Paris

I have to admit, I watched the Larry King talk show tonight. I never watch Larry King, but a friend of mine told me that Paris Hilton was going to be his guest. I don't pay that much attention to Paris. The only thing I know about her is that she is the Hilton heiress, she has a reality TV show with Nicole Richey, and she likes to party. Oh, and I heard that she had to serve jail time for driving under the influence. Apparently, she was recently released and now she wanted her first interview to be with Larry King (I also heard that Barbara Walters turned her down).

The point I would like to make is two-fold. First, there are fires burning in California and 18 inches of flooding in Texas, but the hot topic tonight on television was Paris Hilton's release from jail. There was even a countdown clock to the "interview event" posted on the show prior to Larry King! The media is relentless about poking the lives of celebrities in our face. It seems ever since the O.J. Simpson incident, the media and papparzi think that all we want to hear about is the lives of the rich and famous. Did I watch the interview? Yes. Should I have turned off my television? Double yes. I was wrong.

My second point is probably the whole reason I watched to begin with. Prior to the show, I saw a clip of Paris mention that, "God allows things to happen for a reason....this has changed my life." Of course, my ears perked up. Honestly, I was shocked that the word 'God' came out of her mouth. I would like to think that Paris had a come-to-Jesus moment while she was in jail. That in the midst of her despair and lowliness, she trusted God to pull her out of the pit. I don't know for sure that that actually happened, but I do believe that God is in the business of saving people when they no longer can save themselves. The biggest question the media is asking now is, "How serious is she? Is she a changed woman? What will Paris do now?" I was reminded of a verse in the Bible that says that, "Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart." How thankful I am that God judges us based on our hearts and not on our outward looks or how much money we have. Our hearts reveal everything about us. God knows that. That's why he chooses to reside in that very place when we accept his free gift of salvation. My prayer for Paris is that she truly has had a change of heart. What could be more of an amazing reminder of God's love than for Him to show the world that he can even work in the lives of the rich and famous?

Sponsorship

We have decided to sponsor Sasha Kuryndin at the Regional Orphanage in Russia. I tried to upload his picture from the orphanage web site, but I wasn't able to. We sent money tonight for Sasha to have an "outing" and Boris, the administrator, has emailed that Sasha is "dreaming about new clothes and sneakers." I plan to do some shopping this weekend and hopefully send a package in the next few weeks. I also emailed Sasha tonight (Boris will have to translate for him) and introduced our family to him. I can't tell you how excited I am about helping this little boy. God has just put him on my heart and my prayer is that God's will for this little boy will somehow be lived out with our help. Please lift this little one up in your prayers. I shared with you on my last post about the circumstances that took him to the orphanage. "But we know that all things work together for good to those who
love the Lord."

Sasha

Lisa Whelchel talks in her book, "Taking Care of the Me in Mommie," about “prayer starters” and how we can simply use the way we get dressed every day as conversation pieces with God. Off and on for the past several months, I’ve tried to put this concept in to practice while I put on my mascara. When I do remember, I pray, “Lord, give me eyes to see others through you.”

Ever since I found out about Kathy & John Bradford’s adoption of their Russian daughter, I have gotten interested in the Antares Orphanage in Kazakhstan. I went to the website and looked at the smiling faces of children that really have no reason to smile. I can’t imagine what life must be like in an orphanage, especially one overseas. A picture of a little boy named, Sasha, caught my attention so I decided to email the orphanage’s director to find out more about him. Here is what Boris, the director, had to say:

"Sasha was moved to the orphanage after her had drowned his sister in a well about 4 years ago. According with our stupid laws his mother has been imprisoned for 8 years but wasn't deprived of her parental rights. So she is still Sasha's "mother". Sasha lived at Poludinskiy Orphanage until September 2006. Then he was moved to the Regional Orphanage, Petropavlovsk. He is an average student but he is a very kind and affectionate boy. All his caretakers at Poludinskiy Orphanage and at the Regional Orphanage love him very much."

My heart just broke for this little boy. We try so hard to shelter our children from the cruelty of this world. Some children are never sheltered. Unfortunately, for them, they must see the world as it truly is. After a little more surfing on the website (www.antares-orphans.com), I found where it is possible to sponsor a child and I have since emailed Boris back to find out the proper protocol in which to do this. For right now, I ask that you simply pray for Sasha and what God would have us do to help this little boy. When I look at this little boy and think of the life he has lead thus far, I realize how spoiled Alise is. Not just with material things – which she is – but she is also spoiled by a love from her mother and father. She has the luxury of knowing what that feels like and knowing that when she wakes up every morning, that her mother and father will be there. That kind of love is no comparison to the love God has for His children. I know that God loves Sasha just like he loves Alise and all the other children in the world, whether young or old, black or white. We are all precious in His site. Thank you, God, for loving me with a love that never ends. Thank you for giving me eyes to see others through you.

I Can Only Imagine - MercyMe

Today

"The past, the present and the future are really one: they are today."
---Harriet Beecher Stowe

Quiet Time

I have been struggling so hard with my quiet time. It comes and goes…I’ll do good for a few days and then life gets hectic or I get busy and slack off again. I know that God can’t be happy with me about this. It seems that my heart is in the right place, but I simply don’t follow through. Not having a quiet time has become a burden to me because I know from experience how life can be when spending time with God. Before I had Alise, I couldn’t go a day without spending time with the Lord. And I am by no means blaming my little girl for my failures. If anything, my desire for the Lord should be stronger now that I need direction and wisdom for her up-bringing. The truth is, it is the choices that I make that prevent me from having a daily quiet time. Alise goes to bed at a fairly descent hour and Wayne has been busy working on fixing up the rent out we bought next door. There is time, after the kitchen is cleaned up, lunch has been made for the next day, clothes have been folded, etc. to have that time that my spiritual body craves, but I make poor choices. I surf the internet, or blog, or get a bath and read a book. But most of the time, I’m simply too tired and not interested.

So, starting this week, I have come up with a new way to jump start my quiet times again using my old plan: 5 minutes praising God, 5 minutes reading God’s work, and 5 minutes praying to God. That’s how my quiet time took off nearly 8 years ago. And it worked! The 15 minutes became 20 and then 30 and before I knew it, I couldn’t go a day without seeking and spending time with God. I pray that God will bless our times together and that he will “renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalms).

Why don't Christians share Christ?

This insert was in our bulletin today at church:

33.5% afraid of being rejected, embarrassed
21.7% afraid of not having answers
19.2% rarely think about the need
17.3% don't know what to say
8.3% haven't found a way to share that fits personal style