Let's show love by donating #Fulanas (Sweaters)

Everyone deserves to be loved and to be cared for. Everyone ought to love and show care.

This cold season is barely two weeks but its already becoming unbearable. It's winter time in Kenya.One has  to get creative and dress up really warm so as not to end up trembling the whole day like a drenched sheep.Or so not to catch a cold or worse, pneumonia.  People are seen cuddling on their hot water bottles, those who can, some are drinking hot water, coffee, tea, drinking chocolate or whatever throughout the day to fight the cold.

Today am rather overdressed... am wearing a sweater and a heavy jacket on top just so that I can keep myself warm. While I have an option of wearing two at ago, someone somewhere in the streets has none. And am not talking about chics who pretend they are not feeling cold by exposing themselves. Am talking about the people who live in the streets because they have no home. The street is their home and they don't have options for what to wear or how to wear. Amongst this people, there are kids, even infants and toddlers. Some of them are elderly, some disabled, but what to do, they have no option! While me and you struggle to wake up every other morning from our warm beds because we are complaining of how cold it is outside, them they are out in that cold and not just out, but lying down on cold cemented floor or if lucky, they sleep on hard cartons with some extremely dirty pieces of clothes to cover up themselves. Some get inside a sack and that's it. They sleep like that day in day out. That's their lifestyle!

That is so saddening isn't it? But feeling sorry just for the thought of it is NOT enough! There is more we can do. That is why some friends have started out a project (Hearts & Fulanas) of urging Kenyans to collect as many sweaters or anything that can keep someone warm and then to be distributed with hearts of love to this awesome but helpless people. There are designated drop-off points and contacts for calling for more clarifications.(see poster)

How to get Involved:

As I mentioned above, we ought to love and love with actions as well. Having the kind of compassion that Jesus had. Compassion is what drove Jesus to love us all.

Compassion defined: Your pain in my heart; feeling someone else's pain 


 Two Great truths about compassion:

• Compassion is holding God and man in one thought at one time, at all times.
• Compassion drives me to involvement.

My heart was so moved and convicted at the same time when I saw this project's mission. To love and hug. That is basically what they are offering. Nothing more but love. Everything in me wanted to be a part of this great idea. How can I help was the question I asked myself. And the answer, I need to get involved by donating and spreading the word too!

Once you read this, please tweet, share on Facebook, talk about it, do anything to make sure everyone is aware.

Let's spread the hug, love and donate Fulanas. Let's get involved. Won't we?

 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9: 6-10)

Glamor or durability?

When buying an item, what do you consider most?

As for me, I go for glamor. The design. the color...  I mean, I am not about to go spend my money on some shady looking thing over there!

I always joke (but true in a way) that when I will be buying my car, I will go for the cute looking one. Cute here means the design must be unique, and it should be painted in my favorite color like lime green, hot pink, purple... you name all the beautiful bright colors you know of. I tend to overlook the main considerations like  the cost, fuel consumption, the speed and any other relevancies that one is meant to go for. Anyway, I know I will need guidance when the time comes.

Recently I bought two bags. Yes I looove bags. And shoes too! :-) Anyway, I got for myself this cute bags. One a travel bag and the other one just a usual handbag for day-day purposes. As usual, I went for glamor off course! I was so excited to have the bags but just a few days of using the handbag, I noticed that the straps were not too strong and it was obvious that the bag was not going to serve me for long. It was sort of disappointing but whom was I to blame but myself? There were other bags I could have picked that looked rather durable but me, I jumped on the glamorous looking one.

While I sat there feeling sorry for myself and regretting at the same time, It occurred to me clearly that this is how Christians we can be at times when choosing to follow Jesus Christ. Many a times, people tend to decide to follow Christ perhaps based on the promises they hear the kingdom of Heaven holds ahead for them. We tend to think that salvation is all glamorous, no more troubles or suffering, no more heartbreaks, no more betrayals,  no more, no more...

Then afterwards, there is the everlasting promised land flowing with milk and honey, a land where all the dangerous animals are friendly, a land where all we will be doing is sing praise and worship songs from dawn to dusk non-stop.

Above is what I can call going for glamor. Deciding to follow Christ because you think He will make your life all smooth. With such perspective, we tend to overlook the real relationship that we ought to hold in Christ. That when we decide to follow Him, it will be a life long commitment. That no matter what kind of trials may arise, we will soldier on and not give up on Him (backslide). That we will not start cursing God and start those questions of " Lord why did you allow such to happen to me?"  

God did not promise us a glamorous life all through in our walk with Him. In fact, He notifies us that there will be many afflictions! But again, He assures us that He will not sit and  watch us get tested beyond control.  Psalms 34:19-20 reads "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. {20} He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.

As we follow Christ, it is important that our main focus be on our relationship with Him rather than what it comes with. A relationship that can not be shaken with the life's afflictions. A relationship that is not based on the good stuff only. Am not saying that Christianity is all about afflictions and hardships but just trying to stress a point. In fact it's so much fun knowing Christ. The best thing is that, there is enough grace to face whatever and He is there to fight our battles and to help us when our burdens become so heavy and unbearable.

Have you experienced any afflictions in your walk with Christ? What were some of your expectations when you chose to follow Him? If you are not yet following Him, what picture do you have in mind for living a life with Christ?