Can you think of 1,000 things you are thankful for? Try it. I dare you. This is the start of my list...
They are in no particular order (except the first 3, they are my tops).
God (Father, Jesus, Spirit). Mom & Dad. My brothers- Aaron, Noah, Isaiah. Friends. Church. Jesus’ sacrifice. Children. Sunshine. Rainstorms. Love. Joy. Peace. Paint. Dolphins. Reading. Writing. sunsets. Laughter. Grandparents. my bible. Cousins. Wildflowers. Fruit. Being sealed in the Holy Spirit. language. Justice. Smiles. Tea. Oceans. Abby. light. clouds. music. encouragement. mail. Kobby. glasses. singing. running. forgiveness. mountains. hiking. education. clean water. doctors. cameras. hope. Accents. Aunts and Uncles. people. freedom. rights. lungs. birds. trees. journals. pens. literature. dentists. films. tissues. compassion. listening. advice. companionship. fulfillment. memories. sunrises. seasons. heaven. frozen yogurt.
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to
declare. -Psalm 40:5
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
a new little brother in Ghana
God really is sovereign. The way He works amazes me.
My youngest brother has been talking about wanting my parents to have another baby. Now, my parents aren't that old (yet), but with two kids in college, one in high school, and another about to be 7 I can't help but think that the next baby they want is a grandchild. No new baby for Mommy's tummy. So, the little peanut decided that if Mom and Dad won't give him a new baby, then God will! He has been praying and wholeheartedly believing that God would send him a new little brother or sister. My parents (and the rest of my family), have been avoiding breaking the news to him. That is, even though he is praying, even though he is believing God, he just is not going to get a new little guy to build legos with, make forts in the den, or hit with a starwars lightsaber. It just isn't going to happen for Mom and Dad.
My baby brother prays like no other child I know. His prayers are deep, honest, and raw all at the same time. He really believes God hears him when he talks, and I love it. To be honest, I was a little worried when he told me he was praying for a new baby. WHAT!? How could God do that? How was God going to pull this one off? What if he loses faith when no baby comes? What if he decides God isn't real because he didn't get a baby? oh no! God, you gotta come through on this! I don't know what to tell him! I acted like his prayers were no big deal, but secretly I wondered.
Last Thursday morning God woke me up and told me there was a child on Compassion International's website that needed Him and I was to be His tool. If I'm being honest, this scared me really bad. WHAT? Oh God, how will I know which one?! In high school I had heard of Compassion and their mission. I had the attitude that most people have about organizations that help people in poverty: that is great but it's not for me. When I got to Berry it seemed like I couldn't escape them. It felt like everyone was sponsoring some poor child except me. And to be blunt, at times it put a sour taste in my mouth because of the heaping guilt I felt. At the same time, there were many days that I wanted to but felt I couldn't. There have been times that I would flip through the thousands of pictures of precious babies that needed help and weep because I felt trapped. I wanted to help them, but I didn't want to become a holier than thou person. So when God told me it was time, I was basically freaking out.
My first problem was how in the world do I pick one out of thousands. I flipped through some pages and different stuff on their website. This same little boy came up over and over again...I decided he was the one, but still felt unsure. In the past, when I have come close to sponsoring I would pray about it then I would forget. So, I prayed that if it was really God's will He would not let me forget. I went away from the computer for several hours and I could not stop thinking about this little boy. So, I did it. I signed up to be his sponsor.
Afterwords, my brother came in being his happy little self and it hit me...this was God answering his prayers. WHOA! I was convicted for my unbelief. Who could have imagined that God would answer my brother's prayers through a child living in poverty in Ghana, Africa? Only God Almighty Himself could pull something like that off.
It also made me realize that His answers are not always what we expect. They will probably never play legos, build forts out of couch cushions, or fight with lightsabers. But, they can be brothers. He can pray for his little brother, color him pictures, and love him from the other side of the world. God hears all of your prayers. He knows the desires of your heart. And He can do the impossible. All He asks, is that you believe. Isaiah believed God, and God has blessed him for it.
I haven't told Isaiah about his new little brother yet. His birthday is in a few weeks and I plan to tell him then.
His name is Emmanuel Kobbah (or Kobby as CI calls him), he is 5 years old today, and I am madly in love with him.
My youngest brother has been talking about wanting my parents to have another baby. Now, my parents aren't that old (yet), but with two kids in college, one in high school, and another about to be 7 I can't help but think that the next baby they want is a grandchild. No new baby for Mommy's tummy. So, the little peanut decided that if Mom and Dad won't give him a new baby, then God will! He has been praying and wholeheartedly believing that God would send him a new little brother or sister. My parents (and the rest of my family), have been avoiding breaking the news to him. That is, even though he is praying, even though he is believing God, he just is not going to get a new little guy to build legos with, make forts in the den, or hit with a starwars lightsaber. It just isn't going to happen for Mom and Dad.
My baby brother prays like no other child I know. His prayers are deep, honest, and raw all at the same time. He really believes God hears him when he talks, and I love it. To be honest, I was a little worried when he told me he was praying for a new baby. WHAT!? How could God do that? How was God going to pull this one off? What if he loses faith when no baby comes? What if he decides God isn't real because he didn't get a baby? oh no! God, you gotta come through on this! I don't know what to tell him! I acted like his prayers were no big deal, but secretly I wondered.
Last Thursday morning God woke me up and told me there was a child on Compassion International's website that needed Him and I was to be His tool. If I'm being honest, this scared me really bad. WHAT? Oh God, how will I know which one?! In high school I had heard of Compassion and their mission. I had the attitude that most people have about organizations that help people in poverty: that is great but it's not for me. When I got to Berry it seemed like I couldn't escape them. It felt like everyone was sponsoring some poor child except me. And to be blunt, at times it put a sour taste in my mouth because of the heaping guilt I felt. At the same time, there were many days that I wanted to but felt I couldn't. There have been times that I would flip through the thousands of pictures of precious babies that needed help and weep because I felt trapped. I wanted to help them, but I didn't want to become a holier than thou person. So when God told me it was time, I was basically freaking out.
My first problem was how in the world do I pick one out of thousands. I flipped through some pages and different stuff on their website. This same little boy came up over and over again...I decided he was the one, but still felt unsure. In the past, when I have come close to sponsoring I would pray about it then I would forget. So, I prayed that if it was really God's will He would not let me forget. I went away from the computer for several hours and I could not stop thinking about this little boy. So, I did it. I signed up to be his sponsor.
Afterwords, my brother came in being his happy little self and it hit me...this was God answering his prayers. WHOA! I was convicted for my unbelief. Who could have imagined that God would answer my brother's prayers through a child living in poverty in Ghana, Africa? Only God Almighty Himself could pull something like that off.
It also made me realize that His answers are not always what we expect. They will probably never play legos, build forts out of couch cushions, or fight with lightsabers. But, they can be brothers. He can pray for his little brother, color him pictures, and love him from the other side of the world. God hears all of your prayers. He knows the desires of your heart. And He can do the impossible. All He asks, is that you believe. Isaiah believed God, and God has blessed him for it.
I haven't told Isaiah about his new little brother yet. His birthday is in a few weeks and I plan to tell him then.
His name is Emmanuel Kobbah (or Kobby as CI calls him), he is 5 years old today, and I am madly in love with him.
Friday, July 1, 2011
thankful.
Today, I am thankful for...
the people in my life...
the air in my lungs...
the food in my tummy...
and the courage to face tomorrow.
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom.
Psalm 145:3
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom.
Psalm 145:3
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