For over 7 years now we've been sponsoring a child through Compassion International. If you're not familiar, Compassion International is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for the poor and desolate to receive basic needs (like food, water, clothing) and education, medical and dental care, and social skills.

    "Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children
    from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible,
    fulfilled Christian adults."

Our child, Kelfin, turned 8 in April. He's an amazing boy! Every few months we receive a letter from Kelfin, and it almost ALWAYS makes me cry. He's so positive and encouraging. I've never heard a complaint or negative statement.

A few years ago we received a letter to let us know that his mom died giving birth to his sister....right before Christmas. His father, who works for $20 a month, could not afford to feed his daughter. So she was given to a relative. Kelfin asked us to pray that God would give his father strength and ability to take care of him and his brother. No request for himself after he lost his mommy.

This is only one of many stories I could tell. Every time I receive a letter I'm reminded of how self-centered, shallow-minded and wealthy I am.

WELL- today I'm blogging with more than a cause. I'm on a MISSION.

If you've been grocery shopping lately I'm sure you've noticed the rising food costs, and it's not only affecting the U.S. We are in the middle of a Global Food Crisis. As sponsors, we received information this morning making us aware that the condition is getting worse. Compassion is continually receiving requests from different countries, asking for assistance. I can't imagine how they choose between one starving nation and another.

As I eat my eggs this morning, I can't help thinking:

4 CHILDREN DIE FROM HUNGER EVERY 30 SECONDS.

I have no right to eat. It is only by providence that I have and someone else has not.

    "It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish. If you can't feed
    a hundred people, then feed just one." - Mother Teresa

So...can you give?? $39 will help one family for one month. That's just skipping Starbucks, Dairy Queen, and dinner out. There's not much I'll put myself on the line for, but feeding children....I'll die for this.

Thanks for listening. Please pass this on to others as you see fit.

Today is one of those days....

You know, those days when you have to say:

"Lord, I have nothing - left - to give... I need the power that made wine from water, the power that multiplied the loaves and fishes...the power that drew a crowd from miles away to hear truth...I need. need. need that power to live in me."

Today my body is tired. It is in pain. My emotions are racked, my spirit feels dry, my heart is remorseful over the passion I feel I can't give.

Today is a day for God to be shown strong in my great weakness.

Today is when faith becomes tangible, claiming what cannot be felt, seen, or heard as certain. Rejoicing over victory yet to happen. Laughing with a joy that is not my own, but that of another realm. Smiling at the ease of which the Spirit of the Creator makes all things perfect in His time.

I heard Oprah talk about the first time she felt offended at Christianity. She was sitting in a Baptist church, when the minister said, "God is a jealous God." She says:


Hearing this makes me sad.... because Oprah completely missed it. I can't blame her, because it's really easy to do.

God isn't jealous OF us. He's jealous FOR us. Because of the diluted love we know, it's SO difficult to understand this kind of love....a kind of love that would be jealous for me. And it's hard to understand a jealousy that's not motivated by selfish ambitions.

But, you know, there have been times I've been jealous for my husband. If he spends too much time working, I'm jealous for his time. If I see him talking to another person more than he talks to me, I can be jealous of that attention. It's not because I'm selfish. It's because I LOVE him. I BELONG to him, and he belongs to me.

When we stood at an altar almost 10 years ago, we gave ourselves away to each other. I'm not my own anymore. And this isn't so he can control me or have power over me. He didn't give himself to me so I could boss him around or tell him how to spend his time.

WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER TO ENJOY EACH OTHER....forever.

And this kind of love, this DEVOTION....it calls me, it requires me to be jealous for Aaron. Because so many things in this world will try to break this love apart. We are bound together, but I've seen with my own eyes how such a bond could be broken by shattered integrity, lack of communication, loss of passion.... my jealous love helps to protect my husband from loving another. My jealousy demonstrates my love.

So....I'm imagining a love like that...for me...on a much greater scale.

I see an all-powerful God -the one Oprah's pastor was describing- who is love in such a way that He created beings that carry His image...just so He could love them.

I see a God who created a bond between a man and woman, to let us experience a small glimpse of His incredible, unending love.

I see a God who is JEALOUS FOR ME.... He wants me to belong to Him. Not so He can control me. SO HE CAN ENJOY ME!!

The God who formed the universe with His words, who breathed life into me, who created all I see...HE ENJOYS ME!! Being with me. Loving me. Singing over me. Holding me. Wiping my tears. Laughing with me. Holding my hand. Feeling pain with me. Carrying me through suffering.

I am broken by such a love. I live for this love. I would die for this love.

I will live so all may know this love.

This song is changing my life!
How He Loves Us