Compassion has a lofty goal this month; 3108 children sponsored through blogs like mine.
Sponsorship to me means that our child, Joseph who turns TEN next month sends letters about his life in Kenya. It means he's in school, in church, getting fed, having medical check ups, and being a child. I can't explain the relief it is to know that this particular little guy has ended the cycle of poverty for his family. Being in the Compassion program has allowed the family to not have to pay tuition bills, school supplies, medical needs, supplemental food, or beg on the streets.
We've given financial gifts and they purchased a GOAT! Yes, it may not seem like a lot in the United States, but they have milk to drink, milk to turn into cheese, they can breed the goat, and if needed, slaughter the goat for meat. It is helping to support the family further than just throwing money at them and walking away hoping their choices will be financially beneficial to the entire family.
And the entire family learns about the Good News that is Jesus Christ through their local church. It's allowing the local church to be the hands and feet of Jesus. It is forming trust within the local church to provide for the needs like they're called to do in Acts. And it gives the people a sense of safety in community as most of their homes are ravaged by wars, droughts, extreme poverty, violence, sex trafficking.
So, with all this said, I'd like to ask you to go to Compassion page and PRAY over and for some of these children. The ones who need a sponsor, the ones who tug at your heart, the ones with special needs health, the ones with your birthday, the older children who always get picked last the least of these CALLING your name. We MUST release these children from poverty in Jesus' name.
Isaiah 58 clearly offers us a challenge today:
(The Message Version)
1-3 “Shout! A full-throated shout!
Hold nothing back—a trumpet-blast shout!
Tell my people what’s wrong with their lives,
face my family Jacob with their sins!
They’re busy, busy, busy at worship,
and love studying all about me.
To all appearances they’re a nation of right-living people—
law-abiding, God-honoring.
They ask me, ‘What’s the right thing to do?’
and love having me on their side.
But they also complain,
‘Why do we fast and you don’t look our way?
Why do we humble ourselves and you don’t even notice?’
Hold nothing back—a trumpet-blast shout!
Tell my people what’s wrong with their lives,
face my family Jacob with their sins!
They’re busy, busy, busy at worship,
and love studying all about me.
To all appearances they’re a nation of right-living people—
law-abiding, God-honoring.
They ask me, ‘What’s the right thing to do?’
and love having me on their side.
But they also complain,
‘Why do we fast and you don’t look our way?
Why do we humble ourselves and you don’t even notice?’
3-5 “Well, here’s why:
“The bottom line on your ‘fast days’ is profit.
You drive your employees much too hard.
You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight.
You fast, but you swing a mean fist.
The kind of fasting you do
won’t get your prayers off the ground.
Do you think this is the kind of fast day I’m after:
a day to show off humility?
To put on a pious long face
and parade around solemnly in black?
Do you call that fasting,
a fast day that I, God, would like?
You drive your employees much too hard.
You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight.
You fast, but you swing a mean fist.
The kind of fasting you do
won’t get your prayers off the ground.
Do you think this is the kind of fast day I’m after:
a day to show off humility?
To put on a pious long face
and parade around solemnly in black?
Do you call that fasting,
a fast day that I, God, would like?
6-9 “This is the kind of fast day I’m after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I’m interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I’m interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’
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