I have some friends that are very ordinary. But they did an extraordinary thing. They responded to God's leading them in a direction they never would have walked in under "normal" circumstances. He told them to leave Memphis, move to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and start being part of the solution to the worldwide orphan crisis. These newlyweds started The Forsaken Children, a ministry that addresses the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the 100,000 homeless, family-less, Christ-less children in the capital city of Ethiopia.
As the ministry expands, more and more of my friends are getting involved. Some are traveling there on short-term mission trips. Some are staying there for longer periods of time, developing new ways to reach the children. Some are donating money each month to support what's going on over there. Some are praying daily for the ministry.
Personally, Elian and I are giving ten measly bucks each month. Not much, right? Check out an article I wrote on The Forsaken Children website explaining why we give and how ten dollars change two kids' lives forever.
Showing posts with label ministry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ministry. Show all posts
3.11.2010
Onward
Over the past couple of months, I've felt God gently nudging me toward taking on some sort of a teaching role in ministry. I've felt the nudge mostly during the weekly Bible study I attend. And maybe some in my Sunday School class as well. I've been letting the idea that I should teach someone (other than my children) something about the Bible roll off my back. I've been nonchalantly saying to myself, "That would be exciting, but [fill in the blank]." I wouldn't have enough time to prepare. I'm too immature in my own faith. I'm still wrestling with my own issues. But the truth of the matter is I will never feel like I have enough time, I will never feel mature enough, and I will always be dealing with one personal issue or another. I mean, if someone who has had an active relationship with Jesus for over 10 years, as well as a degree in Biblical Studies and Theology, doesn't feel equipped enough to teach someone else about Jesus, who does?
The time to step up and obey God's nudge is now. Besides, it's not about me knowing all the answers. It's about me humbling myself and letting God draw others to Him through me. Priscilla Shirer once said that if she has a decision to make, and if the only reason she doesn't want to choose option A is because she is scared, that's usually the option she chooses. She knows that fear is not from the Lord; fear is from Satan. And if you are getting ready to obey/honor/glorify God in some way, Satan is going to try to scare you out of it.
So, I am moving forward with this teaching thing. I've sent an email to Ellen Olford, the Director of Women's Ministry at church, telling her I am ready to serve. And we all know once you volunteer at a church, there is no turning back :)
The time to step up and obey God's nudge is now. Besides, it's not about me knowing all the answers. It's about me humbling myself and letting God draw others to Him through me. Priscilla Shirer once said that if she has a decision to make, and if the only reason she doesn't want to choose option A is because she is scared, that's usually the option she chooses. She knows that fear is not from the Lord; fear is from Satan. And if you are getting ready to obey/honor/glorify God in some way, Satan is going to try to scare you out of it.
So, I am moving forward with this teaching thing. I've sent an email to Ellen Olford, the Director of Women's Ministry at church, telling her I am ready to serve. And we all know once you volunteer at a church, there is no turning back :)
7.25.2008
A Brighter Day
This morning Lexi decided she didn't want to stay home. At about 8 AM she sat in the middle of my bedroom floor, trying with all her dexterial might to put her sandals on. After trying her best, she looked at me and babbled in an imperative tone, "Dooooo doooo dooo!" When she's really serious, she repeats herself, "Dooooo doooo dooo!", getting louder and louder until I do what she's demanding. I was in no shape to leave the house yet, so I distracted her from her sandal task, hoping she'd forget about it.
Around 9 AM we went downstairs. As we played in the living room, she kept pointing toward the kitchen, desperately trying to communicate, "Dooooo doooo dooo! Dooooo doooo dooo!" I held her hands and let her guide me to the object of her desire: the garage door. When I informed her we would not be going out, she melted into a pile of heart-broken toddler and sobbed on the kitchen floor. I used distraction again to lead her away from the door and toward an indoor activity.
By 10 AM Lexi had found her shoes in the living room and was doing her best to cram her toes in them. Tired of her insistence, I decided a trip to Wal-Mart was in order.
I loaded Lexi up and headed to the gas station first. Lexi sat quietly in her car seat, watching me pump gas. While I was waiting, I began waving and blowing kisses to her, just to keep her mildly entertained during our stop. She smiled and waved back, but she kept cutting her eyes to the pump next to us. Then I heard an old man say, "You have a beautiful baby!" I couldn't see him because the pump was between us, but I thanked him and laughed. Then the voice continued to talk to me, telling me how happy Lexi seemed, how pretty her smile was, and how good she was being. Then, as is usually the case with older adults we run into, the man started telling me about his grandkids. He said he just couldn't get enough of them, even though the youngest one was already 12. We ended our conversation, and as we pulled away, I saw him waving to Lexi. I told her to wave back, which she did, and I could see pure joy on the old man's face.
After we filled up, we went to Wal-Mart for groceries. Lexi enjoys riding in the cart and looking at all the people. She laughs at everyone who passes us, almost always causing them to laugh back. In the check out line, the cashiers wave and talk to her. Lexi grins and laughs back to them.
It seems that almost everywhere we go Lexi engages other people and makes their day a little bit brighter. They can't help but smile and laugh as she cackles through the aisles, waving her tiny hand. That may be the only time some of these people smile that day. So it seems Lexi is in the business of Laughter Ministry. Maybe I can think of some other ways to use her personality to minister to people during the week, giving them some of God's love, and maybe even the gospel...
Around 9 AM we went downstairs. As we played in the living room, she kept pointing toward the kitchen, desperately trying to communicate, "Dooooo doooo dooo! Dooooo doooo dooo!" I held her hands and let her guide me to the object of her desire: the garage door. When I informed her we would not be going out, she melted into a pile of heart-broken toddler and sobbed on the kitchen floor. I used distraction again to lead her away from the door and toward an indoor activity.
By 10 AM Lexi had found her shoes in the living room and was doing her best to cram her toes in them. Tired of her insistence, I decided a trip to Wal-Mart was in order.
I loaded Lexi up and headed to the gas station first. Lexi sat quietly in her car seat, watching me pump gas. While I was waiting, I began waving and blowing kisses to her, just to keep her mildly entertained during our stop. She smiled and waved back, but she kept cutting her eyes to the pump next to us. Then I heard an old man say, "You have a beautiful baby!" I couldn't see him because the pump was between us, but I thanked him and laughed. Then the voice continued to talk to me, telling me how happy Lexi seemed, how pretty her smile was, and how good she was being. Then, as is usually the case with older adults we run into, the man started telling me about his grandkids. He said he just couldn't get enough of them, even though the youngest one was already 12. We ended our conversation, and as we pulled away, I saw him waving to Lexi. I told her to wave back, which she did, and I could see pure joy on the old man's face.
After we filled up, we went to Wal-Mart for groceries. Lexi enjoys riding in the cart and looking at all the people. She laughs at everyone who passes us, almost always causing them to laugh back. In the check out line, the cashiers wave and talk to her. Lexi grins and laughs back to them.
It seems that almost everywhere we go Lexi engages other people and makes their day a little bit brighter. They can't help but smile and laugh as she cackles through the aisles, waving her tiny hand. That may be the only time some of these people smile that day. So it seems Lexi is in the business of Laughter Ministry. Maybe I can think of some other ways to use her personality to minister to people during the week, giving them some of God's love, and maybe even the gospel...
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