Life is sacred. Use it to love!

            What is life? I mean, what is the true meaning of life? How do we determine life's value? How does one define the meaning of life? The value of life? How do we decide whether we are living a life of worth? By living for our King. That is how.
                 These past two weeks, God has really put it on my heart to share with you all that He has placed upon my heart. That is, to share with you what I think of life. My meaning and my definition of life, not the world's.
             To say that I go by my own meaning, value, and definition of life, is wrong. "My" meaning of life, and the value "I" place upon life, is solely based upon scripture and the commands of Jesus Christ. I believe what my Lord and Savior does about life; that life is sacred and beautiful, no matter who the person is. Therefore, "my" meaning of life is not my meaning, but Christ's.
            This day in age, culture tends to teach us that the homeless man is not worth our effort, the orphan is too far away to help, the unborn child is not a child, children are a burden, the elderly are useless and burdensome,  and prisoners deserve to be hated. They no longer teach that these people need help. That they are desperate, abandoned, hurting people. Instead, they teach that people who are poor, homeless, unborn, orphaned or imprisoned are either not worth loving and helping, or we can "wait" until we're in a better financial situation to help them. But that's not what God teaches.
             God teaches us that we are to love, and help everyone we come across, no matter who they are or what situation they're in. God is a God of love, filled with compassion and kindness. Slow to anger, abundant in mercy, overflowing with grace and tenderness. In His great love, He seeks to reach out to and help all His people. Not just the ones we want to reach out to.
             As Christians, we are called to follow God's example. We are called to love and value all life. Life is indeed sacred. No matter who the person is, they are still loved by God. Special in His eyes, blessed with the gift of life, and treasured by the God of love. We are called to reach out to them, save them, guard them, and value life as much as Christ does. We are called to minister in love to all our fellow humans, knowing that life is short, so the time we have here is to be valued.
            That is why I believe ALL life has meaning. ALL  life is to be treasured and valued as a sacred gift from the Almighty King Himself. Life is a gift. Use it as a gift to obey the Lord of Harvest and reach out in love to ALL creation! Remember, your words and actions can very well determine the fate of a person's eternity. Don't kill with  your actions and words, use them to love!!
          

.."my God shall supply all your needs.."

     You know, God truly is a faithful God. He has proven Himself to be a God of Wonders many times, but sometimes it still takes an act of God to really open our eyes to see how true that simple yet amazing statement really is. Yesterday was a huge eye opener for me as to just how great our God is, as I was brought to tears at how my God had worked on my behalf, so that I might glorify Him with my work.
     Yesterday morning, my family and I had the privilege of visiting a friend's church. This church has been praying for me for several weeks now, so they had invited me to come and speak about the Lord's work in my life. They told me they would do an offering  to help me in my trip, but little did I know how much the Lord was using this tiny church for His glory!!
     After speaking, the church prayed for me as a congregation, and later a few people even came up to personally pray for me. That church is a church full of prayer warriors that are on fire for the Lord! It was the neatest thing to see such a small church, reaching out and giving God glory. These people were and are such a blessing to my family and I!
      Later, when they gave me their gift I was flabbergasted to see the incredible offering they had collected for me!!! My mom and I started crying to see the amazing generosity that these people had displayed! All I could do was sit there silently thanking God over and over, and praising Him for this awesome act!  God is great and greatly to be praised! That was truly the cry of my heart yesterday! It was amazing to see how God could work such a miracle for His glory! God truly does supply all my needs!

"And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

"Let the little children come unto to Me"

           These last two months God has brought some amazing people together to help me, but nothing has been sweeter then watching God at work in the children. It has been so special to me to see these kids, working for God's glory to fulfill this call. I have seen how a 10 year old boy has been touched by God to give $20 to the Lord's cause. This little boy was like the widow who gave her all, he gave me everything he had!
           I have had a little girl raising money for the Lord's cause. This little girl, gathered stuff together and did a yard sale for me. She passed out flyers, and convinced neighbors and friends to buy pops from me. She herself bought pops for her birthday party. This sweet girl was able to raise over $120! She did it all for the glory of the Lord!  Even my own 5 and 7 year old sisters have been giving me all the change they can find, declaring that they are "giving this money to Shelbie so she can be a missionary!"
         All these children have been vessels in the Lord's hand to fulfill His plan. Each one of them have been so focused on the things of eternity that they were willing to give up all that they had for God to use for His glory. That little boy gave his all! That girl gave her time, effort and money! I have been so blessed to see these children at work for the Lord, giving their all to God. These children are some special kids, who are wiling to work and serve the Lord, even if it means they give up their time, money, and effort! I know that God will bless their little hearts for what they have done!!!

" ...'Let the children come to Me,and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 19:14

Faith and Fundraising

         Fundraising is such a time to cling to God, and strengthen your faith. This last month has been such a faith building process, as I have watched how God has been actively involved in gathering my funds. I have seen first hand how God can intervene on His children's behalf in such obvious ways that I cannot help but to praise God for what He has done.
       Yet despite seeing Him at work, my flesh often starts to fear, stress, or become anxious. In such cases, I can do nothing but silently pray, thanking the Lord for how He is at work and asking Him to fill me with peace, and renew my faith. The Lord always answers these prayers, either through scripture and people, or even a more obvious work of His hands. My faith has grown so much since starting my fundraising, and I know that when this is through, I will emerge as a victor in faith, having gone against Satan and having brought glory to my King.
       I know that I am a vessel of the Lord's and that His will is my future. I rejoice in the fact that I can play this tiny part in bringing praise, honor, and recognition to my risen Lord and King!  It is my joy to honor Him, and let my life be used by Him and for Him! After all, our life is not our own, we belong to Him. We were created by Him and for Him, to love Him, serve Him, honor Him, glorify Him, and live for Him in that we do! It is our blessing and honor as Christians, to be called to the great commission. It is gift from God, to be counted worthy of spreading the good news, and being called as representatives for the King of heaven and earth!!! Amen!

 Some of  the verses the Lord has used to strengthen and encourage me when I have wandered from the peace of God.

"For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall."

Psalm 18:29

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

Philippians 4:13

 "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

Psalm 18:2

Concerns about Zambia

         Due to the numerous concerns that have been voiced by friends and family, I decided to dedicate this post to, Lord willing, calm those fears and quiet those concerns. While I appreciate and am touched by the concerns that many people have brought to the surface, I did want to say a few things about what the Bible says about such fears. 
         Even though I'm not totally certain as to the safety of Zambia, I can say without a doubt, that I will be safe. It is far more dangerous for me to be out of the Lord's will, living in disobedience to His call, then it would be for me to go to an uncivilized, dangerous, disease-infested jungle...(which, I can assure you, I will NOT be doing.:) I know without a doubt, that upon the promises of His Word, the Lord will protect me while I'm doing His work in Zambia.  Physical danger is a state of this world. It is not a thing of the spirit, but of the flesh. However, if the Lord did by some chance allow my physical body to be harmed, I would still rather be in the Lord's will, suffering for His sake, then to be content and happy in a life apart from His blessings.(1 Peter 4:12-19) I am a vessel for His use, a tool in the hand of God. What He chooses to allow into my life, I will gladly accept, knowing it's far better to please Him and suffer, then to turn from His will. Anything He allows in my life He will work for good. (Romans 8:28-29) I live to please my Father and glorify Him with my actions. If that means, having my physical body harmed, then so be it. Suffering for Christ leads to blessings. ( 1 Peter 3:14) I would therefore, rather suffer for my God, then suffer for going against my God.
        I firmly believe, that when someone makes the choice to follow the Lord wherever He leads, there will be nothing that can harm them, if it is not in God's will for them. Jeremiah 29:11 states that He knows what plans He has for us, and that His plans are not plans to harm us, but to give us hope and a future.  Since that is true, how then can this trip be harmful to me since it is His plan for me? We are called to obey the Lord in all things  ( 1 Peter 1:14, John 12:26, John 14:15, 23 24)  Not just the things that we want to obey. In doing so, we will be blessed with peace and protection! (Deuteronomy 28:2,  Genesis 35:1-15)  Further more, obeying the Lord leads to a life of blessedness. If we are blessed when we follow the Lord, how much more so when we serve Him and obey His will!!!
      Therefore, I can rest upon these promises, knowing that through His hands, I will be safer then I have ever been before! I have an absolute peace and serenity in the thought of my Great Father protecting me, because I know His protection is greater then any protection I can ever have receive! We, in our sinful state are weak and fearful, and prone to falter, but my God is great and mighty in strength! He is everlasting, with unwavering energy and power! "By you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall" (2 Samuel 22:30). "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"  (Philippians 4:13).  This is true, and so much more! I can therefore, go out by His strength, to do His work, without fear or anxiety knowing that I am in the care of the Great Shepherd Himself.

He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to keep that which he cannot lose.

Jim Elliot

Poem for Orphans

Neglect

by Michael R. Burch

What good are your tears?

They will not spare the dying their anguish.

What good is your concern

to a child sick of living, waiting to perish?

What good, the warm benevolence of tears

without action?

What help, the eloquence of prayers,

or a pleasant benediction?

Before this day is gone,

how many more will die

with bellies swollen, wasted limbs,

and eyes too parched to cry?

I fear for our souls

as I hear the faint lament

of their souls departing ...

mournful, and distant.

How pitiful our "effort,"

yet how fatal its effect.

If they died, then surely we killed them,

if only with neglect.

 

      We all have choice to make, and a part to play in lives of the desolate, and abandoned orphans around the world. The choice is ours: to make a difference in their lives, or ignore their desperation. Every day, hundreds of children are orphaned, and thousands more die of starvation. All because they didn't receive the help they needed: the help we could have given them. Not all of us are called to forsake all and follow Christ to far off places, but each one of us is charged with the duty to defend the fatherless, and feed the hungry. (James 1:27)  If we have an ounce of humanity, we will do what is right. We will step up and make a difference.  So, we have to ask ourselves: "am I willing to obey the command of God in regards to the orphans? Or will I sit around, forgetting their trouble?" I for one, will not sit around! I am taking that call seriously. Will you? Are you willing to make a difference in the lives of children around the world? Seek God, and ask Him how He wants you to help. He has a plan for all of us, and a place to help in His world. We can help from right where were are, in our own home, if that is how He calls us. Pray, pray, pray, and His plan will be revealed!

Life Lessons from Fundraising

            Over the past few months, I have truly seen the mighty hand of God at work in my life, stretched out to aid me and guide me in even the most simplistic situations. Ever since fundraising started, I have become busier and busier, making it increasingly difficult to seek time with the Lord. However, these past two weeks I have been in daily communion with Him, and I have to say, the things He has revealed to me have been amazing!  Among other things, God has totally revealed to me how much this fundraising is of Him and for Him, and how He will get the funds for me in sufficient time. ("For My ways are not your ways, nor My thoughts your thoughts.." Isaiah 55:8) The Lord has also revealed to me how much He is in control of each situation and how He is working behind the scenes to get the jobs done. Thus far, my Lord has not yet failed me in helping to get orders done by their due date, nor failed to supply me with all the peace and serenity a girl could ever ask for! These last two weeks have been huge faith builders, and have helped me to establish a closer walk with Him, while growing to recognize even the smallest gifts and acts of God in my life. I am continually in awe of how He is working in my life and paving the way for me, as He slowly places the puzzle pieces on the board, and unveils His ultimate plan for my life. We serve a  great God of many wonders that stretch far beyond this world!!! As a result of all that He has, and is, showing me, I have developed a new love and appreciation for the majesty of our God, as He reestablishes my knowledge of His wonder and power in my life. He truly is an amazing God, that is full of grace and mercy! A great Shepherd that is slow to anger and abounding in forgiveness for His wandering sheep! Praise the Lord!