Okay, I lied. I'm posting today. Only because I found out that today is the Great Kindness Challenge and I wanted you guys to know that!
Here's an article from the Star Tribune and the site to check out what you can do today!
The story of a 7 year old Wisconsin boy whose random act of kindness inspired others to do the same is burning up the internet.
It all started when young Joshua Thorson decided to put his $1 allowance on a random person's windshield with a note.
Jim Pfifer found the money and the note, which read, "This is the dollar I made doing my chores and I wanted to do something speical with it, so I'm giving it to you. God loves you. My name is Joshua. I'm 7 years old."
Touched, Pfifer donated the $1, along with $10 of his own to the YMCA's Strong Kids campaign. Later, when he told the story at a fundraiser, donations totalling $3,000 poured in - all because of one child's generosity.
Joshua's mother reportedly suggested after he cleaned his playroom that he give his allowance to someone else to learn a lesson about doing something nice without any expectations.
This weekend is a great time to do that. Saturday (TODAY!) is the Great Kindness Challenge, presented by Kids for Peace. For the day, the group hopes to get more than 1 million children around the world performing as many acts of kindness as possible from sunup to sundown. The goal is to inspire children to a lifelong commitment to service and kindess.
The movement's website (http://www.greatkindnesschallenge.org/) even offers a Great Kindness Challenge Checklist, which features 50 acts of kindness to choose from and includes acts such as simply smiling at 25 people, donating food to a food shelter, having a lemonade stand to raise money for a good cause, picking up trash, or planting a tree.
As the site says, even the simplest acts can make a big difference in someone's life. And kids just might be amazed at how fun it can be.
Go change the world! :)
K
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Be An Example
Verse of the Day:
1 Timothy 4:12
12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
How many times have you heard adults say, ‘Kids these days… They don’t know how to be thankful for all the things they have… When I was their age, my life was so much more difficult… I walked to school in the snow uphill both ways...’ Okay maybe the last one was a little extreme, but my dad honestly says that sometimes. hahaha. But seriously, I feel like I have encountered a lot of adults in my life who think that our generation is a bunch of selfish, needy, spoiled brats. (There are also a lot great adults I’ve met, but another post will focus on them!) Which I can totally understand by the way some of the people I know act. I think in general, we do have really great lives. Most of us know where we’re going to sleep each night, we know that we’ll have food on our table, and we know our parents will love us even if we make them mad sometimes. I know I’ve overlooked a lot of great things in my life before and just wanted more, more, more. Our parent’s generation was more able to be content with what they had and some of that can be blamed on society. It’s hard not to want the new iPod when it comes out or to expect a car when you turn 16. Society tells you that you need these things!
Anywho, what we need to do is show these people how GREAT Christian kids are! Just because we’re young doesn’t mean that we can’t change the world. I honestly think that everyone changes the world, maybe the change isn’t noticed by everyone, but if you change one person’s life you could potentially change the world by the domino effect. Live your life to show God within you. So many people have come to God not because someone verbally forced them to, but because they saw people living as great Christians and thought ‘… Whatever is making them so happy, I should try that.’
One thing I think of a lot that totally fits with this verse is what Alan Hansen-Begg said when he got up at the candle light vigil at camp… ‘I never knew that Christian kids could be so cool. You guys have restored my faith in the future of the world.’ I remember honestly crying when he said that because I think so many adults have his mindset. And we have restored his faith in the future of the world. YAY! One down, a lot more to go. ;) Be your Summer Fest self all year long and we will be able to show the adults of this world that we’re not the selfish kids they think we are.
Be grateful. Be compassionate. Be loving. Be pure. Be faithful. Be giving. Be helpful. Be polite. Be understanding. Be a child of God.
The Simple Truth: The best way to show anyone God is to BE an example of God. W.W.J.D.
Reflect: How can I talk, live my life, and love others to be an example of the gospel?
Apply: Is there a specific adult you could think of when you were reading this post that really struggles in their faith of teenagers today? Make a point to really show them what a great Christian you are.
Pray:
Lord, thank You for all that You have provided in my life. I am so blessed even though I don’t realize it sometimes. Help me to be a living example of You and show others how great it is to be Your child. You are an amazing God. Amen.
Have a great weekend! We’ll be back on Monday. Try not to miss us too much : )
Peace, love & prayers-
K
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Imagine This
Okay okay I know that this is a LOT of reading, but this reading has given me chills every single time I read it. It still gives me that WOW factor. It puts everything in a brand new perspective. So I'm really sorry it is so long, but it is worth it. I promise. So sit back, put your readin' glasses on, and imagine this.
You're driving home from work next Monday after a long day. You tune in your radio. You hear a blurb about a little village in India where some villagers have died suddenly, strangely, of a flu that has never been seen before. It's not influenza, but three or four people are dead, and it's kind of interesting, and they are sending some doctors over there to investigate it. You don't think much about it, but coming home from church on Sunday you hear another radio spot. Only they say it's, not three villagers, it's 30,000 villagers in the back hills of this particular area of India, and it's on TV that night. CNN runs a little blurb: people are heading there from the disease center in Atlanta because this disease strain has never been seen before.
By Monday morning when you get up, it's the lead story. It's not just India; it's Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and before you know it, you're hearing this story everywhere, and they have now coined it as "the mystery flu." The President has made some comment that he and his family are praying and hoping that all will go well over there. But everyone is wondering, "How are we going to contain it?"
That's when the President of France makes an announcement that shocks Europe. He is closing their borders. No flights from India, Pakistan, or any of the countries where this thing has been seen. And that's why that night you are watching a little bit of CNN before going to bed. Your jaw hits your chest when a weeping woman is translated in English from a French news program. There's a man lying in a hospital in Paris, dying of the mystery flu. It has come to Europe.
Panic strikes. As best they can tell, after contracting the disease, you have it for a week before you even know it. Then you have four days of unbelievable symptoms. And then you die. Britain closes its borders, but it's too late. South Hampton, Liverpool, North Hampton, and it's Tuesday morning when the President of the United States makes the following announcement: "Due to a national-security risk, all flights to and from Europe and Asia have been canceled. If your loved ones are overseas, I'm sorry. They cannot come back until we find a cure for this thing."
Within four days, our nation has been plunged into an unbelievable fear. People are wondering, "What if it comes to this country?" And preachers on Tuesday are saying it's the scourge of God. It's Wednesday night, and you are at a church prayer meeting when somebody runs in from the parking lot and yells, "Turn on a radio, turn on a radio!" And while everyone in church listens to a little transistor radio with a microphone stuck up to it, the announcement is made. Two women are lying, in a Long Island hospital, dying from the mystery flu. Within hours it seems, the disease envelopes the country.
People are working around the clock, trying to find an antidote. Nothing is working. California, Oregon, Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts. It's as though it's just sweeping in from the borders.
And then all of a sudden the news comes out. The code has been broken. A cure can be found. A vaccine can be made. It's going to take the blood of somebody who hasn't been infected, and so, sure enough, all through the Midwest, through all those channels of emergency broadcasting, everyone is asked to do one simple thing: Go to your downtown hospital and have your blood analyzed. That's all we ask of you. When you hear the sirens go off' in your neighborhood, please make your way quickly, quietly, and safely to the hospitals.
Sure enough, when you and your family get down there late on that Friday night, there is a long line, and they've got nurses and doctors coming out and pricking fingers and taking blood and putting labels on it. Your spouse and your kids are out there, and they take your blood and say, "Wait here in the parking lot, and if we call your name, you can be dismissed and go home." You stand around, scared, with your neighbors, wondering what on earth is going on, and if this is the end of the world.
Suddenly, a young man comes running out of the hospital screaming. He's yelling a name and waving a clipboard. What? He yells it again! And your son tugs on your jacket and says, "Daddy, that's me." Before you know it, they have grabbed your boy. "Wait a minute. Hold on!" And they say, "It's okay, his blood is clean. His blood is pure. We want to make sure he doesn't have the disease. We think he has the right blood type."
Five tense minutes later, out come the doctors and nurses crying and hugging one another-some are even laughing. It's the first time you have seen anybody laugh in a week, and an old doctor walks up to you and says, "Thank you, sir. Your son's blood is perfect. It's clean, it is pure, and we can make the vaccine."
As the word begins to spread all across that parking lot full of folks, people are screaming and praying and laughing and crying. But then the gray-haired doctor pulls you and your wife aside and says, "May we see you for a moment? We didn't realize that the donor would be a minor and we...we need you to sign a consent form."
You begin to sign, and then you see that the box for the number of pints of blood to be taken is empty. "H-h-h-how many pints?" And that is when the old doctor's smile fades, and he says, "We had no idea it would be a little child. We weren't prepared. We need it all! .... But...but...I don't understand. He's my only son! .... We are talking about the whole world here. Please sign. We...we...need to hurry!"
"But can't you give him a transfusion? If we had clean blood we would. Please, will you please sign?" In numb silence you do. Then they say, "Would you like to have a moment with him before we begin?"
Could you walk back? Could you walk back to that room where he sits on a table saying, "Daddy? Mommy? What's going on?" Could you take his hands and say, "Son, your mommy and I love you, and we would never, ever let anything happen to you that didn't just have to be! Do you understand that?" And when that old doctor comes back in and says, "I'm sorry, we've got to get started. People all over the world are dying," could you leave? Could you walk out while he is saying, "Dad? Mom? Dad? Why...why have you abandoned me?"
And then next week, when they have the ceremony to honor your son, and some folks sleep through it, and some folks don't even bother to come because they have better things to do, and some folks come with a pretentious smile and just pretend to care, would you want to jump up and say, "EXCUSE ME! MY SON DIED FOR YOU! DON'T YOU EVEN CARE? DOES IT MEAN NOTHING TO YOU?"
I wonder, is that what God wants to say? "MY SON DIED FOR YOU! DOES IT MEAN NOTHING? DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE?"
You're driving home from work next Monday after a long day. You tune in your radio. You hear a blurb about a little village in India where some villagers have died suddenly, strangely, of a flu that has never been seen before. It's not influenza, but three or four people are dead, and it's kind of interesting, and they are sending some doctors over there to investigate it. You don't think much about it, but coming home from church on Sunday you hear another radio spot. Only they say it's, not three villagers, it's 30,000 villagers in the back hills of this particular area of India, and it's on TV that night. CNN runs a little blurb: people are heading there from the disease center in Atlanta because this disease strain has never been seen before.
By Monday morning when you get up, it's the lead story. It's not just India; it's Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and before you know it, you're hearing this story everywhere, and they have now coined it as "the mystery flu." The President has made some comment that he and his family are praying and hoping that all will go well over there. But everyone is wondering, "How are we going to contain it?"
That's when the President of France makes an announcement that shocks Europe. He is closing their borders. No flights from India, Pakistan, or any of the countries where this thing has been seen. And that's why that night you are watching a little bit of CNN before going to bed. Your jaw hits your chest when a weeping woman is translated in English from a French news program. There's a man lying in a hospital in Paris, dying of the mystery flu. It has come to Europe.
Panic strikes. As best they can tell, after contracting the disease, you have it for a week before you even know it. Then you have four days of unbelievable symptoms. And then you die. Britain closes its borders, but it's too late. South Hampton, Liverpool, North Hampton, and it's Tuesday morning when the President of the United States makes the following announcement: "Due to a national-security risk, all flights to and from Europe and Asia have been canceled. If your loved ones are overseas, I'm sorry. They cannot come back until we find a cure for this thing."
Within four days, our nation has been plunged into an unbelievable fear. People are wondering, "What if it comes to this country?" And preachers on Tuesday are saying it's the scourge of God. It's Wednesday night, and you are at a church prayer meeting when somebody runs in from the parking lot and yells, "Turn on a radio, turn on a radio!" And while everyone in church listens to a little transistor radio with a microphone stuck up to it, the announcement is made. Two women are lying, in a Long Island hospital, dying from the mystery flu. Within hours it seems, the disease envelopes the country.
People are working around the clock, trying to find an antidote. Nothing is working. California, Oregon, Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts. It's as though it's just sweeping in from the borders.
And then all of a sudden the news comes out. The code has been broken. A cure can be found. A vaccine can be made. It's going to take the blood of somebody who hasn't been infected, and so, sure enough, all through the Midwest, through all those channels of emergency broadcasting, everyone is asked to do one simple thing: Go to your downtown hospital and have your blood analyzed. That's all we ask of you. When you hear the sirens go off' in your neighborhood, please make your way quickly, quietly, and safely to the hospitals.
Sure enough, when you and your family get down there late on that Friday night, there is a long line, and they've got nurses and doctors coming out and pricking fingers and taking blood and putting labels on it. Your spouse and your kids are out there, and they take your blood and say, "Wait here in the parking lot, and if we call your name, you can be dismissed and go home." You stand around, scared, with your neighbors, wondering what on earth is going on, and if this is the end of the world.
Suddenly, a young man comes running out of the hospital screaming. He's yelling a name and waving a clipboard. What? He yells it again! And your son tugs on your jacket and says, "Daddy, that's me." Before you know it, they have grabbed your boy. "Wait a minute. Hold on!" And they say, "It's okay, his blood is clean. His blood is pure. We want to make sure he doesn't have the disease. We think he has the right blood type."
Five tense minutes later, out come the doctors and nurses crying and hugging one another-some are even laughing. It's the first time you have seen anybody laugh in a week, and an old doctor walks up to you and says, "Thank you, sir. Your son's blood is perfect. It's clean, it is pure, and we can make the vaccine."
As the word begins to spread all across that parking lot full of folks, people are screaming and praying and laughing and crying. But then the gray-haired doctor pulls you and your wife aside and says, "May we see you for a moment? We didn't realize that the donor would be a minor and we...we need you to sign a consent form."
You begin to sign, and then you see that the box for the number of pints of blood to be taken is empty. "H-h-h-how many pints?" And that is when the old doctor's smile fades, and he says, "We had no idea it would be a little child. We weren't prepared. We need it all! .... But...but...I don't understand. He's my only son! .... We are talking about the whole world here. Please sign. We...we...need to hurry!"
"But can't you give him a transfusion? If we had clean blood we would. Please, will you please sign?" In numb silence you do. Then they say, "Would you like to have a moment with him before we begin?"
Could you walk back? Could you walk back to that room where he sits on a table saying, "Daddy? Mommy? What's going on?" Could you take his hands and say, "Son, your mommy and I love you, and we would never, ever let anything happen to you that didn't just have to be! Do you understand that?" And when that old doctor comes back in and says, "I'm sorry, we've got to get started. People all over the world are dying," could you leave? Could you walk out while he is saying, "Dad? Mom? Dad? Why...why have you abandoned me?"
And then next week, when they have the ceremony to honor your son, and some folks sleep through it, and some folks don't even bother to come because they have better things to do, and some folks come with a pretentious smile and just pretend to care, would you want to jump up and say, "EXCUSE ME! MY SON DIED FOR YOU! DON'T YOU EVEN CARE? DOES IT MEAN NOTHING TO YOU?"
I wonder, is that what God wants to say? "MY SON DIED FOR YOU! DOES IT MEAN NOTHING? DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE?"
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Shining Your Light
Verse of the Day:
Matthew 5:14
14Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
I love love love this verse. For real. Right before this verse, Jesus explains how nobody lights a lamp and then puts it under a bushel basket. I mean, duh…then nobody would get any use out of the light! Instead, one would put the lit lamp on the top shelf so that light is shed on the whole house.
In the SAME way, once we are full of God’s light, we cannot hide it! We have to let everyone around us see it. There are many fun and exciting ways to do this.
1) Sing a fun Jesus song. (i.e. This Little Light of Mine, Jesus Loves Me...)
2) Write a letter to a friend, telling them how great they are.
3) Buy someone’s coffee at Caribou.
4) Hug people.
Seriously, all of these little things really make a positive difference in people’s day, not to mention they make us feel GREAT. Jesus says to let others see our good works, so then THEY can see how awesome God is and give glory to Him. It’s a chain reaction.
The Simple Truth: God does not want us to keep our own little lights to ourselves. He wants us to SHARE them wherever there is darkness so that it is brought to the light or exposed for what it really is.
Reflect: How can I let my light shine today?
Apply: Do something today to let your Jesus-light shine! It can be something small, but you will be amazed how much of an impact it has on others and how great it makes you feel as well!
Pray:
Help me, O God, to be a light to those near and far. Lead me into ways of service that will bless people in the name of Jesus. Don’t let us hide our light under a bowl. Bring praise to yourself by shining through us. Amen.
Let your light shine.
-Lo
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Let Go and Let God
Verse of the Day:
Psalm 25:12
12Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose.
I’m really bad at making decisions. It’s so bad that I have to order a Twist Cone at Dairy Queen because I cannot decide if I want chocolate or vanilla. So when I have to actually make major life decisions, I get really nervous. Not all decisions are so easy, you know?
For example, I’ve started visiting colleges. Talk about stress! It’s a bigger deal than I thought I guess. So many things to take into consideration – the size of the campus, money, the programs offered. In the middle of all this craziness, I forgot that God is on my side. COOL! It’s like, what do I really have to be afraid of when God tells me simply in Psalm 25:12 that He will show me the path I should choose. What I’ve learned is to take all this stress and put it at the cross. I mean who knows us better than the guy who actually created us? A lot of it, for me anyway, is letting go and letting God.
The Simple Truth: No matter how scared or stressed we are about a certain decision, we can literally let God take the wheel. He will tell us where to go next.
Reflect: Do I try and completely control some parts of my life, without the help of God?
Apply: Next time you do not know what decision to make, lay your burden at the cross. Let God handle it. You will be surprised as to how much He knows what He’s doing J
Pray:
Lord, help me to realize that I can trust you with anything, that I can let you into the craziest and most stressful parts of my life and that You will lead me to the right path. Help me not to be afraid to let go, and let You take the wheel of my destiny.
"And all of creation sing with me now, lift up your voice and lay your burden down"
-All of Creation, MercyMe (Great song, you should listen to it!)
Let your light shine.
-Lo
Monday, August 9, 2010
Lovin' Yo Enemies
Verse of the Day:
Luke 6:35
35But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High.
All right, it’s my turn now. Choir camp was good (It was not nerdy). And sorry that there were no blogs this weekend, we had some technical difficulties (I always seem to attract viruses to computers…) We decided we will not be blogging on the weekends though, we are just tooooo busy!
Let’s start at the beginning of the verse. I know what you’re thinking – love your enemies? Why would you love the people that don’t like you at all? This is my interpretation about that line: I think God does not want us to conform to be people that we are not JUST so someone will like us. I can think of many times where I have changed habits or listened to a certain type of music just to feel accepted. When in reality, who was I really trying to impress? I think God wants us to love our enemies and accept the fact that He made us a certain way, and that we do not need to change for someone to like us.
Now, expecting nothing in return for doing good things and lending? I’m going to be honest, I have trouble with this. When I do nice things, I really do expect people to do something nice back. But as I am getting older, I am realizing it is not the case. We need to put others first, try to take some stress off of them. This reminds me of something I heard at a camp – it’s the quote “I am third”. It means that God is first, others are second, and THEN you should worry about yourselves. If you’re like me, this concept can be really hard for you, but it really does feel good to do those silent acts of kindness without recognition. Give it a try J
The Simple Truth: God wants us to love the people that don’t necessarily accept us, and accept the fact that we are made for HIM. He tells us straight up that our reward will be great for doing this and for doing nice things for others without recognition.
Reflect: Do I try to become someone else to impress others? How often do I put others before myself?
Apply: Do something nice for someone, expecting NOTHING in return. Clean the kitchen just for the heck of it. Buy someone’s burger at McDonald’s. Remember that you are THIRD.
Pray:
Lord, help me to accept the fact that not everyone is going to like me for who You made me to be. Help me to love those people anyway. Help me to put myself last behind You and those around me and to do acts of kindness expecting nothing back.
Let your light shine.
-Lo
Friday, August 6, 2010
You say, God says
No specific verse for today. I just found this in a bunch of old stuff I had and thought it was really cool. So read it through and think about how ridiculously loved you are!
You say: It’s impossible.
God says: All things are possible. (Luke 18:27)
You say: I’m too tired.
God says: I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: Nobody really loves me.
God says: I love you. (John 3:16 and John 3:34)
You say: I can’t go on.
God says: My grace is sufficient. (II Corinthians 12:9 and Psalm 91:15)
You say: I can’t figure things out.
God says: I will direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: I can’t do it.
God says: You can do all things. (Philippians 4:13)
You say: I am not able.
God says: I am able. (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: It’s not worth it.
God says: It will be worth it. (Romans 8:28)
You say: I can’t forgive myself.
God says: I forgive you. (1 John 1:9 and Romans 8:1)
You say: I can’t manage.
God says: I will supply all your needs. (Philippians 4:19)
You say: I’m afraid.
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear. (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: I’m always worried and frustrated.
God says: Cast all your cares on ME. (1 Peter 5:7)
You say: I feel all alone.
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)
God says: All things are possible. (Luke 18:27)
You say: I’m too tired.
God says: I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: Nobody really loves me.
God says: I love you. (John 3:16 and John 3:34)
You say: I can’t go on.
God says: My grace is sufficient. (II Corinthians 12:9 and Psalm 91:15)
You say: I can’t figure things out.
God says: I will direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: I can’t do it.
God says: You can do all things. (Philippians 4:13)
You say: I am not able.
God says: I am able. (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: It’s not worth it.
God says: It will be worth it. (Romans 8:28)
You say: I can’t forgive myself.
God says: I forgive you. (1 John 1:9 and Romans 8:1)
You say: I can’t manage.
God says: I will supply all your needs. (Philippians 4:19)
You say: I’m afraid.
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear. (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: I’m always worried and frustrated.
God says: Cast all your cares on ME. (1 Peter 5:7)
You say: I feel all alone.
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)
The Simple Truth: God’s got you covered. When you feel like you’ve lost it all and can’t go on, He is there to supply everything you need.
Pray:
Thank You God for providing for me and for always taking care of me. I know everything is possible with You and that although sometimes Your plan and my plan don’t match up, You will never leave me and You always have my best interest at heart. It is great to be loved by You. Amen.
Peace, love & prayers-
K
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