Cold

Snow falls and wind blows and I have a heated, 2-storey house with a warm bed to go home to when all this is over and my toes are cold.

My toes were cold. Like how lame is that?

On Saturday night, I had the awesome opportunity to volunteer at our local Coldest Night of the Year event. 

Attempting to take selfies [keyword - attempting;)]

Standing outside in the not-really-that-cold -2°C, directing walkers in the right direction, I felt a little chilly. Plus, I had an artsy cardboard sign (to fit the theme of homelessness) with an encouraging message on it to hold up, and I was getting a few stares from cars driving by and what if that sign read "homeless & hungry." instead of "thank you for walking today!"?

I thought, How broken must this feel for real? Holding up a sign to random strangers hoping for some response - that would be my last resort. 

Then on Sunday, our youth group went on a Sandwich Run, handing out bagged lunches to homeless folks downtown. 

And yes, my toes and face and fingers were getting a little chilly and I was complaining a little but what?

I mean, really? Me, with my three pairs of dry socks under warm winter boots, a hat, a scarf, mitts, and a winter jacket? The girl who'll be accepted into a Tim Hortons to warm up before she drives in the heated car back to the big, warm house?

Am I even allowed to complain about cold? 

Warming up at Timmies after the Sandwich Run.
photo creds: @thebosscurt

And then while walking with the girls, some guys holler in this sketchy part of town and we feel not-so-safe but what about the girl kinda like us but she's alone and with nowhere to go?

If 8 of us in a solid group with a safe place to go feel unsafe, then what do we classify her feeling under? 

And no matter what one's reasons are for living on the street, it's not fair that they have to feel cold, humiliated and/or unsafe. 

It's just really not fair to the girl who has to sell herself or the man who feels a bit more broken each time one more person walks or drives by without a second glance. 

And so all we can do is spread a little hope. Buy a coffee, hand out a lunch bag or run in a speedo so someone will give you $1000 for a homeless shelter (true story - but not me! :P). 

And we just pray that somehow His hope somehow shines through in our foolish attempts to make a difference.

The Story of Rebecca the Smiley Girl From Kenya

Her picture would be right here, but I didn't sponsor her.

All of you who love a good God-thing story, sit back and enjoy. ;)

I was on Compassion Canada's website late last week, looking for a child to sponsor [More on that in the future, maybe? That's a God-thing for another day. :)].

And 5-year-old Rebecca from Kenya with the huge smile and bright green shirt lit up my computer screen.

And I thought this might be the girl.

But you know how God says wait and you're not sure why?

It's not like I heard a voice or anything, but something wasn't quite right yet.

So I waited.

And I said I'd sponsor her in the evening on my birthday if she was still on the website. That would be my confirmation. There's no way this totally adorable face would last unsponsored long, and if she lasted the weekend it'd be a miracle just for me.

Little did I know God had a better miracle in store.

So, my birthday rolled around and I'll admit this girl was a little impatient and checked in the afternoon to see if Rebecca was still there.

And she wasn't.

And I smiled, knowing that God had a perfect match for Rebecca.

I was totally stoked that Rebecca was sponsored, knowing God had a super great & loving sponsor for her that He perfectly prepared for the job.

So, that evening, I was catching up with one of my dearest, most bestest friends at my birthday party, and I couldn't believe the words that came out of her mouth.

"Guess what I did today? I sponsored a girl from Kenya!"

Me: ohmigosh "With Compassion?"

Her: "Yes!"

I was already laughing.

I said, "Her name's Rebecca, she has the hugest smile, she's 5 years old and she's wearing a green shirt."

And the look on my friend's face was priceless!

Yes, my wonderful friend is Rebecca's sponsor!!!

And this is why it's perfect: This dear sister of mine calls Kenya her second home. She travelled and served there last summer and absolutely nobody I know would be better suited to sponsor Rebecca. 

Yes, I am so. happy. that I can be absolutely assured that the Kenyan girl who lit up my computer screen and heart all weekend has the most perfect sponsor.

God does these crazy God-things, and I think I just need to stop being surprised, but I all too often forget how cool God is.

And that's the story of Rebecca the Smiley Girl from Kenya, which has had me just as smiley all week long. :)

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Sponsor a Child From Kenya

Birthday Blessings & Prayers

It took these tiny petite-girl lungs three breaths to blow out sixteen candles.

What did I wish for?

Well, maybe I forgot to make a wish right at that exact moment, 'cause I was concentrating too hard on blowing out the candles, but God takes prayers anytime.

And my birthday prayer? It's this:

Lord, bless me with... 

... a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships, so that I may seek truth boldly and love deep within my heart. 

... holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that I may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people. 

... the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that I may reach out my hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy. 

... enough foolishness to believe that I really CAN make a difference in this world, so that I am able, with Your grace, to do what others claim cannot be done. 

~ Benedictine Blessing by Sr. Ruth Fox

Maybe I could be foolish enough to change the world? With the help of some friends?

And so I say don't buy me anything for my birthday (please, I have too much!), but instead bless some other 16-year-olds by purchasing a Street Kid Gift in my honour.

I'm angry that 16-year-olds like me don't have a home, and I'm foolish enough to believe my birthday gifts could make a difference.

But the crazy thing is... maybe they will? Because the amazing people I'm blessed to have in my life (more on them in a bit) rally together, and this is what comes back to me:

- 99 nutritious meals

- 24 days of clean clothes

- 24 nights in a warm bed

- 3 kids receiving counselling, support or spiritual comfort

- 6 kids receiving life skills or job training

And I smile... way too blessed.

Blessed because God's grace takes my foolishness and turns it into ninety-nine times that a street kids will enjoy a meal, and twenty-four times that a street kids will sleep in a warm bed, and 3 kids with some much needed support and comfort (all at this amazing place called Covenant House Toronto, by the way!), and more. 

And I'm sinking in this ocean of grace.

I thought I'd just take a moment to say something.

I am so. very. thankful. for each of you in my life.

You who inspire me. Encourage me. Invest in me. Love me. Laugh with me. Serve with me. Serve me. Show me God's grace and love.

Thank you.

30 people were there to celebrate with me today, but to all you who weren't (because of conflicts, distance, or simply because we can't break the fire code in there.) you were in my heart.

And I say "thank you" a lot, and I say "it means a lot" a lot, but please know I really mean it.

From the bottom of my heart, each of you in my life are gifts from God. Each of you reflects Jesus to me and I thank God for all of you.

With that being said, I'm so excited for what 16 holds [so far, though, it's not so different from 15, except I got a lot of Facebook notifications. ;)]!

I'm excited for this journey and I'd appreciate continued prayers.

Thankful for birthday blessings today! ❤

Light Breaks Forth

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
Isaiah 58:6-9

Isaiah 58 is probably the second most-read chapter in my Bible, second only to Romans 8.

I don't think God could have made His heart any plainer.

Set the oppressed free. 

That is the kind of fasting He has chosen.

And light will break forth.

How absolutely beautiful is that?

The darkest places - the slums, the brothels, the garbage dumps... could light really break forth in those places?

Where mothers sell children to make ends meet, and children keep selling to survive - light breaks forth?

And where children dig through trash to eat and millions die unnoticed... light breaks forth?

And here is the hope - 

I can live this fasting. I can choose to follow the heart of God and spend myself on behalf of the hungry.

...then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
Isaiah 58:10-12

Isaiah 58 is this commandment to serve the poor and loose the chains of injustice. And just as you feel totally overwhelmed because of all the chains to loosen, there's this promise that He will guide you always. 

Tomorrow is the start of Lent.

Many will begin a 40-day fast and I think Isaiah 58 is quite appropriate for the occasion. 

Fasting is about more than going through the motions.

The king of fasting He has chosen?

to loose the chains of injustice... set the oppressed free.

share your food with the hungry, provide the poor wanderer with shelter

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood.

This is the kind of fasting I strive to choose each day as well.

And it's a process.

Because my life could always be simpler, more radical. Sometimes, I turn away from my own flesh and blood.

But I'd like to see that light break forth.

And the kind of fasting my Lord has chosen?

I choose it too.

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In this season of Lent, will you choose this type of fasting too? Perhaps you could consider loosening the chains of injustice by sponsoring a child? I promise it will change your life. :)

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This post is part of a link-up/blog hop for the Compassion Blogger Network hosted by Compassion International. We're answering the question: What Bible Verse Prompts and Guides You to Serve Others?

Check out other Compassion Bloggers' answers!

Can We Protect Some Innocence Around Here?!

I found myself in a discussion today about the absolute perfection of Beyonce.

Not gonna deny that the Lord gave that girl talent, but at a certain point in the discussion I'd had enough Beyonce-is-a-goddess, because...

"Yeah, well, she could've been wearing more, don't you think?"

And really, no girl in that group could look me in the face and disagree.

Because ladies, deep down, I think we still respect ourselves, right?

I realize this is blog post #45729456 that you've read about the skin shown during the Superbowl. At the risk of sounding like the prude Christian girl here, ladies [men you can sit this one out, but feel free to follow along], please hear me out for just a bit.

I know this issue is just as much guys' problem to solve, but I'm a girl and can't control the guys, but I have control over my decisions as a girl.

Girls, when did our self esteem drop to the point of short-shorts and plunging necklines?

Can we say that maybe guys who go for that aren't worth it anyways? Can we say that maybe we'd have stronger relationships - stronger love - if they weren't dictated by sexualized media but by respect for who God made us to be?

Yes, we are going to mess up. Yes, the temptation of easy love is hard to overcome. But maybe we could at least try?

Maybe if we stopped giving our utmost respect to women who don't even respect themselves enough to put on some clothes, society would function a bit better.

Ladies, it is so possible to feel beautiful without exposing yourself to the next century - don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

And when skin sells domain names and everything else... how disgusting is our society? Truly - can't we protect some innocence around here - of boys and girls?!

Because last night and everyday boys learn that those are the right girls to go for, and girls learn that that's the type of girl you have to be in order to be beautiful.

And if that's the way it is - I'd like a girl to come up to me, look me in the eye and tell me that displaying their body like that justified (I don't know - you tell me how to justify that).

I'd like to think we ladies still have some self-respect.

I know we ladies still have some self-respect because when I went on to make a dumb joke about Beyonce's clothes being stolen and then to say that she has no self-respect, no girl argued my point.

So here's what I'm trying to say here: Girls, our worth is so much deeper than any size written on any tag, or any amount of skin we're willing to show. 

Can we act like it, please?