New Beginnings

Hello 2015! 

It's that time of year where some of us spend time on reflecting the past year. Also, many of us with the new year are enjoying a fresh start. Maybe you're starting a new health plan or trying to get your finances in order, or just trying to be a better person in general. Those are great things and yes we all could be better or do better. I've heard now 3 times the same message from God ... the sermon on Sunday asked "Where are you going? What are you doing?" Then in a women's dinner club on Monday the question was asked "Who do I want to become? What stirs you?" ....and finally our leader sent an inspiring sermon this morning asking "what breaks your heart?" the third time's the charm ...it hit me ... lots of things break my heart .... really I've been created with so many feelings, passions, and dreaming of the future. I could spend an entire day dreaming of all the things I would like to do on this earth.

But I have to say what pulls on my heart the most is struggling children. As a past kindergarten teacher, my students that struggled always had my heart. I wanted to make a difference for them. Looking back at my childhood I wish someone would have stopped to push me, studied with me, or just encouraged me. Of course it makes sense if you knew my whole story.  Isn't it such an amazing thing what God does by taking your weakness and turning them into strengths?  But I think it's first important to understand what your story is. You have to look back in your past to move forward to your future, you have to see that your life is your story. Everyone has one and there are parts of your story that break your heart, times when you may have struggled but that transformed your soul because it may of caused you to surrender more than you have ever done before. We shouldn't just sit comfortable and complacent, we need to stretch ourselves, but we are in such a self focused culture ... how can I please myself ? and how can I better myself? What if we transformed our minds to think how can I make a difference? How can I change things that break my heart? It might cost your something like time, money, and energy. It's going to cost you some life. We all can afford to die to ourselves more so we can say more YES to Jesus. I know its much easier said then done but I'm a firm believer that if you take your next step towards what stirs you, although it may cost you something, you will reap with you sow. 

When we got home from Ethiopia my heart was with those struggling children I left behind, my heart transformed and I will never forget their faces or their innocence born into a difficult life. As the sermon I listened to today asked "At the end of your life what are you wanting people to thank you for?" I would love to leave my legacy as one who helped looking after the orphans and widows. James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this, to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. 

A few months ago, my friend Jessica came and spoke at our bible study about a new opportunity of sponsoring Ethiopian children. Our church has joined Hopechest to help get precious Ethiopian children sponsored from a new care point called I Care for the Nations. The holy spirit moved through Jessica speaking about her story and how she advocates for these children. It was awesome to watch and see friends feel so moved they wanted to sponsor and share with friends and family. They want to make a difference and they have! Later the next day another friend of ours host a local christian tv show called Current. She called and asked Jessica and I share our stories of adoption and how that led us to sponsoring children and how you too can sponsor a child. 

We were blessed to have the opportunity to reach others! 

Here's our show 

http://youtu.be/cCT1i5TpiKM 

I don't know about you but what breaks my heart?....

is children in need

 For just $38 a month you can sponsor a child to give them food, schooling and HOPE for a future to make a difference. 

We have 49 kids left to sponsor! 

You can go to the HopeChest website 

http://www.hopechest.org/community/icftn/sponsor/

(click on the left side button "status"  and select "unsponsored" to view all kids left needing to be sponsored.)

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 

These precious children are depending on you to change their lives!

 How powerful is that? 

So if you're sitting around reflecting on this last year and thinking how can I make a difference or thinking who I want to become or how I want to leave my legacy or how I can make an eternal difference today...this would be one great big step in the right direction! 

Praying you join me on this journey as we have also decided to sponsor our second child Yared 

This is just a start of this journey... I can't wait to see what else is in store for 2015