Friday, March 9, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Africa
As I sit in the waiting room full of people from all walks of life, I think of the lines of people waiting in Kitale for a doctor that is on strike. I think of how many children woke up in the streets, how many we're afraid to sleep, how many didn't wake up.
There has been good and bad post about the Kony 2012 video going around. Is the organization on the up and up? Don't know yet, but I do know that it has brought a lot of attention to the problem and that can't be all bad. We don't have to send them money, but do something, even if it is only telling one other person. Plant a seed. It is a fact that there are invisible children in Africa. Here are a couple of organizations that I follow, www.until then.com and www.mattawchildren.com
There has been good and bad post about the Kony 2012 video going around. Is the organization on the up and up? Don't know yet, but I do know that it has brought a lot of attention to the problem and that can't be all bad. We don't have to send them money, but do something, even if it is only telling one other person. Plant a seed. It is a fact that there are invisible children in Africa. Here are a couple of organizations that I follow, www.until then.com and www.mattawchildren.com
The EBC Hospital Ship
We had a guest speaker at Ebenezer yesterday, Ron Barker. He was funny, honest, direct, and probably stepped on a few toes, including mine. He also planted a seed, a seed that I hope grows into a Hospital Ship.
He stated that churches fall into two categories. The Love boat and the Hospital Ship. Everyone on the love boat is full of love, knows love, gives love; they Hospital ship is full of those needing love, needing forgiveness, needing rescue. I hope that we can spill over the limit of our walls with the spiritually sick, let them know that there is a Hospital Ship with people that love them and that God loves them and wants them to be well again. I am not saying that everyone that already attends my church does so in perfect spirituality, quiet the opposite. We are all human, and we all struggle with sin each and everyday. But we have God's Love, His Word, pray, and each other to heal us when we are sick.
I am currently reading Obeying the Great Commission. God wants us to spread His love and the gospel to others. Yes I'm going to Kenya to do this, but it starts right here. Are we turning into a Love Boat, keeping all the Love that God has for just us? If we are, that is the biggest sin of all. We KNOW what He wants us to do, and if we aren't doing it we will be judged on day for that. I also believe with all of my heart that Ebenezer is a Hospital Ship. Our Fall Festival, VBS, programs with the public schools, recovery programs, adult missions, youth missions. Sometimes I think just knowing Mrs. Betty Moore Bell will get you a long way on judgement day. She truly has a servants heart. I want that kind of heart. I want us ALL to have that kind of heart.
Last week I shared food with a seemingly homeless man. As I handed him the food on two occasions, he said "may God bless you and keep you." And even if he was really wanting money for drugs/alcohol, on those two days he was fed with love. He was reminded that people can be good and that God does work through small things. It may have been the next day, it may be next week, month, year. But at some point he will remember the kindness that was shown him. I thank God that He used me to show it. I was a "nurse" from the Ebenezer Hospital Ship, healing with love and kindness.
He stated that churches fall into two categories. The Love boat and the Hospital Ship. Everyone on the love boat is full of love, knows love, gives love; they Hospital ship is full of those needing love, needing forgiveness, needing rescue. I hope that we can spill over the limit of our walls with the spiritually sick, let them know that there is a Hospital Ship with people that love them and that God loves them and wants them to be well again. I am not saying that everyone that already attends my church does so in perfect spirituality, quiet the opposite. We are all human, and we all struggle with sin each and everyday. But we have God's Love, His Word, pray, and each other to heal us when we are sick.
I am currently reading Obeying the Great Commission. God wants us to spread His love and the gospel to others. Yes I'm going to Kenya to do this, but it starts right here. Are we turning into a Love Boat, keeping all the Love that God has for just us? If we are, that is the biggest sin of all. We KNOW what He wants us to do, and if we aren't doing it we will be judged on day for that. I also believe with all of my heart that Ebenezer is a Hospital Ship. Our Fall Festival, VBS, programs with the public schools, recovery programs, adult missions, youth missions. Sometimes I think just knowing Mrs. Betty Moore Bell will get you a long way on judgement day. She truly has a servants heart. I want that kind of heart. I want us ALL to have that kind of heart.
Last week I shared food with a seemingly homeless man. As I handed him the food on two occasions, he said "may God bless you and keep you." And even if he was really wanting money for drugs/alcohol, on those two days he was fed with love. He was reminded that people can be good and that God does work through small things. It may have been the next day, it may be next week, month, year. But at some point he will remember the kindness that was shown him. I thank God that He used me to show it. I was a "nurse" from the Ebenezer Hospital Ship, healing with love and kindness.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Rainy Day Rantings
I lay in my bed with a roof over my head worrying about the rain outside. I don't want to put my rain jacket on and get in my car and drive in the rain. I don't like rain. I complain about rain.
I get to work and look at my new friend Kimberly's FB post. Last night while I was in my comfy bed, she was rescuing two 10 year old girls from the sex slave trade in Nairobi. Earlier this week, two new little boys are taken in at Mattaw. One's mother is in jail for wanting to kill him. I reflect on the children Katie has saved in Uganda. Picture her digging the bugs our of their feet, bathing them, loving them.
I know there are forgotten children here in the states. But the it's hard for me to picture here in the states, your mom and dad just going to find work and not coming home AND social services not getting involved. These kids are just left, on the streets, no one cares, they are considered filth. Adults just walk by them lying there, and don't even look down. Or if they do, it is to tell others not to get to close to the filth. It breaks my heart. I can't wait until we are there, helping, reminding them that they are loved, if by no one other than me, by God their Father.
I get to work and look at my new friend Kimberly's FB post. Last night while I was in my comfy bed, she was rescuing two 10 year old girls from the sex slave trade in Nairobi. Earlier this week, two new little boys are taken in at Mattaw. One's mother is in jail for wanting to kill him. I reflect on the children Katie has saved in Uganda. Picture her digging the bugs our of their feet, bathing them, loving them.
I know there are forgotten children here in the states. But the it's hard for me to picture here in the states, your mom and dad just going to find work and not coming home AND social services not getting involved. These kids are just left, on the streets, no one cares, they are considered filth. Adults just walk by them lying there, and don't even look down. Or if they do, it is to tell others not to get to close to the filth. It breaks my heart. I can't wait until we are there, helping, reminding them that they are loved, if by no one other than me, by God their Father.
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