This actually happens to be the cousin of a friend of mine from college. Saw this on her blog. Man, it's so true. We get so very distracted. Watch and learn from this young man.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Water
If you got here from my other blog, you realize that I was just inspired by the movie Blood Diamond. For whatever reason, God has used movies many times in my life to really move me...to action.
After a movie like that, I just cannot go to bed. My mind is racing, my heart wrenched for people...people who need. Thoughts of these people in Sierra Leone...thoughts about what we all could do for people just like them. Then, for some reason, I thought about the little video blurb I saw a few months ago. We've all seen it several times I'm sure. This one...
So simple, isn't it? Want less, give more. Less self, more for others. It led me to this video about the motivation, the story behind that first video...
Is it really all about Him? If it is, then we'll be all about others, in His name, then won't we? Obviously, this whole video idea was all geared toward Christmas. But, isn't everyday Christmas for most of us Americans? Don't we all just kind of go get whatever we want, directed by our little selfish 'whims.' It's not really, blatantly selfish, since that's what everyone does and that's the norm. And, I'm not condemning whatever we are doing wholly. But, what if...
What if we gave up our daily Starbuck's runs? What if we chose to only go out to eat once a week instead of once a day, or once a month instead of once a week? What if we, like this video suggests, decided to give meaningful/life-changing things for Christmas, Easter, birthdays, etc.? Does that mean never giving a material gift again? No...but as you can see...we all have something we can give up. And, what would that look like, say, at Christmas time, practically speaking? Well, here are some examples...
And, what would that look like daily, say for a village in Liberia, Africa...again, practically speaking of course...
Advent Conspiracy from Living Water International on Vimeo.
Repairing Wells, Rebuilding Lives from Living Water International on Vimeo.
That's what it would look like.
Go here. Roam their website. Wow. What if our youth groups joined forces and did something like this? What if our MOPS groups did? What if our families did? What if?
Go here. See the full story of their heart and vision for their organization...their purpose.
And just plain and simple...on this Resurrection Day, give life!
After a movie like that, I just cannot go to bed. My mind is racing, my heart wrenched for people...people who need. Thoughts of these people in Sierra Leone...thoughts about what we all could do for people just like them. Then, for some reason, I thought about the little video blurb I saw a few months ago. We've all seen it several times I'm sure. This one...
So simple, isn't it? Want less, give more. Less self, more for others. It led me to this video about the motivation, the story behind that first video...
Is it really all about Him? If it is, then we'll be all about others, in His name, then won't we? Obviously, this whole video idea was all geared toward Christmas. But, isn't everyday Christmas for most of us Americans? Don't we all just kind of go get whatever we want, directed by our little selfish 'whims.' It's not really, blatantly selfish, since that's what everyone does and that's the norm. And, I'm not condemning whatever we are doing wholly. But, what if...
What if we gave up our daily Starbuck's runs? What if we chose to only go out to eat once a week instead of once a day, or once a month instead of once a week? What if we, like this video suggests, decided to give meaningful/life-changing things for Christmas, Easter, birthdays, etc.? Does that mean never giving a material gift again? No...but as you can see...we all have something we can give up. And, what would that look like, say, at Christmas time, practically speaking? Well, here are some examples...
And, what would that look like daily, say for a village in Liberia, Africa...again, practically speaking of course...
Advent Conspiracy from Living Water International on Vimeo.
Repairing Wells, Rebuilding Lives from Living Water International on Vimeo.
That's what it would look like.
Go here. Roam their website. Wow. What if our youth groups joined forces and did something like this? What if our MOPS groups did? What if our families did? What if?
Go here. See the full story of their heart and vision for their organization...their purpose.
And just plain and simple...on this Resurrection Day, give life!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Life Without Limbs
Wow. Can you imagine having a child born without limbs? Can you imagine being that child? This is so incredible. Check out this video and then check out his website here...and read Nick's story. Amazing. God can do so much with your availability...no matter who you are and what your circumstances. He wants to do so much...that's the whole point of this life, isn't it?
Monday, February 16, 2009
Uganda Mothers and Babies
This blog, again, was created to remind us of the truth...to give perspective. Therefore, this blog will occasionally also include the added bonus of featuring different ministry opportunities. I constantly run across things that I would love to share...possibilities for partnership. We can't all help everyone, but I pray that you will truly look at everything shared on this blog (from time to time) with open hearts. Who knows...maybe something will really spark a passion in you here. That was not the primary point of the blog, but is just the obvious accidental (wonderful) result of a blog with this purpose. So, please...don't just gain the truth about how blessed you really are compared to others in the world. Also, really look at these ministries and what they have to say...look at these real people featured...imagine them as your neighbors/siblings/parents/friends...and see if there is anything you can do to help them.
This clip is of a ministry called Helping Mothers and Babies Inc. It was started by my friend and midwife that delivered Hadley (you can spot her in the slide that states that childbirth is the #1 cause of death). It's so very cool to see what God placed on her heart to do to practically help and reach others...and how quickly her ministry has taken off...and how many people they have already helped. I got this video clip as an email from her a few days ago and just wanted to share. Wow.
And another clip I found...this one of their work in Honduras. This was an earlier video...very interesting.
This clip is of a ministry called Helping Mothers and Babies Inc. It was started by my friend and midwife that delivered Hadley (you can spot her in the slide that states that childbirth is the #1 cause of death). It's so very cool to see what God placed on her heart to do to practically help and reach others...and how quickly her ministry has taken off...and how many people they have already helped. I got this video clip as an email from her a few days ago and just wanted to share. Wow.
And another clip I found...this one of their work in Honduras. This was an earlier video...very interesting.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Perspective
It's such a needed thing.
I'm in a constant state of re-gaining perspective. When you aren't immersed in the world's majority's problems (because the majority of the world does have many problems...things that we cannot even begin to fathom, because we haven't lived anywhere even close to that reality), it's hard to stay in that mindset.
I've never been so aware of it as I am now.
In the last 2 months, God has been re-ordering my perspective.
As I was talking with God (more like having a temper tantrum with Him) in the early weeks of our stay here in the United States, I got 2 words very loud and clear from Him. Contentment. Perspective.
Philippians 4:11&12 - 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
Note how he said "I have learned." It is a learned state of being. I am definitely still learning.
But, I think that one of the ways you learn contentment is to keep the proper perspective. How do you do that unless you get reminded of things that cause that to happen? I am constantly (and esp. within the last few weeks...could it be God at work?...I dare say yes) thrown "perspective grabbers." I am continually made aware of others' needs threw emails, blogs, videos, websites, friends. Therefore, I am constantly made aware of my abundance...and the fact that I whine way too much. I need somewhere to put these perspective grabbers. I need to be accountable to myself to grab perspective regularly.
Hence, this blog.
I will be posting regularly some of the things that help me to keep (or re-gain) perspective. So, visit here often for a good dose of getting back on track in your own assessments of you and your 'needs.' We all need good doses of that.
I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet. ~Denis Waitely
When you look at yourself from a universal standpoint, something inside always reminds or informs you that there are bigger and better things to worry about. ~Albert Einstein
I'm in a constant state of re-gaining perspective. When you aren't immersed in the world's majority's problems (because the majority of the world does have many problems...things that we cannot even begin to fathom, because we haven't lived anywhere even close to that reality), it's hard to stay in that mindset.
I've never been so aware of it as I am now.
In the last 2 months, God has been re-ordering my perspective.
As I was talking with God (more like having a temper tantrum with Him) in the early weeks of our stay here in the United States, I got 2 words very loud and clear from Him. Contentment. Perspective.
Philippians 4:11&12 - 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
Note how he said "I have learned." It is a learned state of being. I am definitely still learning.
But, I think that one of the ways you learn contentment is to keep the proper perspective. How do you do that unless you get reminded of things that cause that to happen? I am constantly (and esp. within the last few weeks...could it be God at work?...I dare say yes) thrown "perspective grabbers." I am continually made aware of others' needs threw emails, blogs, videos, websites, friends. Therefore, I am constantly made aware of my abundance...and the fact that I whine way too much. I need somewhere to put these perspective grabbers. I need to be accountable to myself to grab perspective regularly.
Hence, this blog.
I will be posting regularly some of the things that help me to keep (or re-gain) perspective. So, visit here often for a good dose of getting back on track in your own assessments of you and your 'needs.' We all need good doses of that.
I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet. ~Denis Waitely
When you look at yourself from a universal standpoint, something inside always reminds or informs you that there are bigger and better things to worry about. ~Albert Einstein
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