I am 54 years old. Wow! That is getting really close to 60! Bob and I spent some time this last weekend talking about the next 30 years. It may sound morbid but we discussed the fact that one of us will probably be with the Lord by the time those 30 years are up. 30 years will make us 84 years old. It is very sobering to think that we are now on the downward slope of life but that doesn't make us think downward thoughts. It makes us look upward! We bantered good naturedly back and forth about who would be the lucky one to get to heaven first - eternity is just around the corner and we can't wait to get there! At our age, it is easier to understand our mortality. Remember when you were younger? You think you have forever on this earth!
Time is short. Each year, I am impressed more and more with the need for my faith to be acted out rather than just spoken. This last year was a big faith walk for me and Bob. The Educaching business has really taken off and the Sadie book has given me the opportunity to speak to school children and teachers about the hungry and needy in the world around us. We are trying to take Jeremiah 22:16 seriously:
16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy,
and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know me?"
declares the LORD.
You see, all of my adult life I have half-heartedly participated in helping the poor and needy. Each paycheck we would give our offering and each Christmas I would gather loose change from my purse to put in the Salvation Army bucket. I never really saw or cared about the recipients of the gifts I gave. It wasn't until five years ago that I realized there is a world beyond my own, where people have not because of where they were born not because they are lazy. I want to know God the way this verse indicates. We are so blessed here in the United States. No matter how you perceive our government, we are still citizens of the greatest nation on earth where we have untold opportunity and privilege compared to the rest of the world! It is because of this incredible blessing that Bob and I want to live out the next 30 years, give or take a few, in kingdom work. We pray that each day we will be living for our Lord, so that the work we do will demonstrate to those around us His incredibly great love and care for them. This is what life is about - not stockpiling money and stuff for our later years, but giving out of our abundance so that others will come to know about the One who gave everything for us - Jesus Christ!
How does 2011 look for you? Are you going to worry about things that really don't matter eternally? I encourage you to begin thinking about what might happen after you die. Read Matthew 25. If you are a Christian, you have to begin asking yourself some hard questions - what if what I believe is really real? What if you only have 30, 20, or 10 years left on this earth? Would you live differently? If you don't call yourself a Christ follower please make a commitment to read about Him in the Bible. So many don't believe because they haven't heard or read His claims.
Pablo's Pantry is just one small little charity that you can participate in and help. There is so much need all over the world! I am grateful that God has put this passion in my heart to help these kids in Tijuana but I anticipate more opportunities all around the world in the future. Please consider helping us again in 2011. We are feeding little children every week. Each week more kids show up. At last count it was over 100 children three days a week! We are able to feed these kids for about $500 a month. We also have begun helping with costs in educating some of the young people there. A young mother of two children is in beauty school to learn how to cut and style hair. Educaching has agreed to cover the costs of this education. Another young lady currently has a job in a factory but can get a better paying job by learning English. We just sent the money to help her with this education. We feed the children but we are also trying to help the adults. Perhaps the cycle of poverty will stop for some of these people!
May you have a wonderful 2011! We look forward to whatever God has for us and wherever God wants to take us. We pray that you will begin to have an eternal perspective this year and realize that one day you will give an account of what you did here on earth. I don't know about you, but I long to hear those words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
One of the tasks in 2010 was to help Naomi and the work she does but also have a way for people to receive a tax deduction for their contributions. If you are interested in sending the money her way you can make the check out to:
Lemon Grove Foursquare Church
2115 Lemon Grove Ave.
Lemon Grove, CA 91945
Please put "El Shaddai Mission" on the memo line.
Letters of encouragement are also appreciated. You can drop her a line addressing the envelope to:
Naomi Anzaldo
1198 Neptune Dr.
Chula Vista, CA 91911
Thanks again for your help! May God bless you with a heart to help the poor and needy!
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