Blood Water Mission

Wow...as I think about doing this challenge I feel layers of self being pulled away.  But can I really give up something for 40 days?  I have tried several times to fast and failed but I know that God will give me the strength for the things He has called me to do.  Something so minimal as giving up soda or caffiene should be nothing to us who have so much, but to do it for the benefit of others and to pray that God would take that tiny sacrifice we have made and multiply it for someone else so that they can know Him like we do would be such an amazing blessing.  I pay that others wil take up this challenge give up and give way to something beautiful.

As I listened to the challenge to give up my diet soda, I thought: no thanks, that's not for me. Then I suddenly had a vision of myself in heaven standing before a family from Uganda. The father asked with sadness in his voice, "Why didn't you help us?" I realized that I am so blessed and giving up soda is such a small sacrifice. How can I turn down an opportunity to help my fellow man?!

I heard you talking this morning about giving up your coffee, etc. for 40 days.  As much as I think that this is an interesting idea, I hope that you will remember that not all coffee shops are run by a large corporation.  The coffee shop that I manage works closely with a Christian organization that helps coffee bean workers get out of the poverty cycle.  The only way our store can continue to help these people is with the consistent patronage from our loyal customers.  I feel blessed to work for a coffee shop owner who is trying to better people's lives through his generosity and his association with an organization that shares his deep faith in Christ.   I hope before people make this "sacrifice" that they will consider all of the options and I hope in the future that you might think about the huge impact this could have on small businesses when you put a challenge out like this.  We are working to help the people of Nicaragua, Guatemala, etc. to know Christ through our love for them as well.  

I think its a great idea!  I am a dietitian and I am always encouraging my patients to give up sodas.  So this is perfect!  I just posted a link to this on my facebook page so my patients can join in!  What can be better than cutting back calories to lose weight, and saving the world at the same time ?!?!

This is wonderful.  Our Central Pacific Conferences congreations of the United Church of Christ have a project called Drink Water for Life, which is also a Lenten observance of drinking water and putting the money saved aside for funding clean water project in  Haiti and beyond.  Good luck!