Share Your Love.

Today I want to share the story behind the name of this blog. 


See that piece of artwork above? It's a painting by Eric Timm that I got to see recreated right in front of me at EFCA's Challenge 2010 in Columbus, Ohio- a week-long youth conference that greatly influenced my spiritual walk. If it had not been for this conference, I would not be going to Haiti. Here's why:


That week was all about Matthew 5; the Beatitudes. I believe the day I saw this painted was when we talked about 'Blessed are the merciful'.... The speaker talked about how true mercy is putting our compassion to action. When Jesus was moved emotionally by others' pain, he MOVED. He did something to help, He didn't just stand there pitying that person. If we are followers of Jesus Christ, the compassion he puts in our hearts should move us to do something about it! Because we have been shown mercy, we can and should show that mercy to others- that's the real love of Christ right there!!


Anyway, I knew I couldn't keep my God-given compassion for orphans to myself anymore. That would just be pity: pointless. That day He influenced me to do something about it. 


Shortly after that message, I walked up to a sweet lady who worked for EFCA ReachGlobal and told her what God had shown me that day. She worked as a "missionary recruiter" and very kindly offered me her email and phone number. We kept talking and I found out she had grown up in the very county I now live in and had attended the VERY SAME CHURCH! In fact, my church still partnered with her!  God definitely got my attention there! :)


So this wonderful lady got me in touch with ReachGlobal, which got me my interview to be on short-term staff a year and a half later! And now, here I am, readying to go to Haiti with this organization.


But back to the painting: I bought a copy of it that same week in Columbus. It now hangs on my wall in plain sight so that I can be reminded of the mission God has put in my heart. 


I just remembered this a few weeks ago: That child in the painting? A Haitian orphan. :) Yep. Eric Timm told us that week that he painted this orphan because the earthquake had just happened. I never thought I was going to be headed to Haiti back then, but God definitely did. :)


"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18 
This verse is very meaningful to me in so many ways... It reveals the promise Jesus Christ made for us: that we have a loving Father and that He will come back for us someday so we can spend eternity with Him. Also, it inspires me to love the fatherless here on earth and introduce them to their Heavenly Father; to share the love He has given me. This verse keeps me going on this mission.


Thanks for readin', lovelies!! :)