Watching Montana Grow

Dee and I have been blessed to have our grand daughter, Montana, live near us. She is now six months old. I had friends tell me that being a grandparent was a wonderful thing, but I always thought they were being a bit "gushy." Now, I believe them. It is fun to watch her grow up. She is very curious about her surroundings, and I think she's partial towards her grandpa!

Children are a blessing of God. In Psalm 127:3, the Message Bible says, "Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?"

Whenever I spend time with Montana, though, I'm mindful of the children that don't have parents who can provide for them. It's not because the parents don't love them. They are just born in a different country, amidst the poverty that surrounds them. Poverty exists in America, to be sure. However, we have many safety nets that are available for those who seek help. In the case of the poor, part of the safety net in a developing country is having children who can work at an early age to help support the family. These children often fall through the cracks of the system.

Even in a difficult economy, I often wonder if we can't do more? According to the Census Bureau, there are 110 million family units in America. If every family helped one child in need in a developing country, we'd see the world change. That's not going to happen. However, if you happen to be reading this - and you don't sponsor a child, I'd invite you to our website at www.missionofmercy.org. There is a child waiting for help - and for about a dollar a day, you can give them hope for the future.

I know God has a plan for Montana's life. I am excited that God has given us the opportunity to be part of her life. I pray for God's blessing for her - and I pray that when she grows up, she will be a world changer! I pray the same for the 37,000 children that we reach daily through Mission of Mercy. Children are a joy to watch and to be with, aren't they?

Children at Risk?

It seems that every day we hear about more difficult circumstances created by the economy. We are constantly inundated with news about the increase in gas prices and the decrease in home prices. Every time you go to the gas pump, you're faced with sticker shock. Their are many families in America that are struggling, and I feel that financial challenge even in my own family.

These are times that also challenge non-profit ministries. We rely on the loving gifts from God's people. Often, when times get tough, people cut back on the amount of money they give. I have given this a great deal of thought - and I think about the potential impact on children that we serve at Mission of Mercy. These are children that had little or nothing to begin with. My heart goes to these children, as well.

If you have a vehicle of any size, it is easy to drop $60 in the gas tank when you fill up. My total this morning was $60.65. That's twice the $30 per month that it costs to sponsor a child - to provide nutrition, education and medical help, as well as the message of Christ. Put another way, you can support a child who needs you for just a half a tank of gas. When the temptation comes to cut back on support of a child, perhaps you can think of ways to save a half of tank of gas over the course of a month, instead. Share the ride when you can. Combine your errands on one trip, instead of taking multiple trips. With just a little planning, you should be able to cut enough on gas to support "one of the least of these."

In the midst of difficult times and a tight budget, please keep in mind these words of promise from Isaiah 58:10-11:

" if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you always;

he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail." (NIV)