Go! Touch! Tell! Love! Serve!

God's been placing so many thoughts in my heart lately.  My mind has been swirling with words, scriptures, ideas and concepts.  I know these are from my Father's heart, because many of these are come head-to-head against my own fears, limits and frustrations.   I feel He is drawing me into a new season and I cannot wait to see where all this leads.

I just want to journal a rough list of recent things on my heart.  Father let these be done in me...

• My plan is out-dated, old and obsolete.  His plan is the new strategy. 
• Nothing of this world will matter to me any more.
• I have died to myself, I am dying to my own dreams and goals.  I am only alive for the purposes of Christ.  In Him I live and breathe. 
• The book of my life is being rewritten.  Love is the plot, Faith is the binding and Hope is the pen with which I write.
• Fears are gone!  Fear of death, failure, loneliness, fear of growing old, fear of poor health, your notice has been served!  You have been broken!
• Money and finances are no longer the most important thing to me.  In fact, they are being moved to the most insignificant place.  I am fully funded to do what my Father asks.
• Simplify, Downsize, Eliminate, Lighten the load, Sell, Give, Live below my means.
• Cap my spending and income and give the rest.  
• My American dream robs from my Heavenly treasure.
• My earthly cost: persecution, suffering, misunderstood, hated, mocked
• My heavenly reward: priceless beyond measure
• Time to move from the checkbook to the street.  Go!  Touch!  Tell!  Love!  Serve!
• Fast, Pray, Discern, Listen, Hunger, Thirst, Seek
• Risk everything.  Go "all in".  Expect the unexpected.
• 6 billion people need my Father.
• Just Go... Make a difference... the world is waiting.

Love Never Fails

Today I dropped a letter in the mail to my sponsored child in Rwanda, Africa.  I keep a picture of him on my refrigerator as a reminder of my responsibility, and the need to do more.  I thought I might share a bit more about my child, and the wonderful organization that is helping to make a difference in his life.

Shyaka is a young boy who is suffering due to the recent loss of his parents.  Though he now lives with his Uncle's family, he is extremely poor, hungry and was rarely able to attend school.  My friend Natalie, who works with Africa New Life Ministries, met Shyaka during her last visit to Rwanda in February 2010.  When I had expressed an interest in sponsoring a child, she immediately knew that Shyaka was the boy for us.  Natalie shared the following with me...

"Steve, 

Thank you so much for loving on Shyaka through ANLM.  I truly hope that one day you meet him face to face in Rwanda! 

I cannot get him off of my mind.  That child broke my heart.  I know that Shyaka's hurt was palpable and intense from the loss of his parents.  ANLM is committed to getting him trauma/grief counseling.  My heart broke for Shyaka....in fact, I left the room crying after I spent time with him the second time.  I had to compose myself and then go back into the room.  He was clearly hungry (I gave him food out of my bag that I bought at the market that day) and he had outgrown his shoes.  The closed toe ends of his shoes had been sliced open so his toes could poke out due to his growth.  It was truly heart breaking.  You can pray for his health/hunger, pray for emotional well-being/counseling....and pray that he would find GREAT HOPE for his future and comfort in our Lord Jesus."

Since then, I have had the privileged of learning so much more about the organization that Natalie works with.  Africa New Life Ministries started in 2001 with about 30 sponsored children, and since then it has grown to more than 2,000 sponsored children, a full primary school, five orphanages, two churches, and many other ministries.  Sponsorship provides for education, clothing, school supplies, basic health needs, social and spiritual development.

If you would like to learn more about sponsoring a child, I would strongly encourage you to contact Natalie or visit the Africa New Life Ministries web site.  Natalie not only manages the sponsorship of children, but she coordinates seasonal mission trips to Rwanda.

Here's her contact information...

     Natalie.E.Green@gmail.com
     http://www.anlm.org

More than "Meats" the Eye

Benjamin Graham, my second of three children, turned eleven earlier this week, and we've been looking forward to going out for quite some time.  After much thought about where we should go for dinner, Ben finally chose one of our local steakhouses.

Yay! Alright now.. bring on the steaks! I was excited because we're finally past the "Chucky Cheese" stage and now we're dining at places that I can sink my teeth into!  Trust me, we've had our share of kid-friendly restaurants and play-places. My girls were equally excited, especially when they remembered they serve salted peanuts while you wait.

When we finally gathered around the table and the menus were passed out, my kids all decided on things we could have eaten at any fast food restaurant!  Pfffffff.  They could have ordered Filet Mignon, New York Strip, Baby Back Ribs, but instead chose Chicken Tenders, a Cheeseburger, and the other just had a side of Cheese Fries.  Then to top it off, after a few bites they all declared they were full and ready to go!  Ha!  Gotta love 'em!

Well this morning I was thinking about that and it reminds me of how I am sometimes with my Father... 

Why do I settle for the small stuff when God has provided so much more for me.  His word is full of His passion and promises for me.  His desire is for us to take all of Him... to Hunger and Thirst.. to Taste and See... to be sold out.  He desires to spend time with me.  He desires to give me His living waters and bread of life.  The days that I nibble and quickly turn away from Him are the days I settle for "peanuts" instead choice cuts of meat from His word.

Father forgive me for that!  I want it all!  I want all of You!  Forgive me for the times that I was satisfied to barely partake of You.  Forgive me for the times I was satisfied just to spend a few minutes in your presence.

My children chose the same old familiar, every day meal when I was willing to bless them with so much more.  We still had a great time together... they just don't realize what they missed out on.  By the time we made it home, they were already looking for a snack in the cupboard.    Oh! If you were wondering; I ordered a nice slice of Prime Rib, medium with a fully loaded baked potato.  Delicious!  :-)  Enough for dinner and left overs for the next day too!  Yum!