Power Exchange

"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any."

Alice Walker

I don't know where I saw this quote, but I jotted it down (like I do so many quotes that I like) and quickly moved on to the next task. The quote kept nudging the edge of my thoughts. I would look at it, and then put it aside again, and again.  But it won't let go.

The truth is, I tend to get caught up in the routine of my life and forget that I have any power. I fight the cycle of get the teenagers to do their homework, pull the four year-old off the furniture, make the meals, do the laundry, and maybe, if I work it in, read my Bible or seek to help others outside our home. Then I collapse in bed only to get up and do it all over again. And I wonder why I have this restlessness that says "things don't have to be like this." I don't want to be controlled by the routine. I want to be a transforming factor in my life not a conforming minion.

I've been doing interesting reading these last few weeks about injustice and ethics (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lachs by Rebecca Skloot) and extreme courage in a time of absolute evil (Anne Frank Remembered: The Story of the Woman Who Helped Hide the Frank Family by Miep Gies and Alison Leslie Gold). That part of me that fueled the social worker of the past wants to be a righter of wrongs. But the pragmatic person sitting here is not sure she could be a voice for justice anymore. Notice I said could be, because right now I'm pretty sure I am not.

This week I've been following the Compassion bloggers who are in Ecuador. I'm overwhelmed, again, to see the poverty...and the hope...that these bloggers bring to their readers. Once again, I'm challenged. As a Compassion sponsor I act on a belief that an organisation like Compassion can and does release children from poverty. I am happy with how I see my small funds go to help children. I love receiving the letters and pictures that show that they are growing and healthy. I cry and I pray when I receive letters that say that they have been ill but are still going to school. I write letters because I hope that I give some encouragement. But it takes trips like the current Ecuador trip to remind me that what we are doing is sharing the power we have with those who don't have it. Shannan Martin has absolutely wrecked my world this week with her posts, but this one about not losing hope has reminded me that there is a reason why I sponsor kids.

As I've mentioned before, we are studying Acts this season at church. Sunday we were looking at Acts 15. We were challenged by the questions--"Do you believe the gospel is good news?" and "If you believe it, are you living it out?" We were further challenged to consider the choices we make, and in areas that are not sin-related to consider if our choices are helpful or beneficial to others in their walk with God or toward God. It is a reminder that I hold a power to help and to encourage or to distract and to discourage. My choices matter. And I need to not forget that power. Because even if I am acting in such a way that says I am powerless to affect big changes, the decisions I make are impacting others. I want that impact to be intentional and God-honouring, not incidental.

So as I think about a year of taking what God says Seriously!, I am thankful for the reminders that I can be a voice for those in need and that the choices of my life speak volumes about justice, equality and hope. I want to be intentional that they are speaking for God's justice and God's hope. Giving people God's power is an exchange I can be happy to make.

More Compassion Posts

More amazing stories from the Compassion bloggers. Wow. Just wow.

Pramanik

Rinky's Treasures (This is an amazing testimony of why it is so important to write our sponsored kids. It doesn't take long--the time to write an email on the Compassion website, but it obviously makes a tremendous difference. Humbling how big a difference a small effort can make.)

Universal Language

God's Shameless Love for the Poor

Our Boy

Dreamers Dream if They Know They Can Dream

Weeping, Praying, Thanking God for the work of Compassion.

Delayed IOW post, but good reading in the meantime

"The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act.”
~Rick Warren~

My jet-lagged brain is finding it difficult to finish my IOW post. I'll get it posted later today. But in the meantime, this week several amazing bloggers are traveling in India with Compassion. Compassion is an organziation I cannot say enough good about. And these brave bloggers are actually living out what they think and feel about Jesus' call to serve the poor. Go and visit their blogs. You will not be disappointed.

70 Left

Her Name is Lakshmi

Name


Sometimes I'm Miserable, Pitiful, Poor and Blind

Pride and Prejudice

Speechless for the First Time EVER but Compelled to Type

The Flickr Photos of the Trip are here

Why are you still here? Go. Be Blessed!

In Other Words----True Liberty

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
2 Cor 3:17 NKJV.

Today, millions of people will go to the polls and vote for their choice of government leaders for the United States. They will be casting a ballot to say which candidates they believe will provide them and the country the most freedom in the upcoming terms (whether it be President, Representatives, Governors, Mayors, etc). Many people are hanging their entire hope on whether or not the "right" candidate gets elected. Don't get me wrong, I, too, have my opinions of who will be the best leaders in our country. My vote was cast weeks ago by absentee ballot and I pray that I voted in the way God would have had me vote. I do believe it matters. But I believe that it is more important for the people of God to recognize that God is the leader of our lives and not any person we choose to govern us. God allows and appoints governments. But He does not relinquish His control.

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
Romans 13:1-2

When we believe that the government chosen by the people is more important to our living lives of liberty than God we are in trouble. The question is, what are we voting to be liberated from? If we are seeking liberty in how to spend our money, care for our bodies, educate our children, protect our interests, or relate to other countries then it is true the government is the more important choice. But if we are seeking true liberty, then God is our only hope. No candidate can liberate us from what truly holds us in bondage. Only God can do that because only God can liberate us from our sinful state.

To the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
Ephesians 1:6-8

In an interesting twist of timing, several bloggers are at this very moment traveling in the Dominican Republic with Compassion International. If you have a chance go and read some of their stories. They are only on day one of posting and they will tug at your heartstrings as you see true poverty and an organization that I personally believes makes a difference. In today's post, Melanie at Big Mama writes, "...I was sitting in a shack with a tin roof, filled with four smiling children and a mother who was beaming as she told us how happy their home is because they have Jesus." Melanie goes on to contrast that with groups of kids who can have anything materially but have no hope. [PLEASE click the link above and read it. It will touch your heart, and maybe lead you to get involved with Compassion.] Melanie captures this sense of liberty with Jesus. The family that has nothing materially is liberated because they have Jesus. We, who compared to much of the world, have everything materially live in bondage if we don't live in Jesus.

Today, if you are American, please go vote. It is a privilege and a duty that we should not take lightly. But, more importantly, if you are reading this and you are a Christian, today vote to live in the liberty that Christ has already bestowed upon us. If you are not a believer, I urge you to consider allowing Jesus to liberate you from your sins. There is no greater privilege than living in His kingdom's freedom. Bless you today!

Father, God, we come to you today on our faces. We humbly seek your guidance in how to vote for the leaders in our country. We confess that we oft times allow negative, destructive rhetoric to come out of our mouths as we discuss political things. Forgive us when emotion is allowed to rule and we dishonor you and your Name with our words. We know that You hold the authorities and we beg that You will be the God of whoever is elected today from the smallest to the highest offices. We pray that those officials will seek You and that Your liberty will be allowed to reign in our hearts and in our country. Amen.


Today's hostess is Karen at In Love W.I.T.H. Jesus. Please visit her today for links to other reflections on today's Scripture.