Shift Your Gaze to Them

 “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. “ – 1 Peter 4:11

 

  Looking through the glass, she dreams of a life outside of these walls.  The cold concrete that surrounds her offers no glimpse of hope, and has scarred her knees more then she leads on.  It wasn’t long ago that she had a room of bright colors and flowers.  A dollhouse in the corner, a dresser, desk and lampstand used to be a welcome sight when her Mommy would tuck her in at night.  Hours and hours had been spent in her room playing with Barbies and make believe. The memories flood her mind from a life that seems so very distant at this point.  She remembers when the policeman came to the door and told her of the accident.  The nightmare continues every single night as she lies down on the cot amongst strangers and cries herself to sleep.  Her only true possession is a necklace of a heart locket with the words – “I will always love you – God”  At the age of 9 her chances of adoption are significantly less than the others around her who range from newborn through 5.  So she sits and stares out the glass at the rusting swingset and litter covered playhouse and she dreams of tomorrow.

There are over 400,000 children living in foster care or orphanages across America today and substantially more around the globe.  Many living in conditions that are unbelievable; filthy, overcrowded and unloving.  It’s nothing short of devastating when you think about how many children don’t have a loving mother or father to hug each night or morning.  No bedtime story, no laughter, no imagination, no prayer around a dinner table, no cuddling up for a warm hug.  These are the forgotten ones.  These are the children that will always question Why me?  What did I do to deserve this?  Why can’t I be in a family?

For our family, this week is Spring Break.  I must sit back and ask what am I doing this week to further the Kingdom of God?  Spring Break normally involves getting away from it all.  Going to the beach, perhaps working on projects around the house, perhaps going to the movies, the mall, or a favorite restaurant.  Perhaps getting ahead on some work on some major projects due next week, so you’re camping at the kitchen table during Spring Break.  What if I asked you to take time out of your week and bring some joy to others with your time?   What if you called your local orphanage or Women’s and Children shelter and took them some games, coloring books, or toys?  These children do not get a Spring Break, yet are still just as much in need of love and blessings. 

This week we need to focus on living a legacy rather than just living.  Live in a manner that makes a big difference in God’s Kingdom by loving and serving others first. 
STEP 1: Make a list of the things you can do for God without any limitations
STEP 2: Evaluate what is keeping you from pursuing those things
STEP 3: Make a list of the things you can do for God with no means, no material possessions, job, family or money,
STEP 4: Evaluate and prioritize your time 

The final STEP 5: Take action NOW.  

You have made a list of things you would do for God, and you have evaluated what gets in your way from taking actionon.  What I’m asking you to do today is take a step toward fulfilling one of the things from your list.  You might not have the funds or time to complete the fullness of your plan, but you have a full week to give to the world and represent the love of God to someone else.  You are choosing how you spend each day, and you alone can prioritize others ahead of yourself for this one week.  The real question is, will you?  Will you take one step closer to fulfilling God’s command to love others as God loved you?  Pray about what God wants you to do tomorrow.  Pray for Him to break down any and all obstacles preventing you from delivering. 

A Child Shivers in the Cold

Please choose to share this and take action this year

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh”  – Matthew 2:11

Every year with butterflies in their stomachs and visions of Santa, Rudolph and the elves in their minds the children finish up their hot cocoa before heading off to bed.  They have every intention of staying up into the wee hours of the morning to “catch” Santa Claus as he brings the toys, treasures and fills their stockings.  But alas, they doze off without ever seeing the old fellow, giving credence to the statement that he knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you’re awake.  Like many children around the globe, my little ones awake Christmas morning with brightly colored boxes and toys with ribbons under the Christmas tree.  With excitement and little patience they sit through the reading of the Christmas story before be let loose on the gifts.

Now, let us picture another scene.
The night air is cold as the wind blows from the Northeast.  There is very little shelter to break the winds bitter sting as they huddle together trying to keep warm.  She held the baby close to her bosom as they walked through the cobbled streets of the small, dark city.  There were no street lamps or city lights in this remote village, high on the mountainside, just a few candles in the windows of some of the more elite villagers.  The stars in the sky created a canopy of lights that would give them some direction that night, and the light from the moon cast shadows in the corners of the few buildings.  As the young couple moved through the streets, the child coughing in the frigid air, they came to rest in an abandoned alleyway, with walls on each side to block the wind for the night.

This small family is homeless, hungry and cold.  The year had presented them with struggles after the economy crumbled, then an earthquake hit, followed up by a hurricane 7 months later.  The mother had only months before given birth to the child she carried that night.  She still nursed the baby, which provided some nutrition to the infant, but took it’s toll on her own health.  The father had worked in a local shop only a year ago and seemed confident and ready to raise a family with his new wife.  But what is he to do when the shop was physically destroyed beyond repair and there were no other jobs in the village.  He had managed to do odds and end jobs throughout the year to make some money and provide some food for his family, but those jobs just weren’t there anymore.  The Christmas of 2013 certainly won’t be the Christmas he envisioned for his wife and newborn child.

There are people all over this world that will wake on Christmas morning in the streets.  No Christmas tree, no presents, no celebration or excitement.  There are children in this world that will not come running down the stairs in the morning to see a Christmas tree filled with toys and stockings hung by the fireplace.  They will wake up to another day of struggling to find food, water, work and warmth.  Remember, there are 6.3 billion people in the world.  Many of these live in remote mountainous areas and rain forest jungles where the word Christmas means nothing.  It’s just another day in the bitter cold of winter. 

We think about Christmas and the gifts we will give or the gifts we will receive, but it is so much more important to focus our attention on understanding and accepting the greatest gift ever given on Christmas morning.  There is no bow, no golden wrapping paper or tinsel.  The nametag simply says
         To: ALL
         From: GOD

 It is a gift of peace, love, goodness and grace.  Not one of us deserves this gift, yet in His loving plan of salvation He has made it available to each of us.  It requires no credit cards, loans or waiting in line.  The demand is beyond comprehension and yet there is no end to its supply.  Once accepted, this gift comes with no return policy, for there is nothing we do that nullifies it’s value.  You see, when God reached down and gave the world a Savior, His gift was for everyone, regardless of financial status, address, health, education or welfare.  God chose to give you the gift of salvation from a world of unrighteousness, injustice and sin.  His gift ensures your eternal state with Him in heaven one day.

So as you prepare for this Christmas celebration this year.  Pray for those who are homeless, hungry and hurting this Christmas.  Pray for those that are in war torn villages, and those that are struggling to recover from natural disasters this year.  Pray for those that are in the remote areas of the world that the message of Jesus Christ love, mercy and grace might reach them this year.  We can’t all travel to these areas of the world and make a difference first hand in their lives, but we can support those companies that do.  I recommend you consider, if possible, giving a gift to an established missionary organization this year.  Compassion International, Worldvision, World Harvest Missions or the American Red Cross are just a few.  Also, you needn’t look far across oceans to find those in need.  Seek out your local food banks, homeless shelters and orphanages and consider donating your time, money and gifts to those who really need it this Christmas.  A few less presents under your tree on Christmas morning, and a few more under theirs might just change the world.

Said the king to the people everywhere,
"Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people, everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
The Child, the Child sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light,
He will bring us goodness and light."

Prayer:
Almighty God,
You have given us the greatest gift for Christmas in Your Son Jesus Christ.  Let us not take this for granted, but chose to receive it and give it to others this year.  Help us to take our eyes off of our own desires and focus on those that are in need this year.  Place opportunities before us that will help spread Your love throughout this season.  In Your name we pray - Amen

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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