The Double Blogger Nazi (Jamie) is posting the first entry from another Consumed Blog Writer – Abigail Joy Amos. Enjoy!

Blood. Never a word anyone wants to hear, or discuss. I don’t even like the thought. I will never forget though, this one time my Grampy was in the hospital, and he needed blood. Several times during his time there, they had to give him blood. I hated it.

I’ll always remember rounding the hospital hallway, stepping into his room, and seeing my Grampy laying in the bed, propped up a bit with the bed tilted up, and a white towel wrapped around his head. He looked like a shepherd. The shocking part to me was how pale he was. I had never seen anyone so pale before, and it was horrible. It was because he needed blood.

It was at that instant that I felt the desire to give blood. Now, mind you, I hate needles. I have fainted before at the thought that I might have to get a shot. Needles are a huge fear of mine in life. HUGE. I tear up, get all clammy and sweaty, my stomach hurts- the works. You get the drill. I am saying this to remind those of you who hate needles, too- that I get it.

That incident with my Grampy was years ago- but it has always stuck with me. Recently, as I was leaving work (I work at one of the Starbucks in the Mall of America) I looked over the balcony down to floor one, and saw this weird scene. All these chairs that looked like tall beach chairs were set up, nurses were bustling about, and there was a table of soda and cookies. I was on the phone with my mom at the time- describing it to her, and all of the sudden I said, “ICK! People are donating blood!” I was so disturbed by the scene. Like a moment from a horror movie or something! My mom kindly prompted me, “You should give blood. It would be good for you.” Never in a million years did she think I would- she was half joking with me.

In that instant I knew. God wanted me to give blood. It was finally the time. My time. It made me think of my precious cousin, Holly, who had been killed in a car accident a year ago. She was an organ donor- and was able to give life to so many people in need of life. I was so inspired by Holly, and so proud of her selfless gifts. She gave me the final courage to step up to the table, and say, “I want to give blood.” In my heart, I knew I was donating my blood in memory of Holly, and in honor of my Grampy.

The whole process was amazing. Truly a supernatural experience! My nurse totally rocked- and I was even able to share with her about Holly’s life. The needle and all was nothing what I had always dreaded. It was virtually painless. But, even if it had been painful- people are in need. Blood saves lives, and I have healthy blood to give! My body is not my own. After it was all over, she told me I needed to eat and drink some sugar. No way! I was stoked about this! That was God’s special gift to me!

I got a letter in the mail showing me pictures of people whose lives were saved from blood donors. It was hard not to cry. They also sent me my blood type. Turns out, I have a rare type of blood. My heart soared when I found out. Not only did God lead me to give blood, but I gave, and I gave blood that is rare. Who am I to keep my blood in me just because I am afraid of needles? And now, especially because I have rare blood! This has been a profound experience for me, and something I aim to continue throughout my life.

What about you? Have you ever donated blood? Think about it…and just think, not only do you get to save lives, you get to be treated with mountain dew and cookies when it’s all over! Now if that’s not God-ordained, I don’t know what is!

Last night I heard a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart speak about her upcoming trip to the city of Manila in the Philippines. She will be serving as a house parent in an orphanage for three months in 2008. Her responsibility will be to love children that have been abandoned. She also shared her desire to love the hundreds of thousands of children roaming the streets of Manila at night without a home. She will be immersed in a place Jesus would describe as “the least of these”.

As she was sharing, she commented how that even as a child in Sunday School class she remembers her heart coming alive anytime the subject of “missions” was discussed. She had this sense of calling at a very young age to be Jesus to the underprivileged and abandoned children of the world. This calling led her to take a few trips with her local church overseas. This trip to the Philippines will be different however. This will be the first trip taken alone. I love that kind of faith! She also has about 25% of her funds raised at this point but she is confident in her January departure.

When asked how we could pray for her, she mentioned that ever since she committed to doing this, she has had these doubts or struggles with whether or not she is good enough to go. Amazing isn’t it? She has been confident her entire life that God created her to go to the margins of this world where street kids have unbelievable needs. She follows this leading and prompting in her heart to take steps towards and existence in Manila and then BAM – the attack begins. The enemy of her soul unleashes the attacks of hell against her. His primary weapon – fear and doubt. “You aren’t worthy enough to do something like this!” “The money for this trip will never come in.” “Doesn’t it stink to ask people for money?” The attack continues to mount.

I was reading the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 recently. This is the parable where the master goes away on a journey and leaves his property to the servants. To one servant he gave five talents, to another servant two talents, and to another servant one talent. When the master returned he found the servants with five and two talents doubled his investment. He was pleased and said to them, “Well done good and faithful servant.” But the servant with the one talent actually buried his talent in the ground and did not profit anything. The master was very displeased with this servant and said the following to him:

“You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Wow! Pretty harsh words! “Wicked, lazy, weeping and gnashing of teeth!” It wasn’t like the servant was beating children, smoking crack, and having a promiscuous lifestyle. Could the servant be cut some kind of slack? This parable truly emphasizes the importance of squeezing every ounce of talent, ability, and moments in our day for the Kingdom of God.

What intrigues me about this parable is the reason the lazy servant gives the master for why he buried the talent. He says this, “’Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground.’”

Did you catch that word in there – “afraid”? This servant’s fear of his master gripped him in such a way that he curled up into the fetal position and did not do a thing. He ran from his responsibility and wussed out. Fear will cause you to run from your dreams, your abilities, your potential impact on the world, and your destiny.

John tells us in I John that “perfect love drives out fear”. The love of God and neighbor will remove fear from our inner being. That is what I took away from my time with this special woman. Did she have doubts? Absolutely! But her love for Jesus and His mission along with her love for children is driving out those fears and doubts. The enemy can talk his talk and play his games, but nothing can rival the mystical love of God that overtakes people and causes them to do unexplainable, irrational things. Thank you Megan for teaching me with your actions, for reminding me what truly is important, and for proving John’s words our true – “perfect love does indeed drive out fear”.

“May the peace and love of God rest on Megan’s soul. May her financial needs pour in. May the body of Christ come around her…supporting her with resources and prayer. May she be used to bring the Kingdom and will of God to the lives of children in Manila. May the world never be the same because she chose to live her life as a stranger in a foreign land…knowing her true citizenship lies in heaven. Amen.”

Marvelous Contradiction

We marvel at Christ’s compassion
Then we look in disgust at life’s whores and drunks

We marvel at Christ’s love
While our neighbor’s needs go unaided

We marvel at Christ’s silence
But scream “you’re going to hell” when the occasion arises

We marvel at Christ’s feeding of 5000
As Africa starves tonight

We marvel at Christ’s mercy
And refuse to forgive ourselves

We marvel at Christ’s giving
Then count and save every penny

I marvel at “we”
Yet it is “I”

I have purposefully been holding off posts the last few weeks due to the Benefit Concert for Cornerstone. I wanted the event to have prime real estate on our site. The concert was last night and it was amazing. But now it is time to produce some new posts. I want to do my best to keep this site updated frequently with blog posts so I have enlisted some help from friends of Consumed. Mixed in with my entries will be those from some other bloggers out there. I think the variety in the topics and the personalities of the writers will keep things interesting.

So for the first entry from a friend of Consumed I introduce to you Rob Stearns. Rob is a recently retired professional German basketball player, the father of two, a teacher, a poet, a writer, and fan of a disappointing Alabama Crimson Tide Football Program (sorry Rob…I had to take my shots).

Consumed Publishing just finished producing Rob’s first published writing entitled Rise Up. We are thankful to have Rob join the Consumed Publishing family. Rise Up will be released on November 6. Pre-ordering will be available soon on the website.

From Rob…