Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Orphans

I've never posted about my trip to Kenya with Orphan Outreach, but this photo and their explanation just tugged so at my heart. I've seen this little girl in person. I've hugged a lot of these children. God sent me there for a purpose and I believe it's my job to let you know what the other side of the world looks like. GOD is there too!

Copy and paste this into  your browser to have a look:

http://www.facebook.com/terre.ritchie/posts/292454844216358?comment_id=1283326&notif_t=share_comment

Then, go to Godtube.com and search for Kenya 2013 for a video I made from the trip.

Thank you for caring enough to look.
Terre


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Why in the World Do I Follow Him?


It is the first question on my lips every single day. WHY do I follow Christ? In my heart and mind it is not a question of let’s check Him out and see if He’s worthy or let me test Him to see if He’s truthful. It is more of a statement. I exist to follow Christ! I do what I do every day because I follow Christ. I wake up in the morning exalting His Name because I follow Christ!

He is perfect, He is truthful, He is everything that I am not. He is awesome and courageous. He is healing, comfort, and wholeness. He is perfect!

In Psalm 19:7-9, David tells why following the Lord is the only sensible way to live.
            The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
            The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
            The statues of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
            The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
            The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

I daresay you do not know any human being with those credentials. The LORD is the only one who can stand strong under the scrutiny of those words! Who would not want to be led by such a leader and counseled by such a wise one? Who would not want to have rejoicing in their heart and enlightening in their eyes?

This sad and sorry place we live in cannot offer us such grandness as this. I am encouraged every day by reading HIS words in the Bible. If you are down and out today, lift up your eyes to the hope that lies in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Desire the pure and true things of His Word. Be a seeker of His ways and take His path to wisdom. You would not waste your time on lesser things once you desire His words.

As Psalm 19:10 teaches us, “More to be desired are they than gold, Yeah, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”

Monday, February 18, 2013

BOLD not timid!

Last evening I visited a friend in the hospital who had just experienced eight bypasses! I didn’t think that was possible, but that’s what she had. She was very fortunate the doctors caught the problem in time without her having a heart attack!

As I sat talking with her, I realized how powerful her testimony was. This is a lady who has no fear in witnessing. She’s the only person I know who has boarded an airplane, taken her seat, and waited until the plane was full, then stood to her feet and said, “I don’t know about the rest of you folks, but I think I need to pray before we take off!” Then she would proceed with a short but to-the-point prayer. Believe me, she has no fear of what others think.

She has always put me to shame when it comes to witnessing. Her inhibitions can be interpreted as brazen and uncouth, but they are powerful. She has seen God work in amazing ways because she witnesses boldly! When she finally gets to heaven I have no doubt that untold strangers will tell her she made a mighty impact on their lives and she didn’t even know it.

When I read in the book of Revelation about the brave souls who witnessed for God, I am again put to shame. Revelations 20:4, “Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

Losing my life for my faith has never been anything I’ve needed to consider. Maybe I should put myself out on the front lines more than I do. If that’s where God wants me, then that’s where I want and need to be. This month on the CBH Ministries web site we’re running a movie of a missionary who put her life in harm’s way so others would be saved. Take a few minutes to view the life story of Gladys Alward. I know you’ll be challenged by her unselfish life as a missionary. http://www.cbhministries.org/CBHTheater/Videos.aspx

“God, give me the courage to get up off my sorry, sedentary behind and run, not walk, to the front lines. Put me in places where I need to speak up, speak out, and stand! Give me bravery when I’m full of fear and boldness in place of timidity. Instill in me the joy of serving Jesus!”