Recently I’ve come in contact with a non-profit that I have fallen in love with, Food for the Hungry. I was perusing their site and came across some staggering statistics.

Hunger kills
Did you know every day
25,000 people die
from hunger and hunger related causes? Of those,
18,000 are children. One
person dies of hunger
every 3.6 seconds.  That is
more than 17 people each
minute; 1,042 each hour;
which translates into
9,125,000 every single
year! One in six people on
the planet is hungry.

I know how easy it is to read that and to gloss it over. Or maybe you’ll pass over this entire post because it’s easier to turn away than to see the truth. But even when we see the numbers and see the images on tv we’re so immune that we don’t make the connection that the children we’re seeing may not be alive tomorrow. I see more posts on Facebook about saving animals than even comes close to saving human lives. So what can we do, as individuals, to help our fellow brothers and sisters from dying of starvation?

1. Pray

Pray for God to open your heart. To show you where you can sacrifice in order to be able to give and serve others.

2. Seek out a reputable non-profit

I hate to even have to put this but not everybody is honest about how they’re using your donations. Do your homework and go with the company you trust most. Four recommendations I have are Food for the Hungry, World Vision, Compassion and Convoy of Hope.

3. Fast

Take even one day away from food. My goodness, walk away from just one meal and realize how much we take for granted. I know food easily becomes an idol for me. So any time I feel my stomach growl my heart is drawn that much closer to those sweet children who have no pantry to walk into. No refrigerator to stand in front of. No grocery store to replenish at. God bless, some don’t even have water.

4. Do something – now

These sweet souls may not have much longer. If you feel that tug to donate then do it. Don’t hesitate. $10 is better than nothing. Do you have a desire to go overseas and help? Go out! Don’t wait for a sign from God, consider this your sign. Go! Leave a legacy worth something. Save a life.

I came across this photo on Flickr by phitar in 2006 and I pray, oh I pray, this sweet young boy is doing well. I think of his face often. And how many more little ones are there? I pray we will all step outside of ourselves and serve the poor, the needy, the helpless. Many prayers. So much eucharisteo.

Blessings!

I have such a heart for this ministry and this particular topic. You absolutely can not deny the connection here. Years from now they will look back at this generation and this will be our shame.

Pray and pass it on.

Blessings!

Today I am asking that we all step away from the mirage of being perfect. We are not Martha Stewart. We are not Beth Moore. We are not Christy Nockels. You are you. Exactly who God wanted you to be. Not perfect. Full of scrapes, dents and scars. Full of mistakes and dreams. Only you can live the life that was meant to be lived through you. Why are women so set on being somebody they aren’t? Why are we not content with the gifts and talents that have so graciously been given us?

My dear sisters in Christ, stop it. Stop making it look like being a follower of Christ means having your hair a certain way and wearing these particular clothes and carrying this kind of handbag. A new believer is going to look at you and see a hill that can not be climbed. Or, heaven forbid, they may be fooled into believing that the way they look or how they keep their house will draw them closer to Christ. Humble yourselves! Show them how we are all broken.

On my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
{2 Corinthians 12:5-10 ESV}

There is only One who is perfect and He alone deserves all of the glory. We are not Christ. We are the Paul’s and David’s. The liars, the thieves, the murderers, the stutterers. He is made greater when He uses us, the weak but willing. Let’s boast in our weaknesses, Sisters. Let’s put these broken jars of clay on display for all to see. Allow Him to use your brokenness to bring others to Him.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
{2 Corinthians 4:7-10 ESV}

I know this was harsh my dear Sisters. I do love you all. So take the mask off and let everyone see the true you. You are beyond beautiful. Just the way He made you.

{I want to add that the above jar is now sitting permanently on my desk as a reminder that my children, my family, my friends are all jars of clay as well. I need to be reminded daily that He alone can provide me with the grace needed to extend to others.}

Blessings!

Have you heard of TOMS shoes? They are not the most attractive looking shoes {though much better than Crocs}. However, their appeal comes from the heart of the TOMS company. For every pair of shoes you buy one pair will be donated to a child in need.

This is not just talk. Go to their facebook page and see photo after photo after photo of children in need sporting their freshly donated TOMS. It is so beautiful.

I want to lay this out there. I am not a shopper. By any means. But knowing that because I’m buying a pair of shoes now a sweet young child will be saved from the diseases that come from walking barefoot, well, I was sold. And we’re already preparing to buy everyone in our family a pair of shoes on their birthdays.

And just so we’re clear. These are the most comfortable shoes! But, in all honesty, even if they weren’t I would still buy them. To even imagine what it must be like to walk miles and miles for water with no shoes, at all, every single day is heartbreaking.

The next time you’re in need of a new pair of shoes, or you just want to serve these sweet young souls, check out the TOMS website. There you will be able to see which stores near you are carrying TOMS. I was told that it’s sometimes best to buy a size smaller than you’d normally wear. I, personally, like wearing socks with mine so I just went with my normal shoe size. They are tight at first but they’re like ballet shoes in that respect. You want them to be a little snug because they will stretch. All you do is toss them in the washer to clean them. How simple is that? So go check them out already! TOMS

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

(Matthew 25:37-40 ESV)

Blessings!