Highly Valued

I had a nice big post all written and ready, then I hit the wrong button and it vanished :( So I hope I can repeat it!!

I have been reading Duane Elmer's book "Cross-Cultural Servanthood". A good friend of mine recommended it and thankfully I was able to get it here in Taiwan, and in English!! It has been very good so far. I have had WOW moments and UNHUH  moments and OHHHH moments. Somethings I read made me think of other missionaries, some have made me think of things I have done or not done myself.

"God's blessing of Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 informs us that the point of our being blessed is to bless others; that is, having discovered how highly the Creator values us, we are in turn to value God's creation. The ministry of blessing reminds us of the essential connectedness of the Christian life. It rmeinds us that we were created to live in relationship. We cannot live alone, counting our own blessings."

This may not mean much to you, everyone has their own take on things as everyone's backgrounds are different. But as we minister in our specific ministry, it made me realize that God has truly blessed us, it is only natural that we should turn and bless others. Blessing others through our food bank, or through sheltering them during crisis pregnancy, or thru the joy of adoption, we can share blessings.

One thing I also thought about was the statement: discovering how highly the Creator values us, we are to inturn value God's creation. Are you doing that? I see and hear about many churches here in Taiwan that disadvantaged families don't feel comfortable going to, they feel the eyes of judgement and looks of rejection. If God highly values you, do you think HE does not value the person with a sickness, an unwed mom, the child laborer or someone you disapprove of? NEWS FLASH: GOD VALUES THEM THE SAME HE VALUES YOU!!

I heard a very prominent, admired (almost to the point of worship it seems) director. This director mentioned that one day the clothes that she was wearing were all dirty and could not be helped, her shoes were beyond help so she threw them away. Since she had no clothes, she found her husbands huge t-shirt and shorts, and used somekind of cloth to hold them up. Then she had found flip flops to wear. See, originally she should have had time to go shopping before going home, but she was told there was urgent matters at hand and needed to get home that night (in a different county). She felt embarrassed that she had these clothes on and used a large hat and sunglasses to get on the subway and plane. When her husband, also a prominent director, saw her, he was embarrassed and got mad at her. Granted her story was talking about difference in ideas and all, but I thought to myself......you are helping people that are dressed like that all the time, yet you are judging them? God values the director in nice name brand clothes just as much as HE values the person in old shirt and shorts and flip flops.

How do you look at the disadvantaged? Better yet, how does your church look at the disadvantaged?  Now, not all are called to go overseas and start a ministry, but do you or your church support ministries that work with the people in need? or does your church have a ministry to them? Who would you rather sit next to you or your kids: 1) well dressed couple  2)couple with tatoos and earrings and scantly dressed 3)young couple with a toddler who has a runny nose, obviously dirty and malnutritioned 3)a young lady who is pregnant but no wedding ring
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Remember: God highly values you, you need to value others as well!!

always playing with the blog:-)

Funny, I always find myself fidgeting the blog appearance. I am the main reason they have the templates....just click and go. I would love to have the picture on top there either bigger or be able to put another picture with it, but I don't know how. Oh well, you all will survive!

I spent two hours in the car this morning. What was I doing? let's see: two babies picked up and to the therapist for evaluation, take a new friend to the trainstation (she had 7 minutes to spare!!whew!!), back to pick up a momma who delivered her twins on Monday and then BACK to the hospital to pick up the babies to take back to their nannies. WHEW!!! never a dull moment!! All this time, my 9yr old was with me. Nope he wasn't doing math or English (he is now as I write this!), but riding along with me in the car asking his questions, listening as I talked with our social worker and nannies. He learned alot today:-) So thankful he could be with me.

Wednesday we went with a momma and her 6 yr old to visit the psychiatrist. YES you did read that right! The 6 yr old is having problems at school and officially diagnosed with ADHD and self control problems.There is alot more there I feel and I am really mad at the school. We are trying to work something up so that we can bring her here to the church and play/study with our kids say 2-3 times a week since she is not going to be at school (they don't want her back.) There is alot alot to say, but I want to say this (and the dr said the same thing): the problem is, mom, you are a disadvantaged family, single parent family. If it was an educated or business person's child who was like this, there wouldn't be any problems. It was all I could do to keep my mouth shut while at the dr's office.

I told my hubby, this is the PRIME reason that there needs to be schooling of some kind. See the church Luke preaches at first on Sunday mornings, they want to start a small school. I know now that is it legal to do and the members there are mainly teachers AND school principals......so I need to talk to them:-) HAHAHA!!!

I am so excited about what God is doing. We have been in contact with a few places about the future of adoptions. I am hoping to hear back (actually, very impatiently as I wrote them letters two days ago and nothing yet!). God has brought us together with a great group of people of like minds and most of all hearts for children in need. It is thru this that we are able to get information and contacts that we need.

As we prepare for our Respect Life Day, please keep us in mind of all the things here that we need to get done in addition to what we normally do. I do find it ironic that the social services is having an activity THE SAME DAY AND SAME TIME as ours is, though a few blocks away. My hubby says I read into things too much, oh well!!LOL! It seems this year alot taking place and it is hard to get people into it. Praying we can and praying that as we work hard to stop abortion, that we can also keep up the strength in the spiritual side of things. It seems during this time, a spirituatl battle is always running on.

Garden of Grace is coming along as well!!! I can't share pictures here, but hope to soon. We should get our building permit in 2-3 weeks and then our licensing paperwork for the day care can be entered. From that it is 2-3 months......praying it will be quick and painless!!!

Go out and be a blessing my friends!!