Bibles for China

I don't know about you, but I regularly take for granted the blessings all around me --  whether that when I turn on the facet water comes out (not only that it flows, but that it is safe for me to drink), when I'm hungry I can either go the pantry, refrigerator, or store to find something to eat, or I'm tired and I go to sleep on my soft bed filled with pillows.

If you were to look around your bookshelves, how many Bibles would you see?  Probably more than entire villages in areas of the world where the Word is restricted and not easily available. 

Last October, when in China, I was in a meeting with a pastor, a government official, and others.  The topic of a new rural church which the current church is building came up.  When we asked the government official (who usually we do not have much interaction with and who has the ability to send us out of the country if we say something incorrect about our intentions regarding faith activities) if we could help purchase Bibles for those who would be attending the new church, many of whom are poor and could not afford to buy one on their own, he said, "Sure.  No problem."

Recently a friend of mine, who is living and serving full time in China passed through town while home for a summer break.  Into the Field was able to give her money which she has now taken back with her and will go to the church where she will work with the pastor to make the purchase and get the Bibles into the hands of those who need them.  What an amazing opportunity to be able to help provide the Word to those who crave and deeply desire it!

Passion into Purpose

I had the opportunity to write a brief article for Connections magazine (printed by Sola Publishing) which scratches the surface in telling my story and thoughts about "Passion into Purpose: God's Gifts Becoming His Impact."

If you'd like to read it, click here.

Do you have thoughts or your own story to share? I'd love to hear it!

Caution Re-Entry!

Before moving to serve full time in Haiti, Pastor Dave Mann used to meet with mission teams as they were preparing to depart and shared with them a message he titled, "Caution Re-Entry!".  He warned these good hearted servants that while out in the field they would have life altering experiences and when they returned, at the first opportunity, they would want to explode on and share every minute detail with anyone who would inquire about their trip.

"Be prepared, " he would caution, "to give 30 second, 1 minute, 5 minute, or longer responses depending on the engagement of the listener to what you are sharing."

Well...I've just returned from another incredible trip to China and I wonder how I can do anything less than share about each of the precious children that I met at Shepherd's Field Village.  How can I not want everyone to know about:

The always smiling Elizabeth who I don't think realizes that some people would try to put limits on what she can do.  She has no use of her legs, but that doesn't stop her from jumping up and climbing the jungle gym only to summons me for a photo; or from racing across the sandbox on her hands so that she can get dizzy with the other kids on the spinner.

Or what about Josiah who is ALL BOY and reminds me of my nephews.  He loves to run and wrestle and play in the dirt, but he also loves to cuddle, hold hands, and has a smile that could melt even the most frozen of hearts.  Whenever I would enter the dining room at lunch time he would come, take my hand, and escort me to a seat at his table.  He is a tender-hearted warrior who is on the look-out for the good of others.

And sweet Cody who is smiley and sweet and loves to put on a show.  I have a great video of Cody singing "the wheels on the bus" to me.  He is holding a wheelbarrow in his hands while singing it.  When he comes to his favorite verse, he drops the wheelbarrow so that he can use his hands to mimic the "beep beep beep" that the horn on the bus makes.  Open your arms and he will run full speed to jump into them.

Don't let the sunglasses and silk dress fool you, Joy is more than a pretty face - she has a plan and she will make it happen.  Her friends eating too slow, no problem, she'll pick up their bowl and feed them.  Someone on the playground not being nice, she'll karate-chop them.  A little one with a tear in their eye, she'll give them a big hug.

And to be able to play "secret agent" for the families of Perry and Haley who are anxiously waiting for them to come to their forever families...not so stealthily taking pictures and videos and sharing them with those who long to have them home.  While I have been told that I was a gift to them, it is really I who received the blessing.  To be able to hug, play with, pray for, and "talk" (I put in quotes because neither of us truly spoke the other's language) with these special kids and to know how much they are already loved and missed, was precious to me. 

I can't wait to hear about more of these little ones who are going home with their families.  Until they do, I rest in the knowledge that those who serve and lead Shepherd's Field Village are doing so with a love for them that is exceeded only by that of their Heavenly Father.  It was with tears in my eyes that I left, and eagerness in my heart that I will return.

This Morning at Church in China...

"O Lord, my God, may your gospel be spread freely across China...We pray for those in the midst of crisis and disaster, may they turn to you for peace, grace, comfort, and strength."

This is how the pastor at Beijing Chongwenment Christian Church began her prayer this morning.  The topic of her sermon, "Being a Good Server of Jesus Christ."  One of the key scriptures, Matthew 28: 16-20:

"Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.  And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.  And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Quick look around, I'm in China, right?

The sermon which she preached this morning was fantastic.  She was on a roll and definitely putting forth a call-to-action to her congregation.  Following are some excerpts (I had my notebook out and was writting quickly as the translator spoke through my headset) that I want to share:

"Surely we know that Jesus is the head of the Church.  The greater the position, the great the leader, the great the servant one should be.

This makes some uncomfortable because many want to be a leader, be the head, because they want more to serve them.  this is contrary to God's will.  If you have a realtionship

We do this not because the Lord needs us, He is all powerful and can do it without us, but as His children and a part of his family, we must participate in family affairs and care for one another.

We are not to be capable at all things.  If this was the case, we would not need the family, we could be independent.  We all have role to play.  You should participate; youshould be engaged; you should be welcoming to others and make them feel welcome in the family.

Wherever you are, you are part of this family.  We should take the active role of going out and serving others.

In Matthew it says that when you have shared food or clothing or shelter with another, you have done it for Him.  It is easy to forget somethimes that serving others is serving God.  In 1 john, the scripture says that if you cannot love your brothers and sisters who you can see, how can you love God who yuou cannot see?  Therefore there is a direct relationship between loving God and loving others; serving God and serving others.

Love people based on your love of God.  If God is in your heart, there is room for others.  We are all created in the image of God.  Therefore, we are called to love all - not just those we deem credible.

Jesus is the example for us to follow.  We may not be able to do all of the same things as Jesus - we may not be able to open the eyes of a blind man - but he should be our motivation, our example to follow.

The purpose of Jesus' life can be summarized in 2 words: 1) serve; and 2) salvation.

Serve with humility - he entered with humility (born in a stable); served in humility (washed feet and loved the unlovable); and died in humility on the cross.  

Right now he is seated at the right hand of God pleading on our behalf until his return.

Some think that they must do something big to be for God, but anything done with the love and intention of God - even if we thing it is insignificant - is good, beautiful, and significant in the eyes of the Lord.

We should serve with our hears and our souls.  We should follow the Holy Spirit.  he will show how and where He directs.

God is God.  Man is man.  We need to remember that.  He is not our servant.  We are to serve Him." 

We attended the 2nd of 4 services being held today.  Here is a photo of some of those lining up to enter the 3rd service through the back door as we came out the front.

 
May her prayer and call-to-action come to be!