Are you Compassion-ate?

    



     There are children waiting for you to love them. Waiting for Jesus' love to be made known to them. Sometimes, you will be called to adopt. Which is definitely awesome and for those of you who can afford and support it, ask yourself if God might be calling you to invite children into your home. There is another option though too, for those of us who cannot afford a kid... or who don't want one... but understand the world doesn't revolve around them.

     Did you know that you can actually sponsor a child without having to brush their teeth, wipe their tushies, blow their noses or clean their messes? You would not be obliged to wake them up in the morning, find sitters (if you have dates and such), or spank them when they are sassafrassy.

     Your sponsoring, however, WOULD feed the child, clothe them, provide education, school supplies and medical care. But wait.. there's more! Your money also provides their parents training and education so they can get better job opportunities if they aren't stably employed. And thats not all! The child's community also receives aid! (Aid varies depending on resources the country is able to offer.) All of this for ONLY 38$ a month!

     Now I know what you're thinking... Casey, how can this be true? Well, sir or madame, I don't think you were born yesterday. Im not pulling your leg. You can literally provide for a child, their parents, and their community for almost a dollar a day.


First, let me tell you why this is better than one time donations:

1.  You get to know the child you sponsor. They write letters and color pictures, and if this doesn't sound magical to you, it isn't. Its better than magic, it is sooo lovable. Bless 'your' child by caring for them.

2. You get to stop being selfish. This doesn't sound like fun because it isn't. But if you follow Jesus and have "my money"in your reasoning, you have a bad habit. Nothing is yours, everything that has been given to you is to be used for Jesus' glory! If you're not a christian, first I would stop reading this, look into who Jesus is and what He is about (which you can do in my blog if you so desire). That is most important.

3. Financial efficiency is important. While saving is good, you might die tomorrow and your money would not benefit you. Use the money you've been given to bless others today. (And get on that will!)

4. You start planning for someone else's well-being who will never benefit you. --A side-note to the 'be selfless' reason that deserved its own number.

5. You don't have to be in this alone. You can have your youth group, close friends, family, entire church, club, college ministry, or what-have-you all pitch in for the cause. If you have ten people willing to pitch in 3 dollars a month, one child and their community can benefit. And with more numbers comes more money so I would then encourage you to sponsor more than one child!

6. You will get to watch your child grow up. The time frame for sponsorship is from 4 to 22 years old. You will get to impart your hard earned wisdom on these unsuspecting children. (Who wants wisdom at 6, 8, 10 years old.. candy candy candy) And they will love listening to you because your'e not their parents. Some things don't change in foreign countries. Also your money provides volunteers opportunities to love on these children to, so they will get all the love money can buy.

7. Your investments in their life is a personal 'show and tell' that someone they have never-ever met is willing to provide for them, learn about them, love them, and pray for them. They know they are not able to give you anything! This is a representation of the Gospel, people!

8. 'Your' child will get to learn from you, consider you an important person in their life, and love you. For those of you who are hard to love, these children won't have to try. Your words of encouragement, support, prayers offered up and gifts are enough to tug at their heart strings. Bless someone by allowing them to care for you.


     If any of these reasons made you think twice about sponsoring a child, please don't ignore them. They aren't putting on sad faces, begging for your attention. They will never know you exist unless you reach down and show them. (You reach down because kids are short.)

Here is the website that has every ounce of information you could need, and better put than what I had to say. --> www.compassion.com

And if you are thinking about adoption because maybe you actually snotty noses and cleaning booboo's, (I do!) Then consider buying/loving a kid thats already been made before/while/after you make your own. Making your own is good, too.

Christians..."John's" way

Just reading over Mary's and Jesus journey and I noticed a few things, again.

This time... less about Mary, Jesus, or Elizabeth. (It's always about Jesus if you catch my drift)

John, the baby in Elizabeths womb, lept when Mary and Jesus came to visit. Before he had his first breath, John was following Jesus. His life was about telling of the coming Jesus, and without shame. He never even saw the Messiah until he was well into his adulthood! That is faithful living! No shame in HIS fame! That's why I put Chrianity Johns way on my blog title. John is a good example of how we should proclaim Him, and guys, we know Jesus. Personally. Thats more than John could say for a long time, and he still would shout, "Prepare the way, the Messiah is coming! Prophesy is being fulfilled this moment! Come on guys! This is as real as it gets!" I can just imagine that sometimes he would be so crazy with passion that he would shout it in the streets. Ive never seen a person shout about Jesus on the streets (not at road corners with megaphones) with passion except in the "pulpit". Myself included.

Seriously, where our passion lies is where we focus. Yes, I do have passion for Jesus and spreading the gospel. But I am spiritually fat with passion. Thats so gross. I am a hoarder of knowledge, stocking up for my own satisfaction. It might even be better for me to never learn a new concept or verse in the Bible  and share everywhere what I know now. I know all I need to know, honestly I do. Death, victory over death, grace, mercy, love, joy, peace, patience, self-control, acceptance, holiness, grace grace grace.

Am I willing? Am I able? Am I chosen? Is this my calling? Is this The Way? Would sharing Him unconditionally be glorifying to God?

Looking for Love

I just went through my posts examining where I have been with my tangents on life and hearts and such, and I came across the Tenth Avenue North post.
"Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough"


These questions arose: Do I look for love? Do I think God is not enough to fill my heart up? Do I embrace His love, and love Him back? 


I know I long to be in love with a man. To do the whole marriage thing is on my wish list. But am I distracted by my desire? or is this a good desire? Or maybe its a good desire and im distracted.


Im fully aware of how powerful prayer is. Jesus has transformed/is in the process of transforming my heart and my mind, down to what my core desires are. And at the core of my heart, my desire is not about being wanted by a man. Its not about being needed by kids. Its not even about intimacy with a man through him knowing me inside and out and i the same. 


Its about being confidant that Jesus is caring for me. And its as simple as that. Caring about me enough to use me because He knows I want Him to be proud. Caring about me enough to provide tender mercies and graces. Caring about me enough to show me HE has a plan for me to join Him in Heaven for eternity. 
Those lovey dovey things arent bad by any means. But the things of this world are never what the desire of our heart is, our foundation is not built on things that will pass. 


and though i said "I" and "Me" a lot in this... nothing is about me. Im nothing to this world, if i didnt exist, no one would have missed anything. Everything is so amazingly about Jesus. Even my blessings and good works are about HIM! They point to HIS goodness, not mine. 

Confidence

The Lord gives His people strength, the Lord grants His people security. -Psalm 29:11

Do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. -Hebrews 10:35-36

Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart. All you who hope in the Lord. - Psalm 31:24

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.- Romans 8:37

He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge, His truth shall be your shield and buckler. -Psalm 91:4

As people we will struggle with confidence. For me, I go over the day in my head and think about the things I did right... or wait... were they right? And what confidence I had during the day, is gone by the time I'm able to think. I think this is one of the reasons Paul instructs us to think on heavenly things, things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. That is powerful. Christ fulfilled His promise, and He is seated at the right hand of God. 

Those verses at the top are life for my heart. Reminders of who I am in Christ. The past few weeks I have felt so unworthy to have attained salvation. Even questioned my own salvation. When my thoughts focus on me ... I will undoubtedly be consumed with confusion, numbness, apathy, sadness, ect. The point of the Cross is that through the High King taking our burdens and sin upon Himself, He might be glorified. 

Hmm..this word is satisfying to me. I pray we will have this satisfaction of really trusting and believing the promises of God. My soul is so weary of trying to fix my own heart. 

Beautiful design, isn't it

By Your Side- Tenth Avenue North

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go





I never really paid attention to this song by Tenth Avenue North until the youth band at my church sang it. It was all about Jesus... less about the music. Wow. Made me cry. ("Touched me...right here." -Said that to the guys and they made fun of me after that so had to put it in here! )


But really.. I try to earn grace. I try so very hard to be the best this or that. And those things I strive for are mostly good things! I do want to please Jesus. Its so important to me. So important. But if i'm honest... "even my repentance needs to be washed in the blood of Jesus." If my best and most 'amazing' gifts to Him have any motive at all of self seeking.. then its all dirt. All of it. 


But His grace covers just that, yall. He is NEVER letting us go. God, im tired of striving. Not really sure exactly how to stop... but giving Him the first word of every day will lead me. As will the Holy Spirit. 

'My body, My soul longs for You, Jesus'

What does it mean to long for God with our body? David expresses a deep desire, an anguish of the body, in seeking for God's honey of the heart, in psalm 63.

O God, You are my God,
    earnestly I seek You;
my soul thirsts for You,
    my body longs for You,
in a dry and weary land
    where there is no water.

I have seen You in the sanctuary
   and beheld Your power and Your
          glory.
Because Your love is better than life,
   my lips will glorify You.
I will praise You as long as I live,
    and in Your name I will lift up my
           hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the
           richest of foods;
     with singing lips my mouth will
           praise You.

On my bed I remember you;
   I think of You through the watches
            of the night.
Because You are my help.
   I sing in the shadow of Your wings.
My soul clings to You;
   your right hand upholds me.



I don't exactly know the ins and outs of this passage.

But I know Jesus aches my heart for Him. This is good. This discomfort pushes me forward... I never thought I would pray for more..more discomfort.

My Family

Here is what drives me the most crazy, makes me the most nervous, gets me the most upset, drives my temper up the wall, but here is what i love, what my heart is devoted to, and here are the people who are my people. Glad to know them :)

This is my mother. We are so alike its un-real. 

We both love books, flowers, dissecting issues, old-time movies and hate movie trailers. 

Hokay. This is daddy with a shaved face (only picture of him w/o a beard since I was born). 

He looks weird! But he is wise, loves to golf, and is OBSESSED with the Georgia Bulldogs.

My sisser. She is the sweetest, funniest, and craziest. She is willing to try my patience,

and willing to take my temper too. I love her, and appreciate who she is.

This is me and Clifford. or Cwifford. or Ford. or precious baby, baby boy, sweet boy. 

Needless to say, I have lots of pet names for my pet. 

My sisser and I on christmas. Thats arnold, the Teddy I made her so she could remember me all the time :) Arnold because he has a football head. 

This is Clifford in his favorite outfit. (and only outfit).

He gets mad when we try to take it off.

He is THAT dog. We are NOT that family. 

Okay.. maybe we are. 

This is my cousin James wearing my lobster boxers. We had to change into comfy and dry clothes after playing in the ice that christmas.

This is my Big Daddy. He is married to Granna Lee and they are the sweetest and love so well.

Big daddy always wears overalls. Maybe 1 time a year he doesnt. Love it.

Sami and Daddy cheesin it

This picture of my Mom and Daddy reminds me of James Bond. They look so serious. At least mom does...Daddy doesn't have a serious bone in his body.

This is me and my cousin Sidney eating yummy chocolate balls! She is so goofy!

After graduation, or something for graduation. Sami, Me, and My amazing cousin Taylor. LOVE her.

This is my Grandma. She lives next door and I absolutely love her style. She has a million flowered hats.

She accompanied me while I jumped out of an air plane.

My Tay! I cannot tell you how much I adore her!

So this is some of my family... we love each other and put up with each other. And through everything thats happened with us, were a hard bunch to separate!