You Can Make a Difference!

Have you ever thought to yourself  how can you make a difference in this world?  Maybe you have thought that you're not much of a world traveler, nor do you have the desire to travel much, but maybe you still wonder is there a possible way to help make a difference in someone's life.  You can help people no matter where you live, and now days it is possible to help people around the world without even traveling to do so.  If you have ever supported someone to take a mission trip through prayer or finacially, that is one way you have helped, another way would be to be a help within your own town or city.  You live in this world so if you have helped serve others 2 miles from your house you still are impacting the world somehow!  The point is we can all help others no matter where we are and we are all called to share the love of Christ and to be the love of Christ.  

I am here to ask for your help to help a little girl named Mamosa.  Mamosa lives in Lethoso, which is a small and poor country in Southern Africa.  Mamosa is my sponsored child through World Vision.  I became Mamosa's sponsor around Christmas time 3 years ago.  I was working in San Diego at the time.  One night I was in Family Christian Stores down in SD and I was checking out.  As the lady was ringing up my purchase I had glanced at the World Vision chidren on the counter.  The clerk asked if I'd be interested in becoming a sponsor.  I hesistated but then said, I have felt God calling me to be one someday, and that "someday" was the day God wanted me to start.  The store clerk pulled out Mamosa's folder and said that she had been looked over many times for over a year.  For some reason no one had chosen to be her sponsor.  By then the nudge on my heart became more like a push from God to become a sponsor and He wanted me to be Mamosa''s sponsor.  I have enjoyed being a sponsor.  Mamosa is a sweet little girl and also a very good artist.  I enjoy receiving pictures from her and sweet letters from her sweet heart.

Now today has come, where I no longer can afford to sponsor Mamosa.  I knew the day would eventually come over the past few weeks or so, because I am no longer on staff with YWAM and my income would be cut off.  The thought of not being Mamosa's sponsor was really making my heart ache even more than it already was.  I do not want to call World Vision to tell them I can no longer be Mamosa's sponsor.  I couldn't even imagine the hurt and pain little Mamosa would feel when she would find that out.  God wants me to keep on sponsoring this sweet little child of His.  I am trusting that God will somehow provide so I can keep sponsoring her.  

I am asking you.  Would you prayfully consider helping me out financially so I can continue to support Mamosa?  Any amount helps.  Please pray for Mamosa and her family.  They are very poor and they really need our help.  Together let's continue to help give what Mamosa and her family need phycially and also continue to share the love of Christ to her and her family.  If you are interested in giving please contact me.  You can either message me on Facebook, or  E-mail me at jrvl03@msn.com  Thank you so much.  

Why?

I would say every person who ever lived, and everyone who lives today has at one point or another asked the question of why.  Maybe not in English.  Maybe you asked por que?  Maybe waarom?  Or how about 為什麼呢？  Well whatever language you choose, I think you get the picture.  We have all wondered why this or that at some point in our lives.  Perhaps it is daily.  Or perhaps it is often enough where you can go back and remember the last time.  Time and place is not the point here.

Your next question now is probably, what is my point.  Well, I am glad that you asked. I have found myself asking why to a lot of things lately.  The past month has be a tough one.  This whole year actually, but more so it feels that this month has put a number on me.  I have been struggling emotionally a lot it seems like lately.  Stress and pain have both increased over the past few weeks.  I wonder sometimes why it feels like my life right now feels like a train wreck.  Last year around this time is when this whole journey started.  It was then where I have been in and out of the hospital, bound to a wheelchair for months (I praise God, I am now out of it.), struck by a lot of pain, not being able to ride a bike, (Okay, I love riding bike, and I tried it out a couple weeks ago, and it didn't go over so well!), not being able to walk the city streets and sharing the love of Christ to my homeless friends, and  I will end the list here, but you get what I'm saying.  It has been hard.  Sometimes I have days where I feel really down.  I sometimes have days where I don't feel like getting out of bed.  I feel like screaming sometimes.  Sad part is, I have tried screaming and my voice goes out!  I have had times where I have asked God why.  

God has answered my why question through  His Word.  Two passages come to mind as I write this blog, the passages that God has given me to read and remind me of.   

2 Corinthians 12:9  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,  who have been called according to his purpose."

These are two verses that God whispers in my ear daily.  God answers my "why" in a better way than I expect.  Even though right now the waves of the storm are high and I don't know what my next step is going to be, I can always be certain of this, that is Jesus is always in the same boat.  Jesus calms the raging storms that seem so out of control.  He wipes every tear away from my eyes.  Jesus heals my broken heart.  Jesus knows my pain and He cares.  Romans 8:28 tells me that God is working everything out for the good.  God is using me now and is using my journey to prepare me for what is next in my life.  God is my eternal Rock, my fortress, my deliverer.  God knows what is best for me.  God also has my entire life planned out.  As I look back on this year alone, I already see how God has walked me through and He has blessed me with some amazing people whom I love very much.  Both my family and church family have been a huge support.  I have met people whom have become some great friends and prayer warriors of mine and I would not have met them if it weren't because of everything that has happened this last year.  I have also grown closer to God and God reminds me that throughout all the trials in my life my faith does get strengthened.  I have said this to some of my family and  a couple great friends that if it wasn't for the trials I don't think I would have as strong of a faith.  Not only that, but I wouldn't know how to have such a strong compassin and love for hurting people.  That is just one example of how God uses my trials for the good and for His glory.  God wants me to have a strong and close relationship with Him.  I am an image bearer of God, meaning that God wants Hm to reflect off of me and be made known to others.  Jesus has suffered so much for me, and like it says in James, I need to count it pure joy when I endure sufferings of any kind. 

When I am down, God picks me back up.  He reminds me it is okay to be sad and have feelings.  He also reminds me of everything I just wrote.  God will always be there for me.  Even if I feel rejected by people, God says that He will never reject me, leave me or stop loving me.  God will always be my provider.  I am blessed.  I know that God is as work in me.  I will keep clinging to Him.  Though right now hurts so much, I have an inner joy that can never be taken away.  Even if everything in my life is taken away, Jessus Christ cannot ever be taken from me no matter what.  I will keep living for my King through the calm AND through the storms.

A Wedding Day Miracle

Hi Everybody,

First of all a quick update on how I am doing, and then I will share with you a story of God's amazing power and strength.

I am making progress. I have had a couple of bad falls since the last entry and they have given me quite a bit of pain. About a month ago I fell and injured my knee and it still hasn't healed. I have a brace on it which helps with my walking on it. Just a few days ago I took a face plant to the floor and gave myself a good sore back. It is starting to feel better, but that was a fall that brought tears to my eyes. I don't do that too quickly with pain. Those are a couple of the rough spots that have occurred. Overall I have made more porgress. The wheelchair has been back in the picture a little bit because of my knee, but otherwise I have said goodbye to that thing. Yay!

Now, time for the great story I have to share. My sister Laura got married this past Saturday. She got engaged in July. When the wedding date was set I had a goal to achieve. Laura made me her made of honor and I wanted so badly to walk down the isle before her without the walker. I practiced down the hallways of my house with the cane because I had a goal that the cane would be used instead. I never really did master using the cane by myself. The night of rehearsal was the first time I had walked down the isle with the cane by myself and without walls to bump into. On the wedding day I was drained. My body was already exhausted but I knew that I had a goal that was yet to be achieved.
When the time came for me to enter the sanctuary and walk down the isle, I proceeded. Then I felt my legs about to give way and I didn't think I was going to be making it. Just about everybody I knew all around me was praying for me. I felt God's power released in me, and the only way that I can explain it even being possible that I walked with a cane was Jesus carrying me down the isle. That was a total miracle that day, and I praise God that He gave me the strength I needed at just the right time. Right now the cane is put aside for a while and I still use the walker.

I took a literal step of faith that day, and God didn't let me fall. He held me up and led me to the stage where my pastor awaited to help me up the steps.  The wedding was beautiful. It was a Christ centered ceremony and a great day to celebrate with family and friends. 

Thank you all for your prayers and love you have shown me. It has been a rough year, but to God be the glory because I say this with everything I have, "God's got this!" He truly does, and He has continued to remain so faithful, and has given me strength in my weakest moments. Even when my faith is dim, God still holds me tightly in His arms and continues to remind me He is all that I need. I continue to look to the cross and hold tightly on to Jesus, because without Him I am nothing. He is my everything and He is what gets me through each and every day.

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

One Fall too Hard

During the past several months I have fallen many times.  Every time I was able to get up, usually with assistance, but I never hurt myself worse than maybe a bruise.  Last week I tripped again and landed on my knee wrong and ended up with a torn ligament and added pain.  I say it was one fall too hard.  During the past few nights I have been thinking.  Night time has become great thinking time because it is hard to sleep.  Anyways I started to compare the fall to my walk with God.  

As I've thought to myself, on the spiritual journey we have many bumps in the road, and times when we have fallen.  The good thing is as Christians we never have to worry about falling too hard for God to be able to pick us back up.  God always walks with us and if we surrender to Him, He will never let us down.   God wants us to follow Him and do what He has called each of us to do.  Many times we fail and try to do things on our own.  That is when we run into trouble.  Because of our sinful nature we do make mistakes.  But God never says to us, "You're not good enough, and I don't need you anymore."  No matter what, God will always be there.  

God also gives us free will.  He doesn't force us to follow Him or accept Him into our lives.  But let me tell you, that when we do commit our lives over to Christ and choose to follow Him, we have a peace and a hope, and an assurance that we are His, and one day He will call us to be with Him for all eternity.  God also promises us that He will be with us, and He will never fail us.  He uses every trial for good and there is always a purpose for every one.   No one can ever take the assurance away no matter how hard life may get.  No matter how many times you stumble, God will always be there to pick you up, and there will never be a fall too hard.  

Not Just a Sandwich

I want to share a story with you.  This is a moment in my life that happened back when I was in college...

The night was cold.  Class was just dismissed for break.  During my break I got into my car to drive up to the gas station just a couple of blocks away from my school.  I pulled up into the parking stall and began taking those few steps to the doors of the gas station store.  Sitting next to the doors was a gentleman dressed in shabby and dirty clothes.  His face and hands were very dirty, and his eyes were filled with grief.  He didn't have to say much, but I knew that this man was lonely, cold, and hungry.  He looked at me and asked if I had any money.  I told him I didn't have any, because I didn't have any cash on me;  just my ATM card.  But he needed something more than a couple bucks.  As I proceeded into the store my mind started going.  I got myself something cold to drink and a little snack to keep my mind awake for the remainder of class that night, but I knew that God wanted me to grab something for the man outside.  I picked up a gas station sandwich and a water bottle.  I made the purchase and walked back outside. I handed the man the bag with the sandwich and water in it and I said, "Here you go sir."  His eyes grew wide and he looked up at me and said to me in a tone that I will never forget.  He said, "You got that for me?  God bless you."  He acted as if I handed him a feast.  His gratitude said it all to me.  

I got back in my car and the tears started to come.  I began to wonder what was his story.  I never saw this man again and even today I wonder sometimes what happened to him.  God told me that night to get a sandwich for the man, but it wasn't just a sandwich, no it was something more.  Jesus shown through me that night.  I could feel the power of the Holy Spirit in me and God's love was poured into the sandwich.  God uses even the smallest acts of kindness to bring others to Him.  I didn't realize until several months later that God was calling me into something more than what I was studying at school.  As I finished up my college career and graduated, God had been leading me into a ride of my life.  I am still riding it!  Between that time to today God has given me many more opportunities to spread His love to the lost and hurting people.  He has definitely given me a huge passion to share His love to those on the streets.  One of the lessons that I learn is God will use even the smallest acts of love and change someone's life.  

We may not all be called to serve around the world, or even in full-time ministry but we are all called to love.  We are all called to share God's love with those around us.  If God asks you to buy a sandwich for someone, remember it isn't just a sandwich He is asking you to give.  God works in so many ways and He even can change someone's life through a gift of a sandwich.