reflections

it will soon be a new year.

there is little surprise awaiting us for the year. or is there? we know we are soon making our biggest life change yet. what can top it?

wellllll, knowing me...snicker snicker...anything IS possible.

last year on december 31, i could have never imagined the miraculous journey our lives would take for 2011. we never really are ready for when God calls us to do His will. but i answered, my husband answered, our children answered, and most of our family answered, "YES! WE WILL LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, LORD!"

will He ask me to do more? will He challenge me more than i can handle? what will my answer be? it is scary to ask.

after much thought...i know i will do anything for HIM.

so i sit here quiet

new year's eve

weeping

i should be with my friends who are probably wondering where i am

but i can't bring myself to be with others as long as so many people in this world are hurting right at this moment

i pray for so many things in this new year

for those who refuse Him

for those who don't know Him, because those of us that do, won't answer the call to make disciples

for God's broken heart

for all the children that will go to sleep this year with little hope of ever having a family to love them

for those without food, shelter, heat

for those with no means for medical care

for those suffering the yoke of oppression and abuse

for us who should be making sure these atrocities are not a reality

for those of us who refuse to share our God given resources

i don't want to be a downer on a night of celebration, but i struggle with how oblivious most of us are to our abundance. we party while children die of starvation, are made orphans due to poverty, and countless others who go to sleep scared and alone. i am broken for the lesser of us. i am convicted of not doing more. i resolve to change my stubborn ways.

what can i do/will i do to make a difference this year?

what can you do/will you do to make a difference this year?

FORGIVE US LORD. PLEASE OPEN THE EYES OF ALL THE WORLDS' HEARTS. MAKE US HEAR YOUR CALL TO GIVE TO THOSE THAT HAVE LESS THAN OURSELVES. MAKE ELIMINATING  POVERTY, SLAVERY, GODLESSNESS, HOMELESSNESS, AND HOPELESSNESS OUR NUMBER TWO PRIORITY, LORD. OUR FIRST IS TO PRAISE, HONOR, AND GLORIFY YOUR HOLY NAME. BLESS US WITH YOUR GIFTS SO THAT WE MAY SHARE YOUR LOVE.  LET US DEVOTE OUR LIVES TO YOUR SERVICE AND EXALT YOUR GOODNESS. PLEASE BE WITH MY CHINESE CHILDREN AS THEY GO ABOUT THE NEW YEAR AWAITING UNION WITH THEIR FAMILY. AMEN.