Helping you help 147 million...
Followers
Facebook Badge
147 Million Orphans Blog
how many hits?
Powered by Blogger.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Something to cling to.....
When Katie is in the US we (Katie Gwen and I) always meet at the YMCA. While we are on the elliptical we solve ALL of the worlds problems(hahaha) We DO try to at least "put a dent" in the worlds orphan crisis. One of the many things that Katie has challenged us to do is "look different." hhhhmmmm....what exactly does that mean? Our friendship is such a "God thing". We laugh, CRY, exercise, EAT (chocolate), work (Amazima and 147 Million Orphans), and share our hearts with each other. We boldly challenge each other to follow CHRIST's plan for our lives...in which MOST cases doesn't look like OUR plan. We have a scripture that we use as the foundation of our friendship. We pray this scripture and ask the Lord to weave it into our hearts and lives. I thought I would share it with you all. With this post there is a DISCLAIMER.....Be careful what you pray!(hahaha)
Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open spacious life. We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. OPEN UP YOUR LIVES. LIVE OPENLY AND EXPANSIVELY.
2Corinthians 6:11-13 (Message Bible)
The past few weeks while in Uganda the WWJD bracelet kept coming to mind. The term "what would Jesus do?" kept ringing in my ears. Jesus lived OPENLY and EXPANSIVELY while here on earth...ALL the WAY to the cross. When I heard the TB and HIV results on Josie....WWJD? I was fearful driving into the Karamajong village.....part of me wanted to tell Katie "you go ahead, I'll be waiting in the car"....WWJD? As we were holding Gloria in our arms, not knowing if her sickness was contagious....WWJD? As I walk down the streets of Jinja and a small child asks for money...WWJD? It became my motto while in Africa. Now that I am at home, I find myself asking the same question...WWJD? For some reason it is much harder to react the way Jesus would here in the states. It is just so comfortable here. In Africa you are already so out of your comfort zone, it seems easier to step out in faith there. If you want to open your life and live expansively....ask yourself that question AND not in just the scenarios that you are comfortable with.....in ALL scenarios. I am a work in progress and so I would LOVE for you all to join me in pursuing this daily....misery loves company. (ha)
Now, it is NOT so hard to be the hands and feet of Jesus to this little angel. This video is one of our MANY trips to Kampala for medical treatment. Auntie Renee, Mike and I oohing and gooing over sweet Josie Love.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
playlist
About Me
- suzanne
- I am a lover of Jesus. I have the most fabulous husband that anyone woman could ask for. The Lord has blessed us with 7 beautiful children. I started this blog so that friends and family could follow our trip to Uganda to visit Katie Davis. I have decided to keep blogging to help bring orphan awareness to the world around me.
16 comments:
That is the sweetest thing I ever did see! I hope you have that girl plenty of lip gloss, Suzanne! ;)
We're praying for yall everyday and I'm a big NIV gal so I'll have to go look up that verse in my Bible...I know, I can't break free from the NIV with the ribbon bookmark! ;)
Blessings to your inspiring family!!!!!!!
Laine
She is an angel! Thank you for inspiring and challenging me! Praying for yall!
Definitely a beautiful angel girl. Praying that your encouragement will open doors for others! Praying for healing for sweet Josie, and for all the other orphans in our world!
Oh Suzanne - can I just ask you to squeeze her nice and tight for me? What a precious girl!
Our daughters did the very same thing for hours the first time they met in Guatemala 3 yrs ago. It was hysterical watching them put on more and more lip gloss to the point it was running off their lips!
Blessings and much love! Praying over you as you wait on God to bring this precious angel home!
Jill
precious video...and the thought the comes to mind is What on earth is Josie thinking of y'all's accents? ;o) Yay for Southern accents!
What a precious video, Suzanne!
And, how I know what it feels like to walk in Africa doing what Jesus would do...and then finding it more difficult to do what Jesus would do right here in good old south Georgia.
And, my greatest challenge now....and whatsoever I do in word or deed, do it as unto the LORD!
Many blessings,
Robbie
Oh how this post speaks to my heart. Life outside our comfort zone is indeed where we meet Jesus!
Love It!
Praying for you all from Hong Kong,
Kim
Thank you for sharing. My heart needed to hear that! I feel the same. It was so 'easy' to step out while in Ethiopia...but not so much here.
Praying for your sweet angel Josie Love.
Suzanne, This is Angie Fogg again. That Josie is so precious. What an angel!!! Your post is exactly what God has been dealing with me lately about. I know He used you to confirm to me that I need to be aware of my mission field right here and live it out loud for Him. Looking for where He wants to use me. At mom's yesterday Beck, Jackie, mom, and myself were talking about this very thing. We pray for you and your family. Also, your journey in seeking God's plan in helphing these precious babies has been an inspiration to our family to serve Him more where He has planted us.
Love to you,
Angie
Beautiful video...reminds me of our African children, our son is always wanting chapstick for his lips...so now he has one at school, and at home...so funny to watch.
WWJD...was something we always heard folks saying while I was growing up...and then many years later I heard Tony Kampolo (I think it was him) speaking. He had just returned from an orphanage in India...and was talking about WWJD...he asked us if we would change WWJD to....WDJD (What Did Jesus Do)...it was the most profound thing I remember of that morning. So I find myself searching scripture more to see what HE DID do when things in my life don't make sense, or I'm searching for answers....It truly has changed the way I think...because I know what Jesus Did...and I try to follow and teach my children the same way. He was/IS the best teacher...His example keeps me inspired all the time...I think that is why my heart aches for the orphans/widows the least of these....He sat with them...cared for them...healed them....how can I NOT do the same when that is what Jesus did.
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful post.
That is beyond precious! What a sweet mommy you are, Suzanne. It is amazing to see the change in her in such a short time. I can only imagine how she will blossom when she is finally HOME! Blessings to you!
Dear Suzanne I am from Australia and have a heart for orphans. I want to tell you
I am taking up your challenge with WWJD. I am beginning to feel that through my love and concern for the orphans that I am actually being led to love Jesus by reading your blogs (Katie, Gwen and you) Thank you for sharing your life, it's making me a better person. Josie is beautiful, she is special and I pray for her, you and your family. Love Joan
I have thought that so many times, why is it that it's so much easier to follow Jesus in desperate situations when I should be tripping over myself to please Him here in the lap of luxury? I think because in Uganda (or Russia) all you have is prayer, all you have is hope, all you have is faith, because there are no other options but God. I don't know. But I do know that it's an absolute joy to know you and I'm so glad you started blogging! :)
Oh, oh, sweet baby girl! Softest lips in Uganda! :) The better to kiss, I say! Suzanne, she is so very precious. It is NONE of my business...but I was wondering just what steps needed to be taken/happen in order to bring Josie Love home? Is it just that she needs to have clear TB test? Or are there other things? You needn't answer if you would rather not. I was just curious about the process...and I could pray more specifically, I suppose! Oh, I could just eat her up! :) It is such a joy to see the change gettin' loved on brings! :)
Hugs and blessings...not to mention prayers!
Nancy in CT
Got to kiss your little bundle of joy!!!!! And let me tell you SHE LOOKS GREAT!!!!! When I go to Katie's, I will whisper in her ear again how much her mommy and daddy love her! much, much love!
Suzanne, it is always uplifting and inspiring to read the words that you and Mike write on this blog site about our Josie, your precious little girl, our precious granddaughter. People say, "Well, how can you love another child so much? That is what Jesus does for us. With all of His children, He makes each of us feel completely loved, special, and unique. So, that is how we love our children and grandchildren--for who they are and who God created them to be. And, you and Mike do this so well. Pop and I are so.... proud of you, but God gets all the glory. Without Him, it is not possible. Franklin Graham (Billy's son) says the thing that makes Samaritan's Purse so special is not only does it meet the physical needs of the people, but it is done in the name of Jesus, sharing Jesus love, so that people who are helped are helped immediately but also for all eternity! What greater privilege, Lord, than to raise them up for you. Pop and I just hope that we get to help in that a little bit, even as we spoil them a "little" more than we did our own children. When you and Mandy feel that the Lord has let you know that your family is complete, please let me know. Ruthie has said that hers is complete (as far as she knows now!--we know the Lord, and He has a sense of humor, so you never really know for sure! Look at Sarah in the Bible). Anyway, I'm rambling. When you think you know, let me know, and I'll plan another family photo. It will be our third, so this time, if possible, we want it to be complete, at least with children, extended children, and grandchildren, along with me and Pop.
Again, I'm thankful for you and Mike and your love for the Lord and His plan for your lives.
He loves us so much, He will never steer us wrong when we are honestly seeking His will in His timing. He has led you here for a reason, and we only know some of those reasons right now. More will be obvious later, as we opne our hearts more and more to His Word, His Will, and His Way. We are happy to be a part of it and a part of your hugging family, and we love each of them. Love you, MaMa Gaye
Post a Comment