Awakening
Recently God
has been taking me on a journey of awakening.
He has taken my hand, walked me out of my comfort zone and with much
patience and tenderness has opened my eyes to see His heart. I need to be transparent and vulnerable with
you right now. I was not prepared to share this but in order to break my chains
of complacency, I must.
One morning in
my quiet time, I felt an overwhelming flood of Love wash over me. In that
moment, I saw my life and everything around me literally in God’s hands. The
fact I was alive that very morning is God’s gift. The fact I was even born is
God’s gift. The fact that I was born in America is God’s gift.
Can you and
I chew on that last statement?
I am in a
country where there is food on store shelves.
There is clean, drinkable water in the tap. There is a secure door on my
home. We have more than one change of clothes. We have a school my daughter can
attend. I have access to doctors if any of us are ill. There is not one but TWO
vehicles in the driveway. The list goes on and on and on…
I don’t know
why God purposed me to be born here and not in a slum in Africa or India or the
Philippines or any other part of the world where to simply live would not
necessarily be a given. What I do know is
what His Word says to me, “When
someone has been given much, much will be required in return;” (Lk 12:48)
I don’t know about you but
God is lovingly reminding me that I am an earthen vessel full of His blessings.
What good am I to sit still and not pour out?
I become like stagnant water. Instead, I can be life giving by being thankful
for what I already have and learning to live simply so others may simply live. I
am grateful to my Heavenly Father for this awakening. I am ready to celebrate,
share and declare the greatness of God!
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
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Journey to the Nations: To India By Way Of Facebook
Aside from a gospel choir mission trip to England with fellow Fast Fuel writer, Anitra, I have not done any international mission work. My husband, on the other hand, has, and I support from and ON the home front.
Clunky transition.
I love Indian food. Literature by Indian authors. Films set in India. Indian jewelry. I own a Sari. I have worn it. When my son was 3 months old, I failed to bring a bottle of breast milk to an outing at an Indian restaurant with some visiting missionaries, and was wearing that sari. With no way to nurse at the table and a hungry baby, the restaurant diluted some Indian rice pudding for me. Zane drank it down. Happily. And quickly.
So when Bikash's emergency case was shared on Facebook a few weeks ago by a friend of mine who is a supporter of Compassion International, I clicked "message" without even stopping to pray, and told her that my family wanted to support him. I saw his picture and KNEW. Our family needed to partner with Bikash who lives in India with his mother.
We have now "adopted" this 7 year old boy and recently sent off our first note to him. I realize it's not the same as being there, but if my consistent donation can be of assistance to him, then I've been faithful to the nudge God gave me when the Bikash's situation first presented itself.
And some say Facebook is a waste of time.
Funny. God used Facebook to introduce us to this boy on the other side of the world who has been waiting a year for a sponsor family.
LIKE.
Joline Atkins is your server today! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
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