I Was Just Thinking...........

Compassion International has put together a live concert, with proceeds going directly to Haiti. Compassion is a wonderful organization that releases children from poverty in Jesus’ name through child sponsorship.

There will be two benefit concerts held on February 27, at 7:30 cst, going on simultaneously, with a host of great artists! One in Nashville and the other in L.A.. And for those of us who don’t live in either of those cities we can watch it live via livestreaming.

For more information about this wonderful event and the long list of stars performing, click on the graphic below.

And please be in prayer for this event. Pray for those who have poured their heart into making this event possible, and for the artists who are willing to do this for free. And especially be in prayer that this event will bring forth an outpouring of money that we’ve been so richly blessed with, and can now bless Haiti with.

Hope to see ya online that night!

I love Christmas. I love putting up the Christmas tree(s), decorating the house, listening to Christmas music. We drive around the neighborhood looking at the houses adorned with lights and yard decorations. The kids and I get in the kitchen and make special candies and cookies. I even enjoy shopping and getting gifts for people. We get together with family and share stories, food and gifts. And yet I know, not one of these things has anything to do with Christmas.

Christmas is the date we use to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Somehow, man has taken something beautiful and simple, and complicated it. For many it has turned into a time of stress, not peace. And what I’ve been reminded of this year, is just not the date in which Christ was born, but why.

I’m a sinner. I was separated from God. The fellowship had been broken, but this is not what God wanted. He wanted fellowship with me and every person who walked or will walk this earth. And because of His great love for us, and His desire for the separation to be restored, he sent us a Savior, Jesus. And Jesus came to restore our broken souls. Regardless of what we’ve done, he takes us as we are, and restores the fellowship that he so desires of us, and that we so desperately need. And to say that he’s a “gift” to us, seems to me to trivialize what God really did for us. Again we seem to want to put marketing terms to something that can’t be marketed….because it’s free.

I don’t think there is anything evil in a tree, decorations or exchanging gifts. I just think it’s important that we understand why Christmas ever came into being.

…. and that my friend is not just a gift, it’s EVERYTHING to me.

This is one of my favorite paintings, “Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh. I’m currently reading a book entitled, The Divine Commodity by Skye Jethani. Skye talks about van Gogh’s love and devotion to Christ and that he was even a missionary at one time. He became very disillusioned with the institutional church at that time though and left it, and chose to hang out with peasants and prostitutes.

Van Gogh said, “When I have a terrible need of - shall I say the word - religion, then I go out and paint the stars.” His painting “Starry Night” depicts God in the deep indigos of the sky, and yellow is used for the heavenly bodies. A color he used for sacred love. The warmth of the yellows are also repeated in the village with homes illuminating. Yet you can see the church is dark. His judgment of the institutional church. No divine presence, light or love.

This was van Gogh’s take on the institutional church of the late 1800’s. I wonder what he would think today? Moreover, I wonder what God thinks? And I’m not about to presume what God thinks. But, there is such a huge difference between the Church (even though they faced problems too) we see in the New Testament and the present day institutional church despite how the times and technology has changed.

In general I wonder who, what or where is the focus of the Church? And who or what is it emulating? Is there so much clouding our vision that we miss the “stars"?

And then I ask, where should our focus be and who should we emulate?

The Original Artist, and His wonderful use of illuminating yellow.

1God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
3Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
5God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
7The LORD of hostsis with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

Psalm 46:1-7

We just received a letter from Kenia, the child we sponsor through Compassion International. She is a beautiful little eight year old girl from El Salvador. She begins the letter with sending us a huge hug from her. She continues the letter by thanking us for being her friend. The letter also tells of what she has been doing and that she’s looking forward to a vacation, and also asks how we are doing. She ends the letter by asking us to pray for her and then sends us kisses and hugs and hopes with all her heart God blesses us.

This little girl is real. She shares the same interests as my two kids. In so many ways kids are the same, except for their environments. I know though that in spite of where Kenia lives, God loves her. I know through Compassion International, Kenia is finding that out too. I know that my $38 a month provides her with food, water and clothing. But what’s more important, is that she is learning about God, and Jesus who gave his life, so that we all may live. She is discovering there is hope in a desperate place. And we are so happy to be a part of that.

Kenia is much more than a check we write each month. We have a relationship with her. We think of her as part of our family, and we pray for her daily. My kids draw pictures for her and we send photos with our letters. Our hope is to one day see her face to face and give her real hugs and kisses!

Have you sponsored a child yet? You too can begin a beautiful relationship with a precious soul that will last through eternity. Just click here and you can start it today!