I had some time to be in silence last week. As I was in the quiet, I was reminded from a song, “Do something” by Matthew West, and two books that are all about acting on God’s call to live by faith. I was reminded how important it is to MOVE, ACT and DO things for the causes of Humanity and also to express gratitude towards Jesus for all He has done for me. Also, while listening to the song, I thought on two books that show living faith in action: Kisses from Katie, By Katie Davis, and Love Does, By Bob Goff.
Matthew West Sings these Lyrics in “Do Something”:
I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how’d we ever get so far down
How’s it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God why don’t you do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said “God, why don’t you do something!?”
He said, “I did, … I created you!”
These lyrics speak to a conversation that I have had with God on many occasions. The conversation when I feel like I just couldn’t possibly help–or the one where things in the world seem so hopeless that I just feel helpless. I just want to do something, and sometimes it seems like there is too much to be done! (I feel like this with laundry often too!)
But, there is always hope.
And God has a heart for children, the poor, the widowed, the fatherless.
Psalm 10:14, “But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.”
Proverbs 31:8, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”
James 1:27, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Kisses from Katie, by Katie Davis and Love Does, by Bob Goff
And into the book review…There are two books that amazingly demonstrate the power of God through one person who decides to listen to His voice and act or “Do Something”.
In the book Kisses from Katie, it is clear that Katie Davis is one person who listened, acted in faith, and has made an impact. It is not a story about how amazing Katie is…It is a story of what can happen to any of us if we choose to quiet ourselves, listen to God’s voice, and then act on God’s plan (not our own), regardless of what we think or others think. Katie’s story is so incredibly encouraging because she follows God’s word and God’s plan and shares all of the glory of God and His work. Her book and story is really God’s story that he offers to each of us–and is so encouraging to those of us who want to follow His lead. No, I, Rachel, can not pick up, move to Africa and adopt 10, 12, 14 girls. That is not the story God wrote for me. But I can do what He asks me to do where I am at.
Also, Katie writes about the pull between her family–who are awesome, amazing and wonderful and Christian. They are well intentioned, but had plans for her to follow the normal American Dream…graduate from high school, go to college and have a successful career. She wanted to be a nurse. God still has given her opportunity to mend and tend to sick and poor people, but just not the dreams in the way in which her parents had imagined (or that she had imagined, for that matter).
As a parent of three, I have dreams and hopes for each of my kids. I would love for them to experience education, success and wonderful things that I have experienced…or that I haven’t had the opportunity to experience! However, reading Katie’s story, even with her “worldly potential” being valedictorian at her high school, etc…..all of the opportunities she would have to go to an amazing college, chances to be a huge success–she listened to God’s voice of His calling. Not the world’s. As a follower of Jesus, it is very important that I let my children follow God’s voice, support them with good questions and prayer, and trust that God knows what He is doing.
The second book that also speaks to the pledge to “do something”, as Matthew West puts it, is Love Does by Bob Goff. I have had the privilege of hearing Bob speak, which helped bring to life his voice in the book. The book is written as series of stories from Bob’s life. Some stories are extreme and crazy and many are hilarious! Each are examples of him stepping out in faith, or sharing what he has learned from Jesus. Bob lives boldly and his vivid personality comes through! I SO enjoyed each chapter (each chapter is a different story), I began to read them aloud to my offspring. The youngers loved them and were challenged to think outside the box. I also know for a fact, that Bob Goff WILL respond to your correspondence! One of my dear friends took the challenge to contact Bob. They ended up going to lunch with him!
Both of these books have challenged me to live more boldly in my faith. I highly recommend both and will definitely read them again.
I hope you are inspired to put your faith into action!
Here is a YouTube of Matthew West’s Song, “Do Something”:
i am rachel kathleen 