If you only knew

If you knew how much it hurts,

Not having a place to rest;

Being cold out on the dust,

I know you would lend your hands.

If you only knew how it feels to starve,

Not being able to feed my child;

to feel desperate and to feel so sad,

I know you would lend your hands.

 

If you knew how it feels to beg,

Not being able to stand on my legs;

To be looked down by others,

To make them feel so bothered;

I know you would lend your hands.

If you knew how it feels to doubt,

Without knowing what to do next;

When my wife dies on my hands,

And my child cries on my lap;

I know you would lend your hands.

If you knew how it feels to lack;

No one to hug no hands to hold,

To feel lonely out on the sand;

I know you would lend your hands.

 

Now you know how it feels,

To be me out on the fields,

Could you help me my brothers;

Would you help me, my sisters,

Thank you for feeling my pain;

May God bless you again and again.

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for god love a cheerful giver. 2nd Corinthians 9:6-7

Photo Credit: thesimplehouse.com,steve Mccury, 123rf.com, Charles Maccau, reddit.com

Visible Love through Shopping: Part 4

Here are my weekly lists of companies who stands behind a cause...

Warby Parker: Did you know almost one billion people worldwide lack access to glasses. This means that 15% of the global population cannot effectively learn or work - a problem that Warby Parker is determined to address. Wary parker not only provides higher-quality, better-looking, vintage inspired prescription eyewear at a fraction of the price, but also ensure that for every pair of glasses sold, a pair is distributed to someone in need. The coolest thing about this company is that they send you up to 5 pairs of glasses to try on at home for 5 days free including a pre-paid return shipping label to send them back to them with no obligation to buy.  This program is available to anyone in the contiguous 48 states.

http://www.warbyparker.com

CHOOZE:  is a company that makes artistic and creative mismatched children’s shoes that comes in a recycled-cardboard art box and available in a variety of styles. CHOOZE invests its profits in anti poverty programs. This program provides training support education and loans to women, so they can start their own businesses and lift themselves out of extreme poverty.  In addition to helping women chooze cares for the environment by using only vegan materials and creating art box instead of shoe boxes made from recycled cardboards.

http://www.choozeshoes.com

Furnace Hills Coffee Company :  If you are a coffee lover like I am,  here is a company  who has intimate, long term working relationships with coffee farms and farmers in more than 15 countries around the world. They will get you coffee From the far away regions of Ethiopia, to the shade covered mountain slopes of Honduras, and  yes they pay over fair trade prices for their specialty beans. Furnace Hills also has a commitment to hire people that are developmentally disabled. Their goal is to hire more developmentally disabled people as their roasting company grows. This is why their phrase   “Special coffee roasted by special people” is true

http://furnacehillscoffee.com

Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right. Proverbs 20:11

See you next week for more....

The storm

During my trip across the Sea of Galilee,

A big storm came up and tried to sink me;

Tossed with waves in the midst of the sea,

I was trapped in fear at the base of the valley.

I didn't know what to do, so I asked him to help me;

I said “master do something I am about to sink.

Then he said to me….

Oh, you little faith why do you doubt?

In the midst of the storm be a good cheer;

It is I, who is beside you do not fear.

If you just put your eyes upon me,

I will pull your hand out of the sea.

I am not another trial or another problem,

I am not a ghost or difficulty but I am your savior.

Be thrilled about it and look at what happens;

In the final moment of your crisis.

If you look at me just for a moment,

I guarantee you, you will be in peace.

I don’t want to watch you drawn, or carry your fear,

But I want to see your breath and be a good cheer.  

Don’t go back to your own hopelessness,

When your are tossed around with waves;

Don’t turn back to your own resources,

Rejoice my child just rejoices.

I know the despondency of your situation,

But I promise I will be the absolute solution.

"And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?  And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? “

Matthew 8:23-27

Photo Credit: Justforkidsmeagazine.com, harkphoto.com Wonorwood.com

A night of hope with Joel Osteen

Regardless of all the controversy surrounding Joel Osteen, I think everyone who has been watching and listening to his messages can agree on one thing,  which is that through his ministry millions of people have been changed, delivered, restored and are given hope.

This past weekend I had the privilege to attend "A night of hope with Joel Osteen" in Los Angeles. So, I thought I would share with you whatever I was able to jot down on my notebook.  

For those of you who don’t know who Joel Osteen is, I will give you a little bit of background. Joel Osteen is a 49-year-old Texan pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston –a church that under his leadership has grown into the largest and fastest-growing congregation in the country; according to Church Growth Today more than 30,000 people attend Lakewood Church each weekend. For those who can’t make it to his church on Sundays, Lakewood broadcasts its services in dozens of television markets, reaching 95 percent of American households with cable, as well as seven million broadcast viewers in 100 countries. Last year, the program gained the number one spot in Nielsen’s ratings of inspirational television shows. Also, he has been featured one of  ABC News "10 most influential people in 2006" and one of the most influential Christians" by The Church Report.

 10 Messages from “A night of hope”

1)      How you set the day will determine what kind of day you are going to have. Start the day with great expectations. Even before you check your phone in the morning make a time to count your blessing and thank god for all of his gifts. “God is good to all people who are looking for his goodness”

2)      If you want to live a victories life you got to know what to ignore. Make sure you are not getting into a battle you are not supposed to fight. “No person can keep you from your destiny”

3)      Don’t bring baggage from yesterday to today. If you know how to let go of the old, God will give you many new blessings.

4)      Forgive everyone and yourself for everything. So you can be free to receive God’s blessing.

5)      God is not only a God of good people, but he is also a God of sinners. That is why he doesn’t only call himself only a "God of Abraham and Isaac", but he also calls himself "a God of Jacob". God uses ordinary people to help extraordinary people.

6)      God can do all things people can’t do. Store up the word of god in your heart by reading his word every day. Never leave your house without carrying the word of God.

7)      God is in control of the storm. He doesn’t allow difficulty in your life without a plan to get you out of the storm. When the wind starts blowing you, remember that is exactly where you need to be. Let the storm take you to where ever you need to go.

8)      Always look at the good in people. Call out the seeds of greatness in the people God put in your life. Praise always precedes victory. When you refresh others you will be refreshed. If you are disagreeing with people always remember it is not about who is right but what is right. Never regret your investment in people.

9)      See yourself as a masterpiece of God's work. God went through great lengths to make you the way you are. You are not ordinary. You have been painted by the most talented painter. Understand your value. People see you the way you see yourself. You have the breath of an Almighty god on you and you are his greatest possession.

10)   God did not leave anybody out. When you see another person who is extraordinary remember you are also extraordinary in a different way. You have something other people don’t have. We are all unique and equally created in the image of God.

"God said “let us make man in our image according to our likeness; so god created a man on his own image; In the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:26-27"

"And the lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and a man become a living being. Genesis 2: 7"

 “Now let's go a head and be the master piece God crated us to be”

Visible love through shopping: Part 3

What if you go to the Mall to buy some gifts and you see two stores you like next to each other. The store on the right has a big sign that says “For every item your purchase,  we will feed one child in need for one month.” The store on the left has a big sign as well,  but it says  “All the profit goes to our pocket and only our pocket.”  Which store would you go to?  I believe the average person would say they would go to the store on the right. If you think about it, we are faced with that same decision every time we go shopping either for ourselves or others. It is up to us to decide where our money is spent.  So, why not make that decision now and start shopping with companies that will benefit others besides themselves?  

Common threadz is a nonprofit company that helps orphans, vulnerable children and rural villages in the developing world through community program that empowers the kids, their community, and the local grass roots organization that supports them. If you are in search for t-shirts with cool designs and a vintage feel that are designed by orphans, Common threadz is going to be your favorite online store. They also have other charity t-shirts, bracelets, and apparel for men, women and children.  With each t-shirts or other items you buy they will give a school uniform to an orphan in Africa so they can go to school, or a one month meal.

http://www.commonthreadz.org/shop/index.html

Noon Day Collection: Did any of your friends or family request for a beautiful handmade scarf, hat or Arm warmers? Well this company has all of that and more.  Noonday collection is a company that believes every child belongs to a family. The company helps adaptive families raise money for their own adoption, and provide jobs that create path way out of poverty for families, so they will be less likely to abandon their child. They also give 10% of the profit toward qualified adaptive families when they host a trunk show.

http://www.noondaycollection.com

Read earth trading company is a brand that is fashionable as well as life changing.  If you are looking for quality hand crafted Jewelry, accessories and leather goods you are in the right store. They work directly with artisans in a developing nation that creates exceptional products, value their employees, and desire to make a difference in the community. In exchange for their work they pay these companies at or above fair market prices in all products and help them to better manage and organize their businesses to be successful in every market.

http://www.redearthtradingco.com/category/earrings

"For, dear brothers, you have been given freedom: not freeedom to do wrong, but freedom to love and serve each other." Galatians 5:13

See you next week for more...As usual please suggest if you know any companies that stand behind a cause so we can shop with a purpose.



Saved by Love

He used to be a drug addict,

He got stuck before he knew it.

When he first started it was just for fun,

But one thing led to another.

Let me tell you what; he became that man,

Who can't live one more day, unless he injects one?

 

He said to his body; "ask me no more!

I don't want this life; I am going to move on."

It wasn't as easy as he thought it would be,

He wanted some support but he couldn't get any.

People kept judging him and gave him some advice;

which  left him with sadness and so many regrets,

He kept asking himself; "What did I do?

How can I get out? Can somebody help me?

Can somebody love me? Why are you judging me?

I don't want this life; I need another chance,

I want to get out and become a different man."

Then he heard a voice and he felt the love he needs,

“Come to me my child let me set you free

Come out from among them,

And be separate says the Lord.

Do not touch what is unclean 

And I will receive you, 

I will be a father to you,

And you shall be my son."

2nd Corinthians 17-18

 

So, he did what he asked him

Now he can say “I am finally free!”

He is Free to love, he is free to give

The rest of my friends? The rest is history...

 

“He who judges me is the lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts.”  1 Corinthians 4-5

 

I dedicate this poem to all my brothers and sisters who suffered or suffering from addiction. May you be new again by his love and grace.  May the Lord touch your life and help you carry any burden or regrets you may have from your past… May your past life be a lesson to others and your future as bright as the stars…

Photo Credit: Shutterstock, abc preachers, mind motivation.com

The Delicate Flower

I am a delicate flower,

If I am not loved I die;

If I am not watered I cry.

Protect me from burning by the sun,

And from the coldness by night.

Make my heart beat fast and right;

That is the only way I stay alive.

I am a delicate flower,

The heat of your love makes me bloom,

When you are beside me;

I'm not afraid of a thunderstorm.

When the snow comes;

I hide underneath your brave heart,

I'm not moved by darkness or night.

When I hear the heavy rain outside,

It is a melody combined with a beat of your heart; 

Oh, what more can I want?

Please love me now,

And love me forever.

I will bloom and bloom;

Taking colors from the sky,

With a beauty that widens every eye;

My little sparks burning bright,

So you can enjoy my sight;

I happened to be one of a kind;

Only made for you by God.

"Husbands Ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hated his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it. Just as the Lord does the church." Ephesians 5:28-29

Photo credit:  Xymonau and Abiy Mamo Photography