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Compassion

Posted on November 9, 2015

Poverty + The Red Cup Issue

Compassion/ Faith
Worldwide 600 million children live in extreme poverty. Almost half the world — over 3 billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.

I’m not even going to give the authors and protestors of the Starbucks red cup issue a moment of my day. Instead, I’ll write this.

I am fully aware that many (probably the majority) of companies where I shop, don’t have the same convictions and beliefs as me. I would be wasting so much of my precious time on this earth if I looked into the backbone of every single company that I indirectly support as a consumer. I have chosen to not be the Christian that goes pointing fingers and boycotting businesses in attempt to make a point, but instead, be the Christian that DOES something to make a difference for the real issue. Read more..

Posted on July 26, 2014

Eight

Central America/ church/ Compassion/ Compassion Advocate/ Compassion Sponsor/ Jesus/ poverty/ South America

A while back I shared about how we became sponsors through Compassion. {Click HERE to read that post.} In the right side bar you can see the faces of our two precious children. Those two pictures sit directly across from where I sit each day on the couch. Their pictures humble me, motivate me and most importantly, they lead me to pray. It was through a time of worship that I was led (along with a handful of teenagers at a summer camp) to sponsor.

Reading their letters and seeing their drawings every couple of months inspired me to do more. So I became a Child Advocate. Since I’ve had opportunities to volunteer at events where hundreds of children get sponsored. It brings me to tears every single time. When setting up the table there are always a few faces that just tug at your heart. I just love it when those particular packets get snatched up by an enthusiastic new sponsor!

Here’s the thing. Living in North America we can lose site of what poverty looks like. Even though it’s in our very own neighborhoods. Check out these horrifying statistics. {Taken from Compassion’s website HERE}

  • Worldwide 600 million children are living in extreme poverty.
  • The cost of eradicating world poverty is estimated at 1 percent of global income.
  • Almost half the world — over 3 billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.
  • The poorest 40 percent of the world’s population accounts for 5 percent of global income. The richest 20 percent accounts for three-quarters of world income.
  • 1.6 billion people — a quarter of humanity — live without electricity.
  • 6.9 million children under five years of age died in 2011, nearly 800 every hour.

    • It takes very little for us to make a huge difference in the life of a child. I love how Compassion actually goes to the local church and equips them to reach their community. Just $38 per month enrolls a child into the program in their local church where they are mentored, prayed for, and loved on regularly. They are given food and water and they will be able to stay in school or maybe even attend for the very first time. The child will then have basic healthcare and they will be taught proper hygiene. And the investment you make into their lives through the relationship you build will be forever life-changing. You may be the first person to tell them they are loved. To tell them you believe in them.

    Are you inspired yet? Well I have 8 beautiful little faces sitting next to me on the couch. I wish they were next to me in person, but they are pictures sitting in a packet. They need a sponsor. What is so cool is that the five children in Africa attend the same center as our two sponsored kids! I already have a handful of friends who sponsor in Ethiopia and Kenya as well so if one day any of us are able to go, we will be able to send things along with them!

    Look at these faces…

    Which one will you choose? I know, I made it really hard for you! You can also click HERE to look at other children needing sponsors if you want a specific country or even birthday! Maybe it’s hard because you’re just barely making ends meet. Well I can promise you, that we have been there and God always provides. Make the small sacrifice and sponsor today. You won’t regret it! Please post a comment or email me to make your commit today!

    Posted on March 9, 2014

    I’m a Believer

    Compassion/ Compassion Sponsor/ dairy free/ Dr. Sears/ gluten free/ gospel/ health insurance/ Honest Company/ Jesus/ Medi-Share/ Mom/ natural/ organic/ PCOS/ salvation/ vaccines/ Young Living

    Are you all humming the Monkees after reading the title for this post? Me too. If you’re my for real friend, then you know I’m a huge advocate for everything I believe in! I mean, if you read my blog and we’ve never met in person, you can still be my friend but it’s not for reals. Like you don’t know that my jaw pops when I chew and that I have a weird hiccup that comes on randomly. Just one. Okay, I guess now we’re for reals.

    First off, you don’t know me at all if you don’t know that I love Jesus. I’m a huge advocate for the Gospel message because I believe it to be true. I’ve researched it, I’ve prayed and given my life to the Lord and I’ve seen Him work in my life. HE gives me today and decides if I will have a tomorrow. And it is the promise of eternal life in Heaven that encourages me when I face trials. This earth is NOT my home. Thank God! There’s more than this short life we have on earth. What hope we have in that.

    This post is a little about things I’m passionate about or products that I believe in. All opinions are my own and I have not been paid to share with you. BUT what you may notice is that pretty much every company including our own home improvement business, markets through the consumer. We have never advertised for our business, it’s all about word of mouth. Some of the companies I mention give a little something when you refer someone. And you know what, I’ll take it. Thank you. (Insert smiley face with tongue sticking out emoticon.)

    I’ve blogged a lot about my heart for the poor and the orphan when I’ve shared our experiences as foster parents and Compassion sponsors. I’m actually a trained Compassion Advocate where I get to serve at concerts and other events that promote child sponsorship. It’s such a rewarding way to give of my time to see hundreds of children sponsored for the first time!
    So, GO and click HERE to sponsor a child now! It is the smallest monetary sacrifice that makes the world of a difference in the life of a child! I beg you, GO!

    Another thing you may not know about me is that I was a wonderful success story with PCOS! (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) It was a hurdle in our dreams of becoming pregnant but through prayer and major changes in our lifestyle, we had our baby girl last August!

    She’s not quite sitting up on her own just yet but you have a 5 second window to get a shot while unassisted! I will continue to find ways to insert my precious E’s cuteness throughout this post…

    So when researching PCOS I found that eating gluten and dairy free as well as eating organic foods, was the key to success! Plus, I found I was deficient in vitamin D (who isn’t?) so I increased my daily intake of that as well. I finally lost weight before even introducing a strict workout routine and began having normal cycles as well. I cut out processed foods, refined sugars and anything else that wasn’t considered a whole food. BAM! Preggers!

     Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

    Why do we have to see the negative impact of man-made foods before cutting them out of our diet? Or the harmful effects of chemicals in everything from medicine to plastic cups. Because we’re stubborn? Or we just want to cover our eyes and enjoy the “pleasure” this junk brings into our lives until we’re ready to make an educated and wise decision about our health? It’s like when I walked away from my relationship with the Lord. I felt so convicted by the way I was living my life, yet because I knew God would forgive me later, I kept on messing up my life. But there are consequences! I look back and see all of the blessings I missed out on because I wanted to enjoy the temporary pleasures of this life. It wasn’t worth it.

    Having Elliana was definitely a boost in helping me become even more disciplined with caring for my body and HERS! (Oh yeah, Phil too.) Another company I believe in is Medi-Share! We don’t have health insurance and with the rise in private health insurance premiums and the new federal healthcare reform, Medi-Share has been a perfect fit for our family. It’s a Christian company based off of new testament principles of bearing each other’s burdens. Each month our monthly share goes into a credit union account where it is used to pay another member’s healthcare bills. We have an annual household portion (like a deductible) that we pay out of pocket and then the rest of our financial burden is shared by other members from their monthly shares. Plus, you know that your money will never go towards procedures that go against biblical convictions. The best part is that it is exempt from the mandate to purchase healthcare by 2014 or pay penalties. It is actually out-pacing ObamaCare enrollment in 24 states!

    So go get more information to see if it would be a good fit for your family! Click HERE to let them know I referred you!

    I felt like you needed a break. So a little E always does the trick.

    While pregnant with E, I realized it was time to spend some time researching vaccines, medicines and every other responsibility that comes with becoming a parent! Before we had the internet at our fingertips, it was much more difficult to do research for ourselves, but today more people are becoming educated and informed before making such important decisions for their family. I highly recommend the book by Doctor Sears called ‘The Vaccine Book‘.

    I asked my best friend who is trained in natural medicine, what her approach was when treating and preventing sickness in her family. I was really curious to find out why her family seems to be so healthy all the time! Sure they get sick, but it seems they are able to use natural remedies to build and support the immune system and they recover quickly. I’m all about the natural approach to anything. So for my birthday she bought me a starter kit to essential oils as she promised it would help us with Phil’s allergies and practically anything else we would face as future parents to a little germ magnet. We also talked about different products such as coconut oil which has so many different uses, colloidal silver, bone broth and probiotics.

    After using the oils and researching how they work, we are hooked! It took Phil a little while to convince but now he is totally on board. Just yesterday he stole the bottle of lavender on the way to work since it is his new “drug” of choice for warding off his allergies. He’s been taking Benadryl or Claritin regularly for years. Amazing! I have used them to ward off cold/flu symptoms in 1 day twice now by encapsulating a blend that seems to kill anything! And for Elli we have helped her kick a cold twice now with a combination of oils applied topically and by diffusing them. While we’re on the subject…

    Young Living has been around for over 20 years. They have high standards for purity and authenticity which is why their Seed to Seal process is unique to them. I am now a wholesale member (which is automatic with the kit that was bought for me) with YL and therefore have access to a lot of resources and even a private Facebook group where we can support each other when using the oils. Plus, wholesale pricing (24% off retail) and rewards every time I make a purchase-amazing!

    There is a business side to their company which ensures that the members are being properly educated upon enrollment, plus you have great potential to earn money to help off-set the cost of the oils. I’m down with that.

    It’s not some fad y’all. These pure oils come from God-given plants from all over the world and I am so grateful for them! Just wish my bestie told me sooner.

    So check it our for yourself, and become a member like me! Cut some of the chemicals out of your life and be healthier for it, while saving money on co-pays and antibiotics! Click HERE to become a member and get the premium starter kit (Most oil for your buck! Plus a diffuser!) or email me for more info.

    Can you count the rolls? There are even some tucked up in that diaper! The last but certainly not least company that I truly believe in is The Honest Company! We use their diapers, wipes, healing balm, hand soaps, lotions, laundry detergent…okay we probably use it all! I had no idea how many chemicals were in diapers until I read their statement on all that is NOT in theirs! We have yet to have a diaper rash and she looks pretty cute too in all the seasonal patterns. 

    So I’m a little crunchy. Hey, these days who isn’t? It feels so empowering to not have to rely on others, but to be able to educate myself before making decisions for my family. It’s my new job and I love it!

    What are your favorite products or ways of life? Comment below to share!

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