That's my boy!

 

I'm so happy for, and proud of this wonderful young man!  Like me, he's been 'raised from the dust' and seated with the princes of His people - the Body of Christ.  Evan has also been raised from the dust of poverty and given the opportunity to learn, grow, and mature in Christ through the ministry of Compassion Canada.  I have the privilege to correspond with Evan on behalf of his financial sponsor and what a wonderful time I have had getting to know this terrific young man!  What an AMAZING blessing - being part of what God is doing in this young life, being able to speak into his life to encourage and edify, and knowing that we will worship the Lord forever, together!

From the proceeds of my little Tea Business - Compassionate ChariTea, I was able to send Evan a little extra to help out the family - what did he do with it?  He got a goat and was able to start a pineapple planting endeavor!  How cool is that?!!  Wouldn't you like to join in with what God is doing in rescuing precious children and young people from poverty and bringing them to the knowledge of Christ, and to opportunities for growth, health, and development that they otherwise would never have?  Find a needy child to help and begin your ministry adventure today!

"Raised from the Dust" for what Purpose?

“Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

— extra stanza —

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.

My Tea Website will support Compassion and Pastor's Discipleship Network

Just spreading the word that I have finally got my "Compassionate ChariTea" website up and running. All proceeds from tea sales will go to relieve poverty, equip pastors and disciple the nations. Thanks for checking it out. Blessings,

Pastor's Discipleship Network - Equipping Shepherds for God's Glory

Pastor's Discipleship Network (PDN) began as a dream in the heart of Richmond Wandera - a Compassion Leadership Development Program graduate. Richmond was 'raised from the dust' to lead this work, to encourage men and women who have a heart to disciple and pastor their people, but who have little or no theological training, little or no discipleship or mentoring, and few other resources at hand.

Now, resources such as study Bibles, Commentaries and other print resources, equipping conferences, and even bicycles are being made available to our brothers in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi.

Next week, from July 14th to the 16th, 2011, the Rooted in the Word pastor's confernce takes place in Kampala, Uganda. There is still much need for sponsorship of pastors in order to get them to the conference from their homes. Could you help with that? Just a little makes it possible for a man like Michael - a rural, untrained pastor - get some solid training and encouragment to equip him for the ministry God has called him to. Here his story here:


Can you sponsor a pastor for this conference? Can you donate a study Bible or other resource? Check out the PDN website and this short video for more information. In His service, for His glory.

This is my day - Mother's Day

Years ago, the Lord blessed me with an amazing daughter ! We have enjoyed, cherished, treasured and savoured her growing-up years, and now revel in the joys of seeing her as an adult - perhaps one day there will be grandchildren! God surely does shower us with good gifts - Sheila is one of His best☺.

But my mother's heart was not used up - since it flows from the never ending Source of the love of our Father God, and I longed and prayed for more 'children' - the ones I was not able to have myself, but nevertheless had room for in my heart - Psalm 113 was a gift to me from my Father with regard to this.

For mother's day, I have written a poem that speaks of the mother's heart that God has given me for several Compassion children - some sponsored, some as correspondence kids, but all, children of my heart, of my prayers, and in faith I'm believing they'll be found in Jesus Christ and with me for all eternity. So this is for Sheila , for a number of young adults the Lord has brought into our lives to bless us, and for Eduardo in Honduras, Hayat in Ethiopia, and my Ugandan family: Sarah, Praise, Evan, Timothy, Derrick (and Sheila's Unith). What an unspeakable joy and blessing to bring children into our family through Compassion - really, through the Heart of Compassion - Jesus Christ our Lord!


Mother's Heart

Though grown, I'm still a child inside -
God's child; But now in me resides
A mother's heart, from Father wrought,
Forged with His love, by Spirit taught.

He gave me one, by nature born;
My heart, left wanting more, was torn
'Twixt joy, contentment, longing fashioned
A mother's heart, by Father's compassion

Through faithful years He'd lead and guide
His love the never-ending Tide.
Praise to His Name, right from the start
He'd planned to fill this mother's heart.

Praise Him, O servants, raised from dust
From east to west His glory must
Rise over heavens; He sits enthroned -
Yet stoops to mother's heart at home!

So cherished! the one has multiplied -
Mother's heart now joyful cries:
The LORD has brought them from the nations,
Knit in Christ, the generations.

For many years the prayers ascended
That each might know Him, love, repent
And live for Jesus Christ alone -
Bountiful crop from seeds well-sown.

When the race's run, and fought the fight
And Son dispels the darkest night,
That child once near or far away
Meets mother's heart upon that Day!

Praise Him! You children from the 'heap'
Of ash are lifted, no more weep!
Praise Him! My children, our King is crowned,
And mother's heart in Christ is found!

How Can I Give?

I admit, this week has been a happy week for me so far.  Joyous and unexpected things have been happening, and the Lord is just so at work in every aspect.  So perhaps my my answer to this great question will be affected in a way that makes it sounds simpler than it is, but really, the answer is simple. 

God is sovereign.

Really, that's it.  It is so easy to look at the poor and hurting and oppressed, and to pass by like the Levite, with pretty excuses.  Of course, sometimes the excuses seem legitimate, even to ourselves, as we look at our funds and our abilities, and shake our heads once again.

For several weeks, I had felt it in my heart.  I knew I was supposed to do it.  I kept looking at my bank account and rejecting the Lord's leading, because to me it didn't seem possible.  Yet He is sovereign.  Finally I listened.  I didn't have 41 dollars always coming in each month.  Still He nudged me, and reminded me of His sovereignty, and His ability to provide above and beyond what we ask or imagine.

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever, Amen."  - Eph. 3:20-21

And so I sponsored Unith.  She lives in Uganda, and she just turned 19 last week.  For several days I questioned the wisdom in the decision, but had to keep coming back to the promises of the Lord.  He is sovereign.

Honestly, it's been incredible.  First He provided 2 flute cover orders to pay for the first month.  Then He provided two piano students, starting next month.  Now He has provided my first paying doula client.  I was shocked, until I realized I shouldn't be.  God is sovereign.

I don't share this story to guilt anyone into doing anything, I just want to remind you of this all-important, often-forgotten TRUTH!

God bless,
Sheila

Spending and Being Spent

In my last post, I mentioned the idea of a "wartime mentality" (that was used to great effect in John Piper's "Don't Waste Your Life" and "Desiring God"). I want to explore that idea a bit more for my own benefit - so that I can be thinking and acting in a right - godly - way about money: how I think about it and how I manage it. Since, as a Christian, and stranger in this world, I find myself in the midst of warfare - the Kingdom of Heaven being taken by force - it seems reasonable to my mind, that a wartime mentality should be part and parcel of who I am, the choices I make, the measures I take, to free up the resources God has given me for the futherance of His Kingdom.

When this thinking comes to bear on our finances, many - even in the Church - squirm. Jesus had much to say on the subject: don't worry about it, don't store it up in barns, you can't love it and God at the same time, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and more.

For me, this thinking is (too) slowly transforming my own mindset on all kinds of personal fiscal policies: how much clothing do I need, and does it always need to be new?, can we spend less on groceries, eat better and be healthier, and actually enjoy our food more? (the answer has been a resounding Yes!), can I make do with the old (insert household item) until it actually dies, and even more, do without when it does? do possessions or new things make me happy? (No!), could we get by just fine with a home that is more than half smaller (and therefore less expensive to buy, upkeep, maintain) that what we have now? (I believe, Yes!), do I need any luxuries beyond hearth and home, food and clothing? and a host of other angles, aspects and questions! Here's the thing: Am I storing up treasures on earth, or in heaven? Does my fiscal behaviour honour Jesus, or fly in the face of His clear teaching in Scripture? Is the Church in the west today sitting on the sidelines of the war (not to mention her 'household gods'), enjoying the spoils of economic success when she should be in the thick of the battle, not caring if her coat is tattered and soiled so long as the battle is won?!

Again, I leave you with Dr. John Piper's musings on the subject, from pgs. 199-200 of "Desiring God":

The mention of "war" is not merely rhetorical. What is specifically called for today is a "wartime lifestyle." I used the phrase "simple necessities of life" earlier in this chapter because Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:8, "If we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." But this idea of simplicity can be very misleading. I mean it to refer to a style of life that is unencumbered with nonessentials - and the criterion for "essential" should not be primitive "simplicity", but wartime effectiveness.

Ralph Winter illustrates this idea of a wartime lifestyle:
'The Queen Mary, lying in repose in the harbor at Long Beach, California, is a fascinating museum of the past. Used both as a luxury liner in peacetime and a troop transport during the Second World War, it's present status as a museum the length of three football fields affords a stunning contrast between the lifestyles appropriate in peace and war. On one side of a partition you see the dining room reconstructed to depict the peacetime table setting that was appropriate to the wealthy patrons of high culture for whom a dazzling array of knives and forks and spoons held no mysteries. On the other side of the partition the evidences of wartime austerities are in sharp contrast. One metal tray with indentations replaces fifteen plates and saucers. Bunks, not just double but eight tiers high, explain why the peace-time complement of 3000 gave way to 15,000 on board in wartime. How repugnant to the peacetime masters this transformation must have been! To do it took a national emergency, of course. The survival of a nation depended on it. The essence of the Great Commission today is that the survival of many millions of people depends on its fulfillment. [emphasis mine]

There is a war going on. All talk of a Christian's right to live luxuriantly "as a child of the King" in this atmosphere sounds hollow - especially since the King Himself is stripped for battle [emphasis mine]. It is more helpful to think of a wartime lifestyle than a merely simple lifestyle. Simplicity can be very inwardly directed and may benefit no one else. A wartime lifestyle implies that there is a great and worthy cause for which to spend and be spent (2 Corinthians 12:15).

2 Cor. 12:15 - Paul, writing to the Church in Corinth: "I would gladly spend and be spent for your souls." Now that is 'coin' well spent.