While I personally don't know anyone who is paper ready to bring this boy home, maybe you do. Can you share his need with someone?
Read about Kyle on No Greater Joy Mom:
"One Final Call"
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
PWAM: Day 7
I was spoiled today by Mom...
She made northern beans with onions and probably butter for me to put over rice. It tasted delicious. The rest of the family also had chicken baked with onions and carrots, gravy, salads, bread, and applesauce.
So today was the last day of my project, and I'm feeling a strong pull towards guilt. Guilt that I get to have this be only a project. Guilt that I have the privilege of coming to the end of it. Guilt that I am so looking forward to eating more and other foods.
Does this guilt come from God? I think not.
So what conclusions can I draw from this project?
Basically, it comes down to this:
I am immeasurably blessed. That's the truth.
Every good gift is from my ever loving King. That's the truth.
That "ever loving" part? It blows my mind. He loves me more than I can imagine and I believe He delights in giving me good gifts and delights in seeing me enjoy them.
I don't need to feel guilty over receiving what He gives me.
The cool thing is, when I really get a firm, solid grip on the extravagance of His love and how limitless His resources are and how absolutely trustworthy He is, then I have the motivation to give as He gives to me. Because He gives and gives and gives, I can give and give and give. Isn't that what Jesus said? "Freely you have received, freely give."
So do I need to feel guilty about what my God has given me? No way.
Am I motivated to live with an open heart and open hands towards the poor and needy? Absolutely.
Am I willing to sacrifice to the point where it cramps my luxurious lifestyle? Yes. As a daughter of the King, as one who is in Christ, my answer is yes. It's what my Jesus did. Paul says it like this, in Philippians chapter 2 (from The Living Bible): "Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, who, though He was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. And he humbled himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal's death on a cross."
Some of the way this works out in my life you might never see. Some of it you might see. The part you'll probably see the most is advocacy and aid for orphans. I will not stop speaking up for them, because they cannot speak up for themselves. I will not be silent. I will not ignore them.
So has this week taught me what it is like to be poor and hungry? No, of course not. How could it? What it has done is given me some insight into some of the "hungry" parts and it has increased my compassion.
I end simply with this. I am my Father's daughter. He has given me His Spirit to be with me and guide me. I will walk in faith, trusting that as I follow Him, He will show me more of who He is and who I am in Him. That will naturally translate into a life that glorifies Him, not me. Such a life is an adventure. Bring it on!
She made northern beans with onions and probably butter for me to put over rice. It tasted delicious. The rest of the family also had chicken baked with onions and carrots, gravy, salads, bread, and applesauce.
So today was the last day of my project, and I'm feeling a strong pull towards guilt. Guilt that I get to have this be only a project. Guilt that I have the privilege of coming to the end of it. Guilt that I am so looking forward to eating more and other foods.
Does this guilt come from God? I think not.
So what conclusions can I draw from this project?
Basically, it comes down to this:
I am immeasurably blessed. That's the truth.
Every good gift is from my ever loving King. That's the truth.
That "ever loving" part? It blows my mind. He loves me more than I can imagine and I believe He delights in giving me good gifts and delights in seeing me enjoy them.
I don't need to feel guilty over receiving what He gives me.
The cool thing is, when I really get a firm, solid grip on the extravagance of His love and how limitless His resources are and how absolutely trustworthy He is, then I have the motivation to give as He gives to me. Because He gives and gives and gives, I can give and give and give. Isn't that what Jesus said? "Freely you have received, freely give."
So do I need to feel guilty about what my God has given me? No way.
Am I motivated to live with an open heart and open hands towards the poor and needy? Absolutely.
Am I willing to sacrifice to the point where it cramps my luxurious lifestyle? Yes. As a daughter of the King, as one who is in Christ, my answer is yes. It's what my Jesus did. Paul says it like this, in Philippians chapter 2 (from The Living Bible): "Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, who, though He was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. And he humbled himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal's death on a cross."
Some of the way this works out in my life you might never see. Some of it you might see. The part you'll probably see the most is advocacy and aid for orphans. I will not stop speaking up for them, because they cannot speak up for themselves. I will not be silent. I will not ignore them.
So has this week taught me what it is like to be poor and hungry? No, of course not. How could it? What it has done is given me some insight into some of the "hungry" parts and it has increased my compassion.
I end simply with this. I am my Father's daughter. He has given me His Spirit to be with me and guide me. I will walk in faith, trusting that as I follow Him, He will show me more of who He is and who I am in Him. That will naturally translate into a life that glorifies Him, not me. Such a life is an adventure. Bring it on!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
PWAM: Day 6
It's funny, you might think that since I am depriving my self of delicious foods this week, I would want to avoid the sight of them as much as possible. The fact is, I've been looking at recipes online- you know the ones that have gorgeous photos of the ingredients, step-by-step instructions, and then the yummy dish at the end. I don't think I really ever before stopped to think about what a huge role food plays in our culture and our daily lives.
Obviously, we need to eat. God created our bodies that way. And He created us with taste buds as well as the ability to enjoy tantalizing scents and varied textures in our food.
My learning curve is how to stay balanced between eating for energy, health, and sustenance while not going overboard eating for pleasure.
In non-food related "news"...my hair is doing ok, my skin is a little dry. I've been drinking more water than I usually do in an effort to help out my skin that way, as well as to keep from getting dehydrated, of course. The clothing rules have proven to not be a really big deal, and I'm thinking I could take a good hard look at my wardrobe and do some weeding out. My wardrobe is honestly not overly huge but when I think about how I "survived" SO EASILY all week with two dresses, it starts to seem pretty big. And, of course, whether my wardrobe is big or small is rather a matter of comparison. Compared to M. Ob.ama or Princess Di.ana it is quite tiny. Compared to the street boys in Uganda who just attended a wedding in love-gifted shirts, ties, and shorts, it's quite enormous.
Today's very obvious luxury:
12.) The luxury of shelter. Specifically thinking of my car. Not only do I get to have beautiful home to give me shelter (Thanks, Dad!) but I get to work in a sheltered place- not out in the windy rainy spring weather. And not only that, I get to be sheltered even while I go from home to work and back again. No waiting for a bus- just hop in my car and go. No trying to keep my balance on a bicycle while the gusts of wind try to knock me down. No walking through puddles or mud.
I am a very very blessed woman indeed.
P.S. Before I know it, I WILL be walking to work, when I choose. Yay! I'll tell you about it later.
Obviously, we need to eat. God created our bodies that way. And He created us with taste buds as well as the ability to enjoy tantalizing scents and varied textures in our food.
My learning curve is how to stay balanced between eating for energy, health, and sustenance while not going overboard eating for pleasure.
In non-food related "news"...my hair is doing ok, my skin is a little dry. I've been drinking more water than I usually do in an effort to help out my skin that way, as well as to keep from getting dehydrated, of course. The clothing rules have proven to not be a really big deal, and I'm thinking I could take a good hard look at my wardrobe and do some weeding out. My wardrobe is honestly not overly huge but when I think about how I "survived" SO EASILY all week with two dresses, it starts to seem pretty big. And, of course, whether my wardrobe is big or small is rather a matter of comparison. Compared to M. Ob.ama or Princess Di.ana it is quite tiny. Compared to the street boys in Uganda who just attended a wedding in love-gifted shirts, ties, and shorts, it's quite enormous.
Today's very obvious luxury:
12.) The luxury of shelter. Specifically thinking of my car. Not only do I get to have beautiful home to give me shelter (Thanks, Dad!) but I get to work in a sheltered place- not out in the windy rainy spring weather. And not only that, I get to be sheltered even while I go from home to work and back again. No waiting for a bus- just hop in my car and go. No trying to keep my balance on a bicycle while the gusts of wind try to knock me down. No walking through puddles or mud.
I am a very very blessed woman indeed.
P.S. Before I know it, I WILL be walking to work, when I choose. Yay! I'll tell you about it later.
Friday, April 15, 2011
PWAM: Day 5
It's cold tonight. Colder than last night. Because I have the luxury of choice, I chose to sleep outside last night, and I'm glad that's the night I chose. I thank God with all my heart for giving me shelter and a cozy bed and I plan to enjoy it tonight. Obviously this is by far not the coldest night of the year, but I'm still glad to not be out in it.
Just so you know, I didn't sleep very well. I slept on a blanket and a sleeping bag, in a sleeping bag, with another blanket over me. I didn't want to be cold, and I wasn't! It was the hardness of the wooden deck that bothered me. I've gotten too used to my soft bed here at home. Around 7 o'clock this morning I staggered into the house and enjoyed...
11.) The luxury of my Cozy Bed: I really did. Since today was my day off I crawled into my bed. Don't worry, I didn't stay there all day.
I'm thinking about the Japanese people tonight. The ones whose lives were spared but whose homes were not. The ones who are living in shelters and probably wondering if they will ever find a way home. The ones whose homes are contaminated by the leakage from the nuclear plants. I wish I could go to them with enough blankets and sleeping bags and real beds for each and everyone of them. I wish we could all go and envelop them with the love of God. I wish I could hug all the new orphans, console the elderly, and give hope to the middle aged who have to rebuild their lives. What I can do is be a part of a fireman's brigade. A brigade that is passing on not buckets of water to fight fire, but love and hope to fight desolation and despair. I am going to make a donation to CAM.
Do you want to do the same? Even a really big bucket can be filled with tiny drops, if there are enough of them.
Just so you know, I didn't sleep very well. I slept on a blanket and a sleeping bag, in a sleeping bag, with another blanket over me. I didn't want to be cold, and I wasn't! It was the hardness of the wooden deck that bothered me. I've gotten too used to my soft bed here at home. Around 7 o'clock this morning I staggered into the house and enjoyed...
11.) The luxury of my Cozy Bed: I really did. Since today was my day off I crawled into my bed. Don't worry, I didn't stay there all day.
I'm thinking about the Japanese people tonight. The ones whose lives were spared but whose homes were not. The ones who are living in shelters and probably wondering if they will ever find a way home. The ones whose homes are contaminated by the leakage from the nuclear plants. I wish I could go to them with enough blankets and sleeping bags and real beds for each and everyone of them. I wish we could all go and envelop them with the love of God. I wish I could hug all the new orphans, console the elderly, and give hope to the middle aged who have to rebuild their lives. What I can do is be a part of a fireman's brigade. A brigade that is passing on not buckets of water to fight fire, but love and hope to fight desolation and despair. I am going to make a donation to CAM.
Do you want to do the same? Even a really big bucket can be filled with tiny drops, if there are enough of them.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
PWAM: Day 4
Day 4 means I am a little more than half way through my seven days! Yay!
Today really was a very good day.
Even though there was a photo shoot going on at work that involved lots and lots of yummy food. (Well, I think it was yummy. I didn't taste any of it. haha).
Even though there were whoopie pies and a bowl of extra filling in the lunch room.
I chugged down my rice and beans for lunch and felt great all afternoon. I'm hungry this evening, but it's bearable. My body must be getting used to this. Hopefully? =)
Maybe part of the reason this is getting better is that now the end is in sight.
I'm worried about one thing: What if I go crazy and eat way too much after I finish PWAM?
I'm sad about one thing: What about all the people who are actually living like this and that's just life for them?
Tonight is the night for this:
And just for interest's sake, how fun are these two?
My "tent" is actually just a tarp tacked to the side of the house on one side and a bench on the other side. I'll be sleeping on the deck. Yes, you can call me wimpy.
Today's luxuries:
9.) The blessing of Mom and Dad. They are a blessing and I'm so glad God gave them to me. Mom's going to sleep outside with me. =) Dad put up the tarp for me. Our conversation while he worked...Me: "What can I do?" Dad: "Just watch Papa." So I did. It really wasn't much work and I did help a little then. =) But, really, I'm glad God blessed me with these particular parents. I love you, Mom and Dad!
10.) The blessing of knowing God. Even if every material thing I have would be taken away, and I survived on rice and beans every day for the rest of my life, I would still be rich in Christ. I'm a daughter of the King and NO ONE can take that away from me. It's the greatest blessing of all, covenanted to last forever.
Today really was a very good day.
Even though there was a photo shoot going on at work that involved lots and lots of yummy food. (Well, I think it was yummy. I didn't taste any of it. haha).
Even though there were whoopie pies and a bowl of extra filling in the lunch room.
I chugged down my rice and beans for lunch and felt great all afternoon. I'm hungry this evening, but it's bearable. My body must be getting used to this. Hopefully? =)
Maybe part of the reason this is getting better is that now the end is in sight.
I'm worried about one thing: What if I go crazy and eat way too much after I finish PWAM?
I'm sad about one thing: What about all the people who are actually living like this and that's just life for them?
Tonight is the night for this:
| In reality my arrangement doesn't look like that, but doesn't that one look so cozy and idyllic? |
My "tent" is actually just a tarp tacked to the side of the house on one side and a bench on the other side. I'll be sleeping on the deck. Yes, you can call me wimpy.
Today's luxuries:
9.) The blessing of Mom and Dad. They are a blessing and I'm so glad God gave them to me. Mom's going to sleep outside with me. =) Dad put up the tarp for me. Our conversation while he worked...Me: "What can I do?" Dad: "Just watch Papa." So I did. It really wasn't much work and I did help a little then. =) But, really, I'm glad God blessed me with these particular parents. I love you, Mom and Dad!
10.) The blessing of knowing God. Even if every material thing I have would be taken away, and I survived on rice and beans every day for the rest of my life, I would still be rich in Christ. I'm a daughter of the King and NO ONE can take that away from me. It's the greatest blessing of all, covenanted to last forever.
PWAM: Beginning day 4
Good morning! Thanks to everyone who's been encouraging me in PWAM. Just wanted to let you know I'm feeling good this morning, like I don't have to obsess about food all day. =) "The Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need." Have a super day, everyone!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
PWAM: Day 3
So today I decided to eat my rice and beans for supper instead of lunch. I knew that my responsibilities at work would be light today, as far as actual "physical labor". I was able to do a lot of sitting today whereas yesterday I was carrying boxes and going up and down stairs. Surely, I thought, I will be ready and excited to eat my rice and beans for supper. Especially since I planned to make fresh rice and use black beans. The kidney bean flavor just seemed too gross and I thought the black beans would be better.
Think again.
I ended up practically forcing myself to eat the plain rice. And when I was finished with that I forced down some beans. Black beans taste almost exactly like kidney beans. Bummer. I loaded them with salt and pepper, ate a few, and called it enough.
How can I be so hungry yet not want to eat? How can I be so picky? Am I not hungry enough?
Tomorrow and Saturday (Friday is my day off) I will make myself eat at lunchtime again, as work will not be quite so relaxed and I will need the energy.
A little about why I chose to wear my glasses this week instead of my contacts:
I have needed glasses since the fourth grade. How blessed I've been to always be able to have glasses with the right prescription! I remember a box in the church basement, on a high shelf, where discarded glasses could be donated to an organization that distributed them to, well to put it bluntly, poor people. People who had no access to or couldn't afford eye care. What a good idea, right? I wonder if most of those people were lucky enough to be matched with a pair of glasses that were actually the right prescription. And if they were, did they like the glasses? How many women had to wear masculine glasses, and vice versa? Did they really care about what the glasses looked like or was it good enough to be able to see properly? I don't know. What I do know, is that the right lenses, in frames I picked out and could afford to pay for, are a blessing. So, contact lenses really are an unnecessary luxury.
Ouch. I don't like to say that. And I'm not sure what that will mean for me in the future. I like my contacts. I like my face to look the way God made it. I like the convenience of not having glasses to get steamed over or rain-dropped. And my nose likes to be free (hopefully not free to be stuck up in the air while I look down at people).
Today's luxuries:
6.) The luxury of easy work today. I wasn't slaving away at manual labor with an empty stomach. Another blessing is being able to work with other Christians.
7.) The luxury of choosing a different kind of beans this evening. Even though the idea kind of flopped. Now I have lots of rice and beans in the fridge. Two kinds! I can choose between them!
8.) The luxury of getting away. For my lunch break I was able to skip out on the temptation to covet other lunches in the lunchroom and go to the library instead. I even drove my car instead of hop-skip-jumping through the chilly drizzly showers that wanted to do their part bringing May flowers.
Just so you know, when I post tomorrow evening, I will be over half way finished!
Think again.
I ended up practically forcing myself to eat the plain rice. And when I was finished with that I forced down some beans. Black beans taste almost exactly like kidney beans. Bummer. I loaded them with salt and pepper, ate a few, and called it enough.
How can I be so hungry yet not want to eat? How can I be so picky? Am I not hungry enough?
Tomorrow and Saturday (Friday is my day off) I will make myself eat at lunchtime again, as work will not be quite so relaxed and I will need the energy.
A little about why I chose to wear my glasses this week instead of my contacts:
 |
| My glasses look kind of like this, but without the D&G, haha. Photo from Google Images. |
Ouch. I don't like to say that. And I'm not sure what that will mean for me in the future. I like my contacts. I like my face to look the way God made it. I like the convenience of not having glasses to get steamed over or rain-dropped. And my nose likes to be free (hopefully not free to be stuck up in the air while I look down at people).
Today's luxuries:
6.) The luxury of easy work today. I wasn't slaving away at manual labor with an empty stomach. Another blessing is being able to work with other Christians.
7.) The luxury of choosing a different kind of beans this evening. Even though the idea kind of flopped. Now I have lots of rice and beans in the fridge. Two kinds! I can choose between them!
8.) The luxury of getting away. For my lunch break I was able to skip out on the temptation to covet other lunches in the lunchroom and go to the library instead. I even drove my car instead of hop-skip-jumping through the chilly drizzly showers that wanted to do their part bringing May flowers.
Just so you know, when I post tomorrow evening, I will be over half way finished!
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