Tag Archives: april

Single Hearted

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amy carmichael“Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy much peace.”

“If you refuse to be hurried and pressed, if you stay your soul on God, nothing can keep you from that clearness of spirit which is life and peace.”

“In that stillness you will know what His will is.”

— Amy Carmichael (1867-1951) – Missionary to India

 

Wow. “Blessed are the single-hearted…”

Isn’t that a beautiful focus?

 

Seeking God, more than anything

Oh, I want to be “single-hearted” for the Lord, with my entire soul (my mind, my will, and my emotions) staying steadfastly on God, and not going off on some “crazy-wild-goose-chase” of distraction from God’s peace and God’s best.

I want to STAY single-hearted in that place of stillness with Him, where my spirit is clear and uncluttered . . . so I can know His perfect will . . . and I can know Him.

I want to live and “stay” in that place of total peace with God.

Quotes from Amy Carmichael

Quotes from Amy Carmichael

 

What is really the #1 most important focus of my heart?

More than anything, I want to know God.

–Not just know “about” God.
–Not just know “how” to have an impressive devotional life.
–Not just know “how” to live as a godly or mission-minded woman.
–Not just know “how” to make an effective difference “for Him” in this world.

 

More than anything, I want to know God, personally and intimately.

I want to care about my relationship “with Him” more than anything.

–More than my relationship with my husband.
–More than that priority time with my kids.
–More than my special “girl-time” with my dearest friends.
–More than special “family-time” with our extended relations.
–Even more than I care about doing stuff “for Him” and for His kingdom.
–Even more than seeking His direction, or His provision, or His grace.
–And even more than seeking His help to finish everything on my “to-do-list.”


Being single-hearted means caring more about my relationship “with God”
than anything I might do “for God.”

 

Give me the love that leads the way,

the faith that nothing can dismay,

the hope no disappointments tire,

the passion that will burn like fire…

— Amy Carmichael

 

 
Let’s be single-hearted.

 

Loving Orphans in Jesus’ Name

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Take 1 minute to learn about LOVING ORPHANS with Daring Daughters.

In 2014, our orphan projects include daily FOOD, SPIRITUAL CARE and EDUCATION for nearly 1000 children at Guma Na Yesu (Keep With Jesus) Children’s Center in East Africa (including construction of a much-needed new high school) and support for Aasha (Hope) Children’s Home in SE India. Watch a video and read on to learn more.

In Psalm 10:14, the Bible says, “You have been the helper of the orphan.” Is that true for you? (Or is that a desire of your heart?)

Can we send you — in the mail — a Daring Daughters prayer and information pack for LOVING ORPHANS? To request one, just click here!

New high school building for orphan youth!!! Just completed!
Here’s a little KEY for you in learning to step out . . .
When God puts His compassion in your heart for a specific need, God knows you can’t do it on your own. You just need to realize that He is The One — He really is THE ONE — who can make something happen! God can provide whatever is needed (help, strength, grace, connections, and finances).

You simply need to pray with an open heart, be totally willing to do whatever God tells you to do and then, when the timing is right . . . JUST DO IT!

At Daring Daughters, we want to encourage you to DARE to dream, and to DARE to cry, and to DARE to obey whatever God is stirring in your hearts.

Sometimes, statistics are disheartening and needs seem impossible to meet . . . but just remember that even though you can’t do everything, you can do something!

Trusting God for His day-by-day provision — What an honor!

Since February of 2006, we have been seeking God daily for very specific orphan needs. Often, these needs have been way-bigger than our capabilities, but the Lord has been gracious to allow us to care for a growing number of children and youth (now over 1000 precious kids), primarily at Guma Na Yesu (Keep With Jesus) Children’s Center in Uganda, our FAMILY ZONE CENTERS, in E. AFRICA, and at Aasha Children’s Home in SE INDIA. Over and over, as we’ve prayed to God for help, He has been AMAZING — guiding us and providing for us to give food, clothing, education, buildings, blankets, mattresses, water, electricity, bunks-beds, and more . . . in His NAME!!!

SUPPORT LOVING ORPHANS in EAST AFRICA < < < How to Pray < < <
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TO GIVE for ORPHANS in AFRICA . . . click above on 'ADD TO CART'Mission: Harvest Ministry (Loving Orphans)
–As an outreach of Harvest Ministry, Daring Daughters is committed to caring for many orphans in East Africa through our Guma Na Yesu “Keep With Jesus” Children’s Center.

With a LOVING ORPHANS gift (of any amount), you can help to provide for these precious kids.

A testimony from one girl . . .

“I’m an orphan, but now I’m okay. I study well. I sleep well. And I thank God because of this Bible. I was having a desire in my heart and prayed to God for a Bible just this size . . . and God has done it for me.”
— Jolly Casandi

Meet Jolly . . .

MBARARA, UGANDA, EAST AFRICA – In this video, you’ll meet one girl we’ve had the honor to help. Jolly Casandi shares a praise report about how God answered her specific prayer. You’ll also see a glimpse of the GUMA kids and youth fervently worshiping the Lord at Harvest Ministry’s GUMA NA YESU “Keep With Jesus” Children’s Center.

What a joy to love and help orphan children, in Jesus’ Name.


With my dear friend and our co-laborer in Loving Orphans, Alice Tumuhairwe


Ugandan Directors of Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center: Pastor Naboth & Alice

SUPPORT ORPHANS in S.E. INDIA > > > How to Pray < < <
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TO GIVE for ORPHANS in SE INDIA . . . click above on 'ADD TO CART' Mission: Gospel Projects International
–We can give to support orphan children in S.E. India, working with Gospel Projects International (and Josh & Anna Dunagan). With a missions gift of any amount, orphans can helped in Jesus’ Name!

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For more on Daring Daughters about LOVING ORPHANS
— through adoption, orphan ministry, and missions, click here

Orphan Verses
Orphan Statistics

Reach for God-Sized Dreams . . . with Daring Daughters!


(Click the boxes for more information . . .)

Fun Easter Ideas — for Families

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EASTER-7For all of you mission-minded moms, here are some fun (and easy) ideas to teach your kids to remember all that Jesus did for us on the Cross.

The central focus of Christianity is the Cross and the empty Tomb — the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There are many ways to focus on the message of the Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus. Easter time is also a great time to share the Gospel and to invite people to come to church. Even simple ideas can help to make this holiday meaningful and Christ-centered.

15 Special Easter Ideas for Your Family

1. Celebrate Communion.
2. Watch a movie @ the Passover (like Ten Commandments)
3. Watch a JESUS movie (like Matthew, JESUS, or the PASSION)
4. Go to a farm and pet baby lambs.
5. Find a LIVE passion play to attend with your kids.
6. Use Easter decorations to witness about Jesus.
7. Go to an Easter egg hunt specifically to invite people to church.
8. Decorate eggs with themes about JESUS and the CROSS.
9. Invite kids over for an Easter party.
10. Read a children’s book about the CROSS.
11. Have a springtime EASTER-theme party for little girls.
12. Give away copies of THE SCARLET CORD.
13. Have your kids draw pictures of the CROSS and give away.
14. Invite families to church.
15. Sing songs about the CROSS and the BLOOD of JESUS.


USE SPRING DECORATIONS TO START A CONVERSATION about JESUS.
During Easter week, you will likely see Easter decorations in many different locations — at grocery stores and drug stores (selling Easter egg decorations and food coloring sets), in department stores (by little girl dresses and ladies dresses), in shoe stores (selling cute dress-up shoes for Easter).

WITNESS AT A CITY EASTER EGG HUNT
Many families will decorate eggs, but they have no idea about the real meaning of the Cross and the Resurrection. Brainstorm a few specific ways that your family make an impact, this week, for Jesus. Perhaps you could go to a local Easter egg hunt and invite people to church. Maybe you could go to a grocery store and hang out by the egg dye to talk to a few people about Jesus. Maybe you could invite a few neighborhood kids over to decorate eggs and then talk about Jesus. Be prepared to share the Gospel this week — have Gospel tracts handy or simple invitations to church (even extra church bulletins or hand-made invitations).

Learn how one mission-minded family has shared the Gospel of Jesus in their community for 20 years — all through an annual Easter egg hunt!

DECORATE EGGS WITH GOSPEL THEMES
If you decorate Easter eggs, include pictures of the cross and the empty tomb, and words such as “JESUS IS ALIVE!” or “I LOVE JESUS!” (You can write these words with a color crayon before you put the eggs in the dye.)

INVITE GIRLS OVER FOR AN EASTER PARTY.
Have fun Easter-themed decorations and treats. Read aloud from a Christian children’s book which focus on the true meaning of the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ, such as any Bible storybook. Two of our family favorites are The Tale of the Three Trees, or The Little Rose of Sharon.

HAVE A LADIES TEA PARTY
Invite ladies and little girls over for a fun dress-up tea party. Use the party time “games” to share the true meaning of Easter (perhaps with the EvangeCube, the Gospel colors, coloring pictures, a Bible story book, or a short children’s cartoon about Jesus). Share the Gospel and invite families to come to church.






GIVE AWAY THE SCARLET CORD.
Spread a heart for world missions — by giving away copies of THE SCARLET CORD: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus to friends at your church or to mission-minded families. The Scarlet Cord is a concise call to world missions, emphasizing God’s only way of salvation through the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here’s a LINK to share this book FREE online: http://harvestministry.org/the-scarlet-cord
(Just add the KEY: GOODFRIDAY to download the book for FREE — PDF edition)

INVITE PEOPLE TO CHURCH.

Think about your neighbors and pray about who you could invite to church.

Walk through your neighborhood, and pray for various families, as specifically as you can.

Make a simple effort (perhaps with a phone call, a stop at their house with a plate of cookies, or a simple basket with Easter treats and a church bulletin or handwritten card) and INVITE them to come.

More people visit church on Easter Sunday than at any other time. Take advantage of the special holiday and invite families to come with you.

(Credit for the cute bunny photo is from a good article about how to focus on the true meaning of Easter in public schools from pastors.com)

For more ideas about how to instill a heart for world missions in your family, I invite you to come take a look at The Mission-Minded Family. A lot of my heart was poured into this book, in the hopes of encouraging families like yours for God’s Great Commission.

Family Impacts a Community — with an Easter Egg Hunt

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EASTER-2Have you ever wondered how YOU, as a Daring Daughter, or as a family, or as a church, could share the Gospel and “do missions” right in your local area? Consider the example of one ministry, simply being willing, creative, and faithful.

For over 20 years, Mid-Columbia Ministries (led by the extended Bell family — joined with many wonderful friends and local churches) has been sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ through creative evangelism in their local community in Washington state — especially on holidays.

The following video is from their 21st Easter outreach at a city park — sharing God’s love through offering a community Easter egg hunt, preaching the Gospel, playing Christian music, giving FREE Bibles and Christian literature and sharing the message of the Cross and the Resurrection.

What a beautiful example of believers coming together to shine brightly for Jesus Christ!

More about Mid-Columbia Ministries — highlighted on Daring Daughters

The Extended Bell Family — It’s a Team Effort

Paraguay: Making Music in the Dump (video)

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PARAGUAY, S. AMERICA —

A Daring Daughter from Texas sent us a link to this inspiring YouTube video. A musician had a creative idea to bring quality music to poverty-entrenched communities. But the impact of this musician’s idea went far-beyond the initial dream.

This fascinating video is well worth 11 minutes. It’s not a Christian video or a missionary video, but it has stirred our hearts on both accounts.


God has called us, as Christians, to go into all the world and to preach the Gospel. He’s called us to preach the Gospel to the poor and to love others. The man in this video is a professional musician who had compassion for the poor and a creative idea that was different, and he DID SOMETHING about it. It’s an inspiring example.

God has given us the Good News of Jesus. He has also given us amazing minds and hearts to love others and to do beautiful things. He can stir you with a simple idea that could go far beyond what you could imagine. Through you, God can bring His “music” of salvation to a lost and dying world.

Just imagine what could happen if we took action on some of our crazy ideas and dreams, empowered by God’s grace and God’s anointing!

Ladies, have you heard about Daring Daughters @ Disneyworld | February 6-7, 2015 | It’s a Missions Conference for Women and Teen Girls | Click the banner to learn more:
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Daring Daughters, after watching this video, we would love to hear your thoughts. Did this video inspire you? What are some ideas and dreams in your heart? What do you think about helping the poor, for Jesus?

You’re Never Too Young to Make a Difference

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“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

When my daughters were young, they wanted to make a difference in the world yet felt very confined by their age. They wanted to help The Seed Company translate the Bible into new languages. “We’re too young to get a job! What can we do to help when we’re home all day?!”

We put our heads together and thought about what resources and skills they had. They owned some adorable rabbits, we had a greenhouse, a kitchen, a sewing machine….could we use any of these to build God’s kingdom? YES!

The girls started their own businesses. They started a blog “Bunnies for Bibles” and started breeding their rabbits and selling them for $20 on Craigslist. And guess what? We sold them all! I think they’ve sold over 30 rabbits that way.

“Sister Starts” was another venture to sell organic veggie starts at $3 a piece. Huge hit! We bought some heirloom seeds and they filled up trays and put up some lights in our laundry room to start them. When the seedlings were big enough we transplanted them to our greenhouse.

“Granola Girls” was another way they made some cash. We made gallons of homemade granola and sold it at church and at the Farmer’s Market.

They got some friends together to sew simple “pillow case dresses” for African orphans through  “Little Dresses for Africa”.  Around the house we found lots of ways to save money by hanging our clothes out to dry in the summer, not turning on the air conditioners (good missions preparation!), making our own bread, eating more simple meals, drinking only water, not buying coffee out etc, etc. We involved the whole family in these money saving ideas. Everyone knew that if we did without just a little bit, it would make a big difference in someone else’s life.

Drying clothes in the sun takes time but saves money.

Guess what? They were able to give away hundreds of dollars for missions!! So you see? You can do a lot with the little you have! What resources and skills do you have? Do you like to bake? Do you like animals? Can you sew? God can use you, so “don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for other believers”. You can change the world for the better!

Helping the Poor (Bible verses)

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He who despises his neighbor sins;
But he who has mercy on the poor,
happy is he.
Proverbs 14:21

He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord,
And He will pay back what he has given.
Proverbs 19:17

He who has a generous eye will be blessed,
For he gives of his bread to the poor.
Proverbs 22:9

Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:8-9

Famine Relief Finally Released

Famine Relief Finally Released


She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
Proverbs 31:20

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Isaiah 58:6-7

Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Matthew 29:21

Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Luke 7:22

Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
Luke 14:12-14

They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.
Galatians 2:10

…for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Matthew 25:35-40