The Momnificent™ Blog

A Mom Who Follows A Calling from God

It was November 14, 1998.

Her name was Maria Magdalena Zeas.

Maria's husband had just recently walked out on her and her two small children, ages 1 and 3, at the time. She was watching the local news and they were reporting on the terrible conditions in an area by the name of La Chureca.  As she stared at the television, the piles of garbage lying everywhere, naked children, drug addicts and plastic houses, she heard a voice in her head.  The voice said "Take my Word to that place and share it with them.  Tell them it is not my will for them to live like that."

The voice startled Maria, and she didn't want to hear that voice.  So she left the television and went to get a drink of water.  When she went back to the news, she heard the voice again, only this time is was louder. "Take my Word to that place and share it with them."  Maria felt like she was going crazy.  She didn't even know where "this place" was.  But she heard the voice a 3rd time!  This time she surrendered to the voice of God.  She said "Okay Lord, if it is your will, I will take your Word to this place and I will tell them it is not your will for them to live like this."

Maria, living just minutes from the capitol city of Nicaragua, found La Chureca and made her first visit just two days later. It was pure horror, and far more horrible than the television news reports had shown.  She felt God had called her to do something about this place.  She brought her Bible and began talking to the drug addicts, the AIDS-infected people, the alcoholics, and the children because in the beginning, that is the only people who would talk to her.  She would use the money she made from a food stand she owned to help feed the children there.  Slowly, she began to change lives for Christ.

People would gather as she preached His word.  Then she built a small church.  Her mission continued and she started to educate the children there with her first class of 3 year old children.  God asked her to give up her food stand and come to work for Him full time.  He promised her that He would send people to help her.  Maria prayed faithfully, asking God "Where are these people Lord you promised me?"

The Lord provided for her just as He had promised.  Listen to the rest of Maria's story, and the vision she has for the people of Managua in Nicaragua.  Today her children are 15 and 17, and are involved in her mother's mission.  I have personally met Maria, and she one of the most amazing women I have ever met. When she speaks, the love of God just flows out of her.  She is a living example of "There is no language, no color difference, no country, no culture that separates us from the love of God."

 

Maria Magdalena's Story from Ginger Creek Community Church on Vimeo.

Momnificent! Helps Feed Starving Children

If there is one thing that continually tugs on my heart, and brings me to tears, it is knowing that there are innocent children all over the world who are starving.  They didn't ask to be brought into this world, but they are here, and they are forced to deal with the circumstances in their lives.  I know, from listening to my heart, that I am here on this Earth to make a difference in the lives of these children.  I have a heart for children and I want to follow this calling in any way I can.

Feed My Starving Children is an organization I have had the opportunity to serve with.  It is a fun, hands on organization that gets the community involved in helping feed starving children around the world.  Currently, they have four packing facilities, including one in my home community, Aurora, Illinois.  Their mobile packing programs allow people all over the United States to help pack food for starving children, and 94% of their donations go towards their food programs.

With a big leap of faith, I have decided to donate 5% of sales from Momnificent! University to Feed My Starving Children.  I started giving randomly to FMSC earlier this year, but decided it was time to make a regular and consistent contribution.  So far, Momnificent! has provided 1,892 meals for children, and I hope that number continues to grow over the years.  At least now I know I am doing something to help with this global crisis.

Overwhelmed with Gratitude

This morning I was making the long trek to Barrington, Illinois to speak to a group of 60 moms on the eight essential ingredients of living a magnificent life.  As I was driving, one of my favorite songs came on the radio.  Of course, I always have to sing.  I began to belt out the words to this song, and what came out was choked up words as I was hit with an overwhelming gratitude for my life and what I get to do.  There is no greater passion than knowing you are living your life on purpose, doing the work you were called to do.  I began to think about the opportunity that laid ahead of me.  Would my message be heard?  Would I make a difference in the life of a mom?  Would my life lessons be able to help another mom?  When you speak in public, you always run the risk of being loved, or of being judged for who you are and the ideas you have to share.  But as I reflected on this song, I was reminded that it didn't matter because I was loved - loved by the most powerful Being in the Universe - God.  I thought I would share the song I was listening to - the song that fills me with gratitude every time I listen to it.  I hope, you too, will be blessed and know that you are loved!