The Dangerous Prayer

 
^{Break My Heart for What Breaks Yours.}

 
 The Dangerous Prayer I was talking about. I started praying this about 7 years ago. And now, see?
My heart that is broken. And I can't NOT open my mouth for the voiceless.

I constantly long to walk from earth into eternity, for here I have no continuing city, but I seek the one to come. But first: A generation rising up to take their place. A revival stirring. The King of Glory.




²⁵ “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. ²⁶ And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. ²⁷ And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.
(Ezekiel 36)

 

I see the King of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes

I see His love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing

Hosanna hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

Praise God for what He has done.
Worship Him for what is doing.




*where's your treasure?*

~Joce

1 Year

1 Year Ago Today

 

 

Traffic

Excerpts from Francis Chan: Making Disciples Is Solution to Human Trafficking by Jeff Schapiro,
on human trafficking:
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Francis Chan, bestselling author of Crazy Love and founding pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, Calif., says Christians can't take the issue of human trafficking lightly, and throwing a few dollars at the problem won't solve it.
"We talk about human trafficking. The solution to human trafficking is making disciples,” Chan told tens of thousands of college students at the Passion 2012 conference this week. “That's a solution. It's changing people's hearts, because some of the people that you go to school with, some of them will be the victims of human trafficking and some of them will be the culprits of it."
Chan was visibly emotional about the problem when he first began speaking, and he encouraged students to do more than just give money to fight human trafficking."I don't even like calling it 'human trafficking,' I like calling it 'little kids are being raped repeatedly right now, and that should break our hearts,’” he said.
People can't be casual about it, he added, and they must be “completely undignified” in their actions in order to really make a difference.
********************************

I read on another site that there are 100,000- 300,000 child sex slaves in the US right now.
Portland OR is like the capitol of this twisted empire. (Red Light Ministry, OR)

From another quick read of a site, it looks like Mexico is also a hot spot for international sex slave buying and selling.

Need more facts? read Crimes in your Own Backyard


You can make a difference:
P.A.T.H. Coalition People Against Trafficking Humans of Western New York

They have a meeting November 14, 2013. Like, you can go. You can find out what you can do to free a child from hell on earth.

****
Our next P.A.T.H. Coalition meeting will be held on Thursday, November 14th at 7pm. Open to all!

Resurrection Life Church
2145 Old Union Road
Cheektowaga, NY 14227
****

Search 'human trafficking ministry' to find a link to an organization in your area where you can be educated, learn how to speak out, and help end the nightmare for kids and teens who cannot escape their chains without your help.

*where's your treasure?*
~Joce

Balancing act

It's hard to find balance. That's true in so many areas of life. But especially when it comes to facing the truth about the voiceless millions. Whether you are talking refugees, orphans, the poor in America, the persecuted church in Asia or the Middle East, the untouchables in India with no hope, the children sold into slavery, human trafficking, the dead children and wounded women who are victims of the abortion industry....the tendency seems to be either to be consumed by it, or just ignore it.
But what should we do? How should we respond?
Well, luckily for you, a few people smarter than me have spoken on this topic before!

" Most of us care deeply about the needs around us – poverty, injustice, everyday concerns of those in our families and in our offices and in our neighborhoods. But faced with the challenges of getting food on the table and children to and from activities and keeping up with our jobs etc, we feel more than a little overwhelmed. Who has the time or the energy to start another nonprofit or to participate in yet another celebrity-help-the-world-athon? We conclude we have to do something BIG to make a difference. Not true. We don’t have to do something BIG to make a difference. In a Bible story where Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus with a beautiful gift of perfume before his death, Jesus applauds her action saying, “She did what she could.” We can make a difference every day by simply doing what we could in the given moment before us."
~Elisa Morgan

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

Theodore Roosevelt

 

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
― Mother Teresa

“At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done.
We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.”
― Mother Teresa

The way I see it you have three choices:

 

1. Look at picture of starving children all day, walk around with a cloud of doom over your head.

2. Look at catalogs of things to buy all day, walk around in a consumer's haze of false happiness.

3 Look at the world for what it really is every day. Know the needs, do what you can to meet them, and share the joy with everyone you meet.

 

 

 

New Horizons update:

 

Ninety children remain. Some are sibling groups. With only 59 families we can host them ALL!! Ninety children who will be LEFT BEHIND if they aren't chosen SOON!

Ninety children who NEED to come.
Ninety children who NEED to be loved.
Ninety children who NEED to see Jesus....

Ninety children who NEED to be accepted.
Ninety children who NEED to be blessed.
Ninety children who NEED to be covered in prayer.
Ninety children who NEED to be well fed and clothed.
Ninety children who NEED to be safe.
Ninety children who NEED to be chosen.
Ninety children who NEED to be a part of a loving, functional family,

 

 

Why do I love New Horizons so much? I mean, really, there are other people in greater need, right?

I love New Horizons because it ministers to orphans and changes the host family forever. The orphans are cared for and loved on and shown Christ's love. The host family flexes it's faith muscles and gets first hand experience in loving and ministering, thinking of others, focusing on a goal of pouring into someone's life to make an eternal difference- all without leaving the country. After you host, you know more about God's faithfulness, provision, grace, hope, love, goodness, mercy...the list goes on and on. I really believe the Holy Spirit is like gas for your car: If you never take your faith out of the garage, you pretty much exist on fumes. You never know what its like to get your tank topped off. Hosting is like a drive around the block. It seems really big if you've never backed out of the garage before, but it gives you a glimpse of what your ride can really do. And that is life changing.

 

Hosting is also like having kids- there is never a perfect time. There is never a time in your life when you'll have an extra $2950.00 in change lying around, an extra bedroom, an open schedule, a perfect marriage, and bomb-proof children who couldn't possibly be impacted by having a kid from outside your bubble in their lives 24 hours a day for 4 weeks.

 

It's not everyone's turn to host this year, but it might be your turn. All I would ask is that you pray about it. "God, here is a need of which I have been made aware. Lead me where you want me to go with this. Give me the faith to hear your voice if you happen to say that you want me to do this."

 

 

 

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”
― Mother Teresa

 

"where's your treasure?"

 

~Joce

 

 

God has a good plan

This is my Father's world. 
O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet. 

This is my Father's world: 
why should my heart be sad? 
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! 
God reigns; let the earth be glad!
This is my Father’s world:
the battle is not done:
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.

Resting.

Peace.
~Joce

Today is the last day to contact New Horizons to let them know you would like to host.

Troubling

Being the voice of the voiceless gets discouraging. You figure, if you say something weighty, folks will have a proportionately weighty response.
When confronted with need, the rich* will respond with compassion.
Not so much true.
Folks are mostly unhappy and unwilling to hear it, and I think they would like me to please hush.
At first, this voiceless stuff is appalling, and then convicting, and then annoying.
I get it, there's nothing you can do about it.

Christian Egyptian teen, killed by extremists

I was going to post a pic of an aborted baby, I can't stomach it today.

Starvation and it's antithesis

So. Whatever. Nothing new, I guess.

Luke 16:

Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

¹⁹ Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. ²⁰ At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. ²¹ As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.

²² “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham.^[a] The rich man also died and was buried, ²³ and his soul went to the place of the dead.^[b] There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.
²⁴ “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
²⁵ “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. ²⁶ And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’
²⁷ “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. ²⁸ For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’
²⁹ “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
³⁰ “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’
³¹ “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’”

 Please, go buy a pumpkin latte and forget about all this.

*where's your treasure?*
~Joce

*(..." let’s put something in perspective: according to Poke London, a family of five living just above the poverty line in the US is actually “the one percent” compared to the rest of the world.")

Taking turns

Your turn.

Please share one or more of the following:

How is God working in you?
Calling you to be a voice?
Calling you to listen?
Prompting you to be the solution?

Do you have a heart for a voiceless group that you would like to share here?

Do you have a story of how God has worked in the lives of the voiceless or the life of someone who listened?

Proverbs 31:
8 Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

*where's your treasure?*
~Joce

Those lost in darkness-

Can you hear them? No? Then I guess they're voiceless.

Jesus said in Luke 24 that we should preach repentance and remission of sins.

If you would like to light up the dark for your friends and neighbors, please host a Billy Graham "My Hope" movie party at your house this fall. If more people in American had Jesus in their hearts, there would be a lot less hurt in the world, and a lot more people taking care of whatever hurt there was.

http://myhopewithbillygraham.org/




Get the DVD, order some pizza and wings, and invite someone to your house.

*Where's your treasure?*
~Blessings,
Joce

Breaking Chains

I keep thinking about Davion, who had the chance to speak to a church family about his need for a family. I am SO happy that he was given a VOICE. And that God's people HEARD. I am pretty sure from the updates I've seen that he is going to get a family. PRAISE THE GOD WHO SETS THE LONELY IN FAMILIES.

But, what about the rest of the kids in foster care in the US with stories just as heart-breaking as Davion's?

They DO NOT have voice. They DO NOT have the chance to stand up in your church this weekend.
But they need a family just as much as Davion.

Before I heard about New Horizons and saw Anastasija's sweet face, I used to scroll the kids in Children Awaiting Parents. I would see the ads in the Pennysaver and go to their site and just scroll and pray that God would point me to the right kid. My kid wasn't listed there, she was in Latvia, but my heart was with those kids. Foster kids need a home with a heart- the heart of Christ. And a forever home would fulfill their deepest dream.

Anastasija still doesn't get it. She can't fathom the fact that we are her forever family. That our parents are really really her grandparents. That my brother and sister are her forever aunt and uncle. They are not just another set of people that will soon be in the past, forgotten. They are HERS. She laughs when I say that her babies will be my grandbabies. She can't really get that all the way into her heart and head. I can't wait for the day when she starts to care about and remember her relationship to and the personalities of her aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. because that will be the day when the foreverness of her family has started to sink in and take root.

You have the power to teach the foreverness of family to a child.

Hear the call of the voiceless child.

Hebrews 13:

13 Let brotherly love continue. ² Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. ³ Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.

 

⁴ Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
⁵ Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”^{[a] 6} So we may boldly say:

“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”

 

I know it is fear that holds you back- not enough energy, not enough money, not enough time, concern for the children you already have....The LORD is your helper- be bold. Entertain a stanger, remember those in chains, those who are mistreated...

 

¹⁶ But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

 

*Where's your treasure?*

 

~Joce

Tiny people

Syria Snipers Target Unborn Children

No voice.

I just think: Starving Syria's children, and shooting them in utero- it's terrible.
The refugees. Send help!
Samaritan's Purse is there, working.

But I can't help it, when I see these pictures:
100 Pictures

And this is America. And it's celebrated as liberation.
So I'm sad. And I will always give voice to these voiceless.

Okay, my own sweet babies are needing their mama.

*Where's your treasure?*

~Joce

I wear Peace

I read Kisses from Katie (if you are going to buy something from amazon.com, please click the link on my blog so a percentage of your money will go to New Horizons) a while ago. The stories she wrote about the children and people of all ages she has met are amazing. Amazingly horrendous at the beginning, and amazingly grace-filled at the end. God is so good.

I think of the Masese people, people misplaced from their lands where they were cattle herdsmen, to living on a dump, with no way to support themselves. The women without husbands and their children suffer the most- having to resort to making moonshine or prostitution just to be able to avoid death by starvation. That is why I love wearing my necklace from Amazima!

from the Amazima website:

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When you buy from Amazima, you employ a Ugandan woman, feed a hungry child, and receive a beautiful piece of jewelry to show your solidarity with Uganda wherever you go. 

Each piece of jewelry is made by a hard-working woman in Amazima's vocational program.  We know these women and their stories, and we love them deeply. 

The women in our vocational program are paid a fair wage and given financial training by Amazima's social worker.  Each woman shows proof of deposit to ensure she is saving some of the money she earns for her future. 

All pieces are handcrafted from start to finish.  Watch this video to see how the magazine bead jewelry is made. 

All proceeds from Amazima's jewelry sales are applied toward the feeding of over 1,200 children Monday through Friday in the slum community of Masese.  The women in Amazima's vocational program are proud that their dedication and work ethic helps feed hungry children in their neighborhood. 

All women in Amazima's jewelry vocational program receive spiritual discipleship.  Katie personally meets with the women each week for prayer and Bible study.

****************

See how that works?
I wear Peace and Joy. And give hope. Pretty wonderful, huh?

Don't you think you should buy one for all your favorite ladies?

The book.  (Remember to go through the link on my blog to make sure some of your money goes to New Horizons)

The blog.

The store.

There are many more stories of people with no voice. Get the book, read the blog, find out for yourself. The best part of reading these stories is that although the stories told by Katie of the people of Uganda may start out immeasurably sad and hopeless and with what appears to be irrevocable silence, by the end, because someone obeys God, there is joy, and hope, and they find their voice.
Praise the Lord!

XO
Joce

Orphan Sunday

Davion Only wants a family- read it here.

God calls His adopted children to care for orphans and widows in their distress. Want to hear some of the good news coming from Davion asking God's people directly? Read this from Focus on the Family.

There are kids just like Davion within ten minutes of where you sit. They don't have the opportunity to walk into your church to ask you to your face, but the question is still there.

What's your answer? Examine your heart's response.

Let me know, I'll help you start the paperwork.

XO

A Radical Reminder

from Renee Robinson's blog, author of Seeking Christmas

Radical is Pretty Uncomfortable
click that.

Voiceless

As I have focused on giving voice to the voiceless, I have come to realize that voicelessness is not the problem. I realize that it is not voicelessness against which I struggle. I do not need to speak out against voicelessness. The problem with which I struggle; that which I am striving to change and overcome; that which I must speak out against is deafness.


Luke 8:8
⁸ But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (NKJV)






Other seed fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop.
“Are you listening to this? Really listening?”(MSG)

Maybe I should change my theme to 31 Days of Shouting to Deaf People. Or 31 Days of Deafness Awareness. Giving voice to the voiceless is pointless if no one is listening. Or, if they listen, but they walk away and forget what they've heard.


^{James 1:22} But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.


Go be blessed!

XO
Joce

I Can Love

You can, too. Just open your heart, your hands, your home, your mouth. Whichever God's love motivates you to do.

 

XO Joce

Open heart children

When I think about it, one of the most impactful jobs I have is as a mother to my children.
I can open my mouth on my blog and pray that it hits people in the heart and that followers of Christ follow Him more passionately and that people who don't know Jesus yet will come to know and trust Him.
But with my kids? I have the opportunity to create a legacy that outlives me.
If I pour into my kids the love of Christ, they can share it.
If I don't just blog about it, but actually host an orphan, they learn something I can't teach you.
If I ask for a gift from Gospel for Asia for Christmas, they get to give a gift that means something.
They will learn to choose gifts from GFA and Samaritan's Purse and hopefully see the emptiness of Macy's glitz and Sears' WishBook greed.
If I play "Saint Nicholas" VeggieTales movie every year, and take them shopping to fill their shoe boxes for kids the same age and gender as themselves, their memories of Christmas won't be about their lists of what they want, but about lists of what they are going to buy for others.
If I focus on teaching my kids the TRUE true meaning of Christmas, and if Santa is not the guy who brings them stuff, but is the guy who inspires them to GIVE. Oh! Just think of what that might mean. Just think of how far this could go! It places our focus on Christ and family, right where it should be.

This year we'll be using this resource to focus our hearts, every day, during Advent. You can use it too!

Advent for Orphans Calendar

 

 

Let's teach kids about giving! Let's teach kids to open their hearts to others! Let's teach kids to open their mouths for the poor, orphaned, widowed, needy!

 

(Go TEAM!) ?

 

Forgive the amount of CAPS and ! I'm really excited. I hope you are, too.

 

XO

Joce

Unofficial Guest Blogger

God is amazing. He coordinates our lives so intricately and we never know where our influence on others and on this world begins or ends.

Le Ann probably doesn't know where her burden for opening her heart and her mouth for orphans specifically began or where it will end. But one result is me. My heart for orphans was prepped by God (and L.M. Montgomery) and unlocked by Le Ann's ministry of New Horizons for Children.

I prayed hard this morning about blogging and hosting and lo and behold- this is the first email in my inbox today:
**************************

"Dear Friends and Families of New Horizons for Children,

The clock is ticking quickly. Blink and a child loses hope and so much more.
Please see the link below for the file of Children to Pray For!  Deadlines are quickly approaching! Asian deadline is  MONDAY OCTOBER 21.
Eastern European deadlines begin SUNDAY OCTOBER 27.
My perspective has only gotten stronger, after sitting in an orphanage in China now for well over a week. One has a lot to take in, with the time to take it in, and be thankful. But more, I have realized I have a lot to learn and hear from my Holy Spirit who shouldn't have to put me here to listen! The thoughts that go through my mind on an hourly basis are such that I can't explain many times. The children who rush to me when we walk over to the chow hall to have a meal, just to say "I LOVE YOU!" or just to get a hug open my eyes to see what He would have me to see.  The result for the kids is a smile that never ends and warmth in their heart saying, "I was special to ONE!"
The result for me... well, I get numb at times, but it warms my soul; my life is again, forever changed for the better. It shows me what I have in "things" and "creature comforts" that are meaningless and there are far greater joys in the world besides something we buy in stores. Yes, I complain to those anxiously waiting at home on our return, (mine and our new son, Kevin who lives here as well)..."I am sick of Chinese food three times a day." But, after the adults finished their abundant lunch today, Kevin sneaks in to ask for some rice as he is still hungry. As a mom, I desire to give him all the food that is left before me, but as someone who sees the other 80 little children who have no mom in which to even ask... it kills me inside.
My perspective is something I have to continue to share; the burden is too great.
Last night, I went to visit with the other two Americans who live here and work with the children teaching them about their self-worth and that they have a Father in Heaven who loves them dearly.  They had four of the older boys come to visit their room in the orphanage seeking Ray, their wrestling buddy! The boys were there to wrestle with a "dad figure" and try out an "elastic-exercise-band" that he will demonstrate and share with them. While we all laughed and encouraged them to try their best, it was also sad that none of them could stretch the bands as well as the gentleman who is retiring next week after four years of service in China, and returning to the USA. These teen boys are so weak, under-nourished and have so little muscle mass they couldn't do it.
But, in these servants’ eyes, they have hope for a future. 
Jeremiah 29:11 says: "For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.' "

How can you give them HOPE?
Much of the hope these boys have comes  from families, such as your own, getting ready to start their shopping lists for Christmas or planning a summer vacation. But, instead, a family chose to answer the Call and went on a family mission trip together with one of these children. The map on the wall of this room in the orphanage shows each child's photo that went on one of our hosting programs in 2013. It has a photo of each child and a string attached from the photo to the destination in the USA where he or she has been...and has been loved and shown the care of a Christian family who made a sacrifice. Sacrifice? YES, financial, emotional, physical in some regards. But, these kids all know they mattered to ONE when they see this wall, they have HOPE for a FUTURE.

Are you going to matter? NHFC promotes the starfish as our unofficial mascot, and relates the story of "this one matters" in the legend of a young boy walking on the shore tossing beached starfish back into the water "of life". An older man sees the boy and questions, "How can you hope to make a difference since there are literally millions who you won't be able to save?" The boy replies, "But, I made a difference to THIS ONE."

There are enough orphans in the world, if they stood side by side, they would circle the earth TWICE!
In thinking through this now, This ONE is also referring to each of our host families! This ONE FAMILY answered the Call and hosted an orphan child who now feels loved, has self-worth, knows THEY matter! Best of all, they KNOW THEY MATTER TO OUR FATHER! They are not forgotten, unless you choose to forget and move on.

It takes ONE to SAVE ONE.

Now is the time. Now is the end and now is their hope for ONE--- such as your family. Christmas is the best time of the year to step up... it's the giving season, it is the season of Love and the season of our Father who loved us so much, He gave his ONE son for our life. We now have eternal Life and we know He cares and we matter! It's our turn to pay it forward as Fathers and Mothers and teach our own children-- show them-- the greatest gift of all...
The kids' bags are packed... well, really, there is nothing for them to pack, but in their minds, they are ready to go. But, each one knows they must be considered and chosen by ONE family. 

Is that your family this time?
Psalm 119:105 says:
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." 
Can you believe enough, have the faith of a tiny mustard seed, and take a step onto that path?

Want to take your family on a mission trip for Christmas? For the price of just one person, your whole family can participate in a 4 week Mission Trip, and you won't even need to pack a suitcase... we will send the Mission to your home! Through New Horizons for Children, you can minister to an orphan from Eastern Europe or Asia around your own Christmas tree. It's a life changing opportunity to share God's love with a child who may never have experienced it before!

Click here to see just a short list of the children to pray for! Please complete the short form at this link to view the photos of available host children.

Asia Photolisting

E. Europe Photolisting

 

Contact your regional coordinator for more information on any of these wonderful children! Click here.

WHAT? You can't host a child over Christmas? Well, there is yet ONE more gift to consider giving!
We have a pressing need right now: if any these available children were to receive a scholarship towards their hosting costs, they have an increase of 80% in being selected for Christmas or a future hosting.  Every hosting season, it can be difficult to provide large sums of money for these scholarships. But we have recently created a program where you don’t need a large amount to help—every little bit will help change these children's  lives.  You can partner with us through our new "Agape Fund": a monthly giving fund that will allow you to give a little bit each month in support of our program. Note your funds are for scholarships for a specific country, scholarships for siblings, or as a general donation. Click here for more information on the new Agape Fund!

MOST OF ALL the Agape fund provides NHFC with donations that can be applied immediately where the need is greatest!  Your partnership in this program is invaluable and will help us serve the children of Eastern Europe, China, and the Philippines even more effectively.

Anyone who signs up to give a monthly amount of $10 or more will receive a special gift!  All donations are tax-deductible.

May God bless you on your journey!

Le Ann Dakake, Director of Orphan Hosting Programs
New Horizons for Children
New Horizons for Children
3950 Cobb Pkwy, Suite 708
Acworth, Georgia 30101"
*******************************************************

Living Faith

Click this link, first, or the rest of what I write won't make much sense:
Pregnant and Homeless on the Steps of the Church

I really like this article. It talks about the trend of NOT opening our mouths, specifically about abortion, specifically about the silence of the church.

But it also talks about backing up our talk with action. Illustrating our faith with our works.

One difference of opinion I have with the author of the article is that I don't agree with her rant against that big church's focus on the  gospel. The gospel CAN save that mother from all those things, because God cares for His children. But I agree that they need to read James. The whole book really, but chapter 2 at least:

Faith without Good Deeds Is Dead

¹⁴ What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? ¹⁵ Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, ¹⁶ and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

¹⁷ So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

Today I am speaking out against apathy. For the sake of your hearts and the hearts of those whom your apathy condemns.

So I guess the summary of my thoughts for today are, "Open your Mouth" and "Get off your duff."
It's Monday anyway. :)

XO

The Gospel on Sunday

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—
Romans 1

Opening my mouth for those who are poor in Spirit and heavy laden, that they may receive Christ who gives rest and peace.

XO

hates weekends, loathes holidays...

Any teachers out there will know what I'm talking about. The kid who hates weekends- acts up on Fridays. Comes back on Monday tired and cranky but obviously relieved. The kid who gets more and more worked up the closer you get to Christmas vacation.

What's she worried about? What's got him so shook up?
No food.
No supervision.
No safety.

What can you do if you can't take this kid home with you? Pray. Speak Jesus to them. Love and hugs and words that build up.

And- LCCP. LeRoy Christian Community Project. They have a Backpack Club.
from their site:
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An estimated 25-30% of all school-age children in Genesee County are going hungry from the time they leave school on Friday until they return to school the following Monday.  As a result, The Backpack Club began with the goal of meeting the needs of these hungry children throughout our school district.​
​
At the inception of the Backpack Club, 9 families (35 children) were receiving weekly food bags.  At present, approximately 25-30 families (75-80 children) are currently being served at Le Roy School alone.  The program is now effectively operating in Le Roy Central Schools elementary, middle and high school.
​
Testimonials from children and their families are a regular confirmation that we are "on track" with this outreach.  However, we continually strive to improve and increase our effectiveness by looking for special opportunities throughout the year to assist those in need.
​
Outreach Overview
• Food items are collected from donors or purchased with program funds.
• A team of volunteers carefully pack the bags and get them ready for pick up.
• Children who receive free meals at school and may experience hunger on the weekends are identified by the school counselors to participate in the Backpack Club program.
• The school designates a "pick-up" area where food bags can be distributed.
• Children enrolled in the program stop by the pick-up area every Friday (or the last day of the school week) before going home.  The bag of nonperishable food items can be discreetly placed in their backpack. Our dedicated volunteers generously pack the bags each week with 15-20 items.
​
A bag typically contains the following:
• Microwavable Mac-n-cheese
• Ramen Noodles
• Tuna• Single Serving Vegetables
• Cheese on Cheese Crackers
• Toaster Pastry
• Raisins
• Fruit or Applesauce Cup
• Flavored Oatmeal Packet
• Fruit Snacks
• Fruit Juice or Milk
• Drink Mix Packet
• Single Serving Cereal Box
• Crackers
• Potato Chips
• Candy or Treat
• Other Items as Available​
 
How You Can Help
The success of The Backpack Club is made possible by a network of local businesses, community organizations and individuals who partner together in order to "make a difference."  This network, along with our outreach volunteers, and committed staff from our school, make a great team!
​
As it is with any successful outreach, The Backpack Club must have continual donations of funds and supplies in order to serve those in need.  Your contributions help make it possible to continue meeting the needs of the children who attend Le Roy Central School.
​
At this time, we have 20 dedicated volunteers that fill backpacks on Thursday mornings.  However, we are always in need of more volunteers.  If you are interested in volunteering for this program please call Pastor Colleen O’Connor at 768-7200.​​
​
The Backpack Club is a 501(c) (3) organization and all donations are tax deductible.

The Greater Rochester United Way Donor Designation Number for LCCP. is 2482. Your Contributions are Greatly Appreciated!
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It's Saturday and there is kid close enough to touch that won't eat a meal today, and won't have anyone making sure he's safe.  
 


James 2:

¹⁴ What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? ¹⁵ Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, ¹⁶ and you say,

“Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”

—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing.

What good does that do?

¹⁷ So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

​So, please.  Pray, love, and give. Open your heart, arms, mouth, wallet, and home as God leads.


XOXO

Uncomfortable

World Magazine

Camille LePage/AFP/Getty Images

COSTLY CONFLICT: Patients at Rehabilitation Centre of Juba, South Sudan.



"When a group of Sudanese children discovered an unexploded grenade in the South Kordofan region of Sudan earlier this summer, they made a tragic mistake: They picked it up. The grenade exploded, killing nine children and wounding five. The dead ranged from 3 years old to 14 years old."

Chubby cheeks and missing limbs do not go together in my head.

Samaritan's Purse- you know, the folks who do the shoeboxes..they are working there to help those who need it and share the gospel.

Pray for workers. Pray for resources. Pray for access. Pray.

Give.
Search your heart, are you called to give?

Go.
Listen carefully. Are you one who is called to go?

Sounds uncomfortable, right?

Funny you should mention 'uncomfortable.' My new friend Renee is also doing 31 days. She posted this great quote from Francis Chan today,
“But God doesn’t call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn’t come through.” Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

The Compassion of Jesus

^{Matthew 9:35} Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.  ³⁶ But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. ³⁷ Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. ³⁸ Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

I'll echo Renee's benediction for this weekend: Go. Be uncomfortable. Trust God. Find that is He is trustworthy.

XO
Joce

Open YOUR Mouth

Hi!
Do you have a heart for the voiceless? Has God given you a story to share that pleads the cause of the poor and needy?

I would be happy to have a guest blogger or two over the next 21 days.

⁸ Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Pray and meditate on Proverbs 31:8-9 and see if God wants you to open your mouth. Please submit any ideas for posts or even a post you've already written to me.

XO

A Light in Congo

I found the Harvey family and Pioneer Christian Hospital as an answer to prayer a few years ago. I had read an article posted by a friend of mine on facebook about the deeply disturbing effects of evil in Congo and the need for doctors to help. I had been praying for God to show me how to do something to help. And then I found the Harveys. God is so cool, they are missionaries that our church supports. Easy to find! Easy to love.

 

 

 

 



They heard and willingly answered the call to serve the least of these, to love their neighbors as themselves, to do what needs to be done where it needs to be done. Joe became an MD with the specific intent of becoming a missionary doctor to the Congo. And Becky knew that before they got engaged. They chose this. God called with a hard job and they said yes.

 

Here is the most recent update of their work in Congo. This is not the worst- I did not seek out the worst things I could find, this is just what is actually happening right now. Please pray for the people in the stories listed below and ask God how He would have you love your neighbors in Congo.



 

 

 

Dear Friends & Family,

                It’s been another rough week.  Yet we are doing fine.  Seemed fitting that my sermon on Sunday was on Lamentations 5.  In Lingala Lamentations is called “Songs of Misery.”

               

This week…

·         Our X-ray machine died.  It is just over 2 years old, and no longer under warranty.  It was the only functioning X-ray machine in the Likouala Region, servicing an estimated population of 300,000 people.

·         The hospital’s only functioning printer/scanner/copier stopped working.  It is just over one year old, and no longer under warranty.

·         We still haven’t received delivery of the 4,000 liters of diesel fuel that we paid for on September 17.  The company says they have no record of our payment!

·         We ran out of LP gas for sterilizing instruments in the OR.  Here thankfully we already have some good news.  The grapevine says a boat carrying 180 bottles of LP gas has arrived in Impfondo.

·         We found out that a bank transfer made in July still hasn’t been deposited in our account.  Working on this.

·         Our container arrived in Brazzaville, but the captain of the SS Canopee raised the price 5-fold from what he had agreed to beforehand.   After a full day of negotiations, no compromise was found.  Our transit agent is scrambling to find another boat headed for Impfondo as soon as possible.

As I shared this information with a capacity crowd in our chapel on Sunday Morning, I realized that I was preaching to:

·         A young man rejected by his lover who had tried to take his life by grinding up batteries and eating the powder.  When his stomach started hurting he came to the hospital for treatment.  Sunday morning he was feeling better physically, and took 3 handfuls of medicine to try to take his life again (escaped from the hospital AMA Monday evening).

·         A young woman who just lost her 3 day-old newborn baby to meconium aspiration syndrome (discharged Monday, and so strong).

·         A 17 year-old girl who just gave birth to her first child by C-section, and had to have two subsequent surgeries to stop bleeding that developed 10 days after surgery! (She is doing well now, with no more bleeding).

·         A 31 year-old woman in premature labor, who lost all 8 previous pregnancies, and was about to lose this one too (she gave birth to a 2-pound stillborn boy Sunday night…hopefully next time we can do a cerclage so she can carry to term…if she comes in time). 

·         The mother of a 2 ½ year-old baby girl who had been raped the night before by her drunk 15 year old cousin (now in prison).

We appreciate your prayers.  They are working.  In spite of all these setbacks, we are not discouraged, and know that God is at work healing many here.  Please fast and pray with us that the container & contents make it safely to Impfondo soon.

 

For Health and Hope,Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle and Noah

JHarvey@UUPlus.com
www.CongoHarveys.org

Pioneer Christian Hospital

BP 10, Impfondo

Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)

www.CongoHospital.org

Global Outreach Mission, Inc.
PO Box 2010
Buffalo, NY  14231-2010
(716) 688-5048GOM@GlobalOutreachMission.org

 

 

 

More ways to contact and support the Harveys and Pioneer Christian Hospital:

 

 

facebook:

Pioneer Christian Hospital

Joe and Becky Harvey

 

Harvey Blog

 

Harvey Website

 

Global Outreach Website

-give

-go

 

Email: Jharvey@UUPlus.com

 

 

Instructions to the Rich

^{1 Timothy 6:17} Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. ¹⁸ Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, ¹⁹ storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

 

Where's your treasure?

 

~Joce