SYL: Habitat for Humanity

It’s easy for us to sometimes take the roof over our head for granted….until disaster strikes, and we sit watching the news, watching the devastation of thousands, even millions of people, who are now homeless and left in the streets. Hurricane Katrina comes to mind and the devastation in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. [...]

SYLW: Save the Children

When I was a little girl, I remember watching the Save the Children program on tv.  I would sit there and wonder at how these children were surviving even in the midst of a terrible situation.  Every time I was watching tv, if the show was on, I would just become mesmerized by it.  Now [...]

SYLW: Emily’s Smile Boxes

It’s amazing the difference that children can make in this world, and I have one special big sister to tell you about today.  Her name is Emily, and back in 2008, her parents got the devastating news that their yet-to-be-born baby boy, Jude, had a brain bleed, or a bilateral stroke.  They were told to [...]

SYLW: Ozarks Honor Flight

World War II has always been an era that has been close to my heart….I just feel so passionately about it and want to learn everything I can about that time in history.  There are so many heroes, so many men and women who served our country both here at home and overseas, some giving [...]

SYLW: The Voice of the Martyrs

Today’s featured organization, The Voice of the Martyrs, has been around since 1967, when it was founded by Dr. Richard Wurmbrand, after being imprisoned in Communist Romania for 14 years, his wife being imprisoned for 3 years.  I can remember when I was younger….some of my teachers would read to us out of the Foxe’s [...]

SYLW: Mercy Ships

Mercy Ships is an organization that I remember dreaming about serving with back when I was still a teenager.  I used to pore over literature I’d gotten from them, thinking that someday I might volunteer with them.  In fact, one of the ladies in my church had actually returned from serving as a nurse, and [...]

SYLW: Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders, or Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) provides medical care in approximately 60 countries around the world.

They work in countries where there is war, epidemics, malnutrition, natural disaster, etc.  Regardless of who a person is or who they might be affiliated with, every person is eligible to receive medical care from [...]

Shine Your Light Wed: Convoy of Hope

(Throughout this post will be pictures of Haiti that Convoy of Hope has given me permission to use.  Some of these pictures are graphic, so I give warning before you read, in case you have a child in the room.)

Convoy of Hope is an organization that I’ve been learning more about since the earthquake [...]

Early Edition of SYLW: Haiti- How You Can Help

With the earthquake devastation in Haiti, an early edition of Shine Your Light was warranted….I’ve been ready to jump on a plane and just go….not that I have a passport or anything (I’m thinking a passport is in the works, though, over the next year), but I would give my eye teeth to go and [...]

SYLW: All Souls Friday Soup Kitchen

A couple of years ago, we were blessed to volunteer with the All Souls Friday Soup Kitchen in the heart of the Upper East Side in Manhattan.

We spent one Friday afternoon there, and the people we met really spoke to our hearts.  The soup kitchen was slightly different than your usual soup kitchen.  [...]

SYLW: C.O.P.S.

Too often, I think we fail to recognize those who are protecting our neighborhoods, homes, families, and even our children, some of whom have given the ultimate sacrifice.  I know I myself sometimes see police as people I’ve got to watch out for, or I might get a ticket….I fail to see them as fellow [...]

SYLW: Happy New Year!

This week, I decided to kinda take the week off from Shine Your Light.  Except I wanted to just put out one reminder…..

Even though I don’t drink myself, I know New Year’s can be a big holiday for parties and drinking, and many may be tempted to drive home drunk.  Please, I beg you, to [...]

SYLW: Springfield Victory Mission

Springfield Victory Mission, located in Springfield, MO, began back in 1976.  Reverend and Mrs. Everett Cook started serving sandwiches from the back of their station wagon, down on the town square.  Their hope was to reach out to the homeless with the Gospel.  It has since grown into a phenomenal ministry, helping men, women, and [...]

SYLW: The Salvation Army

This time of year, everyone is running to and fro, trying to either start their last minute Christmas shopping or trying to finish it.  Every time we go to the mall, there is always someone there ringing that bell, manning that red kettle that is such a life saver for so many people.  Have you [...]

Early Edition of SYLW: The KTTS Christmas Crusade

This is another early edition of Shine Your Light Wednesdays, intended for next Wednesday….but as this opportunity is already in full swing, just wanted to get it out there.

With Christmas just around the corner, many families, in the areas we live, struggle just to put food on the table, let alone buy Christmas presents for [...]

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