EXTRA + Ordinary = EXTRAordinary
Lana is an ordinary 7 year old girl. She enjoys flowers, tea parties, baking, singing, dancing and anything pink. She flits and flutters through life filling her family and friends with kisses, cuddles and giggles, just like other little girls her age.
But recently, this ordinary little girl did something extraordinary. She started a cookie business with her Mom called Mom & Me Baking Co .
You may be thinking that sounds pretty ordinary. Lots of 7 year olds start little businesses selling cookies, lemonade, taking care of pets, washing windows. And you’re right, but God did something special. He put His EXTRA with Lana’s ordinary and together, Lana is now doing something extraordinary for God.
Lana saw a picture that broke her heart. Children starving, going to bed hungry at night, and some of them were dying from eating dead 
cows.
There’s a drought and famine going on in Kenya Africa and people and live stock are dying every day. Most 7 year olds don’t even know where Kenya is, let alone even care about what is happening there. But Kenya is a very important part of Lana’s life and has been for almost 4 years. Her Aunt Laura and Uncle Travis and her 4 cousins Sarah (7), Summer(5), Savannah (23 months) and Skylar (almost 3 months) are missionaries there.
Enter God’s EXTRA added to Lana’s ordinary.
Lana decided she wanted to do something to feed the starving people. A family of 9-12 can eat for $20 a week. Now her baking has an EXTRAordinary purpose and Kookies for Kenya was born. In two weeks time she has raised enough money to feed a family for 3 weeks!
This coming Sunday is World Hunger Sunday. Every day over 28,000 people die from starvation around the globe. Through the aid of various organizations 27,000 tons of food aid is distributed a day while we here in America waste 131,000 tons of food A DAY! The average American church member only gives $1.17 A YEAR to feed the hungry.
What would happen if each of us average, ordinary people were to say, “God, I want to partner with your EXTRA so I can do EXTRAordinary acts of kindness.” I would venture to say those numbers would change dramatically.
Children are going to bed hungry here in America, too. Did you know that $1 donated to your local food bank will provide about 3 meals?
God is inviting you to come alongside Him for the sake of His glory. Dare to do EXTRAordinary things for God. His EXTRA + your ordinary = EXTRAordinary!
“But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” 1 John 3:17,18
Lord, Open our eyes to see what EXTRAordinary things You have for each of us to do. The needs are great, but the laborers are few. Lord, use us ordinary people for Your honor and glory. And thank You for coming alongside my granddaughter Lana, giving her a glimpse of what she can do for You. In Jesus Name, Amen.
© Marsha’s Musings 2009
Marsha, what a moving and educated post this morning. Everyday we waste food, whether it be leftover food gone bad in our refrig or out to eat, we pile our plate full of food and can’t eat it. May we all be aware how blessed we are to be in plenty and help someone who is less fortunate. -blessings.
(ha my spam word is LOVE – fitting)…I love the heart of your little granddaughter Lana – so sweet that she is getting her business already going, not to help herself, but to help others.
Thank you also for pointing out the hunger here in America…
That is so great! How creative and precious! She has a wonderful heart! I am proud to say she is my great-niece! Thanks for reminding us sis. I was at the food back last week… they all need help in this economy. Love you sis! And love and kisses to my beautiful nieces and nephews….
Marsha, You just don’t know how that blessed my heart today to look at the site and see her cute little video. What a beautiful heart Lana has to serve the Lord by using her talents to help feed the hungry. I pray she has much success.
And you are right about people being hungry here too. It is just overwhelming to see the people that come every week for food at the local food bank.
May God sweetly bless precious Lana.
Aww… what a sweet, thoughtful little girl.
Thank you so much for sharing this.
This is so awesome! I can’t wait to go visit her site! God bless this precious child who is setting an example for us all!!!
Love & hugs,
Beth
Love how God is stirring your heart lately and ours– through you. He is able to do more than we could imagine. Thank you!
This is so sweet and touching! What a thoughtful grand-daughter you have! This is one of the treasures to add to your leagcay/hope chest series of posts!
Hi Marsha,
Girl, you KNOW how I feel about this and I am so touched by Lana’s young heart for others who are in need. What a story.
Thanks for sharing this, Marsha. I am going to try and send it to my kids in CA. I have 4 grandkids now (and another on the way!) and my oldest is 6 yrs. What they cannot do…. Love you.