Year of the Child

What breaks God’s heart? One heartbreak is the plight of children. Every night, children go to bed hungry and homeless. Children are beaten, sexually abused, abandoned or live in filthy conditions. Children struggle with mental and/or physical conditions. Some have their physical needs met but live without love and encouragement. Those who fall behind in school eventually drop out and turn to a life of crime. Kids are sexually active and dealing with sexually transmitted diseases or unwanted pregnancies. Children are drinking, doing drugs and watching porn. The very youngest are being aborted before birth. All of this breaks God’s heart.

Where are these children? They are in other countries, the United States, our community and, yes, even at Ridgecrest. The Global Leadership Summit speaker, Rev. Brenda Salter McNeil said, “What breaks God’s heart should break our hearts.”

What can you do? Let God break your heart. Ask for a broken heart for children. Begin to learn and understand how children are hurting. Begin to identify how you can help. It won’t be easy; it will require sacrifice. Sacrifices, such as taking time away from hobbies or personal plans; changing schedules; removing comfort zones; and giving more “left pocket” money.

What will you sacrifice to help a child in 2012?

http://bridgesforyouth.net

http://www.pccchoices.org

http://www.isabelshouse.org

http://www.mbch.org

http://www.ronaldmcdonaldhouse.org

http://rarebreed.thekitcheninc.org

http://sps.k12.mo.us/jeffries