The Price of a Princess

Last night I, along with about 250 of my closest girlfriends at Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, had the opportunity to be blessed by the message and ministry of Jennifer Beckham.

Like most little girls, Jennifer had the dream of being a Princess.  Unlike most little girls, her dream came true.  She lived the fairytale life of a Disney Princess.  While beautiful in many ways, also held unanticipated realities.  What is the price to maintain the illusion of perfection?  Do you dare share any of your scars?  Will you ever be enough?  In a stadium, in Tokyo, she discovered the truth.

Jennifer's message is a powerful reminder that so much of life is a matter of perspective.  Our world is full of people, places, and things who want to tell us that we're not good enough, that we're not pretty enough, that we're just not enough.

Throughout our time together, she reiterated that we have to be careful because often the lies which we are told are laced with just enough truth that they are difficult to see for what they are.  We were created in the image of God and are HIS princesses.  Any "flaws" that we have are intended and put as a part of who we are for a purpose.

Who is speaking to you and changing your perspective away from that of God?  Who or what is the voice that is telling you that you are anything less than a precious child of God?  Who told you that you're not all that God intended for you to be?

Because you are.  You are His Princess.  You are His Child.  You are Enough.  You are all that God intended you to be.  No matter who is speaking lies into your life, remember that you are His.  And that is enough.

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.