Our Bigger World

I read this post today over at (in)courage about Compassion International. Our family began sponsoring two children through compassion almost two years ago. (You can read how our world expanded here.) It was one of the best decisions we ever made.

In this world of entitlement, it is so nice to have specific names to bring to our girls' minds when we talk about "those who have less than us". "Don't you realize that there are starving children in this world?" is not a comment I need to throw at my girls. Instead, I have real life stories that I can remind them of. "Remember how Johnson used the money we sent for his birthday to buy chickens so his family can have eggs to eat?" This certainly grabs my girls' attention a lot more than a generalized statement about strangers. We currently sponsor two children and it is my goal this year to add another child to that list. Three daughters and three sponsored children.

Our girls love to pray for our friends. They each have their own personal friend that they pray for and our youngest ends every prayer with "...and food and a Bible...Amen" because she has heard us pray for the needs of these children to be met as long as she can remember. It will be so exciting when she can choose her own friend to sponsor. Another goal of mine is to do better corresponding with these children we sponsor through Compassion.

If you are looking for a way to broaden your world, look into Compassion International. It will change your life...and a child in need's as well.

Carpe Diem – Seize the Day

It’s January 3rd and my mind is still swirling with my options of resolutions. I want to get to my goal weight. We need to start reaching our financial goals. My family would benefit if I could get my anger under control. It would be fun to have a regular date night with my husband. Someday I would like to progress in my scrapbooking past my middle daughter’s third month of life (she is 6 now). What would it be like if I went to bed every night with a clean house? How would I feel if I exercised every day? I should eat healthier. Practice better dental hygiene. Get back on track with couponing. I’d like to be intentional with writing letters to friends. It would be best if I spent less time watching television and playing on the computer. I need to prevent our calendar from becoming too full. I want to pray more. Listen better. Read more. Eat less. Get back into a running routine. We need to schedule in more time with friends. I want to be more intentional with my children…

Overwhelmed? So am I. The real problem is that the list can go on and on. There is always something I want to change and continually look to some point in the future when I am going to achieve my goals. The other problem is that the future never really quite cooperates the way I expect it to. After saying goodbye to our dads, life needed adjustments. Three children required more adjusting. There’s the school activities and changing friendships. Family is not even a factor I can count on to remain consistent. Always needing to adjust my life doesn’t make for a very convenient routine to establish my “resolutions”.

I think the best commitment I can make for this next year is a simply one. I need to learn to live for today. Quit waiting for tomorrow. The grass may appear greener on the other side but once I get there I’ll look back and see the lush land I’m currently in now. I have no guarantee of tomorrow. Attempting to get there only creates stress. God has promised to be with me today and that is where my focus needs to be. Today I can live with gratitude, offer praise to God, extend love to my family, cherish my friends, live my life the way God directs and open my eyes to the blessings He has sent my way. When I am tempted to start longing for tomorrow, I will look to God and seek His help to stay present in today. Tomorrow can just wait.

“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24


"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:34

She's still impacting the lives here

Gitz: "It's How I want People to Remember Me"

Renewing

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God - truly righteous and holy.

Don't sin by letting anger control you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

- Ephesians 4:21-24, 26-27, 29-32

Santa's gift to our family

There may not be peace on earth, but we have peace in our home thanks to Santa and his elves. The girls are upstairs enjoying their new desks and we are enjoying quiet.

Thank you Santa!