Awake, Awake O Sleeper...

One of my prayers as I entered my "Seven" journey was that God would startle me awake with a little cold water.

I wanted Him to wake me up again to the reality of my own life and the reality of life around the world again.

I wanted (and still want) change.

I wanted (and still want) His Heart and perspective.

As a result I also decided to go through the "Experiencing God" Bible Study this summer.

Well, my prayers are being answered.

The cold water is being splashed and I am realizing how slow I am to respond (geez...I was being way more lulled to sleep by the American lifestyle than I had realized!).

But by the mercy and grace of God, I am finally learning to respond!

I am so grateful that He has not given up on me and that He is willing to douse me with a bit of cold water.

So, one of the recent soakings (there have been several!!!) involved a new awareness of child labor.
 

(stay with me).
 

Two weeks ago I felt a "nudge" that I should sponsor a child.

I thought about it momentarily and then moved on.

A few days later I was reading about someone who had sponsored a child and the nudge came again, a bit stronger.

I wondered if maybe it was God but, thinking of other "more useful" things, I shrugged it off.

At the end of last week the thought reared it's head again and I thought, "Ok, I'll consider it," but it wasn't really "burning on my heart."
 

Arrive at the day before yesterday.
 

I have been reading a book that talked a bit about child labor and gave a link to the U.S. Department of Labor list of products produced around the world by child labor.

Several thoughts/emotions went through me.

One was sadness.

Another was wondering how these families could afford to feed themselves if no one was working. (Not that I agree with it or am happy about it but I have seen so many, many kids overseas who have to work in some capacity to feed their families).

I was grieved.

And torn.

And decided to make a strong effort to not buy products that might have been produced through child labor.

And decided to buy fair trade as much as possible.

And I patted myself on the back.

And these truly are good decisions!!!

But God was thinking more broadly than I.

So, arrive at yesterday.

In the course of a conversation the U.S. Dept of Labor link came up.

A friend asked me to email it to her.

When I got home, I did.

Which stirred my thinking again.

I sat there looking at the pictures of those kids and (FINALLY!) prayed and said, "God, these kids need money.  They have to work in these horrible conditions to help feed their families.  What can be done to help so that this doesn't happen?"

And God screamed into my spirit (since I don't take nudging hints), "YOU SPONSOR A CHILD!"

Oh. Duh.

So, I read through that U.S. Dept of Labor list, looked to find a South American country with lots of issues with child labor and child porn, picked Colombia, went to Compassion International's site and picked a Colombian child who was in an area that put him at high risk for exploitation (Compassion gives you the option to choose such kids) and started sponsoring him on the spot.

His name is Elias.

Which is Elijah in English.

He is pictured above.

Why do I share this story?

No, it's not so you can pat me on the back and think I'm awesome.

If you can read you can see that I am not awesome and I am not the hero of this story.

Jesus is.

All I did was put my cold heart in front of the fire of His love and let Him throw cold water in my face.

I am writing this because God nudges. God speaks. God leads. God communicates.
What is He trying to tell you this week?
It may not be to sponsor a child but it will be something.
He does want to do things that matter through you.
Listen to His nudges and follow His leading.  :)

It's an awesome, stretching, adventure!

U.S. Dept of Labor Child Labor List:  http://www.dol.gov/ilab/reports/pdf/TVPRA_Report2014.pdf