When I was a young man, there was a joke in the Stafford family that went something like this: “What is God ever going to do with Wess?”

It was a good question! I grew up in an African village, I had worked as an ambulance driver, I served in the U.S. Army, I was a disc jockey for a while, and I spent some time in France. I had lots of interesting experiences, but none of them seemed related. I laughed at that joke, too, but by the time I was finishing my master’s degree it was no longer funny. What was God going to do with me?

With great anticipation, I set out alone for one week to fast and pray, eager to hear God’s direction for my life.

I pitched my tent in a quiet place and, with pad in hand, I began to list the pros and cons of my various career options. I prayed and waited for God’s voice. I prayed for days. I waited for days.

Nothing! God was never more silent.

When I headed back to civilization, I was deeply disappointed. I angrily said to God, “I guess Your silence is my answer. You don’t need me after all!”

Then God spoke. He very clearly said, “You’re right, Wess. I don’t.”

I was stunned.

“Then why did you bother to make me?” I said aloud.

“To love me,” said the same voice. Just then a meadowlark warbled out a beautiful song. “Like that,” I heard Him say.

Suddenly my whole life fell into place. I could do that!

Forget achievement, fame or wealth. My life would be all about loving my Lord! I began thinking about the simplest jobs I might pursue. This new realization was so basic, yet so profound!

I’ll share the rest of this story with you tomorrow, but let’s pause here for a while today. Have you ever considered that God created you simply to love Him?

If you make that realization the center of all you do, it could drastically change your life.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” — Matthew 22:37–38 (NIV)

Prayer: We love You so much, Lord! We surrender fully to You and pray that Your love will guide us today and every day. May we simply be conduits of Your love to the children in our care.

Read all the One in Spirit devotionals.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

Several times the man calls out, even louder after some in the crowd tell him to be quiet. “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

- Luke 18:40-41 (NIV)

I am that blind man calling out to God.

Encourage me. Strengthen me. Provide for me. Comfort me. Save me. Give me. Help me.

That’s what I want.

What do you think these kids want? What are they crying out for?

Fifty kids in Haiti. All at the same center. All need God’s love. All need God’s mercy.

How about you? What are you calling out to God for?

All the while we cry out, God is calling out to us. Follow me. Be like me. Share my love.

Is it possible that my needs and your needs complement these kids’ needs? That we offer one another an opportunity to give God what He wants?

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

A crisis is anything from a natural disaster like a hurricane or an earthquake, to a man-made one like civil unrest or war. It might be a bus accident, or a building collapsing, or a shooting, or a volcanic eruption … any event that affects a group of children in our programs. Because of the volatile nature of the developing countries where we work, crises occur frequently.

Unless you are Super-sponsor and check out the crisis update page daily, you probably are unaware of the wide variety of dangers our children face. I know I was. Even as an employee, it’s hard for me to keep up with all the events occurring around the world. It just seems like an unending list of prayer requests.

And it’s been easy for me to be more or less ignorant.

Except now the crisis reports are coming to my inbox. I’m the first one to find out if dengue fever is killing the kids in our program. I get the news if one of our projects has been looted and destroyed. I’m the person who first hears of children dying in a flood or a mudslide. When a crisis occurs, it’s my job to get accurate information to you as quickly as possible.

It’s a huge responsibility. Even as I write this, I’m overwhelmed by the responsibility God has placed on me and the trust that you place in me (and all of us who work for Compassion.) I take this responsibility seriously.

For the sake of the children we serve, I hope my job is extremely unexciting … boring even. The way the world has been lately, though, I have a feeling things will just get worse.

While this new position is emotionally heavy, I have hope because I am confident that none of this is outside of God’s control. He is not surprised by the crises. Only saddened, at times, by our response. We as Compassion employees, and you as sponsors, have been specifically appointed to be miracle-workers for children in poverty all over the world.

What a calling, huh?

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates