He Leaped into My Arms and My Heart Was Gone
There was something about this boy that Katy just couldn’t shake. How could she connect with a child when she didn’t even know his name?
Continue Reading ›Holding Joy
Her rich dark skin was perfect. Her smile made me forget all my worries. If I concentrate hard enough, I still hear her infectious laugh invade my senses.
Rwandan baby girl enrolled in our Child Survival Program
This little Rwandan child, only 3 years old, changed me profoundly. Her name was Arianne.
There is one in every country, every place you visit. One like Arianne. One child who seems to capture you in a way you didn’t think possible.
How could one little angel grab you when you barely just met?
You do not speak the same language, but the Father gives you a piece of His deep love, and in return, teaches you about Himself.
A few years ago, I had the incredible opportunity to stay in Rwanda at a home for children who were abandoned or orphaned. Every moment there felt alive with activity and serving.
One day, the Father gave me a rare moment of silence. The older children were at school, the babies were taking naps, and Arianne had just awakened from her rest. She crawled right into my lap and just held my hand, curled into a ball, and sucked her tiny thumb.
She didn’t try to talk to me or point at things. She was simply still in my arms.
It was exactly what I wanted. I did not need her to color me a picture or try to entertain me. I just wanted her to be with me!
That day, the Lord used Arianne to teach me a lesson: He wants us to come to Him, crawl in His lap, and just be still. There is no sweeter joy.
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. —Psalm 62:1–2, NIV
Prayer Lord, when life feels overwhelming, please provide ways for us to retreat and crawl into your lap. Thank you for wanting to spend time with us and for being the God who loves lavishly.
Read all the One in Spirit devotionals.
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A Squatter’s Home
What would it be like to live in a house that was at constant risk of being taken from you — not just for a few weeks, but week after week, year after year? Squatters in Ghana, including many sponsored children and their families, deal with this reality daily.
Three Things You Should Know About Compassion Adolescents
Speak into the lives of older children and teenagers. It could make all the difference.
Three Things African Children Have Taught Me
No matter how difficult their situation, children in Africa cope with immense suffering. Is this because it’s the only life they’ve known?
Who Are the Women of Worship?
Where are you, and who are you with, when you experience deep, soul-nourishing worship?
Holding Hands in the Kibera Slums
Bouncing over piles of trash and splashing through rivers of raw sewage, Katy held James’ hand in the front seat of the car, telling herself it was to cheer him. Later she would realize that she needed his hand to steel her and keep her brave.
Of Bugs and Mountains
Precious children pointed and screamed at hundreds of bugs swarming to the lights. Even though orphaned or abandoned, these Rwandan children found joy in the beauty and simplicity of the bugs.
The Luxury of Water and Hair Washing
In America, it’s easy to not think about our easy access to water. Or the fact that 783 million people — 11 percent of the global population — do not have access to safe drinking water, let alone bathing water.
Where Is Gratitude in the Midst of Death?
How do you give thanks in the midst of overwhelming grief?
The Key That Unlocks
For the children we serve, Satan wants to convince them that the absence of material wealth equals the absence of love from a heavenly father. For you and me in the developed world, it might be just as loud, but for different reasons.
Would You Adopt a Child Who Is HIV-positive?
My husband and I discuss adoption frequently. The beauty and courage involved is alluring. But we’ve never considered if we would be willing to adopt a child who is HIV-positive.
