Bring the Rain | Compassion International

Equador!

November 9, 2011 By Angie 21 Comments

Well, I was supposed to be in Ecuador right now with Compassion International. Can I even relate to you the level of disappointment I have about missing a trip with the following people? Kelly Stamps, Ann Voskamp, Boomama, Bigmama, and Amanda Jones.

Seriously.

And Compassion did the most amazing job of working out flights so that I could fly seamlessly between my speaking dates, but in the end I just hated to be gone that much given the fact that I’m already gone so much this season. But it sure makes me wish I could be in two places at once. Actually, three. Because Charlotte just woke up and I need to get her and finish this post.

I have shared lots in the past about my love for Compassion and what they do for children around the world, and by following along with these bloggers, you’ll get to see it all firsthand. It’s one thing to send off a letter or a check, but it’s entirely different to experience it in person.

A few weeks ago Abby was at a concert with Todd and wandered over to the Compassion table. She fell in love with the sweet face of a toddler and asked Todd if she could sponsor her. Todd explained that she would have to give her allowance and any other money she had, and that we would help her but it would be her responsibility. Moreover, it would be her sacrifice.

It wasn’t just a sweet face, it was a life that was about to be changed.

She consulted Ellie and they decided they would do it together. They have since roped in two friends, and they take it really seriously. Any time they find change, the first thing they say is, “My Compassion girl!”

I talk a big talk with them. Love God, love His people. Give it away for the kingdom. Don’t live without acknowledging how fortunate you are. And don’t think for one second that your contribution doesn’t matter….because the Lord makes miracles out of our offerings and multiplies our efforts in ways we can’t imagine.

But do they see me walk the walk? I would like to think they do. But I also know that I’m as prone to selfishness and apathy as the next person.

I’ll be totally honest with you.

Until my trip to India with Compassion a few years ago, I had all but learned to tune out the sound of anyone asking for money. Not that I didn’t think there were people who needed it, but I had suspicions about organizations. We might not all get to travel and see it firsthand, but for those of us who have, there is a feeling of compulsion to share.

It really is exactly what you would hope it is.

It’s a group of people who believe they can change the face of poverty and are doing the work of the Gospel in some of the hardest places imaginable.

You have the opportunity today to change the life of a little girl or boy, and I promise you this.

It matters.

Not just to that child, but maybe for your own children. Maybe to a watching world who wants to know if Christians really put their money where their mouths are. Would you prayerfully consider whether or not God is asking you to be a part of Compassion’s ministry by sponsoring a child? Click on the little button below to follow along with the bloggers in Ecuador right now. If the first day is any indication, they are in for a life-changing experience.

And for those of us who can’t be there in the flesh, lets be praying for them and for the work the Lord is doing through them. Here is a picture from Melanie’s (Bigmama) blog from today….

I just love her little wave and that giant backpack. Click over to her blog to read the whole story.

I’ll just say that on the latter part of the trip there is a lot of jungle activity coming up. I’m pretty sure none of us want to miss that experience So stay tuned online and prayerfully consider the role you could have in a child’s life today.

I clicked on Kelly’s link to these kiddos and melted when I saw how many had been waiting for 6 months or longer for a sponsor. Just click over and see if God stirs your heart for one of them. Or 15 of them. Whatever.

So in the event that you haven’t picked up on it (because subtlety has always been a gift of mine), I would love for you to consider sponsoring one of these little munchkins.

Right now.

This second.

It matters.

Filed Under: Ann Voskamp, boomama, Compassion International, Kelly's Korner, Shaun Groves

Third World Symphony

September 5, 2011 By Angie 20 Comments

I love that I’m sandwiched between Jon Acuff and Carlos Whittaker on this blog tour stop, because their wives happen to be two of my favorite ladies in the world. On most days, you’ll find us hanging at the pool together and listening to our children have conversations like this:

“When will we see your kids again?” {Whittaker kids asking}

“Tomorrow.” {Me}

“Good. But I mean how many hours from now?” {Whittaker kids, with lots of Smith and Acuff nodding}

Kelsey has named our group the “Smackwhits,” which I think has potential if we ever decide to go Hollywood with it.

We live a couple houses away from the Acuff’s, but we wouldn’t have if it hadn’t been for Shaun Groves. Seriously.

Some of you might remember that I went to India about two years ago with Compassion International. Shaun was our fearless leader on that trip and I honestly have no idea how he could have done a better job. He was knowledgeable, passionate, and invested…which all sound good on paper.

But that wasn’t what made me move to a new house.

It was the conversations we had on a rickety bus (right after he made me ride a freaky “roller-coaster” that more closely approximated a piece of dental floss and some Dixie cups, where I rediscovered my desire to be made right with the Lord) that did me in.

Because it’s one thing to be posed in front of a camera, smiling on a trip to a third world country and trying to stay still enough to hear the snap of the camera. It’s another to be completely transparent, in tears, and desperate to help children when the cameras get tucked away and the long dirt road makes you want to rest instead of inspire.

But I didn’t see him rest on that trip, and if you’ve been keeping up with his life since then, you’ll know he hasn’t rested much since. At least not in the traditional way. He and Becky (whom I flat out ADORE) are smack in the middle of a tricky adoption (please pray it goes through!) and have opened their hearts to what God desires for them.

When Shaun gave me the chance to be a part of this blog tour, I was honored.

But if I didn’t believe in him, and the message he is sharing, I wouldn’t have done it.

And now I’m going to unapologetically give my little sales pitch for the day {I do apologize, however, that this comes on the heels of my book release…I will stop peddling things very shortly }.

You will love this CD. And if you buy it, you will be investing more than a couple bucks on something that will bless you.

You’re joining voices with a whole mass of people who believe that we can make a difference one rickety bus at a time.

It’s what you might call a symphony.

And it’s spectacular.

If you don’t believe me, take it from some other bloggers…like, you know….ummmm….what’s her name? Oh wait.

The Pioneer Woman.

And then there’s Ann. Who is blushing already because she would never draw attention to herself. But because of this CD, he flew to her farm, giggled with her children, and held some pigs. And I know her well enough to know that being on video in tantamount to having all of her eyelashes ripped out individually while being dangled over fire.

Know what she does love, though? Enough to do it?

The Conductor.

Well done, Ann.

If you want to see the whole Third World Symphony blog tour lineup, click here.

But in the meantime, click here to take a look {and a listen} to Shaun’s new CD.

I think my favorite is “Come Down Here,” but I’m still deciding…

What I do know is this…

Shaun Groves, you and your family?

Are making beautiful music.

I’m proud of you.

And also, still a little annoyed about the roller coaster.

Filed Under: Compassion International, Shaun Groves

Perspective

June 2, 2011 By Angie 89 Comments

You want some insight into a blogger’s world? Here, hang on. I’ll grab the door and you add what you want to the coffee i just poured.

I wrote a post that I thought was a funny example of what I saw a mom doing in a shop. Most people got it, and most people know my heart by now. But the word “most” fades pretty quickly when you’re rocking your baby to sleep and wiping your own tears off her head. Why? Because a few others didn’t agree. I’m all about healthy disagreement, but oh, MY.

If you’re wondering why (and I have several emails piled up from the past few months, so I know a couple of you wonder ) I haven’t posted about parenting or any other “personal” stuff, well….it’s because I don’t like to rock my daughter and cry on her.

Know what’s worse? When your eight year old asks you why you were crying and you say, “Because I hurt someone’s feelings.” She hugged me and told me she knew I would never do it on purpose and told me she had a broken heart. I fully expect artwork detailing her disappointment today…:)

But here’s the bottom line. I woke up this morning and I was praying and thinking about my intentions and my heart, and you know what? I’m not a mean person. And if you saw me as judgmental, smug, and spent your time picking me apart for failing to show a stranger the love of Christ, I sincerely apologize that this was what stood out. It was a commentary about our society and about my own weaknesses as a parent. And quite frankly (take a swig of your mocha) this is the reason I sometimes stick to writing about boring stuff. I’m not a shock-seeker. I swing my kids, I make their lunches, and I do my best to show them Jesus.

I’m not crying this morning, by the way. I’m really, really okay, so please don’t see this as a ploy for support

Honest to goodness I’m at peace and I know who I am and what I intended. My phone is full of text messages from people who are dear friends and are encouraging me, my precious nanny jumped into the comments to describe what she sees in me (and she, ummm, sees a lot…and it definitely isn’t all good), and my daughters are going to make me art

Those who really know me wouldn’t say that was my intention and I don’t think the Lord Himself would. He knew exactly what was in my heart when I was writing, and I need to just remember that when I’m bummed out that I feel like I hurt someone.

All that to say, here’s what I think is really, really sad.

I posted a quick blurb about how there were some unkind comments, and Y’ALL (correct apostrophe placement. Amen.).

I watched my traffic go through the roof.

Not terribly surprising, although it wasn’t my goal at all. I actually despise every moment of what I’m doing right now and would much prefer an unmedicated root canal, but I have a point worth making and I want you to hear it.

There was FAR more outrage over a post about a woman in a children’s store then there was about this.

And guess what?

I’m talking about me.

I didn’t go to bed thinking about this room (it’s the family room, bedroom 1, bedroom 2, kitchen, dining room etc. in case you’re wondering…) but about how I felt beat up and misunderstood.

Am I being judgmental? Absolutely. And I deserve that judgment.

It’s an ugly truth that I am often more concerned about my own immediate needs, desires, and petty “problems” than I am about the fact that some of my friends are halfway around the world trying to help children make it to the dawn of another day.

Lord Jesus, help me get over myself.

I’m not going to assume you see yourself in this criticism, but if you do, will you do me a favor? Please? Just read this blog post and pray about whatever the Lord puts on your heart as far as reaching out and doing something that really matters. And if it means that you don’t (ok, darn it. I don’t) get to go shop for a couple new things, then so be it.

Because if I’m going to be crying on a baby’s head, it should be about something like this.

I stand fully convicted, and I have repented to the Lord of my own sin. I apologize to anyone who inadvertently offended yesterday, but more than that, I apologize to those who don’t feel offended today.

Because if this picture and this post don’t offend you, then we aren’t doing our jobs as people seeking the God Who made Himself small so we could whisper His name.

The level of cuteness right here is out of this world. Would you pray about being a light to one of them?

Skip Gymboree. I’m pretty sure the sale is over anyway.

Go change the world instead.

Ang

Filed Under: Compassion International, Dealing with criticism, Everyday life, Family, Shaun Groves

Kristin!!!

March 15, 2011 By Angie 17 Comments

I am so proud of my friend Kristen!!! You all might know her from her blog, “We are THAT family.” I love, love, love her heart. She traveled to Kenya with Compassion International and came home with an incredible vision for a home (The Mercy House) for pregnant girls who are living on the streets. There is a lot more information on her blog about it, and I just know you will be so touched by the way God has stirred her family to help these sweet girls.

I am so excited to share a link to grab her book…if you are a mom you will love her daily devotions, and will relate to the life of a busy mom trying to love God in the midst of it all

Well done, Kristen!!!! Blessed to call you a friend…keep it up, girl!

Love,
Angie

Filed Under: Book Recommendation, Compassion International

Radical

September 3, 2010 By Angie Leave a Comment

I may be the last person in the free world to read this book, so it might not matter that I’m about to go hog-wild recommending it.

I’m only a few chapters into Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream
and I can tell you it is HUGELY impacting and challenging me.

If you haven’t read it, you need to. And if you have, I would love to know how it has changed the way you live out your faith. Would you share with me and inspire us all? Feel free to leave it in the comments or email me directly…I would love to hear how this book affected you,

One other quick announcement is that I would love to ask for your prayer on behalf of the Compassion team that’s about to head out to Guatemala next week. It is an amazing team of people, including Lindsey Nobles, Lisa-Jo Baker, Amanda (Moore) Jones, and Ann Voskamp.

Taking into consideration that the spectacular Keely Scott will be behind the lens and Patricia Jones playing the role of “the mom you always wanted,” I’m halfway debating trying to hop on their flight and go myself. Oh, and Shaun Groves…I can’t tell you how highly I think of him-he is 150% involved in every aspect of it. Well, except for that one part where he forced me and Melissa to stay up and write despite *complications.* Amanda, feel free to put your foot down if he pulls this trick…

Will you all just take me with you? Shaun? Ann with no e? Amanda, my never-met-but-sure-to-be-bff? Keely? No? Was it the Canon?

Darn.

Well, I guess I’ll have to watch this one from the sidelines and I so hope you all will join me in praying this team safely to Guatemala and into the purpose the Lord has for them there. It’s so hard to kiss the kids goodbye and jump on a plane, and I just know how much they are encouraged by all of our prayers. If I hear any specific prayer requests from them I will pass them along to you on here, but in the meantime please stop by their sites and get to know these faces who are a part of what Compassion is doing in Guatemala.

I want to go. Seriously.

Praying this team into a remarkable trip and asking the Lord to use them to bring many families into the Compassion fold. Jesus, give them favor, peace, and fervency as they go.

I’m proud of you all for stepping out of your comfort zones and I’ll continue to be in prayer for you.

Friends, will you join me in lifting them up? Thank you…

And don’t forget to buy “Radical…” You will be so glad you did

Love to all,
a

Filed Under: Book Recommendation, Compassion International

KENYA!!!!!

March 3, 2010 By Angie Leave a Comment

Just a reminder to please be praying for the bloggers who are now en route to Kenya with Compassion International. Click on the button below to get more info about the trip and keep us with them as the Lord breaks their hearts and inspires all of us to share with those in need.

You can also follow them on twitter HERE. I can’t wait to hear more about what the Lord is doing!!!

It’s Todd’s B-day today so I’m going to make this short and sweet but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to ask for prayer…

Love to all,
Ang

Filed Under: Compassion International, Kenya

Haiti

January 14, 2010 By Angie Leave a Comment

***Updated*** Several people have asked about their Compassion children in Haiti, and I wanted to let you know that Compassion has an excellent system of notifying sponsors once they have received information. At this point I believe their contact has been limited because of the situation but I’m sure as soon as they have details they will share them.

Dear friends,

I’m assuming you’ve heard about the earthquake that has devastated Haiti. I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you of a few ways that you might be able to help.

It’s been heartbreaking to see what has happened to the children and their families. It is an honor to be a part of the body of Christ where I know there will be hundreds of thousands willing to help. I have seen first hand how Compassion International has changed the lives of children in desperate need.

Compassion International has put together a list of essential needs and corresponding dollar amounts.

You can access those needs by this link.

If you know of other ways to help and would like to mention them, please leave a comment with a link to that site..

And please be in prayer for these families.

Angie

Filed Under: Compassion International, Haiti

El Salvador!!!!!

November 11, 2009 By Angie Leave a Comment

I have a lot to post.

Unfortunately, that is going to have to wait until tonight or tomorrow. We’re packing up to go on the big bus with Todd and it turns out that is made trickier by throwing up every few minutes.

I exaggerate.

It’s maybe once an hour.

Anyhoo, I really can’t wait to share some things with you all, but in the meantime, PLEASE be praying for the amazing Compassion team in El Salvador. Shaun Groves is there with a fun crew, including Kelly from Kelly’s Korner and her hubby Scott. Also, Shaun did a fabulous job at helping us out with his thoughts on a chapter of Crazy Love and even if you aren’t doing the book club with us (jump in, we’re going to announce our next book soon!!!!!) you will love his thoughts.

Every time I see a picture of Shaun I think about the way he and his wife have chosen to live their lives with hands open to the will of God, putting their desires on the back burner to serve, and it makes the stories in the book Crazy Love come to life. And the best part? They do it with COMPLETE joy. I have been following along as they travel through El Salvador, watching the faces of those that Compassion is helping, and I really wish I could be there.

Kelly and I would be a dangerous team in a foreign country. And she could tell me how she manages to look like a supermodel while she’s on a mission trip.

Quite frankly, that last part is a little irritating.

I exaggerate.

It’s a lot annoying.

Anyway, I just wanted to ask for you all to spend some time with them in prayer and on the computer as they serve. And if you feel led, please reach out and free these children from the circumstances they are enduring by sponsoring a child with Compassion International.

I know what it means to be getting emails and comments while you’re away…it feels like a little tether to home and it is so uplifting. Please take a minute and say hey to these folks, and please pray for the children they are doing it all for.

If you want to see them live, tune in here tonight at 9 central.

Thank you!

Much love,

Ang

Filed Under: Compassion International, El Salvador, Kelly's Korner, Shaun Groves

Anne and the shower…

August 14, 2009 By Angie Leave a Comment

After I posted that little teaser the other day, I knew I was going to have to come back and fill you all in a bit on Mrs. Jackson.

It all started in Uganda, from what I hear.

Keely, the brilliant Compassio n photographer, was Anne’s roomie.

One day as Anne is leaving the room, she hears a loud noise that kind of sounds like a human body falling. So, she walks back to the shower area and asks if Keely is okay.

Keely is not okay.

She has slipped and fallen out of the shower and cracked her head open, which resulted in multiple stitches across the forehead (given outdoors with bugs swarming around and no anesthesia….yeah. I threw up a little in my mouth too.)

Turns out, Keely is even going to have to have more surgeries to fix her precious face (she also broke her nose in several places).

Don’t be concerned. She is still gorgeous, inside and out.

Did I mention that wonder-Keely still photographed the entire Compassion trip, despite the injuries? Seriously. The girl is some kind of amazing. Boomam a was on the same trip, and according to her they were trying to tell Keely it didn’t look that bad as the blood was dripping everywhere, because they didn’t want to freak her out.

You know, because of the third world country/stiches to the head combo not being umm, desireable.

Let’s fastforward, shall we?

Good.

So you all know that ~~attempted shower killer~~ Anne was my roomate in India, and to be honest, she doesn’t come across as dangerous. She’s sly, that one.

The way it works in our quirky hotel room is that you have to have a key card in a little holder to activate the lights in the room. It’s really weird, and may have all been a part of her plan…

I am getting ready to jump in the shower and Anne says she needs to run an errand (it’s all coming together now…). When she leaves, she somehow “FORGETS” that when she takes the key that’s plugged into the wall, the lights go off within a few minutes.

And did I mention that at that point, the room is PITCH BLACK DARK.

So I (innocent victim) have just stepped into the shower and the lights go off. Seriously, I can’t even see my hand in front of my face so there is no way this is going to be pretty. I fumble around the room, finally cover a portion of myself with a glorified hand towel after tripping over my shampoo bottles, and the doorbell rings.

Despite the fact that I am pretty much half naked and soaking wet, I decide that a funny prank would be to open the door so she can see what she has done to me.

So I did.

Unfortunately, I didn’t make proper usage of the peephole, which is designed to let you know if it is your dear, close friend or a LARGE MAN WORKING IN THE HOTEL.

I so wish I was kidding.

We did get a good laugh out of it though

And I couldn’t have asked for a better roomate…I never told you all this (and seriously, please don’t make fun of me!) but I have a little something called a “woobie.” It was a pillowcase when I was a baby and now it’s just two nasty pieces of fabric held together with a safety pin. The thing goes with me everywhere I travel and I sleep with it at night.

She is my precious.

Moving on.

While we were there, I formally introduced Anne to woobie (they totally hit it off).

So one day we come back to the hotel room, and the beds are made. I realize that woob was in the bed, and I immediately throw back all of the covers in a panic.

Nothing.

I call downstairs to see if anyone has found some dirty cloth and a safety pin that used to be a pillowcase (“Pillowslip?” He says. That sounds pretty fancy, but okay, “pillowslip.”)

Well, we tried for the next several days to rescue the woobster, but it seems that she got gathered up in the bedding and went out into a trash heap.

I’m not even gonna lie.

I cried like a 3 year old. And then I laid on my bed and kicked and screamed “It’s not fair!” just like the girls have taught me so well.

And the best part?

Anne understood.

And that is one of the bazillion reasons I love Anne Jackson. Because she cares about what matters, and she cares about what matters to those she loves.

So, as I tell you a little bit about her here, I want to ask you to please be in prayer, as she is having surgery on her heart today. She has SVT (same as sweet Stellan), and the procedure is designed to alleviate the symptoms she has been having.

Will you pray for her? Her twitter name is @flowerdust if you want to follow her journey.

Seriously, you might want to be on her good side.

Just sayin’.

Love you Anne, and I am praying for today….

Ang

Filed Under: Compassion International, India

Her, here.

June 5, 2009 By Angie 1 Comment

I’ve had a hard time reconciling in the past few weeks.

I hear this happens when you’ve been away.

I have been so emotional, and I feel like the Lord is challenging me to start doing things in a new way. I haven’t blogged much because, as I said before, I am getting a little sick of myself

I also haven’t blogged because I have needed to spend some time with the Lord, dealing with that little word and what it was going to mean for me.

Reconciling.

Because in Kolkata, I was her, and here, I am me again.

They didn’t know anything about me except that I had hands and that I was there to help, and it was a breath of fresh air to be used by the Lord in this way. Everything that I have tied myself to in life became beautifully, naturally, and completely irrelevant.

And I want to be her.

Here.

I have noticed a sad theme in many parts of the blog world, and it is disheartening to see people scrutinizing each other. Tearing down the good and building up the worst, endlessly searching for the thing that will make another person hurt. It’s always the ones that are the most wounded who come searching, and what they find are others that are vulnerable. They all gather around and try to ignite a fire where God is at work. I would be lying if I said I hadn’t had a few stop by to criticize me. I am grateful it doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it usually packs a punch.

Like the email I received while I was in India, describing in vivid and incredibly inaccurate terms exactly how my children were dealing with me being gone. How they were crying for me, searching for me, desperate to know where mommy was. She went on to say that I cannot save the world and that I needed to get home to my children where I belonged.

I sat on my bed, computer open, with tears staining my face.

Was I hurt because my kids were in danger, or because I thought I might have done the wrong thing by going?

No.

I am, first and foremost, accountable to the Lord, and I knew He wanted me on that trip. Also, my children were riding a roller coaster in the Mall of America with their dad and his best friend “Uncle Dan,” and I think if you saw the pictures, you would agree that they were not traumatized

I was hurt that a “fellow sister” would spend that much time analyzing me from afar, and instead of praying for me, she sought to hurt me. Her tone made it very clear that I was in the wrong, and stung with it’s imagery of abandonment and distress.

I read it to my roommate Anne, and she nodded sympathetically. She isn’t a complete stranger to those kinds of things, because she is a brave, authentic and brilliant woman, and she says things that might make you think. And trust me, not all people want to think. They would rather criticize.

I’m not going to dignify this with further details, but I will say that apparently there are also people who are wounded enough in this life that they feel the need to try and tarnish the name of someone who has a ministry. Why? Because they don’t want someone else to get attention? Because they are jealous? Because they are lonely? I don’t know why. But it makes me sad, because that could have been a place where something beautiful grew instead…an offering the Lord would readily receive, but no. The ego and emotions win out again. I just hate that.

I don’t want to be here, where Godly women prey on each other instead of seeking to build them up. It breaks my heart to watch firsthand the way that can undo someone who needed to be reminded that the Lord is good, and He is with us. They need a cheerleader, a reason to hope, a glimpse of love. And the stranger heaps coals and sits idly by while that little string she pulled begins to unravel. It is one of satan’s favorite ways of distracting us; convincing us that if we bring someone down, we will be higher. It’s as anti-Gospel as it gets, and it seems rampant these days.

I feel so burdened right now, and not many people have a place like this where they can come and speak freely, praying that those who read would hear her heart. So I am going to write for a bit before I go to bed and ask the Lord to work with my exhaustion, because He has already made it clear that He will not bring sleep tonight if I don’t write these words.

I just want to be her, here.

Do you?

I want to be the girl who walked into a home for Mother Teresa’s home for the dying, and despite the conditions, went over to a man who was probably hours from death and put her hands… His hands… on the fragile man’s arm as he tried to speak. I liked who I was there because I was hands on flesh, heart lifted in prayer, silently begging for mercy on a stranger’s behalf. When I finished, he pointed at the sky and looked at me as if to say, “I am going…” Oh Jesus, to know that he was with You now would bring me such unspeakable joy.

So how do we manage to combine the beautiful calling the Lord has on our lives while actually living our lives? Because I can’t get back to Kolkata today, and I am desperate to touch the sick and calm the fearful. Do you ever feel like you want to make an impact but your life doesn’t feel big enough? It isn’t right-thinking, but it is natural.

A little more than a month ago, I hadn’t met the faces that taught me about her. This girl who lived inside of me and wanted to be better, not because of the accolades, but because of the most exquisite peace that came going where He led me. Trusting Him relentlessly, with great joy.

And I liked her.

Yesterday I was in a funk and as the trash guys came to get the trash, I reminded Todd to see what their favorite drinks were. In the summer, we leave out a cooler on Wednesdays for them, right by the trash can. After shopping for the drink that each man wants, the kids help us put them in the cooler and then they play until they hear the sound of metal coming down the road, at which point they high-tail it to the front window so they can make sure they get their drinks.

I also love to order pizza if we have someone helping out around the house with broken cable wires or a malfunctioning appliance. I love to talk to them and make them feel at home. I didn’t really think anyone had noticed, but the next time the cable guy came, Ellie disappeared for a few minutes and then popped her head around the door and gingerly set something down before nervously running back down the hall.

She was gone before I looked down to see the plate she had brought over for our “helper,” full of plastic pizza slices and a wooden milk carton. She had also included one piece of plastic broccoli and a slice of delicious looking decorative cake.

And I realized that in some ways, ways I may have deemed small before, I can be her, here.

And so can you, wherever you are. Even if you aren’t a she. All three of you who are men who read my blog can take over the him, here side of this

I guess the bottom line is that I feel the most in the presence of the Lord when I am serving others, and my great desire is to glorify Him in doing so. It’s easy to feel that when you are a bazillion miles away and the air is thick with desperation. But then you come home, and if you are like me, you have a pretty good life, and you get comfortable.

I think my highest calling is to be a Godly wife and mother, and that is what I try to focus on. But I also want to feel more like a “city on a hill” in my everyday life than I normally do.

Raise your hand if you feel that way too.

Good.

I’m not alone.

And also I’m so glad I’m the one who decides how many hands are up.

I have started to realize that while I don’t know what God has for me in the future as far as traveling to other countries, I have a ministry in my own backyard, and I want to make the most of it. I bet you do too, and that’s why I’m writing.

It might be something simple, like walking around the neighborhood with your kids on a prayer walk and as you pass each house, mention what you know of the family’s needs and then stop and pray in front of their house. We do this sometimes and it’s awesome. It’s not as awesome when your four year old yells to your 40 year old single male neighbor, “Hey Mr. Chris! Did you get a wife yet?”

The point is, we are supposed to look different than the rest of the world. We shouldn’t be the ones that waiters dread because we don’t tip after dinner, or the ones that roll our eyes when something is taking longer than we feel like it should. Quite frankly, we just aren’t that important.

We are supposed to be a refuge, and encouragement, a reflection of the One we serve. I know it isn’t easy to do it all the time, and in fact, I think is pretty much impossible. But it doesn’t mean that as you walk through your day, you shouldn’t search for ways to do everything a little better. Talk to your boss with respect. Ask the girl at the coffee shop what her name is, and make a point of remembering it. Offer to help when no one has asked. Teach your children by example. Listen for what someone is really trying to say instead of what you want to hear.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. The reason I wanted to write this post is that I want to be inspired, and I want others to be as well. To that end, I would be so blessed if you would leave a comment with something that you do to be her, here. And as you have the time, scroll through the comments and let the words of others plant seeds for you as well.

I wrote as much as I could last night and then I fell asleep, so today I finished up and now I’m going to head out for the day. I can’t wait to come back and read what you all have to say, because I think we’re all in need of some good news.

Amen?

If you want to get connected with some new ministries, these two are on my heart right now, and I think you will love them both. The first I have mentioned before, and if you click over to their site and blog, you will see what Baby Be Blessed is up to. I just love them and their hearts, and I can’t wait to tell you how they impacted our Compassion trip to India…amazing. I also want to introduce you to a ministry I have recently learned of, and I think it is the coolest idea. It’s called Pass It On, Baby, and it is a great opportunity to help kids in need of clothing. Click here to read all about it.

You have no idea how the Lord will use you if you allow Him to fill the moments of your day that you see as mundane.

I am happy to say that the photos I twittered several months ago were from a special wedding, and we were so excited to celebrate with “Mr. Chris” as he married an amazing woman we have been praying would come along.

It was such a joyful evening, despite the fact that Todd did the electric slide with a fervor that made me want to hide under the table.

I am so looking forward to hearing from you…

Much love,

Angie

Filed Under: Compassion International, India