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!!
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