Wednesday, September 12, 2012

ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME- BEVERLY

Compassion Blogger Assignment #2: Write a letter to God about your sponsored Children.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I praise you my holy God. You are worthy of my continuous praise and I pray for your strength and wisdom to do your will in my life at all times.
I still remember that day I finally got up the nerve to admit that I had a hard time accepting that you were this fair, just, and loving God. I remember asking you;
"Lord, why do you allow some of your children to be naked, hungry, and homeless while others are living in mansions, being gluttons, and having so much stuff they have to have big houses to store it all? Where is the fairness in that, Lord?
Then, I got still in his prescence. I really listened. In your still, quiet voice you answered me with one question:
"Beverly, why do you allow some of my children to be naked, hungry, and homeless while you are living in a big house, eating more than you should, spending money to drink soda while my children are without water, shopping for clothes to go into your over full closets, while my children are naked. Where is the fairness in that, Beverly?"
I still remember like it was yesterday. I was walking in the park. Although I did not HEAR you say that, the conviction I felt that moment was life changing. I knew that the God that created the Heavens and the Earth had listened, and had spoke, and that you were not happy with me. Before that day I thought you were satisfied with the condition of my heart. I felt sorry for the poor, weak, and suffering. I cried when the commercials came on and even prayed for them. I threw change in the kettle and filled a shoebox. But that day I learned that you did not want my charity. You wanted me to be COMPASSIONATE. Your son spent time on earth not only to save us from death, but to show us how to live. You want me to suffer with the suffering. You called me to give sacraficially, not give left overs. You called me to suffer with the suffering, not to feel sorry. You asked us not to give charity to the poor but to give ourselves. You want me in fellowship with the poor, the sick, the suffering, the widowed, and the orphaned. They are my brothers and sisters in Christ and I should treat them like family. But how God?
Compassion International has been the vessel God used to put me into fellowship with the poor, the sick, the widowed, the orphaned, and the suffering. This ministry allows me to be in fellowship with a child in poverty. I am able to provide Daniel and Isaac with an education, food, clothing, and a chance to know Jesus. I have made some sacrafices to give to the family, but I have been given so much more in return. You see, when you get in fellowship, poverty becomes personal. Their needs become your own. Myself having plenty is a lot less important when you are making sure someone else has enough.
For a small monetary donation monthly, you can also be in fellowship with the poor. You can be Compassionate, through Compassion.
Just click on the banner on the top of the page to see children in need who you can know personally.

Are you there God, It's me Beverly

Compassion Blogger Assignment #2: Write a letter to God about your sponsored Children.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I praise you my holy God. You are worthy of my continuous praise and I pray for your strength and wisdom to do your will in my life at all times.
I still remember that day I finally got up the nerve to admit that I had a hard time accepting that you were this fair, just, and loving God. I remember asking you;
"Lord, why do you allow some of your children to be naked, hungry, and homeless while others are living in mansions, being gluttons, and having so much stuff they have to have big houses to store it all? Where is the fairness in that, Lord?
Then, I got still in his prescence. I really listened. In your still, quiet voice you answered me with one question:
"Beverly, why do you allow some of my children to be naked, hungry, and homeless while you are living in a big house, eating more than you should, spending money to drink soda while my children are without water, shopping for clothes to go into your over full closets, while my children are naked. Where is the fairness in that, Beverly?"
I still remember like it was yesterday. I was walking in the park. Although I did not HEAR you say that, the conviction I felt that moment was life changing. I knew that the God that created the Heavens and the Earth had listened, and had spoke, and that you were not happy with me. Before that day I thought you were satisfied with the condition of my heart. I felt sorry for the poor, weak, and suffering. I cried when the commercials came on and even prayed for them. I threw change in the kettle and filled a shoebox. But that day I learned that you did not want my charity. You wanted me to be COMPASSIONATE. Your son spent time on earth not only to save us from death, but to show us how to live. You want me to suffer with the suffering. You called me to give sacraficially, not give left overs. You called me to suffer with the suffering, not to feel sorry. You asked us not to give charity to the poor but to give ourselves. You want me in fellowship with the poor, the sick, the suffering, the widowed, and the orphaned. They are my brothers and sisters in Christ and I should treat them like family. But how God?
Compassion International has been the vessel God used to put me into fellowship with the poor, the sick, the widowed, the orphaned, and the suffering. This ministry allows me to be in fellowship with a child in poverty. I am able to provide Daniel and Isaac with an education, food, clothing, and a chance to know Jesus. I have made some sacrafices to give to the family, but I have been given so much more in return. You see, when you get in fellowship, poverty becomes personal. Their needs become your own. Myself having plenty is a lot less important when you are making sure someone else has enough.
For a small monetary donation monthly, you can also be in fellowship with the poor. You can be Compassionate, through Compassion.
Just click on the banner on the top of the page to see children in need who you can know personally.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Introduction

Hello! My name is Beverly Yearwood. I am a wife, mother, hairstylist, salon owner, sponsor, correspondent,  and child advocate for Compassion International.
I am completely dependent on God's grace. I am so thankful for the gift of salvation.
This blog is about a journey I am beginning in a mercy and justice ministry and the reason I began this journey.
It starts in 1978. My favorite year growing up. The memories....Best friends Edie & Christian, Grease the Movie, Andy Gibb, and Stretch Armstrong--but the fondest memory was on February 28th I accepted Christ as my savior. My friend Dana had accepted Christ and explained it to me, and I wanted Jesus in my heart too. I mean, I grew up in church, so I felt he was always there, but I needed to "invite" him according to her. I remember, although I did not get the "full understanding" of just how great this gift was, I did understand he was in my heart and would never leave. Not alot changed in my prayer life because I already prayed everyday. Not much changed in my Bible reading, because I already read it alot. What changed was my heart. It became obvious at 8 years old that God had given me the gifts of mercy and giving. I remember after watching the naked, starving, fly infested children of the Africa famine on TV and begging God to take their suffering away and one day make it possible for me to help them. God's answer to that prayer could have come much earlier. I got in his way.
 I don't like confrontation. I don't like to rock the boat. Anyway, don't we have big enough problems in America? Wouldn't it be selfish to send even a small amount overseas? I'm just one person. I can't save the world.
But I can save one. I finally realized that I was getting in God's way. I now know that he gifts each of us differently on purpose to fulfill his purpose. I should quit being ashamed that I want to help those on the other side of the world. God gifted me this way....long before I became a mid aged prejudiced redneck. So, I asked God to forgive me for my prejudice attitude and told him I would put away my fear of confrontation, and I'd go against the grain for him. I'd plead the case for the least of these because I love them, because of his love for me.
Pastor Terry and Beverly White introduced me to Compassion International. The organization that God has lit a fire in me for. I will blog later on why this organization above all other ministries.
Thank you for your time. I promise I won't blog so long next time!