For the past couple of weeks I have been reading about causes, passion, doing something bigger than yourself. The two books I have been reading would be terrific reads for you and the young person in your life. (I actually posted information about one of the books on my previous blog about human trafficking.)
Austin Gutwein was a nine year old when he watched “Maggie”, a story about an AIDS orphan in Africa living with her great-grandmother. He was so touched by her story that he wanted to do something, but he didn’t know what to do. After speaking with someone at World Vision, he was encouraged to use his interest and passion to bring hope to orphans in Africa. He started “Hoops for Hope” to raise money for this cause. His first event was held on World Aids Day and he shot over 2,000 hoops (baskets) by himself. The next year, hundreds joined him. You can take part in shooting hoops to raise money for Austin’s organization or maybe you’ve got a different passion. There are many needs around the world. Find your passion, take your best shot and do something bigger than yourself.
His book: Take Your Best Shot.
Some Stats:
Every 14 seconds a child is orphaned by AIDS.
Of the 11 million people in Zambia, 1.2 million are AIDS orphans.
Every 14 seconds another African child becomes an orphan because of AIDS.
There are 15 million AIDS orphans worldwide; 12 million are in sub-Saharan Africa.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Human Trafficking Awareness Day (and month)
I wasn't ready to post this blog yet but decided I needed to, especially after reading someone else's blog on the subject. Think about this: It's been said that the 2011 Super Bowl will be the largest human trafficking event in the history of the U.S. That bothers me--does it bother you? Didn't slavery end back in the 1800's? or even before that? There are more slaves in the world today than there have ever been in history. There are approximately 27 million slaves worldwide. Is there any help? Any hope?
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor: a form of modern-day slavery.
I've been reading a book about a young abolitionist. No, not Harriet Tubman or William Wilburforce. His name is Zach Hunter and he has become a voice for the voiceless. All around the world, including our own country, people are oppressed and enslaved. Zach Hunter wants to see them set free. At the age of 12 he started "Loose Change to Loosen Chains", a student led effort to raise awareness and funds to free slaves. Since then, he has written 3 books on the subject, encouraging young people to become aware and to discover their passion to change the world. Zach is 17 years old and has spoken in front of thousands of people across the country. He works with International Justice Mission, a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. You can learn more on ijm.org.
Zach Hunter's books can be found at your local bookstore:
Be the Change: Your Guide to Freeing Slaves and Changing the World
Generation Change
Lose Your Cool: Discovering A Passion That Changes You and the World
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor: a form of modern-day slavery.
I've been reading a book about a young abolitionist. No, not Harriet Tubman or William Wilburforce. His name is Zach Hunter and he has become a voice for the voiceless. All around the world, including our own country, people are oppressed and enslaved. Zach Hunter wants to see them set free. At the age of 12 he started "Loose Change to Loosen Chains", a student led effort to raise awareness and funds to free slaves. Since then, he has written 3 books on the subject, encouraging young people to become aware and to discover their passion to change the world. Zach is 17 years old and has spoken in front of thousands of people across the country. He works with International Justice Mission, a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. You can learn more on ijm.org.
Zach Hunter's books can be found at your local bookstore:
Be the Change: Your Guide to Freeing Slaves and Changing the World
Generation Change
Lose Your Cool: Discovering A Passion That Changes You and the World
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The Starfish Story
Early one morning a boy was walking along a beach. Hundreds of starfish lay stranded on the shore, having been washed onto the sand the night before by a storm. As he walked, the little boy would pick up a starfish at random and throw it back into the sea. An old man came down the beach, walking in the other direction. He asked the little boy what he was doing. "I'm saving starfish," he answered. "Young man, don't waste your time. There's no way that you can make a difference for all these starfish," the man said. The little boy leaned down, picked up one more, and threw it back into the sea. He looked the man in the eye and said, "I made a difference to that one." (adapted from the story by Loren Eiseley)
Who's the one on the beach waiting for you? Who's the starfish in your life that you need to help? You might think that you are just one person in this world. But to one person, you might be the world.
Who's the one on the beach waiting for you? Who's the starfish in your life that you need to help? You might think that you are just one person in this world. But to one person, you might be the world.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Your Hands
I added the following song to my playlist because it ties in with the previous blog: Reminder to Self.
Your Hands
by JJ Heller
I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away
I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands
When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right
When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands
Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...
When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave...
I never leave Your hands
Your Hands
by JJ Heller
I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away
I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands
When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right
When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands
Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...
When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave...
I never leave Your hands
Reminder To Self!
(Caution: Read only if you are filled with Joy and Love at this time of year, otherwise you may tear up or even cry.)
I began writing this blog containing Christmas cheer at the beginning. However, I decided to post two separate blogs--one of things I like about Christmas and then another as sort of a reminder to myself that not everyone sees this as a joyful time.
I suppose not everyone enjoys Christmas for one reason or another. There are a lot of hurting people in the world--all around us, in our own family, in our church, in the workplace and in third world countries. Stress takes its toll on some of us: loss of a loved one, financial burdens, loss of a job, prodigal son or daughter, family, or poverty and hunger. Whatever it may be, not everyone is enjoying the season. I’ve seen facebook posts of friends losing their “Christmas spirit”, including myself. Perhaps I’m missing family, maybe it’s something else. Maybe I need a heart checkup like the people in the following examples.
The other night I watched a Christmas movie--a man returned to his home town after several years and demanded the nativity on display be removed since it sat on public land.
I just read a quote from the letters of C.S. Lewis when he recounts the time his brother ‘...heard a woman on a bus say, as the bus passed a church with a crib (manger) outside it, _”Oh, Lor’! They bring religion into everything. Look...they’re dragging it even into Christmas now!” (C.S. Lewis, Letters to an American Lady, 29, December, 1958.) I found that interesting.
I saw a billboard (on the news) put up by an atheist group in New York that said ‘You KNOW it’s a Myth, This Season Celebrate REASON!’ Well, in my opinion, Jesus IS the reason!
Not everyone has the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Christ--some have never even heard the nativity story in their own heart language. There are those that have lost all hope. They may be starving. They may see “no light at the end of the tunnel”. They may be homeless and destitute.
Whatever we’re going through, God is right there walking along side of us, that is, if we’ll only let Him. He is our strength. He’ll lighten the load. He’ll make it a little easier. Will we let Him? Will I let Him do that for me this Christmas season?
Why would I dare write a depressing blog? Actually, it wasn’t intended to “be a downer” but a reminder to pray for one another and pray for the world during this special time of the year.
For those that know me, I’ve had Africa on my mind for years, however, Africa is not the only continent that fights the pangs of poverty, famine and drought. Back in the ’80’s--1984 to be exact, a group called Band Aid put out the following song, “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?”. I’m posting the song to my playlist and will post the lyrics below:
Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?
It's Christmas time
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time
We let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty
We can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmas time
But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time it's hard
But when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing
Is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring
There are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time
Feed the world
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
And there won't be snow in Africa
This Christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
(Here's to you) raise a glass for everyone
(Here's to them) underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time
I do hope you have a wonderful Christmas celebration, remembering the Christ of the season and those hurting all around us.
I began writing this blog containing Christmas cheer at the beginning. However, I decided to post two separate blogs--one of things I like about Christmas and then another as sort of a reminder to myself that not everyone sees this as a joyful time.
I suppose not everyone enjoys Christmas for one reason or another. There are a lot of hurting people in the world--all around us, in our own family, in our church, in the workplace and in third world countries. Stress takes its toll on some of us: loss of a loved one, financial burdens, loss of a job, prodigal son or daughter, family, or poverty and hunger. Whatever it may be, not everyone is enjoying the season. I’ve seen facebook posts of friends losing their “Christmas spirit”, including myself. Perhaps I’m missing family, maybe it’s something else. Maybe I need a heart checkup like the people in the following examples.
The other night I watched a Christmas movie--a man returned to his home town after several years and demanded the nativity on display be removed since it sat on public land.
I just read a quote from the letters of C.S. Lewis when he recounts the time his brother ‘...heard a woman on a bus say, as the bus passed a church with a crib (manger) outside it, _”Oh, Lor’! They bring religion into everything. Look...they’re dragging it even into Christmas now!” (C.S. Lewis, Letters to an American Lady, 29, December, 1958.) I found that interesting.
I saw a billboard (on the news) put up by an atheist group in New York that said ‘You KNOW it’s a Myth, This Season Celebrate REASON!’ Well, in my opinion, Jesus IS the reason!
Not everyone has the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Christ--some have never even heard the nativity story in their own heart language. There are those that have lost all hope. They may be starving. They may see “no light at the end of the tunnel”. They may be homeless and destitute.
Whatever we’re going through, God is right there walking along side of us, that is, if we’ll only let Him. He is our strength. He’ll lighten the load. He’ll make it a little easier. Will we let Him? Will I let Him do that for me this Christmas season?
Why would I dare write a depressing blog? Actually, it wasn’t intended to “be a downer” but a reminder to pray for one another and pray for the world during this special time of the year.
For those that know me, I’ve had Africa on my mind for years, however, Africa is not the only continent that fights the pangs of poverty, famine and drought. Back in the ’80’s--1984 to be exact, a group called Band Aid put out the following song, “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?”. I’m posting the song to my playlist and will post the lyrics below:
Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?
It's Christmas time
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time
We let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty
We can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmas time
But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time it's hard
But when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing
Is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring
There are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time
Feed the world
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
And there won't be snow in Africa
This Christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
(Here's to you) raise a glass for everyone
(Here's to them) underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time
I do hope you have a wonderful Christmas celebration, remembering the Christ of the season and those hurting all around us.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Christmas Cheer!
Things I like about Christmas:
Kids being kids up on stage at the Christmas performance--love, love it!
Christmas trees!
Lights strung on the tree, across the houses, even in the bushes (even the moving deer that lights up)!
Stockings hung by the chimney with care--though ours are on the bookshelf!
Christmas music playing on the radio, in the stores, and in the elevators!
Smells of pine trees, cookies baking, cider brewing!
The taste of FUDGE!!! YUMMY!! My favorite!
Children laughing, sizing up and rattling their gifts, trying to “guess” what’s inside!
Christmas carols being sung around the Yule Log--or just around!
Christmas movies--tiring of the same old ones year after year, but watching them anyway!
Christmas decorations, though before Thanksgiving is a bit too early if you ask me!
Making gingerbread houses with the kids. After our kids had grown, I began having the Abdelaziz children over at Christmastime to make gingerbread houses. Of course, my grown kids continued having fun making one or helping the younger ones. After moving to Tennessee, I had to find some more children to come over to make our Christmas decorated houses. Over the past 4 years, we've had several coming over to decorate.
Most of all, I enjoy the nativity scene which represents the reason that we celebrate Christmas. We have 3 in our house. One makes into a puzzle. Jim made it years ago. He’s the only one that can fit it back together. One my niece Jenni made for us. And this year we get to use Carey’s Willow Tree. All reminders of Christ’s birth and childlike faith.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Hosanna
For the past few weeks I have been sad. Sad for my close friend's loss. It has really hit me hard for some reason. Tears came to my eyes in church the other day as we sang this beautiful song. Of course, it's nice to actually hear the music itself, but the words will do for now. Only He can give the strength to face each and every day. He's the one who washes all our fears away. I lift this family up for comfort and peace.
Hosanna
by Paul Balouche
Praise is rising, eyes are turning to You, we turn to You
Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for You, we long for You
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away, washed away
CHORUS
Hosanna, hosanna
You are the God Who saves us, worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus
Hear the sound of hearts returning to You, we turn to You
In Your Kingdom broken lives are made new, You make us new
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away, washed away
Hosanna, hosanna
You are the God Who saves us, worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away, washed away
Hosanna
by Paul Balouche
Praise is rising, eyes are turning to You, we turn to You
Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for You, we long for You
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away, washed away
CHORUS
Hosanna, hosanna
You are the God Who saves us, worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus
Hear the sound of hearts returning to You, we turn to You
In Your Kingdom broken lives are made new, You make us new
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away, washed away
Hosanna, hosanna
You are the God Who saves us, worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away
'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away, washed away
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
