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11.06.2012

The Holy Spirit Moves

John 10:27-28   My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.


Sunday I heard the Holy Spirit speak to me.  Actually, it was more of a scream.  It was a specific command, one that should have been easy to follow.  I wasn't asked to do anything life changing, but rather a simple task that could have been completed in less than 5 minutes.

But I didn't do it.  I didn't listen.  I, in fact, made a conscious decision to say "no."  Let me be the first to tell you that it was a very bad idea.  Not because of some great punishment that will come my way, but rather because of the guilt I have carried in my heart since then.  I tossed and turned all night and then cried until I was empty this morning.

I am thankful for my friend Kendra, who God chose to minister to me this morning, and my precious mother who did the same.  When I finally pulled myself together I repented, asked for forgiveness and proceeded to rectify the situation.  I am so thankful for a loving, forgiving God who accepts my inadequacies and chooses to love me despite them.

Tonight I have learned my lesson.  When God speaks, I'm going to try my best to listen from now on.  That is why I am writing today about a ministry called Compassion International.  It is a wonderful organization that is committed to bettering the lives of children throughout the world who are living in poverty.  In their own words, "In response to the Great Commission, Compassion International exists as an advocate for children, to release them from their spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults."  

There are many ways that you can get involved with Compassion and one of them is through their Christmas catalog.  Last year the girls and I sat down and we chose 4 items that we would purchase in honor of their grandparents and great grandparents.  I loved that Ella chose baby care items and Lucy chose a goat.  I chose vaccines and school items.  Those items were given to children and families in need to help sustain their lives.  It was so rewarding seeing them choose the gifts, but even more rewarding to help them understand why it was so important.

I may fail at many things in my life, but one thing that I want to do well is to teach my children what it really means to be the hands and feet of Christ.  I want them to have a heart for missions and the knowledge of how to implement it.  I want them to know what it feels like to share the love of God with people in need.

I look forward to shopping with my girls this year again in the Compassion catalog.  It came in the mail last week and that is when I felt this nudge to do something more this year.  My desire is for our family to sponsor a child for the calendar year.  It costs $38 a month.  Only $38.  That's like 2 trips to McDonalds!  A tiny sacrifice on our part can provide a better life for one child in extreme need.

Please join me this year and support the work of Compassion.  Imagine the difference we all can make together.



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13 comments:

  1. Love Compassion. We sponsor Albero & Lucas through them. and Tiruhi through World Vision :)

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  2. I also LOVE Compassion! Rose and Kimberlie are our two girls, living in Haiti. That's a great idea to let the girls choose what to gift to the grandparents.....stealing that idea! :)

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  3. Yay! I am a volunteer advocate for Compassion and have sponsored kids for a long time. I got to go visit my little girl in Ethiopia--the work that Compassion does is incredible. You won't regret it!

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  4. My husband and I support a lot of groups, but I will check into this one and see what he says.
    I know what it is like to not listen to God, very uncomfortable. I'm glad you got things right with Him, that is always such an amazing feeling.


    Blessings,

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  5. Hi Kate,
    We do this every yr for the kids teachers. Last yr (and we're going to do it this yr as well) we pay so different schools and orphanges get Mango trees planted in their yards (this is done in the name of the kids teachers) so the kids in Africa get to eat fresh fruit off the trees. It's a wonderful gift - a real win/win since the teachers LOVE that the trees are given in their names and my children learn the gift of giving at Christmas! After you order them, a Christmas Card is then sent for you to give to whoever's name the tree is in explaining the program. This yr another company as well as "Because I'm a Girl" is going to do a Match dollar for dollar so Africa will get DOUBLE the amount!!! WHAT AN INCREDIBLE GIFT!!! How nice of you to sponsor a child. We do this as well. It really is a wonderful gift!
    God Bless You My Friend!!! xo

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  6. Love Compassion. I started sponsoring a year ago, love my kids! You will find it hard to stop at one child :) Just preparing you-lolol

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  7. We've sponsored a sweet little boy, Jerwin, for 3 years. He & his family are included in our bedtime prayers & we skip eating out one Sunday a month to pay for it! We have been able to teach our 3 kids so much & the letters they write back & forth have been priceless. Jerwin lives in the Philippines & when there was a major storm on the news about it - my oldest 2 kids immediately prayed for his family...on their own! God uses Compassion to change these kids in less fortunate places....and my kids - here in the richest nation in the world!

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  8. oh, Amen my sweet sister! My husband and I go to Nicaragua each year to bring Jesus to those precious children there and this year we are supposed to go to Costa Rica. We do VBS with over 150 kids and it is amazing. I am supposed to leave right about the time my sister will be doing her stem cell transplant, so prayers are appreciated that the Lord will guide in my decision making. I so want to go, but my sister doesn't want me to be out of the country during this time! Timing is in God's hands, so I am just trusting him. So thankful that you are teaching your precious kids about what is important! love to you all

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  9. We sponsor a little girl called Finah in Uganda through the partner organisation Compassion UK. We wrote her Christmas card at the weekend. I put off sponsorship for years because I felt it would be a hassle (what a rubbish excuse!) - but when I finally got round to it, it was so easy. I would tell anyone to just do. Log onto the website for compassion/compassion uk or any of the other partners and go for it!

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  10. I've sponsored a girl from Ecuador named Ingrid for almost 5 years. It's such a wonderful thing to watch her grow. I love how you help one specific child and see how your help blesses them and their entire family! Love Compassion!

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  11. Kate, I have been wondering how Lucy is doing? Hope all is well with you all. Tammie

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  12. Hi Kate, I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction to get my hands on one of these catalogs that you speak of?

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  13. Compassion is wonderful. We sponsor a little, five year old girl in Bangladesh named Pael. We so enjoy sending letters and receiving letters from her. We pray for her and we love knowing that we're making a difference in her life. Very rewarding.

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