Welcome Back to China

I’ve been in China a whole week and it feels so good to be back.  I’m amazed that I’m here already looking back on all that God has done to bring me here.  He brought me through some seemingly impossible things to show me that it’s him who is sending me.  It was only by his grace and provision that I’m here and I am so eager to be used by him here at Shepherds Field Children’s Village.  

 

Over dinner one night I got to hear the story of how Shepherds Field came to be from Tim Baker himself.  Hearing Tim tell the story of how God provided and how he made the seemingly impossible happen was so beautiful and so encouraging.  God is working in this place.  That is abundantly clear.  

 

Every Tuesday we have a staff meeting.  This week we prayed over our need for finances.  We are in the desperate position of leaning on God and his sovereign plan for the funding that will pay off the hospitals bills from five recent surgeries the kids had.  We prayed as a team in faith and in desperate need of God’s grace.  In this desperate place God answered.  A few hours later Tim told us that a generous donation was made that will cover a good amount of the recent surgeries.  God is so good.  He is providing for these kids.   How beautiful to see God at work here.  I invite you to pray with us for the rest of the funding and to watch God unfold another story.

 

Another great piece of news!!! I got to welcome a family onto our campus who was adopting one of our boys.  This match was just perfect; such a beautiful gift from God.  Andrew is hearing impaired being adopted by a family who adopted two other hearing impaired children already and they all sign.  I got to watch Andrew play with is new family.  I saw joy on everyone’s faces but mostly I saw the love of God shining.  God’s word came to life for me today.  

Stumbling Blocks

I have not been transparent with my plans for China.  It was happening incredibly fast.  I was so excited and eager that I was willing to neglect some very important details.  However, I have a church body that cares about me so deeply to tell me to slow down and think about the situation more rationally.  I am so thankful for this leadership I have at Grace Fellowship to guide me and support me even in these moments that I fail.  I want you to know the entire story of my journey to get back to China.

When I first inquired about Shepherds Field I became overwhelmed by the amount of support I'd need just to stay at Shepherds Field.  So I was going to give myself a year to support raise.  That would bring me to the summer of 2016.  But God provided the major cost of living there.  He provided my lodging which includes one meal a day. This is the biggest part of what I needed so I became so overjoyed. When this happened I thought all I'd need was a plane ticket.  I messaged my coordinator and asked if it was possible to come this summer instead.  We made plans for me to come July-January.  In a haste, I tried to get the $1,900 for my plane ticket so that I could leave immediately.

The loving leadership I have at Grace Fellowship encouraged me to slow down and ask myself some important questions that I was neglecting. That was the last thing I wanted to hear.  Slowing down was my biggest fear.  I absolutely despised the thought.  God softened my heart to hear the words my leader was saying.  I asked my coordinator what expenses I should expect.  Her response proved how thoughtless I was.  To get by in China for six months I'd need double what I was planning for!  I was broken.  I felt completely shattered.  I had missed so much in my haste.  But I am thankful!  God showed me so much and I'm glad I can see it now and not when I arrived in China.

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way,

    but the Lord establishes his steps.

So to be completely transparent with all who are supporting me these are my needs:

• 2,000 RMB a month ($320) x 6 months = $1,920
• $1,900 for my round trip flight
• approximately $500 for a second flight in September to renew my visa in Hong Kong

The 2,000 RMB suggested by my coordinator covers the rest of my meals, travel between cities, and groceries/hygiene expenses.

Thank you guys for your forgiving me in my haste.  If you want to join me in this mission to love the least of these and learn more about my upcoming trip you can email me.  I would love to be able to email my supporters while I'm away or even Skype.  

Another China Adventure

Pretty suddenly I announced that I will be returning to China.  Many of you know my love for China and my longing to serve orphans so you could guess it was only a matter of time until I went back to the place that quickly stole my heart.  When I came home from my short ten day trip last year, a lot of people asked me when I was going back.  They knew before I could even say it.  Well, guys, the time has come and I will be getting on a plane at the end of August!! Crazy!

I bet you guys have a lot of questions.  The biggest one is probably, "How long are you going for?"  In short, I will be staying for six months.  I plan on working there July through January but that is subject to change (in either direction ;) haha).  I will be working at Shepherd's Field Children's Village located one hour outside of Beijing.  While I'm there, I will be helping with inventory by taking stock of donations that come in and go out, and I will be spending enormous amounts of time with those precious children. 

A little bit about Shepherd's Field:

Shepherd's Field's vision is to give hope to special needs orphans by providing love, security, family environments, medical care, and vocational and spiritual preparation.  Their ultimate goal is for each child to be adopted into a permanent family or prepared for an independent, productive, and fulfilling life. 

Some of their results the've listed on their website:

In their thirteen years they've:

Received special needs orphans from more than 20 government run orphanages

Cared for more than 4,000 orphaned children

Provided more than 3,000 surgeries and medical procedures

Seen more than 800 children adopted into forever families

Developed relationships with 100 complimentary organizations. 

Read more here

http://chinaorphans.org/about_shepherd_field.html

If you want to stay updated you can follow this blog, Skype me, or email me.  Message me if you have any questions about that or want to know more.  I really appreciate all the support and love i've had over the years.  Thank you for the prayers and your willingness to be a part of the story God has called me to.

galatians220faith@gmail.com

The Speech Unspoken: A Maid of Honor's Second Chance

My best friend has been married half of an entire year already!  I look back on her special day very often and wish I could've expressed my gratitude for her better than I did.  It is well known that I am a woman of few words.  I am quiet and it is difficult for me to express myself verbally.  My speech wasn't what I hoped it to be, though Bethel says she loved it.  I feel the desire to finish the speech I started and fully express my complete gratitude for Bethel and my excitement for her marriage with Timmy!

Here is my second chance Bethel, in written form.  And if you ever decide to renew your vows know that I am preparing even now.

My Dearest Bethel,

How exciting it is to be a witness of all that God is doing in your life.  Since 2011 God has been doing tremendous things through our friendship.  I am incredibly grateful for his work in our lives and all that he has done because of this sweet friendship.  He gave me a friend with a similar story to relate to.  And through the sharing of these stories God has been sanctifying us, growing us and molding us into the image of the son.  He ordained this friendship 100% for his glory and his work in it has been amazing.  You have been my friend to mourn with and to rejoice with.  You are my friend that I bounce everything off of.  You are the one I turn to for correction and encouragement.  Bethel, you are always there!

This work God is doing has been so great with you by my side.  I've loved watching you grow and seeing the Lord shape you more and more into a woman after God's own heart.  I've been able to see God's work in you up close and personal.  When I met you, you protested men altogether. (Tim specifically, actually!)  But I got to see God mend and soften your heart to be able to receive this very special and extraordinary love that Tim is so excited to give and has waited so long to do so ;) .  This work is so beautiful to watch and sometimes extremely funny....

Over the last several years I've witnessed many stages of your relationship with Tim.  Starting with you proclaiming to the world, "Tim is like a brother to me and that's all," to sitting in Uno's hesitantly revealing that you "may" have feelings for Tim.  Finally, to your song choice for singing in the shower changing.  One day it was heavy party music.  The next day... sappy, slow love songs.

What a privilege it is to witness this beautiful work in your life and to walk side by side with you through it.

As you step into a new chapter of life I want you to know that I will always be here when you need girl time and to escape from those zombie video games.  I'm your girl for all your wardrobe revamping and hair styling needs.  I'm here for women only bible studies and orphan ministry projects.  I'm your prayer partner for a lifetime and I will always do my best to encourage you.

I couldn't be happier to share my Best Friend status with Timmy.  I know God is going to continue his beautiful work in your life with him by your side too.  Your relationship is firmly planted in Christ and nothing can shake that.  Our loving, gracious, almighty, strong, good and magnificent God that brought you guys together will keep you together until his work is complete.  I love you guys so much and I look forward to being a witness of the continuing, never failing work of God!

I love you so incredibly much, Bethy Bear!  My forever friend! xoxoxo

Is Church Really Important?

Someone made a comment to me, "Church isn't really my thing but that doesn't mean I don't love God."  How do you respond to a comment like that?  I was really bummed.  How could you not love going to church.  I couldn't quite grasp the concept so I asked him, "Why isn't church your thing?"  He said that he just doesn't like people.  I didn't know what to say to that but it has been bugging me.  "He just doesn't understand what church is," I thought.  As I tried forming ways to explain what church is I found that I couldn't really explain it.  To better understand I asked myself a few questions and sought for the answers. Can you answer these? 

• What is Church?
• Why do we have Church?
• Is Church really necessary?

What is Church?

I think a better question is who is Church?

In Mathew 16 Jesus asks his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" and they reply saying that some think it is John the Baptist, some Elijah and others Jeremiah.  Then Jesus asks, "But who do you say that I am?"  Now here comes the answer to our question.

Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." and Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." 

Mathew 16:16-18

It's this confession of faith that is the foundation on which the Church was built and everyone who confesses Jesus Christ as Lord is a part of the Church.  We are his people.  We are the Church!

I found this quote by Canon Ernest Southcott- "The holiest moment of the church service is the moment when Gods people, strengthened by preaching and sacrament- go out of the church door into the world to be the church.  We don't go to church; we are the church."

So we can conclude here that church is not a place, it's not a building, it's not a location and it's not a denomination.  We_ God's people who are in Christ Jesus_ are the church.

Ask yourself:

• What does that mean for us children of God?
• What does being the church look like?
• What, as God's children are we called to do?

Why Do We Have Church?

In Ephesians 4 Paul urges us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we've been called.  To walk in humility and gentleness, with patience and bearing with one another in love.  We are to be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit.  We are given spiritual gifts for a reason.  To use in ministry and building up the body of Christ. 

Ephesians 4:13-16 continues  "until we attain to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

The church (God's people) assemble to help each other grow in spiritual maturity, to encourage each other.  If we are part of Christ's body, we will recognize our need to fit into the body of believers. Church is the place where we come together to encourage one another as members of Christ's body. Together we fulfill an important purpose on the Earth.

Hebrews 10:25

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

It is actually for our own good that God has us in fellowship with other believers. We need each other to grow up in the faith, to learn to serve, to love one another, and to practice forgiveness. Though we are individuals, we still belong to one another.

Romans 12:5

... so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 

When we give up the passage of Church, not only are we hindering the unity of the body as a whole, we also are forfeiting spiritual growth through relationships God designed for our personal enjoyment.  When we don't have relationships built into Christ we run the risk of falling into a pattern of life that would neglect Christ and better display things that God would not have us partake in.  It is so easy to blend in with this world because of our natural sin nature.  So relationships in Christ are meant to help encourage us to keep pressing on for God's glory and his forever kingdom.

1 Corinthians 12:12 & 14-23

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 

The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.

The church is the body of Christ, his heart, his mouth, his hands and feet, reaching the world. Each one of us are important.  We are all different and play different roles but when we work together we are unified.  So the reason we assemble is to unite ourselves in Christ to live out the purpose in which God called us; to make disciples of all nations. (Mathew 28:19) The church is the means in which God carries out his purposes on earth.

Church (in the service sense and the body) is natural when you have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ because you are the church.  When you are adopted into God's family the Holy Spirit washes over you and compels you towards God and his purposes.

With church and the seeking of unity within our body we are better equipped to go out into all the nations and proclaim the glory of God which is the center of our relationship and the call God has for all of us as his children.

How are you being God's church?

How are you his hands and his feet?

Are you concerned with how you walk within the body of Christ?

Do your answers to these questions concern you?

No Tolerance For Sin

The grace of God is a big deal because sin is a big deal!  Without the magnitude of sin there would be no need for magnificent grace.  I know how I can take sin lightly because, I mean hey, God has forgiven me, right?  Well, yes he has but that doesn't excuse us to frivolously indulge ourselves in the things of this world.  We are called to be set apart; to be image bearers of Christ; to remain unstained from this world.

Also, I think about the love Christ has for us and how that love should naturally flow from us in joyful obedience if we are truly one of his children.  How does his love not captivate us to flee from sin.  Seriously, guys!!! Does his love not just completely blow you away!?!? There is seriously nothing greater and yet we find ourselves continually finding joy in sin and not the redeeming work of Christ.  Take up your cross.  Lay yourself down at the feet of Jesus and cry out for mercy.  Praise him and thank him for his saving work on the cross.

I was reading Isaiah chapter one and God is not sparing our feelings when he says, "wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong.." This passage shows God's complete disgust with the people. He says, "I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.... Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him." He continues talking about their corruption and rebukes their sacrifices and offerings.  He challenges them, "The multitude of your sacrifices__what are they to me?"  God certainly doesn't need anything from us so these offerings they gave him in vain were detestable to him.  This seems pretty harsh but I am not making it up.  Verses 13 through 17 really shook me up.  Read this and don't take it lightly.

"Stop bringing meaningless offerings!  Your incense is detestable to me.  New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations__ I cannot bear your evil assemblies. Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates.  They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.  When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen.  Your hands are full of blood..."

Many of you have probably only been taught how loving and kind God is and have failed to understand why he is so loving.  This probably doesn't sound like the loving God you were brought up to know but just wait!!!  This is where you see his love and I think it will mean that much more to you now than it ever has before.

"Come now, let us reason together... Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.  If you are willing and obedient you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword."

"I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross (unwanted material or waste product) and remove all your impurities."

His love has never changed.  It is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow but I think it is important to know how God feels about sin.  It makes his grace all the more sweeter.  Knowing how great our sin is and how desperate we are in need of a savior highlights just how wonderful, powerful, loving, magnificent and kind God is. He was so in love with us filthy, dirty, disgusting rags that he sent his pure, blameless, holy son, Jesus Christ, to die and bear the wrath that should have been ours.  A perfect sacrifice was made; the final price was paid. We were bought with his blood.  We belong to him forever. It is finished! and it is Only By Grace!! See what I did there?!? haha

Awake My Soul O' Lord

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.   Psalm 51:10

I feel like I have let the world stain me lately by falling into it's ways. I've been distracted by work, dreams, and to do lists but God's word says to be set apart and to keep oneself unstained by this world.  As I am being distracted and enticed, ready to go my own way, God is clutching onto the back of my collar.  He will never leave me or forsake me and he is faithful to keeping me to the end when I will see him face to face for all of eternity.  This is the love that has me going crazy.  God is so gracious towards me in showing me my sin.  This refining is so awesome and I love how much I am understanding now.  

The past, maybe, two months I have been experiencing the Lords grace so clearly and so often.  God is doing a lot of heart reconstruction right now and, I'll be honest, it's overwhelming.  Every moment I get just another tiny glimpse of God's love for me I become so overwhelmed and I have no idea what to do with this love that I just weep.  His love is so intricate and extravagant that we cannot ever comprehend it and even these small little doses he's giving me is mind blowing.  He is being pretty straight forward with sin and stirring up a longing in my heart to have more of him.  I really cannot get enough.  I'm coming into a season of contentment and enjoying every moment in constant fellowship with God.  It is beautiful.  I'm happy to take control of these distractions and focus on the one who has everything already written down in my book.  These things that have my mind scattered are already orchestrated for my good, but more importantly, for God's glory.

 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?  If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!  If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,  even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.  If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,"  even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. Psalm 139:7-12

So that is my quick progress report because I haven't written in so long.  I am so shocked that I really haven't written about China at all either.  I love to write and I want to set a side more time to do it.  I don't want to rush through a post, as I am doing now, but to kick back and enjoy writing again.