Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Being The Light For A Desperate Child

I have been talking about being filled with The Light, and being The Light this week. But have you ever wondered how far we are supposed to let our lights shine?

Several years ago, Proverbs 31 formed a partnership with Compassion International, and joined them in their efforts to help children in other countries receive the physical, emotional and spiritual support that they needed. The ultimate goal is to help Compassion release children from poverty, in Jesus's name. Not only to provide food and clothing, but to provide Jesus.

This partnership really came about because of Lysa Terkeurst's huge leap of faith to adopt her two sons from a Liberian orphanage. Through that life changing experience, and her eyes were opened to the hopelessness of children in other countries, and her heart was changed forever. She was filled with an unquenchable desire to help these children - and her passion soon became contagious to all of us at Proverbs 31 Ministries.

In August 2007, I had an opportunity of a life time to travel to Ecuador to visit some of the Compassion churches (you can view my pictures from this trip on my Facebook photos page) , and we visited several families that Compassion was working with in near villages. I also got to wrap my arms around my sponsored childs neck, and there are no words to really describe that feeling.

The trip was was heartbreaking, tear-wrenching, and soul changing, but it was also uplifting to meet the families that trusted God, in the midst of their poverty and desperation. So ever since then, my heart has been full of passion for these needy children and their families, and a desire to help them learn about The Light.

A couple weeks ago Lysa shared some exciting news with us, that her sons were asked to be back up singers at the Matthew West concert here in Charlotte, NC, for a new song he was singing called "One Less" about child poverty. I wanted to go to the concert but unfortunately we had a conflict! I was so bummed.

But today on her blog, Lysa has a picture of her son Mark and his friend on stage with Matthew West, and some links to download the song off of Itunes which is being released today! How cool is that! So hop over to her blog today, be blessed by her post, and download the song. It will Lighten and brighten up your day. :)

Earlier this week on my Facebook page, I posted two sweet little faces of children in Nicaragua who are desperately praying for a family to sponsor them, for only $38.00 per month.

We often think about sharing Gods light with the people in our lives. In fact, most Christians do have a real desire to have Christ shine through them, and to shed that Light onto others. But He also calls us to love the least of these - and sometimes the least of these are not in our neighborhood, or even our own country.

Sometimes, God places it on our hearts to share the Light with people who we may never see in person, may never talk to on the phone, or may never visit their home. To share the Light with people in other countries - where there may be very little Light to be found anywhere.

Will you pray about sponsoring a child through Compassion today? I would love to talk with you personally if you have any questions or are considering taking this leap of faith.If you have questions about Compassion, financial obligations, spiritual requirements for the kids and their families, how much money goes to the child vs administrative costs, the differences between Compassion and other child sponsorship programs, etc. - I have the answers you need!

Today, I have 20 packets sitting on my kitchen table, of children who fall into the category of "the least of these". Children who would love to have a new family, to love on them, pray for them, share letters with, and support them from afar.

So if you are interested in learning more, have a question, or want to hear details about one of the kids I am referring to, send me an email at tracie@traciewmiles.com with your phone number and I'll give you a call! And if you pray and decide to sponsor a certain child, I'll send you the packet in the mail right to your home!

Have a blessed, bright, Light filled and Light sharing Thursday!

Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (NIV)

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2 comments:

Unknown said...

It is such an honor to sponsor a child and know that you are making a difference in someone else's life for so little a month. We sponsor a little boy in Guatemala (where our first son is adopted from) through another organization and it is such a blessing!

Michelle ~ Blogging from the Boonies said...

I am so thrilled to see all of the Compassion posts coming up on my Google Alerts! Thank you for partnering with Compassion and spreading the word. Feel free to check out my Compassion inspired blog sometime! http://meeshimama.blogspot.com