Discoveries of a Wanderer

I love this video that was just posted on Odyssey Networks.

How does a Christian ministry help a Philadelphia community gain access to healthy food? One man in this video points out that The Lord’s prayer says “Give us this day OUR daily bread”. It doesn’t belong to just one person but to all of us. We all should have equal and fair access to healthy and good food.

Dreams. What dreams don’t I have?

Dreams to find a few moments to sleep. Dreams to live in the same state as my boyfriend. Dreams to one day publish a book. Dreams to pay off my student loans. Dreams to live with less stress – the way God wants me to. Dreams to possibly one day get married and have children.

But then the fear sets in. The gnawing sense that the things won’t happen. My dreams won’t become a reality.

People might say something like, “I wanted this plan for my life, and God’s plan for me was something else, something different.” Why is it that God’s plan is not always what we want? Even when we think our own dreams are good? I know this doesn’t happen all the time, but it does happen some of the time.

And it’s scary.

Scary because God’s plan sometimes forces you out of your own comfort zone. Scary because your own dreams don’t always come true.

So what I’m left with is confusion and frustration. But mainly the reality that I have to trust in God.

Trust that He knows what I really need even before I do. Trust that His way really will work out for the best. Trust that what I want is not always what is the best path for me. This isn’t easy, but it is possible.

I’m learning to trust again with a child-like faith, and I’m also recognizing that some of our dreams really do come true. Some of the desires we have really do turn into reality. Replacing fear with faith can help me understand that although my own dreams are important, God’s plans are really better.

I really can trust in Him for a future that goes beyond my own extraordinary dreams.

“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

Beautiful and Inspiring Authors Share Their Thoughts on Dreams:
Richenda Vermeulen (Follow @richendag) – Dream Catcher

Lindsey Talerico-Hedren (Follow @lindseytalerico) – So long old dreams, hello new ones

Follow all the posts on Twitter #DreamLink

I originally posted this on Open Equal Free – check out the site!

Women who left the worn-torn country of Sudan were given a clear message at a recent conference: the path to success in the United States is paved by education.

The 2012 Sudanese Women’s Empowerment Conference was held in West Des Moines, Iowa, last week. The conference was created to encourage Sudanese American women to further their own education in hopes of a brighter future for themselves and their families. When a woman is educated, the entire family benefits due to her ability to bring in a higher income.

One woman attendee, Leah Lako, shared her own story of how she went from working at a meat-packing facility to finding employment as a nurse’s aide. Continuing her education today, she plans to eventually become a nurse.

According to the United Nations Development Programme, women in Southern Sudan have been especially vulnerable, having been denied an education. Additionally, language barriers make education much more difficult to attain. In the end, Sudanese American women are faced with a double-edged sword and must overcome difficult barriers.

It was with hope that the women of the recent Sudanese Women’s Empowerment Conference took to heart the powerful message of how important education is in the United States and around the world.

Creative Commons Love: Tim McKulka on Flickr.com

Today, April 25th, we turn the world’s attention to Malaria. It continues to kill children and adults in more areas than just Africa. Buying just one bed net can help save a child’s life.