http://youtu.be/oT57tjz9py8 - He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother - The Hollies

Here's a photo of the old hostel where the children slept until it was no longer safe. The other photos are the new hostel which was completed just this year. God's Family reached across the ocean and built a safe place for these children to live. The photos include children from around the village along with some our Happy Choice kids. This is just one way God has given us to come along side someone carrying a heavy load. Oscar cares for the 12 children that live at the centre, his own three children, plus several children and widows who live in the village and don't always have enough food to eat. Oscar, who has so little for his own family, does everything he can to help others.

As I read the prayer in John 17, I see the yearning of Jesus for his diciples to be one, to be united, just as He and His Father were one. How sad we must make Him when we bicker and argue over meaningless things! He wanted so much for us to love each other just as He loved us. He wanted us to be a true family - the Family of God.

When we see our brother struggling with a heavy burden, our first thought should be "how can I lighten his load? How can I make things easier? How can I reach out in love?" This week, I experienced that reaching out of believers when I shared the desperate need of my friend Oscar who has a small orphanage in Kenya. Oscar sent me an email saying the children had no food all day Wednesday and he needed help. Today, money was sent for food because of kind hearted, caring believers who saw a brother struggling beneath his heavy load and immediately reached out in love. Those acts of kindness will not go unrewarded.

Matthew 25
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

This is what unity in Christ is all about. Sharing one another's troubles, lending a helping hand, showing the love of Christ to those who need to know HE has not forgotten them. We become the hands and feet of Jesus when we reach out to others. We are the Family of God and I saw His family in action today.

John 17 - Jesus prayed for unity
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

God's plan from the beginning has been that His children would be one - united in Christ with a common love and purpose. Fellowship is a very important part of being in the family of God. His instructions for life are all about relationships, fellowship, and about coming together with encouragement and support, helping each other to carry the heavy burdens of life.
I did a quick word search on Biblegateway.com and these are a few passages about our relationship with others:

John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
John 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Thessalonians 4:9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
1 Peter 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
1 John 3:11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another.
1 John 3:23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
1 John 4:21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love one another.
2 John 1:5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.
I think it's safe to say that God wants us to love each other, and to care for each other. He knows the beauty and blessings of relationships built on unity and love. The Godhead - Father/Son/Holy Spirit is a perfect example of this kind of relationship. Although they are three individual persons, they are ONE God. They are united together in perfect harmony and They support one another with unselfish love and devotion. Wouldn't this world be amazing if we believers could be united in our love and purpose? What if we stopped being so self-focused and started looking for ways to help others?

Philippians 2
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human being, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Again in this passage, we see the focus on loving each other, looking out for one another, being united, not divided. Verse 3 - "Do nothing out of selfish ambition, value others above yourselves?" That's a hard thing to do. But if we learn how to love each other and how to come along side our brothers and sisters who are struggling, then we become more like Jesus.
And when one brother hurts, we all hurt.

1 Corinthians 12
Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

Yesterday, God's Family saw a brother suffering and they felt his pain. They cared that he was hurting and they allowed God to use them in very wonderful way. Thank you guys for being so quick and so willing to help Oscar feed those children whom God has entrusted to his care. You make me proud to be in the Family of God.

It's a beautiful thing to see that kind of love and caring. There are so many people - brothers and sisters in Christ - who need a little encouragement, a little help carrying their burden. We don't have to go across ocean to be able to help a brother or sister in need. There are people we are around every day who are hurting.

Lord, help us see and help us be a Family that loves.
Father, You are so gracious and merciful with me. I am so thankful that Jesus came to save me. That He loved me enough to stand in place, taking my stripes, even to the point of death, so that I don't ever have to be separated from You by death. Father, I know You want us to be united in our love for You and for one another. It's easy to love You, and it's easy to love some of our brothers and sisters in Christ. But some aren't quite so loveable. I'm sorry to say that, but You already know I'm thinking it. = ( . I want to love everyone, even when it's hard. Please Lord, help me to love those who are difficult to love. Help me to look past the surface and see what You see. Help me to be an instrument of Your unity and love wherever I am and whatever I do. When I see a need, show me how to help, whether it's a financial, emotional or spiritual need, help me to give as I'm able to give, even if all I have to offer is a prayer, that by itself is a most precious gift. Pleae forgive me for all times I just look the other way when I see a brother struggling. Today, I want to start fresh, and be more like Jesus, loving even when it's hard. I ask all these things in Jesus' precious Name. Amen.

http://youtu.be/hGr8as7pPBE - Give me Your Eyes - Brandon Heath

http://www.godvine.com/Injury-Turns-into-Inspiration-for-One-High-School-Girl-323.html - These girls did an amazing act of kindness for the opposing team. They cam along side and helped carry a sister's burden. What a beautiful example of unselfishness.

BLOOM WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED

Meet Jessica Boone. Dallas Christian Parents in Prayer has been praying for Jessie since Spring Break of 2009 when she hit a tree while skiing with her Youth Group in Colorado. Jessie suffered a traumatic brain injury and her life took a definite turn. Her recovery has been long and difficult. She is still fighting to regain the strength and stamina she had before the accident. Jessie's life is not what she had anticipated but she's blooming right where God planted her. Jessie Boone is an amazing witness to God's faithfulness.

Colossians 3:17, 23
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. …
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

Steven Curtis Chapman - Do Everything - Official Music - Music Videos http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=F9B20CNU

The Lord used the prophet Jeremiah to issue a warning to Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 26:4-6 – “Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: If you do not listen to me and follow my law which I have set before you, and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened), then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.’ “
But Jerusalem wouldn’t listen. So God allowed the people of Jerusalem to be taken into exile by Babylon. There they would remain for 70 years.

They must have been felt so discouraged and defeated. They were aliens in a foreign land, with no hope for a future. But Jeremiah had another word from the LORD:

Jeremiah 29:4-7 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

My translation – “Bloom where you’re planted!”

Jeremiah told the Israelites to make the best of things. He told them to go ahead and put down roots, to build houses, plant gardens, let your sons and daughters get married, go on with your life. Make the most of the situation. Seek peace and prosperity in your new your city because when Babylon prospers, you will prosper, too.

This is a lesson for me. There are days when I feel stuck in my job. I would love to spend my time studying God’s Word, doing good deeds in His Name, sharing the gospel, teaching His Truths. I love doing those things, and I feel that’s what honors God. But instead, I have a real job I must do to help provide for my family. My real job is not in ministry. I’m a mortgage banker, and I help people get financing for their homes. It’s not exactly the “higher calling” that I desire! But maybe God has a reason for me being right where I am.

Paul says that whatever I do, whether it’s teaching a bible class or helping a client get his loan, I should do it in a way that honors the Name of Jesus. I am an Ambassador of Christ wherever I am and whatever I’m doing. The way I do my job reflects on His power in my life. If I’m not ethical or conscientious in my work, if I’m not giving each customer my very best, then I’m not representing my Lord honorably.

I deal with lots of people in my job. Every day I have opportunities to be “salt and light” to the people I meet. I don’t have to “preach with words”, I can teach by example. What sermon will my life preach today? Will others see Jesus living in me? Or will they see someone just going through the motions of the day, longing for 5:00 to come so I can “clock out”?

God’s people should be known for their excellence. We should always be the ones most willing to do whatever needs to be done and without complaining; we should be the ones who work harder and with more enthusiasm than our co-workers who do not have our Hope. We should be more powerful, more effective, more productive and wiser BECAUSE we have access to the Spirit of God living within us. We have the Holy Spirit with us every moment. And He is more than willing to guide us throughout our day; helping us to make decisions that honor Him, showing us how to do everything we do for His glory. All we have to do is ask and be willing to give Him control.

And I don’t have to be the “boss” or the “leader” in order to be a powerful influence for Christ. Every relationship I have should honor Him.

Colossians 3:18-22
Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
Slaves (employees) obey your earthly (employers) masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.

As a wife, I’m not the head of my family, but I do have a powerful influence on my family. I can honor Christ by submitting to my husband and helping him to be stronger and more effective in all he does. I can be his helper or I can constantly beat him down with my words and disrespect. “Slaves” can equate to “employees” for my purposes here = ). As an employee I should be respectful of my employer. Whether he’s out of the office or in the next room, I should work diligently at the task he’s given me. If I do that with a sincere heart, I honor my employer but more importantly, I honor the Lord.

Wherever God plants me that is where I need to bloom. He has a plan for me. And that plan is so much better than my plan, so I’m going to trust Him and do my best to “bloom where He plants me”.

Jeremiah had one more message for the Exiles in Babylon, and that message is for me, too.

Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD…

“Wherever we're planted, there's something to give thanks for. There's someone to help, a garden to grow, and a life to build. We're in the midst of it all, and God is, too. With his love, we can bloom and we can thrive ... wherever we're planted." Susan Bennett

http://youtu.be/qaHmiFaX_pk - The Motions - Matthew West

With Cords of human kindness, with ties of love

With cords of human kindness, with ties of love...

http://youtu.be/sQsat6pbx3M - Abba Father - Acapella

Galatians 3:26 - 4:7

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit
who calls out, "Abba, Father. So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and
since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

What does it really mean to be called a "child of God"?

As a mom, there's nothing I wouldn't do to protect my children and keep them from harm. I love them unconditionally. Nothing they could ever do would change my love for them. I'd gladly sacrifice all I have for my children. And I think most parents feel the same way I do.

But I'm a human. I can't always be there when my child stumbles, when he might need help. I may not know that he's having a bad day. I might not have the resources to provide the help he needs when he's in trouble. But if I had those resources, I'd give my last dollar to save my child.

But, again, I’m human and full of inadequacies and imperfections.

I have a Father who is perfect in all ways. He never fails me. He loves me even more than I love my children. And His love is perfect - complete and without fault. His provisions are always enough, and He is with me everywhere I go, so I never have to face a problem alone. He understands, and I don't even have to use words to explain myself. He knows my heart and what I want to say - even when it doesn't come out just right. He never fails me although I fail Him every day. His compassions and mercies are new every morning. I get to start fresh - sinless in His eyes because I'm clothed in Christ's blood.

My Father loves me with a love that is like no earthly love. My Father not only loves - HE is LOVE - that pure love that never fails.

As a read some passages in the Bible about God being my Father, I was much moved to see how many times Jesus refers to God the Father as "your Father". Jesus told us that God is our Father - not just His. When we became Christ followers, we were born again into our new Family - the Family of God. Jesus is our older protective Brother, and His Father became our Father.
We have been adopted into this indescribable Family of love and unity, and we have all the same benefits as our big Brother! We are joint heirs with Christ to our Father's inheritance.

Romans 8:17

and since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

Matthew 6:25-30
“That is why I say to you; don’t worry about living—wondering what you are going to eat or drink, or what you are going to wear. Surely life is more important than food, and the body more important than the clothes you wear. Look at the birds in the sky. They never sow nor reap nor store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you much more valuable to him than they are? Can any of you, however much he worries, make himself an inch taller? And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the wild flowers grow. They neither work nor weave, but I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was never arrayed like one of these! Now if God so clothes the flowers of the field, which are alive today and burnt in the stove tomorrow, is he not much more likely to clothe you, you ‘little-faiths’?

Mathew 7:9-11
“If any of you were asked by his son for bread would you be likely to give him a stone, or if he asks for a fish would you give him a snake? If you then, for all your evil, quite naturally give good things to your children, how much more likely is it that your Heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him?”

My Father is loving and kind. When I need something, He provides. And just like my earthly parents, He loves me enough to say "no" sometimes. There are times when I think I know what I need or at least what I want, but my Father knows what would happen if He gave me everything I desired. He says "no" to my requests for things that will bring harm. That's real love.

Hebrews 12:7-11
As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way

And my Father is forgiving. He always stand ready to welcome me home no matter how much I've messed up. He sees my brokenness and He responds with love and compassion.

This passage from Hosea 11 touches my heart. Listen to the LORD talk about Ephraim and Israel – His chosen people. Can You hear the love and compassion He has for them even though they have repeatedly turned to other gods?

The Lord says “It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.”

I remember watching Larry as he taught Tyler to walk. Standing behind him, “Dad” would reach down and hold both of Tyler’s hands, then patiently guide him all over the house for as long as Tyler wanted to keep walking. Tyler’s Daddy was so proud of every step he took. And although it wasn’t comfortable walking around all stooped over holding on to Ty, “Daddy “was willing to walk with him as long as Tyler wanted his help.

As you read this passage, keep in mind that we, too, are God’s chosen people. Because of what Christ did for us, we have become heirs to the Promise that the Lord Almighty made to Abraham. That promise was that through Abraham’s Seed, all nations of the earth would be blessed. His chosen ones are those of us who have been redeemed by the blood by Abraham’s Seed – Jesus the Christ.

Hosea 11
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. 3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. 4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.

How many times has God held my hand and gently guiding me in the right direction? How many times has He lifted me up and held me to His cheek when I was discouraged or sad? How many times has He been my Daddy – loving me and caring for me, even when I was acting like a rebellious child? He still loved me.

When I finally realize how much I need my Father, I turn back for Home, humbled, broken and repentant. Just like the story of the Lost Son, my Father is always waiting with open arms.


Luke 15:10-24
10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” Parable of the Lost Son 11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ 20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

http://youtu.be/zt-lUMBWi30 - The Prodigal - Casting Crowns

Father God, I'm so humbled by Your majesty and greatness. Your power and might are awesome, and there is no one who can compare with You. Thank You for allowing me to call You my "Father". How incredible is that? That I can come before the Creator of the Universe, and call You "Abba", my own Daddy. I can ask for anything and if what I ask is in line with Your perfect plan for me, You will provide everything I need and more. I can't even begin to take it in, but this I know. I am greatly loved by my Father and by my Brother. I'm so very thankful for the most precious gift of being part of Your Family. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

Making a difference in a child's life, one child at a time

My dear friends, Oscar and Emma, who established and maintain the Happy Choice Ministry in Kenya love to tell others about Jesus. Oscar's greatest joy comes from sharing the gospel with those who do not know our Savior. He ministers to the homeless, the orphans left on the streets, the sick, the widows, those who can't help themselves. He also has a passion for teaching muslim youths about Jesus and has found them to be very willing to listen.

The photo at the top is Oscar with some of his children standing in front of the new Hostel that was built last year. To the right, you can see Oscar and Emma handing out bibles to the students.

On a recent visit to Oscar's little village, Dolores Dotson of This Is Your Season Ministries delivered several bibles for the widows that Emma serves. The bibles were in Swahili, their first language, and what a treasure those bibles were to the women! They had never owned their very own bible. We take so much for granted! These women and the children at the orphanage consider a bible more precious than just about anything they could own.

Timoland, one of the older boys at the orphanage has always stood out in school. One year, one of his teachers even provided money to help with Timoland's tuition because he believed in Timoland and realized what a fine young man he is. Oscar and Emma went to the school to meet with the staff last year, and they took some of the extra bibles that had been provided by Dolores Dotson on her trip. They donated the bibles which were given away as "prizes" to some of the lucky students. Oscar said the children who were awarded the bibles were so happy and grateful. But the sad part was that there were still so many children who wanted a bible, but there were no more to give.

Oscar and Emma decided right then to try and get bibles for the children. Through generous donations, we have been able to send funds for a few bibles in the last several months, but I know Oscar wants to keep this ministry in front of us all, lest we forget. People in Africa are hungry for the Word. When they own a bible, it does not sit on a table gathering dust. The Word of God is a precious treasure to them, and they want to know what God says through His Word.

Personally, I would love to buy a bunch of bibles myself and mail them to Oscar. Being able to go and pick them out, and then package them up and ship them off! That would feel so great! I'd feel like I was really doing something. Unfortunately, the postal service in Kenya isn't very ethical nor trustworthy. Things of value tend to "disappear" when they are sent through the mail, and the intended recipient never gets the package. I certainly wouldn't tell anyone not to send bibles directly, but it is definitely a safer bet to send a money gram or donate through the Lost Orphans website, that way Oscar can purchase the Swahili Bibles himself in Kisumu and cut out the "middle man" at the postal office. = P

If this is a ministry that touches your heart, I hope you will join with Oscar and Emma in their wonderful work. Pray that God will provide lots and lots of Bibles for Oscar and Emma to distribute. I'd love to see this ministry grow so that every child at the orphanage can personally deliver bibles to their individual schools - bibles for every student! You see, in Kenya, the bible is used in schools. Unlike American schools, in Kenya they can still talk about God in the classroom. They just don't have enough bibles for each child to have his own.

As always, I realize there are so many wonderful ministries. I encourage each of you to find a ministry that touches your heart and get involved. It doesn't have to be in Africa or some far away place, it can be right in your own community. You'll know when God is softening your heart to a particular ministry. And if you feel that tug, listen and obey. You will be the one who is blessed the most. I promise.

I covet your prayers for God's provision. He is always faithful and Oscar, Emma and I know how amazing He can be in those provisions. He loves to do good things for His children and He certainly has blessed the Happy Choice Ministry in ways I would never have dreamed. But Oscar and Emma always believed.

There is always a need for food, and tuition costs come around a couple times a year. Right now our goal is to enlist people who are willing to make a monthly contribution towards the support of the children at Happy Choice.

At present, there are 12 children and we've had a couple of families who have each already committed to support a child for $33 per month. But no donation is too small. Like Oscar said in his letter below, even if it's just a tube of toothpaste each month, it helps. My prayer is that we will be able to find support for every child in Oscar's care. That would provide plenty of food each month, and even a few extras, like medical needs that might arise.

Happy Choice is a small orphanage. Because it's small, it may not seem as important as some of the larger orphan ministries. But let me tell you this. There are 12 children who have come to believe in God because of a man who reached out to each of them, one child at a time. And these 12 children are just the ones who live at the centre. Oscar provides food and assistance to needy children in his village, and homeless children he finds on the streets of Kisumu and Nairobi - when he is able. If Oscar had the means, his orphanage would be huge! He loves these children as his own and cannot bear to see a child left alone on the streets.

If you would like to make a difference in the life of one child, I don't think there is a more worthy ministry than Happy Choice. And they need our help.

Tax deductable donations can be made at http://www.lostorphans.com/ - please be sure to select "Happy Choice - Kenya" from the drop down menu on the Africa page. You can choose to donate once, monthly or quarterly. Any donation is greatly appreciated as are your prayers.


A letter from Oscar Odhiambo Nyangwesoh of Happy Choice Ministries in Kenya, my dear friend:
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Praise God,

I thank God for you and i thank Him for your families but mostly i thank Him for all his willing vessels who are serving him. God all along used faithful and honest servants .Throughout the Bible God used all kinds of people from all walks of life, but remember not brimming vessels.
God is still using men for his work, and i have been asked by many people ,what can I do? God is still appointing his people from all positions in life, to help in different areas, so his work can go on .
I do remember when we started the Bible donation Programme for schools and villages with my wife ,it was a real soul winning activity since wherever we went God was with us and many people were turning back to him ,Glory be to God! But am still praying that may God fill the pockets of His people to enable us give out these Bibles. Many people are requesting for the Bibles and even many schools are requesting for the Bibles .

God can use you in things that you may not see as very important but they mean a lot in his Kingdom, by just missing a meal and donating one Bible is enough to make God change your life forever .The law of harvest is to reap more than you sow.

Henry Drummond said,''There is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving .The test of generosity is not necessarily how much you give but how much you have left.

My friends am giving you a test, can you please learn how God used these people and what they become?
1.Matthew.

2.Gideon.

3.Jacob.

4.Deborah.

5 .Moses.

6.Jeremiah

7.Aaron.

8.Nicodemus.

9.David.

10.Hosea.

11.Joseph.

12.Esther.

13.Elijah.

14.Joshua.

15.James.

16.John.

17.Abraham.

18.John the baptist.

19.Mary .

20.Nehemiah.

21.Shadrach,Meshack and Abednego.

22.Hezekiah

23.Isaiah.

24.Paul.

God can use anyone of us.
God can use you in a very small way by just buying even one tooth paste per month for one orphan for a year and this is enough to change your story .You may or someone can say, "just a toothpaste?" but it may mean more than giving out a million dollars out of pride, since you may give it out cheerfully and quickly, and that is what our heavenly father wants and blesses.

Am praying that He should use his people as vessels in different fields for His Glory.

Kindly forward this to some of our friends,

Thanks and be blessed.

Son,Oscar.

I'm not sweating the small stuff!

Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Happy thoughts make my day better. I feel more confident, more capable, more satisfied when I think on things that are honorable, right, pure, lovely and of good repute. Things that are excellent and worthy of praise - these are the things God tells us to dwell on. That's where we will find peace, even when everything in our lives is going crazy and feels out of control.

I stumbled onto this song by Francesca Battistelli and it made me smile. I can relate to every line. I can get stressed out over the smallest things. There's a lesson in the song. I hope I can remember it today.

http://youtu.be/pqqdA8LHN7I - This is the Stuff - Francesca Battistelli

please 'Cuz I can't find my phone
This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use
45 in a 35
Sirens and fines while I'm running behind
Whoa
This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little messI forget how big I'm
is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use
So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world
Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff
You use
Oh Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff You use.

I can let myself get bogged down in the little things that drive me crazy. The more I focus on those things, the larger they become in my mind. But God has given me a great tool to handle those kinds of thoughts. He's say "take each thought captive to the obedience of Christ". I don't have to let my whole day be ruined because traffic on Highway 80 was stopped this morning, and Tyler was 40 min. late to school! = )

2 Corinthians 10:4-5
for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

I can "capture the thought". Instead of pounding on the steering wheel and getting angry about something I cannot change, I can use that time to count my blessings. I can use that time to pray. I can redeem that bad traffic situation if I make the decision to just "capture the thought".
When I have a negative thought, I can ask myself, "is this a thought that honors God?" If it's not God honoring, then I better not dwell on it.

I love Facebook. It's a wonderful way to stay connnected to family and friends. I can "check in" each day and see how everyone is doing, and see what's going on in their lives. I've gotten reconnected with friends from school and stayed connected with friends and family who have moved away. What a blessing Facebook can be!

But just like God can take the worst things and use them for good, the Enemy can take a good thing and use it for evil.

I tend to be a "Pollyanna" - the dictionary defines that as "A person regarded as being foolishly or blindly optimistic. " I confess! I do try to see the glass as "half full" as opposed to "half empty". So it bothers me to see Facebook postings that seem to dwell on the negative. = ( I can watch a negative post become like a snowball rolling down hill. It gathers more and more size and speed as it rolls down, down, down... Everyone has something to add to the negativity. I don't like that. My "pollyanna" heart yearns for someone to break up that snowball so that it doesn't do any damage to people who might be in it's path. Sometimes, a brave soul steps up and tries to defuse the negative. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to see that one little positive comment in the middle of all the negative. It's like a beam of light shining in the darkness of the moment, melting that snowball.

There's a saying "what you feed grows and what you starve dies". If I "feed" the negative thoughts in my head, before long they are not so little. I can get myself all worked up over the smallest thing.

But if I choose to think on my blessings, those good thoughts flood my mind and give me a much better attitude, and my day becomes much more pleasant and productive. Not only is my day better, my attitude can spill over into the lives of those around me.

Lots of my Facebook Friends use their "status" to share Scriptures and encouraging thoughts. I love that! Those postings bless my day. The negative postings... not so much of a blessing. = (

So today, I choose to be positive. I choose to dwell on God's blessings and not on my "lost keys".
There are much worse things happening in this world than my burning the casserole I had planned for dinner!

I'm blessed beyond measure! The little bumps along the way, well, I'll use them as reminders of all the times I have safe, smooth journeys with any bumps.

And what if the bumps God allows in my life are blessings in disguise? How many times have my "lost keys" kept me from being in the middle of an accident? That 5 extra minutes of searching for my keys may have saved me a terrible wreck.

http://youtu.be/4mmgV6mPvb0 - Blessings - Laura Story


Holy Father, I'm so blessed to be Your child. You are so faithful. You are my Provider and Protector. You rescue me from my human weaknesses every day. Dear Father, thank You for loving me even when I have my little "pitty parties" and spend way too much time thinking about stuff that doesn't really matter. You give me everything I need, yet sometimes I complain that it's not enough. Please forgive me, LORD.

I forget how blessed I am just to be able to have a clean drink of water when I'm thirsty, or food on the table at every single meal. Thank You, God, for providing water and food for me.

Lord, when I see someone with a flat or stalled car on the side of the road, help me to remember the blessing of having a car that is reliable.

And when I wake up my son for school each day, remind me of the enormous blessing of having a healthy child.

Lord, I'm thankful for my job.
I'm thankful for a husband who still loves me after 25 years of marriage.
I'm thankful for my family and my friends.

Most of all, I'm thankful that You love me so much that You sent Your only Son to save me.

So today, Lord, if my computer crashes, if I misplace my keys, if my car runs out of gas, or some other annoying little thing happens, help me to remember all my blessings instead of dwelling on the little negatives. I don't want to be a complainer, Lord. I don't want to be a snowball of negativity. Instead, I want to be full of gratitude and thanksgiving for all my blessings!

Lord, please help me not to let annoying stuff take all my attention away from my many blessings. When I'm tempted to give in to the negativity, show me Your truth. I'm loved by the Creator of the Universe. That blessing by itself cancels out all the bad stuff.
In the Blessed Name of Jesus I pray. This day is for Your Glory! Amen.


P.S. I had this devotional almost completed but before I could proofread and send it out, I had to stop and take Tyler to school. About 10 minutes into our 35 minute trip, traffic came to a complete stop! It took almost an hour longer to get school than it normally takes.

Hmmm.... maybe that was a test for me. Thankfully, I had just been focusing on not sweating the small stuff, and I used the time to thank God for having a sense of humor. = )