We Must Go Live to Feed the Hungry, Stand Beside the Broken...

God has blessed Devin and myself immensely with jobs that provide more than enough for the two of us, and then some. It is so important to us, as the very small 2 person family that we are, to diligently return His money to Him so that He may do the work He needs to do with it. I have always had a heart for missions, for the struggling, the broken-hearted, the poor, the weak and exhausted, the loveless, the less fortunate, whether the people are next door or across the world. One night at what we believe is going to be our home church, Dr. Jerry Rankin spoke about how Christians are to have and show compassion. He spoke of the Great Commission, that God commands that we make disciples of all nations, and his emphasis was on 1 John 3:17,

"If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions".

I so desire to have and show compassion to His people, and so, as I read Melisa Moore Fitzpatrick's daily accounts on the Living Proof blog of her trip to India with Compassion (God has a funny way of using the same words to speak to us) International to meet her sponsor children, I was drawn with a desire that was so urgent to sponsor twenty children. God has blessed us, but twenty was probably out of our realm of giving, so I toned it down before I talked to Devin. After talking and praying and talking, we signed up to sponsor a child, and TODAY, we found out who our child is.

We have a little girl. She is 5. She loves dolls and playing house. We love her already, and I truly mean that we love her.

Her name is Lisa, and she. is. beautiful. Unfortunately, the Compassion website won't let me download her picture to post here, but as soon as we get one in the mail, I will scan and post it like a proud mother. We are so thrilled and hopeful that God will continue to bless us for years so we can watch her grow up and become the Godly woman she is called to be.

Lisa lives in Bolangir, Orissa in India with her mother and father.


Her mother is unemployed and her father is a laborer. If he gets work, he makes an average of $27 per month. Our donation, monthly, is. more. than. his. salary. on. a. good. month. And the money doesn't do small things- Compassion makes sure that it spreads a long way! The money will give our little girl food and clean water, education, medical care. She will learn life skills, hygiene, trades, and how to care for children. But the sweetest of it all- she will hear the wonderful stories of Jesus Christ. She will hear how much He loves her (something that, most likely, not even her parents tell her), how much He has planned for her, and she will hear it every single day. We are excited to be chosen as the vessel for Jesus to change her life and set her free.

That night at church, when the pastor spoke on the Great Commission, and the requirement that Christians show unconditional compassion, the congregation sang this song that drives me to tears of motivation every single time:

God of Justice, Saviour to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served

Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in everyway
Walking humbly before You God

You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out Lord

Now that I've told you of the need all over the world, and how far your dollar can go...
Now that you know, what will you do?