OUTSIDE OF MY WORLD....

In my life there are things that I have been dealing with and it has been recently that God has shown me that I need to stop looking inward and keeping my eyes on my problems, but to refocus on others. How then? Well to pray for others and have compassion for others, b/c there are so many things that are going on in the world that makes my self involvement on "my world" look small. I believe that in praying for others who are hurting will help heal me in my hurting at the same time. I know that God will be faithful in showing me things that I can't even begin to grasp! So I decided to obey Him and recently signed up for Displace me. If you aren't familiar with it then you should definitely read on : this is from their website...

"When Hurricane Katrina hit this country, we saw for the first time what a displaced American looks like. Now we’re asking you to voluntarily become displaced, leaving the comforts of your homes, to imagine for 24 hours what it’s like for the millions of people in Northern Uganda who have been displaced for more than ten years.
The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has abducted thousands of children, subjected them to torture or sexual violence and forced them to fight in a violent guerilla army for 21 years—making it the longest running war in Africa. In hopes of providing protection from this rebel militia, the Ugandan government forcibly evicted its Northern citizens from their homes—giving them 48 hours to relocate into camps. Today, more than 1.5 million Northern Ugandans remain far from secure, suffering nearly 1,000 deaths per week due to inhumane living conditions in the camps.
Alcoholism, sexual abuse, HIV/AIDS, inadequate sanitation and lack of education have caused immeasurable damage to two generations and the near-total destruction of Acholi culture. Water is scarce and people are reliant on food to be delivered by foreign aid. If the food isn’t delivered, the people starve. This April, the already meager rations delivered by the World Food Program to the camps will be cut in half due to lack of funding—with school feeding programs and support for HIV/aids victims soon to follow. This will indisputably increase the number of deaths among those already suffering from severe malnutrition—mostly among women, children and the elderly. That is why the timing of this event, and your participation are so crucial.
“Displace Me” is the nationwide event giving Americans the chance to respond.
By traveling to one of our 15 camps and gathering together, the strength of our size will make a visible statement to our government and media that the citizens of the U.S. demand action in ending the war in Northern Uganda, in order to send the Acholi people suffering in the camps and the abducted children back home. The point is to travel; the point is to become displaced yourself."Saturday, April 28, 2007 say “Displace Me” and leave your homes to bring them home.

I am so stoked about going and being there to pray for these kids!

THE CHALLENGE.....

Ok so a week ago myself along with some others were challenged by my sister and I am taking it on! The challenge was of something she read a pastor did for his church about complaining. Basically he made these bracelets for his congregation that said "complain free world". The challenge is to not complain for 21 days and each time you catch yourself complaining then you must move your bracelet to the other wrist. They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit. So this is my week to start the challenge! Here is one definition I found on the word

Complain:" express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness"

Here are my thoughts thus far: If we complain then we are expressing to God that we are discontent or unhappy with what we have at this moment. This I am sure isn't pleasing to Him...and personally I want to please Him!

I just read in Galatians 6:7-10 and it says the following

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction: the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to ALL people....."

This was enlightening in many ways. If we come from a place of complaints then we are headed for destruction within ourselves. Continuing to complain or whine doesn't get anyone anywhere in fact the only thing it does is bring forth ungratefulness and a rotten attitude. We are creating a mood in which it not only affects us, but can affect the ones around us. If we want to glorify His name and bring forth the good news then we must do so by example of our own lives. This bad habit is contradictory! Oh I am not saying that we are perfect by all means and that we will never fall short of the glory of God, but when we do we must get up and try it all over again! NEVER GIVE UP ON THE CHALLENGE:)

How can I improve my attitude and bring forth a new habit? My commitment is to catch myself in the midst of it and when I do instead of complaining I will stop to praise Him for all that He is and all that He has done and will do in my life!

So I am fired up about this challenge and I hope that you will take this on as well....let me know how things are going with your experience!