Category: Kingdom of God

Remember every time you witness a rainbow, know that God will keep His promises to you in spite of your hardships, trials or any other life altering circumstances.

For nearly 20 years the House of Giving has been blessed to provide hope and healing to communities across the globe. Thanks to your contributions and support our latest mission to provide Dream Rooms, a home to heal, re-build and transform the lives of victims of human and sex trafficking has been accomplished with extraordinary success. Together we accomplished what at first seemed impossible yet, through your generous gifts we not only built one room, we built nine rooms for young men.

Human trafficking was a developing story in the news and seemed like an important cause where we could give our services to those who desperately needed our help. Annie Ellison, the Director of House of Giving, became aware of a local ministry named Dream Center, dedicated to rescuing victims of human and sex trafficking and provide them with a safe place to stay, recover and turn their lives around. The Dream Center facility is an old hotel that was in need of construction and remodeling of the old, dilapidated rooms to safely house these young adults. Most of the victims have been forced into this horrible lifestyle. They’re traumatized and have a deep sense of “fight or flight” embedded in them. A safe, comfortable, private space helps calm them and gives them a sense of security, realizing they don’t have to run. Counseling, schooling, medical treatment and mentors help them to heal, provide them hope, as they begin a new life in physical, emotional and spiritual wellness.

There was an overwhelming need at the Dream Center for more rooms to be constructed and remodeled for the many new victims and soon-to-be survivors of human and sex trafficking. In late July of 2020, House of Giving began to raise the necessary funds to design and build new rooms. With our 2020 end-of-the-year House of Giving campaign, we raised a good amount thanks to generous donations from TriVita members, employees, family and friends and with the help of Trivita’s dollar-for-dollar match, we were close to accomplishing our fundraising goal. At this point in the campaign, the facility only had programs available to female survivors and our goal was to complete one Dream Room.

On January 23, 2021, the world changed forever for Marcus and Annie and the Ellison family.

Early that day, Annie and Marcus were hiking on a local mountain and saw the most vibrant, colorful, majestic rainbow that they had ever seen. The brilliance of this rainbow visibly moved everybody on the mountain. It was a sign from God in all His glory. They just weren’t sure yet what it meant.

Shortly after, Marcus and Annie were meeting with a group of friends who were sharing their condolences and discussing how they could turn this terrible tragedy into something good. Most were open to help monetarily or with whatever resources they had. The desire to build the Dream rooms seemed even more urgent now. Jeff Hillis, a lifelong friend,  whose company builds luxury homes, offered to do the construction and remodeling work at his cost. Jeff also asked many of his vendors to donate materials for the rooms, and they did. But there was one big change to come. The Dream Center contacted Annie and said they were starting a new Dream room project and would like us to change the room design for male sex-trafficked victims. They also asked if we could do more than one room because of the influx of newly rescued victims. It was then that Marcus and Annie, along with the help of Jeff, were determined to build not one, but nine rooms. This news was another sign that inspired the Ellison family to make this happen and in the loving memory of Chase.

During the final walk-through for the rooms, Marcus and Annie met Irene Orr, the Program Manager for the Young Men’s portion of this project for The Phoenix Dream Center. There were two young men with Irene, who are currently in the program. The young men were excited to share how they have accepted Jesus and how the Lord has saved them. One of them had been addicted to drugs, had overdosed more than once and was tired of that life. The Lord and the Dream Center have saved him. The young man said, “I gave up Narcan (an overdose nasal spray) for Jesus.”  Irene expressed how excited they all are to have this project almost completed. They have prayed about these rooms for a long time, knowing they will be done in God’s time. Meanwhile, the boys had written Scriptures, prayers and beautiful messages on the concrete floors that would soon be covered with wood flooring. The boys and Irene also prayed over the rooms. Irene shared that when they were done praying over the rooms she looked up and there, directly above the rooms, were two incredible rainbows. It wasn’t even raining. Not a cloud in the sky. Another sign.

Marcus and Annie are convinced that the rainbows are a message from God that He is with them on this project, that there is an afterlife and that Chase is with Jesus. 

“Just as this project to rebuild and transform the rooms and the lives toward healing and recovery of the survivors, so The Lord rebuilds and transforms us.” Annie

We would love to give a huge heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our donors, employees and TriVita members who have helped us to build the Dream Rooms. We had a vision to start with one room but with overwhelming support, we accomplished what once seemed impossible:  nine Dream Rooms!

With our heartfelt gratitude,

Marcus & Annie

Human trafficking can start with a simple online conversation, and young children can be lured by traffickers who use psychological means to ensnare and trap them. Even young trafficked victims can be used to groom others into human trafficking by building trust and rapport. This can start with an approach at the mall. It can be a shock to hear that this could be happening right in our backyard, and the sad truth is it is. In the U.S. alone, more than 8,500 human trafficking cases were reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline in 2019. That may not seem like a big number, until you realize that only 1-2 percent of human trafficking victims are ever identified, which could bring the number close to almost a million victims within U.S. borders. It’s a form of modern-day slavery and is a growing problem that can’t be ignored.

What’s Human Trafficking?

This insidious multi-billion dollar business is sending shock waves across newsrooms and social media platforms worldwide. It may be a term you’ve heard before, but the dark reality of life as a victim of human trafficking is beyond comprehension. The Department of Justice states human trafficking as the fastest growing business in organized crime and it involves the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gain. It makes more money than the NFL, NBA and MLB combined. It’s both a domestic and global crime, but unfortunately, it occurs most in the U.S. 

Only 1 out of 100 trafficked individuals will be rescued. In 2019, half of all victims were children, according to the Federal Human Trafficking Report. The top three vulnerabilities identified among children victims are runaways, children in foster care and abused or neglected children.

House of Giving’s Mission

House of Giving believes every life matters to God. Every human has the right to a life of purpose and hope, with physical, emotional and spiritual wellness. That‘s why House of Giving has joined the Phoenix Dream Center to aid in restoring dignity and inspiring hope to victims of human trafficking by building ‘dream rooms’ for survivors. Survivors from across the nation who come to the dream center also get safe-housing services such as medical care, emotional support, and education.

Making a Difference With Dream Rooms

Have you ever thought of where you feel the safest? For most of us, it’s inside our homes, a space filled with love, laughter and memories. How can something as simple as a safe room contribute to your peace of mind, your self-worth and feelings of security? Imagine what it would feel like to not have a safe place. To live in fear. To have nowhere to go. No safe space or room to escape. 

For victims of human trafficking, safety can be the difference between life or death. It can make a difference in their fight to survive. It offers hope for a future not filled with fear. It can be a building block in the foundation that takes them from victim to survivor. 

You can make a difference in the life of a human trafficking survivor. Together, with your help, survivors will receive proper shelter and direct access to resources necessary for recovery at the Phoenix Dream Center. Dream rooms provide sanctuary for up to four survivors at a time and will house between 50-60 survivors over a five year period, which is the typical life cycle of a room. 

While living in their dream rooms for as long as two years, survivors have access to: 

• on-campus medical treatment 
• therapeutic healing services
• pastoral nurture care 
• advanced educational programs
• job training

You can help prepare a dream room to support survivors of human trafficking. Help them have a safe and secure place to heal. 

How Can You Help?

House of Giving is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and has been donating to causes since 2001. They ensure 100 percent of donations go toward the causes they support. 

What is the cost? The cost is a human life. Any amount helps and is greatly appreciated.

All of us are grateful for the essential businesses that have served the public notably, the grocery stores! Thanks to all and especially cashiers who daily interact with hundreds of people! The food supply chain is essential to life.

But I am surprised at how some people have addressed their concerns about the coronavirus.  There was a couple in the grocery store with their gloves and their masks’ on doing their best to avoid the virus spread.  Rather interesting though, in their cart were cigarettes, soda loaded with refined sugar, alcohol and an array of chips. None of the items selected are made to stimulate the immune system.

What is so unfortunate is this fact; the most vulnerable people to Covid19 are those who have underlying issues such as obesity, diabetes, heart conditions and compromised immune systems.

On the other hand, what research has shown is also good news, and that is; the most vulnerable conditions are actually in our control to reverse and to have better health, mitigating less risk of serious health issues such as Covid19. Yes, pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, obesity and heart disease are all reversible conditions with good lifestyle choices.

Here is another way of saying it; if we will do our part God has already done His part with giving us a body designed to function systematically to defend it from pathogens, viruses and other toxins. If you can grasp the significance of this truth, your daily motivation and goal can be to support your amazing body. If you want more information on how best to do this, Trivita has The Amazing Body System lifestyle guide which can help guide you in the best ways to support your body systems and organs.

I am not an advocate of just one thing in supporting a complex system such as the immune system. It is a system with many moving parts. There are four major ways you can support your immune system. It’s about the way you think, sleep, move, and the way you eat.

For example, when fearful and anxious thoughts dominate your mind and emotions, it compromises the immune system.

That is why I constantly remind myself of what the scriptures offer as guidance such as; Philippians 4:8, “Whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things!” As Dr. Olivia Remes, researcher with University of Cambridge, said on my podcast last month; “You have to turn off the news in these times of the pandemic.” Yes, you can tune in to the news but tune out the barrage of negative energy. Think on things of gratitude and praise!

And that is what we will be doing on May 5^th at 6pm PDT-9pm EDT for an evening of praise and prayer with Don Moen. Details can be found here for this one-hour streaming event that is going worldwide. Don has led millions of people into praise and worship experiencing God’s presence and provision. This will be a webcast event filled with hope and prayer for every need.

You have an amazing body designed by your Creator to make and keep you well. As you make the lifestyle choices to support it, you will also be amazed at the better health you can experience. No matter your age or health condition, you can experience greater wellness! 

Sincerely,

Michael R. Ellison
TriVita Founder

There is a fundamental principle so powerful that it forms the basis upon which medical science measures any advancement in drugs or treatments.

It is so powerful that it’s recognized by scientists to measure true results of a drug or treatment in any clinical study. It has been recognized, researched and studied by scientists for decades — but practiced worldwide by mankind for thousands of years. 

If you want healing and health to occur, this is the most powerful source of healing you can tap into. And everyone has the innate ability to tap into this power. You just haven’t learned about it.

In medical research, there are two factors to be considered when testing a new drug or treatment. It’s the drug’s effects measured against the amazing… placebo!

We’ve all heard about the placebo’s use, as a standard in modern science. You know, it’s when researchers conduct a clinical trial, giving half the participants the drug (or treatment) they’re testing – and give the other half a sugar pill or some other inactive substance.

Today, modern medicine uses a placebo in research — not to optimize healing, but as a means to separate the effects of belief from those of the drug or technique itself.

The Power of Belief

The power of belief is recognized as a constant, which will always produce an effect. Therefore, a placebo is always used in clinical trials to measure any improvements above and beyond the power of belief.

In fact, belief is recognized as having a greater healing effect than the results achieved from any drug or treatment.

Wayne Jonas, MD, is a family medical doctor, trained research scientist and explorer of many medical systems. He served as director of the Office of Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as research scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO), and at other renowned institutions.

The placebo’s power is not to minimize the importance of any drug, treatment, supplement or herb to help you live healthy. But the placebo effect demonstrates a hidden (and mostly ignored) power available to you. 

The placebo effect is when test participants, receiving the placebo, experience a benefit… even though there was nothing beneficial in their dose. No thing, anyway. So how does this happen?

Because the placebo participants ‘believed’ they were getting the drug.

To fully comprehend the power of our beliefs can get a little esoteric. But even hard, cold science takes the power of belief into account, in order to effectively measure against any improvement when testing a drug or treatment protocol.

Do Your Beliefs Create Your Reality?

Believing is usually associated with spiritual growth and our relationship with God.  Jesus realized this power and said in Mark 9:23, “All things are possible when you believe!” 

There is no illness or disease that cannot be overcome with the power of belief. This is not simply a positive mental attitude or mind over matter… it is tapping into our God-given power.

Paul wrote in Romans 12:3, “To every person, God has given a measure of faith!”

My wife, Susan traveled her wellness journey, by faith. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer 16 years ago, she went from the scream of disbelief when her breast cancer was confirmed, to a penetrating question:

“What do I believe about my life, my purpose and my right to accept God’s gift of healing?”

Her healing journey has been amazing. She drew even closer to her faith, with an unwavering commitment to the plan of medical exams, diet, exercise – and positive thoughts, meditation and prayer. She knew that if she did her part… God would take care of the rest!

Perhaps most importantly, she proved that laughter is, indeed, the BEST medicine.

Faith or belief is not miraculous. Even though medical science calls it a miracle when a disease (or positive outcome) is healed, without a drug… we know it is the power of belief.

Faith comes from an inner surrender – gracefully accepting God’s gifts to us, as we honor our bodies as a holy temple where Spirit dwells.

In Timeless Healing: The Power and Biology of Belief, Herbert Benson, M.D., Harvard Medical School, writes that one of the most important things you can do each day is to invest 10 – 20 minutes in meditation, focusing on a time of remembered wellness.

A time when a simple prayer can be repeatedly prayed to align with God’s vision for us. Dr. Benson writes, “Although I wanted my patients to enjoy the technique, so they would adhere to its practice, I also wanted them to reap the rewards of remembered wellness, by believing in the technique.

It wasn’t just belief in themselves or belief in the technique that they applied to mental focusing, it was often religious faith. That is why I came to call the combination of these physiologic powers the faith factor.”

There is much ‘dis-ease’ in the world… bodies that are not at ease, at peace… and not in alignment with their innate physician. And the World Health Organization says chronic inflammatory-related disease is the greatest threat to human health. Something is VERY wrong!

Yet, there is a magnificent power available to us to heal ourselves. Claim your birthright to live well and prosper.

You can live with greater wellness. Believe you can, and you will!

Yours in wellness,

Michael R. Ellison

When I began reflecting on my December blog being the last one of 2019, it became obvious that gratitude was the most appropriate and powerful subject I could write about. There are so many spontaneous gifts each of us experiences in life that creates the opportunity for gratitude.

Gratitude is an attitude. It is the get-rich-quick scheme in life. Emotionally rich with well-being and happiness as its reward. Another way of looking at gratitude is it’s the master key to abundance in life. It unlocks so many almost magical experiences. In fact, I read a testimonial where someone said, “Life is so magical that something so easy as practicing gratitude has such a powerful impact.” It is free, easy and anyone can do it. And it’s literally life-changing.

A bestselling author said it this way. “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow,” writes Melodie Beattie.

Gratitude brings more than just the feeling of well-being and happiness. It also has many health benefits including lowering blood pressure, aids digestion, helps one sleep better, and science has now validated it improves lipid ratios in blood.

In my book 10 Habits of Wellness, released earlier this year, a chapter is dedicated to the wonders of gratitude. Knowing the benefits of practicing gratitude, we all need the habit of gratitude to reap consistently. The Three Rs are the simplest way I have discovered to develop a habit. Know the reward, identify a daily routine in life to practice the routine of gratitude and then create reminders.

Sometimes busy schedules distract us into the urgent and away from the important. Sometimes events occur that emotionally bring other emotions like anger, anxiety or fear. So having the routine and reminders for the practice of gratitude are so important. When life is going well, it allows us to celebrate life! Enjoy the good times! But when life is not going well, is filled with trauma or adversity, the practice of gratitude allows us perspective and life in its entirety to grow stronger. Please remember the bad things in life do not define who we are.

I invite you to listen to my upcoming podcast, available on December 15th, on the seven proven benefits of practicing gratitude. I have a special moment with my five-year-old granddaughter, Autumn, that will bring a smile to your face and your heart as she prays for you.

As we close out this year I can truly say I am so grateful for our TriVita Members. They are top of the list, along with family and friends. I am grateful for your support of our wellness mission with each purchase you make and the many phone calls, letters and emails expressing your gratitude for TriVita. That is one of the blessings of the attitude of gratitude. It creates a feedback loop of care and love.

This Christmas holiday season is a very special time for learning to practice daily the attitude of gratitude. For those of us as Christians, it is the most important time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and gratitude is the overwhelming feeling and thought in recognizing God’s gift to mankind worldwide. My Jewish friends celebrating Hanukah are also filling their lives with gratitude for the historical re-dedication of the Temple.

I leave this thought for you to ponder. Gratitude with all its many benefits is best experienced when we realize life’s gifts, forces and energy come from outside of ourselves. Recognize people, God, and life as the gifts and force of your life best lived with gratitude. The opposite of that is pride!

Kevin Fuller founded the non-profit, Christian humanitarian aid organization Les Pecheurs International with a vision to help those less fortunate. Les Pecheurs is a French term when translated into English means “The Fisherman”. A profound name Kevin came up with inspired from the Bible teaching.

Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

Today Les Pecheurs is focused on Andriampamaky, a village located on the isolated island of Madagascar where he is creating a big and audacious plan to educate the community on how they can prosper and escape the “Poverty Trap”.

Andriampamaky has roughly 3,500 people and is located approximately two hours north of Antanannaviro, the capital city of Madagascar. This rural region has a twenty-mile radius with surrounded by ten other villages of similar size. The unfortunate thing is that the people living in these villages have no money, medical care, reliable public transportation and almost zero support from the government. The indigenous people mostly rely on highly contaminated surface water and create very limited financial means derived from rice crops grown in the valleys of the undulating lands.

75% of the population survives on less than $1.90 USD per day.

Until recently, the population of these villages gave birth to the new-born without any decent medical care. Thanks to Les Pecheurs they now have a functional medical center providing a historical service of the first-born babies to be born under proper medical care. However, there was one major challenge they faced to make the center “fully-functional”; clean water.

Kevin Fuller travels to Scottsdale, AZ to meet with Michael R. Ellison

Being that the village only had access to surface water, Kevin knew he needed to find a way to access clean water from the ground but had no experience in clean water drilling. So, he deiced to turn to a friend, Michael R. Ellison that had many years of experience in clean water drilling projects in Africa.

Kevin decided to make the long trip out to Arizona to visit with Michael and learn more. As a result, today we’re proud to report that the village of Ardiampamaky and the medical center now have access to clean drinking water thanks to the successful drilling project. The free and clean water is now changing people’s lives and lifting the spirits of the entire community. They have moved from surviving to thriving!

“The new well is a miraculous supply of water. Kevin and I have discussed water filtering of captured surface water and various attempts to get water to this village. I told him, if he could ever drill and find water, House of Giving would sponsor the project. Never did we imagine we could get water for the new medical center and the entire village. It is an amazing value for each and every dollar funded,” Michael R. Ellison.

We couldn’t have done it without your help!

Knowing Kevin had secured the resources to drill the water wells Michael wanted to follow through on his commitment he made and asked the board of directors to help raise funds for the project. With full support, the board got on board and we were able to raise over $25,000 USD for the project. Without help from the Ellison Family and ITBOs donating to House of Giving this would not have been possible. We are truly grateful to all of those who have donated to help those less fortunate and to have your support. We pray and hope you will be reciprocated with many blessings!

Sincerely,

Your friends at the House of Giving

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.

Mathew 25:35 NIV Edition

If heaven represents feelings of overwhelming love and well-being, then you can experience heaven here on earth. Sometimes near-death experiences (NDE) help us enter into that heavenly place.

I want to share with you my father’s recent near-death experience. He was just two weeks away from celebrating his 92^nd birthday when he was rushed to the emergency room. His hands were turning black, arms were swollen twice their normal size, his face was swollen, and the pain was agonizing.

He had three major blockages restricting blood flow, and the cardiologist recommended immediate surgery. Within 24 hours he was on the operating table, then sent to ICU. Several days after the initial operation, my dad was still on the brink of death. According to the doctors, the only thing standing between him and death was the powerful medications stabilizing his blood pressure. But his veins could no longer accept the powerful drug of life support. A very invasive procedure was the next step, but it could also leave him severely cognitively impaired.

His living will states, “never life support and let me go when it is time!” My sister and I concluded that 2 Timothy 4: 7-8 was the message; “I have fought the good fight, I finished the course, I have kept the faith. In the future, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.” We told the physician to stop administering the life-supporting drug. We were told that he would die, and we accepted that as his desire and that his faith would be whole.

Then something strange happened. As we were busily signing documents, gathering the family to say their goodbyes something else was going on. Five hours later, back in the ICU, we walked into his room, expecting the last breaths from my dad. Instead, he was sitting up in bed singing “what the world needs now is love, sweet love.”

I cannot put into words the range of emotions I experienced in those few moments.

What I do know is that I have not been able to get those words out my head. Love, sweet love. Yes, that is the heaven on earth we all need. As it says in 1 John 4:16, “God is love!” The more we embrace love, the more of the God of heaven we experience here on earth. How is it possible that something so powerful, so empowering, so opposite of fear and intimidation can seem so far removed from our daily lives?

How is it possible that with all the social media platforms connecting us, that loneliness is rampant among baby boomers and millennials alike? How are millennials the loneliest generation? Rates of teenage suicide are alarmingly high today! Today loneliness is one of the significant mental health issues, along with depression, facing the aging population.

Conventional medicine aims to have a drug for everything we label a dis-ease. Drug companies and physicians push toxic medications that in-turn require even more drugs to counter the side effects and mask the symptoms. On the other hand, love is one of the most powerful healing forces in our world today. It may not drive a lot in revenue or be an instant fix, but it is the foundation of well-being and heaven on earth. 

Love gives joy, not depression. Love always brings feelings of value and worth. Love will guide lifestyle choices that promote wellness, not illness and disease! 

Near-death experiences are not necessary if you understand life and how to create heaven on earth. The closer we move our thoughts and behaviors towards love, and yes, this includes self-love, the less fear, stress, illness, and disease we all will experience. Many cancer patients have overcome cancer and their NDE by accepting love into their lives, valuing themselves, and life. This love guides their choices for supporting their bodies and purpose for living. When you love yourself, you see life differently. When you love yourself as God loves you, you see value and purpose. You see the uniquely created you; created in His image and likeness! You see the light in your life to shine brightly!

I know many people feel they have to do something to be loved by God, but there is nothing more you can do except being you! God loves you and the world that He gave the ultimate gift, according to John 3:16. There is much you can do to embrace love into your life!

Yes, life can be, at times, a fierce struggle. We may feel like victims, always reacting to the circumstances of life when bad things do happen. I had lunch this past week with a dear friend that had a near-death experience that changed his life forever. He and his two teenage daughters visited Peru to climb Mt. Machu Picchu. Unfortunately, they were kidnapped. Today, after their NDE, they love life and are grateful to God for intervening in what could have been the most tragic of events. They could have chosen bitterness and anxiety but instead allowed the near-death experience to move them towards love, loving God, one another, and to love life!

Life brings both good and unfortunate circumstances, and it always offers us a choice to move away from love or towards love. When we move towards Love it brings a little heaven here on earth.    

Love is one of the  essentials of wellness. I write about love and making it a daily habit of expressing and feeling love in my latest book, 10 Habits of Wellness.

What do you say to yourself when you burn a piece of toast and stink up the house?  Is it, “Hey dummy,” or “hey stupid, what are you doing?”

I love golf and have played for many years on beautiful courses, yet I hear golfer self-talk after hitting a bad shot like, “You stupid (expletive)!” The circumstances of life offer us many opportunities for self-talk and – consciously or unconsciously – we all do it.

How do you talk to yourself? You might want to be more aware because it may have a far more powerful influence on your future life experiences than you realize.

Many of us are familiar with the verse in Proverbs 23:7 “As he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Today remarkable discoveries are being made in the field of neuroscience that supports just how accurate this scriptural reference is. For nearly four hundred years, it was believed the mind was a part of the body, such as a motor with four regions, that was designated to perform certain functions. And the brain, if healthy, would respond to behaviors following logic and knowledge. Now we know differently.

Today, the new concept of neuroplasticity is revealing that the brain is not static, like a motor with parts. We now know that the brain responds to repetitive thoughts and actions, and it grows nerve cells and grey matter to accommodate these thoughts. Think of this as the muscle-building part of the brain. For example, if you only focus on building upper body strength, your upper body will grow stronger. However, if you neglect your lower body, over time, it will become weaker. Repeating a thought over and over again increases its power in your brain! 

When we entertain fearful thoughts, we grow and strengthen the grey matter to retain fear-based ideas! When we take on a medical diagnosis as part of our identity, such as a cancer patient, a heart patient, a diabetic or obese person. And the repetition of thoughts and words literally changes the grey matter as it grows new neurons and retains the information to be acted on in the future. As the scripture in Proverbs 23:7 says, “As he thinks in his heart (or inner being) so is he.” Neuroscience is now validating the notion that when we think repetitive thoughts, the brain changes to create a more dominant position for those beliefs, attitudes, feelings, and behaviors. 

Is your self-talk expressed in phrases like, “I should,” “I can’t,” or “I am”? “I should” generally means it may be best, but I have lots of reasons why I probably won’t do it. And “I can’t” somehow disqualifies us from many opportunities in life! I can’t because… I don’t have money, time, talent, etc. 

The most powerful statement you can say to yourself and others is I am. “I am” brings us closer to God’s declaration in Genesis 1:26 “Let Us make man in our image, according to Our likeness!” When Moses stood at the burning bush, he questioned, “Who am I that I should do what God has directed for me to go to Pharaoh in Egypt?” God quickly corrected his communication with you say, “I am that I am has sent me.” From that moment on, Moses declared, “I am sent!” 

If you desire life to be different, for your life to be better, then maybe some changes will need to occur. You’ll most likely need to start with your self-talk by examining how you talk about and to yourself. Biblically we have evidence in Proverbs 23:7 that self-talk matters and now scientifically it is recognized that the neuroplasticity of your brain will allow you to think for the results you desire. Your brain will change with everything you think and experience. It is not a static machine or motor. 

You are not just the way you are; you are the way you think! From this point forward, you can become more powerful in who you are and what you can do by changing the way you think. This is not mind-over-matter; this is brain matter growing for what matters to you!

James1:8 says that a double-minded person is unstable in their ways. So many times, the circumstances of life dictate our self-talk and creates double-mindedness. We say what we believe and value certain things, yet we also say things that do not align. This is not just about having a positive attitude and ignoring life. Friends of mine were recently involved in a head-on car collision. I’m not suggesting they overlook the fact that injuries occurred, but how we respond to life through thoughts and actions that will determine our future outcomes. They believe in and speak of healing and full recovery. I am healed; I am recovering fully! 

Your consistent self-talk is what will shape your brain to retain, believe, feel, and experience your life. Again, we remind ourselves of the scripture, “What a person thinks in their heart, so are they.” Proverbs 23:7. 

Here is a beautiful expression from Philippians 4:8 in how to help guide our thoughts, “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Forgiveness is a touchy subject for most people. It can be difficult to forgive those who have wronged you. Asking for forgiveness from someone that you’ve wronged can be even more challenging in many ways. It usually involves taking responsibility for your actions, feeling empathy and compassion for those affected, and frequently involves intense anger, guilt, and shame. The need to forgive and be forgiven impacts every life, every relationship, every marriage, every family, every church, every company – everybody. It is truly universal. 

You don’t have to look far to find advice on forgiveness.

A lot of books and seminars talk about the condemnation, shame, and guilt of un-forgiveness. It’s commonly thought that you can motivate people by making them feel guilty, but it rarely works. Forgiveness is a process, but what is the reward? What is the benefit of forgiveness? What does the end result really look like? It’s freedom. Total freedom. A lot of people see forgiveness as a spiritual exercise. They think, “If I forgive, then God will forgive me of my sins, and I will have a better relationship with God.” That is all true, but the act of forgiving benefits your emotional and physical health, as well.

Those who are complacent say, “I know everything I need to know about forgiveness,” or don’t think the topic applies to them. While that may be partly true, there are always new takeaways from diving deeper into any subject. For the conviction group, the topic is often met with hesitation because it’s an uncomfortable topic for them to discuss. They often say, “I know everything I want to know about forgiveness.” And those who are confused say, “I have no idea what I need or want to know about forgiveness.”

Regarding these three categories, Gil says, “Most people are probably just confused about forgiveness. About what it is, what it isn’t, and what it really means to forgive. So, in my book, I’ve included a survey on how good a forgiver you are. And in the book, you’ll find a list of 25 questions you need to ask yourself and see where you are on the scale.” He adds that without fail, every time he’s spoken to someone who has gone through the exercise, it’s surfaced that they are holding grudges or think of people they need to clear the air with. Sometimes they see that they need to forgive someone else, but it is also the case that they’ve wronged another and need to seek their forgiveness. 

It may seem like you’ve forgiven someone, after all, they said they were sorry, and you accepted their apology. However, unless you’ve truly gone through the process of forgiveness your actions, words, and thoughts can tell a different story. Only when you’ve wholeheartedly forgiven someone can you let go of grudges, be happy for their successes, see them anyplace, anytime, for any reason, and not feel ill will or dislike.

Is Forgiveness an Act or a Feeling?

Forgiveness is an act, more accurately, a process. In his book, Gil outlines a four-step process to unleash the power you have to forgive. “A lot of times, we say, ‘God, if you just take the bitterness out of my heart I could forgive.’ And that’s like saying, ‘If you would take the desire for donuts away from me, I could lose weight.’ It doesn’t work that way. We have everything we need to forgive.” 

Before you can embark on the journey of forgiveness, you must first acknowledge that it is possible. It is a learned skill that you can acquire. You must first commit to forgive. You can’t wait for the feelings to catch up with your decision. The feelings will follow, and it feels good to forgive and be forgiven, but first, you must commit.

The second step is to resolve your pain. About this, Gil has to say, “When people are hurt deeply, the first thing you should do is show God your pain. When I was a child and skinned my knee, my mother would ask me to show her where it hurts. She’d clean the wound, put a bandage on, and kiss my knee. Even though it still hurt, I just felt better knowing someone cared, and no one cares for you more than God.” 

During this stage of the process, it’s important to remember that you can’t just forgive and forget. You’ve been hurt, and you need to work through resolving your past so that you don’t have to continue reliving it.

The next step is to restore your peace in the present. This involves exploring what you should do about your pain now. Even after you’ve forgiven, the pain can still be present. Gil likens this to having surgery or a root canal; after the procedure, you will be sore, and there will be some discomfort, but that doesn’t mean the healing hasn’t started. This process requires you to grant yourself grace, your emotions will catch up with your decision to forgive others.

The final phase in the forgiveness process is to reclaim your purpose for the future. Many people sabotage their futures because they are stuck in the past. But if you can work through your past experiences, hurting others or being hurt by others, you can experience true freedom. By letting go of that burden, you can face the future with clarity, purpose, focus, and total freedom. 

Why Bad Things Happen

Life happens, and part of life is experiencing failures, heartbreak, and disappointments. There are two main reasons why bad things happen; your own choices and the choices of others. You make hundreds of decisions every day, some good and some bad. But for every choice, there is a reward or a consequence. And it’s not just your actions that affect your life, it’s the actions of others. This is one of the reasons why forgiveness is universal.

There is an old saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” This is a lie. Often, words cut the deepest wounds. They have the power to shape how we feel about ourselves, how we feel about others, and how we view the world. The vast majority of people have experienced just how hurtful words can be, and have carried those wounds with them for their entire lives. Words have the power to burn down houses, but that same tongue can bring life, healing, and forgiveness.

When Gil counsels individuals on forgiveness, he encourages them to empathize with the person who hurt them. He understands that it’s not an easy thing to do, but it can make all the difference. In his book, he discusses his personal struggle to forgive his father, and it wasn’t until he was able to understand his father’s past that he could begin the healing and eventually replace the anger once felt for his father with compassion. As you practice this, Gil says that you’ll start to understand the other person’s motivations and see the situation from a completely different perspective.

The Key to Lasting Freedom 

People are motivated by two things; they’re motivated by principle and pleasure, or they are motivated by pain. Pain, as a motivator, will only get you so far. After years of bitterness and anger, it should become clear that forgiveness is the antidote. “We create our own jail cells, where bars are made of anger, bitterness, resentment, and grudges. And we remain in that prison,” explains Gil, “without ever realizing that we are holding the key in our hand. The key is forgiveness. You can let yourself out anytime, or you can choose to wallow in that misery.”

It is human nature to blame others when we’ve been hurt or exploited. But, through his book and counseling, Gil encourages those who are struggling with forgiveness to stop running away. Stop looking for quick fixes, stop minimizing the importance of forgiveness, and start living with unbridled freedom. Forgiveness allows you to let go of emotional pain, physical manifestations of your anger and resentment and offers you the opportunity to live a miraculous life of grace, purpose, and freedom.

You can purchase Forgive Your Way to Freedom: Reconcile Your Past and Reclaim Your Future by Gil Mertz on Amazon.

Participation in group sport and physical education is fundamental to healthy childhood development. It has essential physical and emotional benefits and has a  unique power to attract, connect and inspire children.

Soccer is a well-known and highly favored sport around the world, especially in Africa. Soccer promotes teamwork, improves confidence and builds community. It’s for these reasons that House of Giving has partnered with JAM International to create a Field of Dreams.

How it All Started

In 2015 while implementing nutrition and clean water programs in Mozambique, Michael and Susan Ellison saw an opportunity to introduce team sports into educational programs. Team sports encourage children to play together, stay in school and live healthy, active lives. The first step of this initiative was to provide soccer kits to 1,020 children in 34 different schools in Mozambique, Angola, and South Sudan. Each kit included jerseys, gloves, shorts, and two soccer balls. In addition, over 2,000 individual soccer balls were donated to schools, hospitals, orphanages, and community centers. These donations instilled a sense of pride and team spirit among the kids and promoted the participation of young girls by including equal numbers of girls and boys in team selection. 

The current project in Mozambique, Africa began with a single soccer ball, but the program couldn’t stop there. House of Giving is dedicated to providing the children of Mozambique with a safe facility to practice, play, learn and grow into future leaders. 

Building a Field of Dreams

The Field of Dreams project has seen its share of setbacks, most notably a severe dust storm in late 2017 that disrupted grass seeds and prohibited the grass from successfully germinating. However, patience is a form of faith, and the project must continue. As it stands today, the land in the Vilanculos area is being prepped, and grass runners are growing on the JAM farm for future harvesting.

Alongside the beautiful soccer field will sit the Centre of Excellence, which will provide education and training for young people from surrounding areas. Programs available at the facility will include training on scientific farming methods, business practices, and resources to help students understand the farming industry. Included at the Centre of Excellence will be advanced learning courses to help bridge the gap in education for local children. 

The impact that will be made in the lives of these children is immeasurable. In partnership with JAM International, House of Giving aims to bring education, athletics, and pride to the rural communities of Mozambique.

I wholeheartedly believe that everyone –at any age– is living with more opportunity to express their purpose, potential, destiny, and legacy. Do you have the vision for the purpose that is driving your life? 

You have a unique purpose, even if it’s beyond your comfort zone. So many people allow their comfort zones to limit their potential, purpose, and power – which can alter your destiny and legacy. 

Are the circumstances of your life dictating your vision? Is your obsession in life dealing with the visible and material evidence of life, or the invisible and immaterial circumstance of vision?  That obsession can lead you to a whole new way of living! 

When I think of purpose and good works I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 9:8:

“And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need, be self-sufficient, possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable giving!”

I’ll never forget something Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D. said while recording a recent podcast episode. He said one of his favorite places in the world is the hospital, the place where babies are born. The warmth and empathy in his voice as he expressed the awe he feels when he sees the eyes of those babies as they begin their search for things to support their potential and purpose in life. Yes, every baby has awesome potential to change someone’s world. Dr. Helmstetter’s episodes were released on [TVBLOGCOPY]April 1^st [/TVBLOGCOPY][MWSBLOGCOPY]April 1st[/MWSBLOGCOPY]and another on [TVBLOGCOPY]May 1^st[/TVBLOGCOPY][MWSBLOGCOPY]May 1st[/MWSBLOGCOPY], so don’t miss those!

I am equally in awe of the person who at any age recognizes that purpose has such incredible power in their life, and the need for wellness to support that purpose.  My new book, The 10 Habits of Wellness will give insight and plenty of science to support how lifestyle choices impact wellness! It is not merely the absence of disease or the management of disease. Wellness is having the vitality and energy to do the things we love and are purposed to do; to have daily positive emotions of love, forgiveness, gratitude, and acceptance; having a relationship with God knowing His purpose for your life. That is an amazing life to live!

When this connection of wellness and the vision of purpose becomes real in our lives, it impacts every decision we make that affects our health and well-being. Then the choices about which foods we eat, the need for targeted nutrition (like what we offer at TriVita), the exercise, the forgiveness, the gratitude — all these choices become so much easier to make.  We are no longer controlled by feelings but by the deepest passionate belief in our purpose and the need for abundant wellness! Again, I invite you to recognize, even if your vision and purpose may not have the scale to change the world, it can change someone’s world!

If you are like me, sometimes we hesitate to share things with people that we believe may help them because we fear being misunderstood. I think most of us really desire to help another person.

Do you ever hesitate to do good works? Do you ever hesitate because you think someone may feel you are too pushy, too nosey, or that they may feel you are insinuating something totally different?

Well, let me share a recent experience I had. It truly has a remarkable outcome, and I almost missed it because I hesitated. Larry Kerychuk is the founder and president of Athletes International (AIM), and I have known Larry for a number of years. I admire his work, which has included working with outstanding sports personalities like Joe Namath, coach Lou Holtz, and the list goes on.

I had heard Larry had some really serious health issues so I thought I would give him a call. Then I hesitated because I thought he might misunderstand. Well, a couple of weeks went by, and I knew my heart and motive was good and gave him a call. Please watch Larry’s story below. It is amazing! [TVBLOGCOPY]MyoHealth[/TVBLOGCOPY][MWSBLOGCOPY]MyoHealth[/MWSBLOGCOPY] is a fantastic product. It has the science and the scientist to back its powerful promise of “Live stronger and bolder at any age.”

I encourage you to let your good works, motivated by love for people, guide you. You never know the good that may result.

The Beginning

In 1984 Peter Pretorius’ life changed forever when he visited a food distribution center in Pambarra, Mozambique. He was taken to the small village to observe the conditions and issues facing the government. Peter intended on staying for just one day, but when it was time to leave there was no airplane waiting for him.

On that first day, Peter saw 18 people die from starvation. He’d never seen so many people living in those conditions, and it struck him to the very core. Peter spent the next ten days in the village learning about the people around him and their struggles. One day an old man stumbled across the clearing. Peter sat him down under a tree and told him to wait while he went to get water. By the time Peter returned to the man, he was dead. It was then that something within Peter snapped. He shouted at God and  felt something in his heart and knew what he needed to do.

When Peter returned home, his wife Ann immediately noticed that something had changed within him. He assured her that nothing was wrong with him, but something significant had changed. Peter explained that he needed to commit his life to help improve the lives of others. That’s when Joint Aid Management (JAM) was born.  

The Success of School Feeding Programs

Malnutrition is still a substantial problem in many countries. Nearly half of all deaths in children under the age of five are attributed to under-nutrition. That comes to a devastating loss of approximately 3 million young lives each year. Those who are malnourished, especially young children, experience delayed recovery and are at increased risk of dying from common infections; but has broader implications as well. Hunger and the effects of malnutrition create a major barrier to breaking the cycle of poverty through gaining access to education in Africa. 

JAM implemented nutritional school feeding programs to help address this issue. To help keep children in the classroom while supporting their nutritional needs, JAM feeds the children a highly nutritious soup at school locations. Once each child is fed, they have the energy to engage with their education and community. But the school feeding program goes farther, by providing a safe harbor for children to learn and grow. In addition, they provide additional resources to the community to ensure that young girls can remain in class and receive the same quality education as the boys. 

In 2015, Michael and Susan Ellison joined JAM in Mozambique to observe the profound impact the school feeding program was having. As the children were waiting to be fed, Michael and Susan noticed how lethargic and weak they looked. It broke their hearts to see young boys and girls living this way. 

After the children received their meals and began to show signs of improved energy, Susan gave a soccer ball as a gift. They were astounded by the difference in their behaviors. Such a simple item, one that many people in developed countries take for granted, had the power to change so many young lives. It was in that moment that the seeds of House of Giving’s Peter Pretorius Field of Dreams initiative were planted. 

Peter Pretorius Field of Dreams 

To grow into healthy and happy adolescents and adults, children require the right foods, plenty of activity, education, strong community and spiritual guidance. JAM and House of Giving are working together to provide every student these essentials. 

The current project in Mozambique began with a single soccer ball, but quickly grew into providing full soccer kits that included jerseys, gloves, shorts and soccer balls to 1,020 children in 34 different schools, orphanages and hospitals. Now House of Giving is raising funds to help build a beautiful, first of its kind irrigated soccer field where children will be able to play and compete in soccer tournaments but will also be mentored by renowned coaches and soccer celebrities. These coaches will provide leadership to each child, teach the value of teamwork, build self-confidence and help support healthy physical and mental development. 

Schools from all over will recruit players and create numerous teams and leagues to play on the fields which will serve as the regional sports and event center. But the Peter Pretorius Field of Dreams isn’t just a state-of-the-art soccer facility; it will sit alongside the Centre of Excellence, which will provide education and training for the surrounding communities. This complex is situated next to JAM’s largest semi-commercial farm which produces crops and provides technical training to local farmers and community outreach programs. New programs offered will focus on farming methods, business development and other useful resources to teach students about the farming industry, which is so vital to their survival and future development. 

Project Status and Future Plans

To date, House of Giving has made significant headway on the Peter Pretorius Field of Dreams project. Below are a few accomplishments and the next phases for the project. 

Peter Pretorius Field of Dreams Accomplishments:

• Clearing and grading of the ground
• Removal of soft sand and soil analysis
• Installation of an irrigation system
• Laying of base soil and fertilizer 
• Offsite grass runner germination
• Successfully harvest of grass runners at the final field site
• Purchase of maintenance tools and appliances

Next Steps for Peter Pretorius Field of Dreams:

• Install grandstand and additional seating
• Construction of field fences
• Drill boreholes and installation of water stands and taps
• Installation of restrooms and changing rooms
• Hire and train a groundskeeper
• Purchase sports kits for players and referees

House of Giving has also partnered with Freekicks, a non-profit organization that uses soccer as a vehicle to inspire young people throughout the world to dream. Soccer has so many benefits for children; it builds community, promotes teamwork and ignites children’s passion and determination. Freekicks train coaches to teach children soccer skills while ministering Biblical principle and teaching life skills.

How You Can Help

What if you could give the gift of hope, faith, joy, security, community and the promise of a brighter future? Your contribution to the House of Giving’s Peter Pretorius Field of Dreams initiative gives that, and more, to thousands of children and their families. 

To date, the Peter Pretorius Field of Dreams project has been fully funded by House of Giving donations from caring individuals like you. Every contribution is greatly appreciated and helps move House of Giving closer to its goal of creating a safe place for children to learn and grow. Visit HouseofGiving.org to donate to the Peter Pretorius Field of Dreams initiative. 

Another way to give…

Do you shop on Amazon? Donate .5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchase to House of Giving when you shop. Purchases must be made through smile.amazon.com. No credit will be given for purchases through Amazon. Don’t forget to save smile.amazon.com to your favorites.

In a world of labels, brands, logos, denominations, medical diagnosis with labels such as diabetic, obese, cancer patient, cancer survivor, heart patient, and many other cultural label issues, it is very easy to lose sight or be distracted from the number one question, “who does God say I am?

Why I think answering this question is so important is the expected or anticipated blessings, rights, privileges, values and personality expressions that come with who I am. When answering the question of who am I, we can be glad we are not defined by what others say who I am… but who God says I am.

I remember a very successful pastor that lived with a tormenting thought from being told frequently as a child by his father that he would grow up to be a nobody. And even with all the success of pastoring a megachurch with thousands of attendees, he wrestled with the words, “you are and will be a nobody.” He never fully found the comfort and joy of who God said he was.

Many have accepted labels that attempt to define them and act out the acceptance of that label with the expected behavior. That is what man does. Has always done. You’re short, tall, fat, skinny, smart, dumb, you’re beautiful, etc. That is why branding is so powerful in commerce today. We identify with the voice and look of the brand. It is also why medical diagnosis is so powerful in that it gives evidence for empowerment to behaviors by both the patient and the practitioner. (Hang with me here as I know I am entering an area where it is easy to be misunderstood but also if understood, it will set you free to expect God-given blessings of wellness with vitality and purpose for your life!)

To really understand this question of who does God say I am and be free to live and behave accordingly, there is only one reference point for me to go as a historical testament and that is the scriptures. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23 it says,

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit, soul, and body!”

I stop there to illuminate the point of how God sees us. God sees each of us as a human being with spirit, soul, and body! It is why at TriVita we talk about physical, emotional and spiritual wellness!

When we see ourselves as God sees us (as body, soul and spirit beings), we can better understand what God says about us. As it is such a contrast to a world that is two dimensional in almost every way. Rarely in the medical world of evidence-based medicine will there be an attempt to diagnosis your spiritual life. Yet there is evidence that spiritual life plays a significant role in both the physical and mental/emotional (soul) health. So what God says about you is important to your wellness. We are whole people, and as we renew our minds to the creation we are of God, and what he says about us, our choices in life and outcomes take on greater wellness and purpose. If you only see yourself with whatever circumstance or condition that is prevalent in your life, you will act out that behavior and will miss the awesome potential of who God says you are and act accordingly to receive the rights, privileges, and freedoms as an heir of God.

If you were to take your daily routines in life that dictate your behavior, what would be the most prominent influencer? What God says about you, what you say (self-talk), or others say about you. It is obvious that without a guide for our minds, it will be what we hear from our inner voice and the voices of others.

Yet the scriptures say in Romans 12:2,

“And do not be conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

I would encourage you to simply accept as a starting point, what the will of God towards you is defined by what the Words of God in scripture say about you.

In Genesis1:27-28,

“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, be fruitful and multiply!”

This is a spoken word of how God feels about His human creation! Words of blessing!

In Psalms 139:14 it says,

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Marvelous are your works.” Verse 17, “How precious also are Your thoughts to me O God.”

Psalms 8:4,

“What is man that You are mindful of him?” Verse 5-6, “For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and you crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands!”

It is even more clearly defined and illuminated in I Cor. 6:19,

“Do you not know your body is the temple of the holy spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s.”

God’s desire towards us in blessing and living in and through us is amazing. The only thing that separates us from the greater manifestation of His will towards us are the voices that have the greatest influence on how we think of ourselves and act out day to day.

I would encourage you to daily pray this prayer as your voice of influence to bring greater wellness, glory, and blessings into your life. “Today I choose to believe I am who God says I am… I am chosen to be YOUR temple on earth, to glorify YOU in my body. I am empowered by YOUR spirit that lives in me. I am filled with YOUR love that flows freely from me. I am blessed with all spiritual blessings. I am and will be, who YOU say I am!”

The Beginning

In 1984 Peter Pretorius’ life changed forever when he visited a food distribution center in Pambarra, Mozambique. He was taken to the small village to observe the conditions and issues facing the government. Peter intended on staying for just one day, but when it was time to leave there was no airplane waiting for him.

On that first day, Peter saw 18 people die from starvation. He’d never seen so many people living in those conditions, and it struck him to the very core. Peter spent the next ten days in the village learning about the people around him and their struggles. One day an old man stumbled across the clearing. Peter sat him down under a tree and told him to wait while he went to get water. By the time Peter returned to the man, he was dead. It was then that something within Peter snapped. He shouted at God and felt something in his heart and knew what he needed to do.

When Peter returned home, his wife Ann immediately noticed that something had changed within him. He assured her that nothing was wrong with him, but something significant had changed. Peter explained that he needed to commit his life to help improve the lives of others. That’s when JAM was born.

The Success of School Feeding Programs

Malnutrition is still a substantial problem in many countries. Nearly half of all deaths in children under the age of five are attributed to under-nutrition. That comes to a devastating loss of approximately 3 million young lives each year. Those who are malnourished, especially young children, experience delayed recovery and are at increased risk of dying from common infections; but has broader implications as well. Hunger and the effects of malnutrition create a major barrier to breaking the cycle of poverty through gaining access to education in Africa.

JAM implemented nutritional school feeding programs to help address this issue. To help keep children in the classroom while supporting their nutritional needs, JAM feeds the children a highly nutritious soup at school locations. Once each child is fed, they have the energy to engage with their education and community. But the school feeding program goes farther, by providing a safe harbor for children to learn and grow. In addition, they provide additional resources to the community to ensure that young girls can remain in class and receive the same quality education as the boys.

In 2015, [TVBLOGCOPY]Michael[/TVBLOGCOPY][MWSBLOGCOPY]Michael[/MWSBLOGCOPY] and Susan Ellison joined JAM in Mozambique to observe the profound impact the school feeding program was having. As the children were waiting to be fed, Michael and Susan noticed how lethargic and weak they looked. It broke their hearts to see young boys and girls living this way.

Peter Pretorius Field of Dreams

To grow into healthy and happy adolescents and adults, children require the right foods, plenty of activity, education, strong community and spiritual guidance. JAM and House of Giving are working together to provide every student these essentials.

House of Giving is raising funds to help build a beautiful, first of its kind soccer field where children will be able to play and compete in soccer tournaments but will also be mentored by renowned coaches and soccer celebrities. These coaches will provide leadership to each child, teach the value of teamwork, build self-confidence and help support healthy physical and mental development.

By providing the students with a safe and sanitary place to play soccer, House of Giving is helping to build Africa’s future leaders. And we are inspiring others to do the same. Kevin Fuller of Les Pecheurs Madagascar, a non-profit that provides a “hand up” to those in need, was so inspired by House of Giving’s vision, that he implemented a sports complex in Andriampalmaky, Madagascar.

The Peter Pretorius Field of Dreams isn’t just a state-of-the-art soccer facility; it will sit alongside the Centre of Excellence, which will provide education and training for the surrounding communities. Programs that will be offered will focus on farming methods, business development and other useful resources to teach students about the farming industry, which is so vital to their survival and future development.

How You Can Help

What if you could give the gift of hope, faith, joy, security, community and the promise of a brighter future? Your contribution to the House of Giving’s Peter Pretorius Field of Dreams initiative gives that, and more, to thousands of children and their families.

To date, the Peter Pretorius Field of Dreams project has been fully funded by House of Giving donations from caring individuals like you. Every contribution is greatly appreciated and helps move House of Giving closer to its goal of creating a safe place for children to learn and grow.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Peter Pretorius Field of Dreams project now. 100% of your donation goes directly to the project.

No amount is too small—or for that matter, too large!

Another way to give…

Do you shop on Amazon? Use our AmazonSmile button below when you do to have Amazon donate .5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to House of Giving.

Purchases must be made through smile.amazon.com. No credit will be given for purchases through Amazon.com.

Don’t forget to save smile.amazon.com to your favorites and use it whenever you shop on Amazon.

By Chaplain Joel Rayfield,
Executive Director of Operations, Marketplace Chaplains

In Matthew 22, after the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they had an expert in the Law test Him with this question: “Teacher what is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied:“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:36-40, NIV

How important is it to understand how the second commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself” relates to the first and greatest commandment? In order to understand the importance, we must ask the same question that the expert in the Law asked in the Gospel of Luke: “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29, NIV) Jesus answered with a parable of a man who fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothes, beat him and left him half dead. Three men came upon the man who had fallen among robbers. Two refused to provide any help or care for the man. The third, a Samaritan, provided immediate care by taking care of the man’s wounds. He then took him to an inn and cared for him. The next day the Samaritan continued on his journey; however, he spoke with the innkeeper and arranged to pay for the injured man’s needed extra care. Jesus asked of these three which was the neighbor. The expert in the Law replied: “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37) Therefore, we are to love all and be a neighbor by caring for them.

In my opinion, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, we must love our neighbor. This command is also found in the Old Testament in Leviticus 19:18. Jesus helps us understand that this command includes everyone. He says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43-45a, NIV) Jesus continues to make it clear that we are to love one another: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35, NIV). John reflects on how these two commandments are entwined with each other: “We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:19-21, NIV)

In conclusion, I remind you that Jesus stated that all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Note that the first four of the Ten Commandments deal with our interaction and relationship with God. The last six commandments deal with our interaction and relationship with each other. I challenge you to read and study First John for a better understanding of who our neighbor is and what it means to love them.

By Chaplain Donna Kafer “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” ~ Psalm 139:13-14 When it comes to caring for our physical, mental and emotional well-being, we’re usually pretty good about it. Concerning our spiritual health, though, we’re often found lacking. In our excitement over new-found opportunities for wellness, we’ll read with interest TriVita’s 10 Essentials, but as we consider the spiritual aspect, we may simply skim over it. What we don’t realize is when we discount the spiritual component of our health, we’re missing out on the complete picture of wellness, doing ourselves a great disservice. It’s a bit like strength training half of our body. Can you imagine how we’d look after several months of building up one side while neglecting the other? I’m sure we would be very displeased by the outcome and begin wondering how long it would take to get the other side up to par. Get the picture? To not take into account all of our well-being is a skewed view of who we are as people. Each area is vital to the wholeness and health we all want to have and experience. When we talk about conservation of the planet, don’t we talk about all areas of the world? The air, the land, the vegetation, animals, water and of course people. We wouldn’t think of not including all of our precious resources of Earth, so why would we do so with our complex lives? Is there a definition of spiritual wellness? I believe the definition is comprehending the power, influence and connectivity with the God of the universe. To recognize the Creator who so intricately designed and formed us. A God who cares infinitely more for us than we may ever truly realize. A personal Creator who loves us, who knows us not only by name, but by each of our thoughts, fears and dreams. He and He alone can develop our spiritual strength and well-being, building us up in our faith in Him. To recognize His godly grace and presence is a gift, one that will sustain us through many trials and difficulties in life. Remember, TriVita has 10 Essentials, not nine, so embrace all of them for optimal wellness. By doing so you’ll be able to experience all that God has purposed and planned for your life.

There are times in our lives when something unusual or significant occurs that gets our attention to stop and take notice.  Sometimes it is dire circumstances like a health or financial crisis, or something wonderful like the birth of a child or grandchild, or the epiphany of a profound truth.

The world stopped and took notice while watching the royal wedding when Bishop Michael Curry delivered 14 minutes of a profound truth…

”There’s power in love.  Don’t underestimate it.  Don’t even over-sentimentalize it.  There’s power, power in love.  Not just in its romantic forms, but any form, any shape of love.  There’s a certain sense in which when you are loved, and you know it, when someone cares for you, and you know it, when you love and you show it – it actually feels right.  There is something right about it.  And there’s a reason for it.  The reason has to do with the source.  We were made by a power of love, and our lives are meant – and are meant –  to be lived in that love.  That’s why we are here.  Ultimately, the source of love is God Himself:  the source of all of our lives.   God is love!

There’s power in love.  There’s power in love to help and heal when nothing else can.  There’s power in love to lift up and liberate when nothing else will.  There’s power in love to show us the way to live.  Jesus said, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.’  …everything that God has been trying to tell the world… love God, love your neighbors, and while you’re at it, love yourself.

…I’m talking about power.  Real power.  Power to change the world.”

This was a stop and world take notice message of profound truth.  Love God.  Love your neighbor.  Love yourself.  When you love, you show it.

My pause to reflect was to ask myself, do I love God?  Do I love my neighbor?  And maybe the more uncomfortable question, do I love myself? How do I show my love for God, my neighbor and myself?  In all the words of Jesus about love, His encouraging and empowering command was to show it.

Love power will change our world.  I see a world with less illness and more wellness! Filled with more of the abundant life, as Jesus promised. That is why and how I want to express love power!  Real life changing, world-changing power!

My hope and prayer is for us to create a great awakening to the possibilities of a world filled with more wellness empowered by love for God, our neighbor and ourselves!