and attended our church’s Ladies Auxiliary Christmas party. This is a dinner where we fellowship, have devotion and “Secret Sisters” exchange gifts.

As I opened my gift not knowing who was or is my Secret Sister. I soon realize I know it must be a dear sister that knows my heart. She must know how I love the Lord, have a heart for mission (although God has yet to open that door for me) and my heart to be a nurse, to be able to care and love others, that I may have care and compassion from God to help those hurting and in need. I pray I may help those physically, emotionally and spiritually as God allows me to do so.

So you must be wondering by now what was inside my gift?

A precious homemade gift card.

And As I open it, it says……………..

                                                                          
“In your name………….. 5 kids are protected”

With pictures from Compassion of children receiving medical care.

   

Five children are receiving medical care needed and provided by Compassion International due to a simple $20.00 given as a gift in my name by my precious “Secret Sister."  Not only did my secret sister give to missions for me but she gave to something so very dear to my heart. 5 children that are so loved by my Father will receive care from parasites, will receive protection from Malaria, and will receive care for an illness or an injury.

This is a gift, a good gift, one that is so simple but so powerful, that 5 children can be reached and through those 5 a difference can and will be made!

Mother Teresa once said…….

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

    I pray those 5 children touched by Compassion will be the start of many ripples.

I may not be able to travel across the waters to care for those in need, although my prayer is for God to use me and my nursing skills for His purpose and to someday cross those waters and serve Him by caring for His children. But that will be in His timing too.

 Though this gift I not only have been touched but all those I share this with and those of you that read this, I pray you will be touched and I encourage you to pray for those who give and those who receive the gift. 

1 Peter 4:10 "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

    Remember this Christmas what the true gift of Christmas really is! Jesus, He came to love, care, heal, die and save each one us. That is the best Gift!

Acts 20:35 - "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

By: Katie Presser

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Please remember the Giver of the perfect gifts this holiday season. Please visit the Compassion catalog to see how you can help make a difference in some body's life.

 

On a mission

Over a year ago when I felt the Lord calling me to the World Race I couldn't make sense of it. Like most things the Lord asks of us, it seemed crazy and most of all didn't fit into what I thought His calling on my life was.

As the race began, I only became more sure of what I already thought my role was going to be in the Kingdom; to be a support to my youth pastor husband and work with the youth. So how did international missions come into all of this? Or maybe I was wrong about what I thought my path would look like? I knew that we are all called to a mission field, but what was God wanting to show me in that specific season?

When had I started preparing for the world race I realized that our small community had a big heart for missions. Over the months of my world race journey I realized there were very few local and affordable options for most people to get involved. During the race, as I witnessed the possibilities of what ministry could look like, (and some of what it isn't) I realized that He was showing me what He wanted me to take back to our small church and community.

Four months into the world race, in Costa Rica, my eyes and heart began to open up to what the Lord was speaking to me. When I told Brett one day on the phone he practically began screaming, God had been speaking to him about the same thing! God wanted us to open a door...

After hearing what sounded like the Lord screaming, GET TO WORK, I returned home, got some business out of the way... :)

and we got straight to work.

The first 6 months we were married we spent more time away from home then we were at home. (really we counted it all up!) We had church camps, mission trips, conferences, and many other youth trips that have kept us very busy! However, we have not forgotten what God -not so gently- laid on our hearts. Although Brett's youth ministry is our first priority, we are currently in the process of forming a non-profit organization and we are so excited to lead our first mission trip to Costa Rica in May 2015. (crazy how we are going back to where it became so clear to me what God was trying to show us! Fun Fact: Costa Rica is also where Brett took his first mission trip!) AIN'T GOD GOOD!

We cannot wait to see all the ways God will use this to bless His people and further His kingdom!

Once God convinced me the world race was part of His plan, I thought I knew what 2014 would look like, But He is so good to keep us paying attention. I could not have planned it better myself, isn't that the way it always works!? Our Father in Heaven will always show us that trusting Him and His plan for us is far better than we could ever imagine!

Thank you for all your love & support,

Brett & Kylee Morris

A Hopeless Fool

This weekend I had the opportunity to worship with 4000 other women! It is truly amazing to hear the Lord praised among so many voices! 

In the middle of the service I had the thought, "how do people get through life without the hope freely offered!?"

I immediately was reminded of my own life, before I had hope... My mind was flooded with the grim thoughts and circumstances that once controlled my life.

" we were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slave to various passions and pleasures, passing my days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another..."

I could not be more grateful for the love that found and saved me, I did nothing to deserve or earn it, I only accepted it.

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness.."

He paid my debts, and because of his love and desire for me I became a new creation!

"...but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior..."

I now have hope of eternity with the Father and Savior

"...so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."  -Titus 3:3-7

Release One?

Im sooooo excited for the opportunity to Release3 this month!!!

Through the month of October, I will be praying for and advocating these 3 precious members of the Lord's kingdom!!! Please consider sponsoring through Compassion International

Amos Sankara, from Burkina Faso, Africa!!!

Nicole Altagracia Reyes, from Dominican Republic

 

 Marvell Andra Setiawan, from Indonesia

Check back for more details about each of these precious little faces! Please contact me for more information about sponsoring and contributing to the future of a child in poverty, and please read about my sponsorship story HERE!

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
    for the rights of all who are destitute. 

 Speak up and judge fairly;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Proverbs 31:8-9

Nandudu Breanda

The first photo I received of Breanda

The most recent photo of Breanda

Birthdate: 1/17/2006
Schooling
- US School Grade Equivalent: 1
- School Performance: Average
Family Duties
Washing clothes Gardening/Farming Running errands Making beds Cleaning Carries water Kitchen help
Hobbies and Sport
Dolls Group games Play house Walking Hide-and-Seek Running Art/Drawing Jump rope Singing Listening to music Other ball games Breanda lives in the hillside community of Buyobo, home to approximately 9,000 residents. Typical houses are constructed of dirt floors, mud walls and corrugated iron, grass or banana fiber roofs. The regional diet consists of maize, beans, bananas, fish, cassava, rice, potatoes, greens and goat. Common health problems in this area include malaria, intestinal diseases, respiratory infections, HIV/AIDS, skin diseases and high blood pressure. Most adults work as subsistence farmers and earn the equivalent of $6 per month. This community needs tuition assistance, scholastic materials, improved incomes and a recreational center. My sponsorship allows the staff of Buyobo Child Development Center to provide Breanda with Bible lessons, health and dental screenings, immunization, sports, special celebrations, counseling and vocational training. The center staff will also provide meetings, Bible studies and income-generating activities for the parents or guardians of Breanda.
I have been beyond blessed by this opportunity and would love to help you get involved with providing the needs for another child through Compassion International!* Compassion International provides all the information in a booklet like the one in the pictures above and sends updates through email as well as with the letters from your sponsor child! *I receive no compensation or such through this, only the satisfaction of knowing another child's needs are taken care of!

#loveandfaithfulness

5 "Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds." 

Psalm 36:5

Batteries & A Sandwich

Where do I even begin!?

The biggest reason I wanted to start this blog was to share with everyone my glorious God and the unconditional love and grace that he has blessed me with!

A few weeks ago the The Bearded One (my husband) and I were headed about an hour out of town to run some errands.  On the way we listened to a podcast; a David Platt sermon on his book Radical. I cant give you the exact theme of the sermon, but it challenged me about being more proactive in my intent to share the Lord's blessings with others.  I began to pray, that throughout the day while we made our various stops God would place people in our path for us to bless.  I asked that He would place extra conviction upon us that we may not pass up opportunities to bless someone in His name.

Our first stop would be a quick one and the most painful; we had to buy a new battery for the truck, and it wasn't going to be cheap!  We had actually chose this specific location knowing it would cost us slightly more, but willing to pay the extra cost for a better quality battery and because we like knowing our money is going into a Christian owned business.  While paying for the truck battery we were talking to the salesman/owner about a recent loss we knew his family had been through and offering what little condolence we could.  When he told us the total we realized he had given us a discount on the battery.  (*Note- making it cheaper than had we of just went and got the cheap battery)  We thanked him for the unexpected bonus of a discount and started making our way to the door.  I noticed a small flashlight my husband had been wanting was about 65% off, the owner complimented the quality of the product and my husband decided on the light as well.  Once again, at checkout, the owner blessed us, by putting a free package of batteries for the light in the bag!

Now I know to most this doesn't seem that "divine," but by the time I got back in our truck I was nearly in tears.  I had spent the last 30+ min asking God to let US bless someone else, and here we were, our day barley started and we were abundantly blessed by the generosity of a small business owner we barely knew.

I meant to share this story shortly after I officially started this blog, but I never did put it to words.
Today, a very similar situation reminded me to share!

My prayer this morning...

"Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God" Hebrews 12:12-15

Lord give me your holiness today so that others may see You! Strengthen me so that I may keep my feet on straight paths.

This was at the very beginning of an early 12 hr shift after only 3 hours of sleep.  I knew I needed what only the Lord could give if I was going to peacefully make it through this these 12 hours in the middle of a holiday weekend.  Even more so I didn't want to just "get through" the day, I wanted others to see the Lord  and obtain the grace of God.  

The morning had passed fairly quickly and I had an opportunity for lunch.  I didn't have time to pack a lunch before I left, so I had just grabbed a snack hoping that would hold me over til I got home that evening.  However, noon came in with a (belly) roar and I wanted more!  I headed to the cafeteria and decided to splurge on Subway, after all, it had been awhile since I had delighted myself. (*So long I had forgotten how to order my sandwich)

I briefly spoke to the doctor in front of me. (mostly him laughing because my sandwich ordering skills were a little dusty) 

Once again, most unexpectedly, God sent blessings to me.  At the end of the line, despite my opposition, Dr insisted he buy my lunch.  I thanked him and told him he had no idea how special that made me feel.

My God has once again turned my request for grace and an opportunity to share it with someone else, into showers of blessings for me.  Again, I know what your thinking, a $5 lunch can't possibly make you feel that special.  But Oh it does! 

 "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much" Luke 16:10

This verse applies to our God as well!  He is showing us through the "little" that we can trust Him with much!!!  We need not worry about our needs; only strive to show others who our grace giving Savior is, and He will know doubt show himself to us!

I hope you know how much He loves you and want to show you His faithfulness in the little and much; even when you least expect it!