Harvest Everyone School

As a child, my mother was sponsored in Compassion’s program in India. As an adult, she helped give our family the opportunity to sponsor a child too—and to travel across the world to meet her. Here’s our story.

“You have no idea how long I’ve prayed for this,” said my mom, Anita Charles, as she lay on her twin-sized mattress beneath a bright blue mosquito net.

We were in Wamba, Kenya to visit Arima, a girl we had sponsored through Compassion for over a decade. When we’d first picked up her child packet at a Compassion event at our church, we’d chosen her because she was the same age as me. Now, we’re both 22. I was headed to Kenya on a study abroad, and my mom planned to join me once it was finished. It was the perfect opportunity for us to finally meet Arima.

“Prayed for what?” I asked absently, absorbed in unpacking.

“Look at that green folder,” she said.

I opened up the green plastic folder strewn amidst our belongings, thick with papers. Inside was every picture, ...

by Noemi Chavez

The ways of Jesus have never been popular or easy to follow. I use the word “easy” cautiously because “easy” can be a point of reference or a point of view. I have heard many people say, “Following Jesus is hard.” But honestly, I don’t know that the results, the consequences and the pain that comes from sin are actually easier. The issue that surfaces with choosing to follow Jesus is that many of us came to the realization that we needed his grace, love and forgiveness, and in our self-serving nature we imagine this to be an undeniably phenomenal transaction. “Yes! We will give to you the darkness of our soul, the sins no one knows about, the mess in our hearts and disappointment of our choices in return for forgiveness, atonement and relief of the weight of our broken past.” I mean, what a deal! And for many, that is that. Salvation is a beautiful moment in our lives. What else could God possibly have in store for us?

In our limited knowledge of all God ...

by Lisa Potter

My definition of flourishing is to be the best version of yourself. God’s design is for us to flourish. This flourishing does not happen accidentally but begins with the realization that God calls us to fulfill our God-given design. No one is like you. Your personality, story, femininity, unique gifts and talents create your purpose. That is why we are women who lead—we flourish in our sphere of influence. 

Several years ago, I attended a prayer retreat for women leaders. At the end of the opening session, the director encouraged us to find a place for contemplative prayer and listening. I’m a floor sitter—I feel closer to God when I am closer to the ground. So, I sat on the floor for a long time while simply listening, tuning my heart and ears to hear what the Spirit impressed on me at that moment.

It appeared like a long time passed when I felt impressed to pick up my Bible, journal and pen. I could tell that the Spirit wanted to share a message. 

As I...

by Jonathan Brozozog

The God of the Bible has revealed himself as a God of peace. In fact, one of the nine manifestations of the “fruit of the Spirit” is peace (see Galatians 5:22) because peace is an attribute of both the Father and the Holy Spirit. In addition, Jesus came into the world to bring “peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14, NKJV). The Son of God came to make real peace a possibility for those who know the Lord. But some of the things we allow in our homes, including behaviors designed to be manipulative, can destroy the peace God wants to establish there. Without peace, there can be no realistic hope of maintaining the type of environment for children (or adults) that is conducive to healthy growth in faith and in interpersonal relationships. God is a God of peace, and only in the presence of peace can we live the kind of healthy and productive lives he has designed us to live.

A Life Worth Living

Peace exists in our homes whenever we have order where ther...

by Colleen Rouse

We focus intently on the efficacy of our lead­ership, but how much forward thinking is given to the longevity of our leadership? This is usually brought to our attention when we find ourselves dealing with burnout. The topic of burnout is being widely discussed in many circles today. Long before society addressed this issue, the Bible offered insight that surpasses the wisdom anyone else has to offer.

The Message version of Matthew 11:28-30 speaks of this. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

In the early days of ministry, I was all about the daily hustle. It fueled me—or so I thought—and thus my foot was always on the gas pedal. It became unsus...