shawnw

Raise your hand if you’re a gadget junkie.

Yeah, me too.

Remember when you got that awesome new gadget that you just couldn’t get enough of? You know the one. You ran the battery down by noon every day because you just couldn’t put it down.

Everyone you knew heard about (and probably saw) your new gadget. How many times did you say, "dude (or dudette), you gotta get one of these?" Too many times to count, right?

It didn’t take long before everyone you knew – friends, family members, coworkers – heard about your new favorite toy.

Why is it, then, that we can share all about our newest little obsession but we can’t share about the saving power of Jesus? Isn’t he more valuable than anything we can own or hold in this world?

Thanks to Lend Me Your Eyes for the image.

Refute it. I dare you.

Not that I was ever in doubt, mind you.

But she graduated high school.

Kelsie has had her fair share of ups and downs.

Some by chance.
Some self inflicted.

But she’s growing. And her mom and I are seeing it, watching it unfold in real time, right before our eyes.

It’s times like these where I wish time would slow to a crawl.

Just so we could sit in it, before she’s fully a woman, and enjoy the last light of innocence that immediate post-high school offers.

Your mom and I love you, kid.

-Dad

And neither am I. (I figured it was best to get that out of the way immediately.)

The following is from Claudio Oliver’s article titled “Why I Stopped Serving The Poor:”

The only way to remain with the poor is if we discover that we are the miserable ones. We remain with the poor when we recognize ourselves, even if well disguised, in him/her who is right before our eyes. When we can see our own misery and poverty in them, when we realize our own needs and our desperate need to be saved and liberated, then and only then will we meet Jesus and live life according to His agenda.

and…

Jesus calls us to become incarnate and to see ourselves in the other and to place ourselves under him or her as powerless dependents. He calls us to give up in trusting our own capacity to impart goodness and to change our direction in order to encounter and recognize our own wounds, weakness and pain. From there, we discover the power that lies in being less and not more.

It’s impossible for you and I to BE Jesus.

It’s a term I’ve used in the past when serving, and I hear others use it. We need to stop elevating ourselves to His position. His position is unattainable. He is Most High.

It’s time to get low. “Forehead on the ground” low, if necessary. And to share in the sufferings of Christ.

Are you ready?

Everything Thursday a group of bloggers highlights a Compassion child in need of sponsorship. This child has been waiting to be sponsored for six months or more. Will you be the one to help rescue Lawan from poverty, in Jesus’ name? If you’d like to sponsor Lawan, you can click here.

Name:
Lawan De Marins Pereira (BR4160231)

Birthday:
August 31, 2005    Age: 4

Gender:
Male

Region:
South America

Country:
Brazil

Program:
Projeto Hope

Personal and Family Information:
Lawan lives with his stepfather and his mother. His duties at home include running errands and cleaning. His stepfather is sometimes employed as a laborer and his mother maintains the home.

s part of Compassion’s ministry, Lawan participates in church activities. He is also in kindergarten where his performance is average. Soccer, playing with cars and singing are his favorite activities.

Please remember Lawan in your prayers. Your love and support will help him to receive the assistance he needs to grow and develop.