“Heaven will hold you before we do…Heaven will keep you safe until we’re
home with you…” –from Watermark’s song ‘Glory Baby’
I am torn between a lurking sadness and an abundant joy;
pulled between the sorrow of death and the anticipation of life. I have long
believed that there are some things in life that will just never be okay this
side of heaven; things that no matter how much or often we forgive or try to
forget never really leave our heads and certainly not our hearts. This is one
of those times in life.
We recently learned that La Manda was pregnant with our
second child. We had been hopeful, even prayerful, that God would give us another
baby, and He did. It wasn’t long before Lam became very sick once again with
hyperemesis gravidarum. Simply put, it’s extreme vomiting during pregnancy.
After two emergency room visits and a brief hospital stay we learned why her
hyperemsesis was so much more severe than it was with Emmarie. She was pregnant
with twins. Was… It’s curious how a
careful change in tense can change the entire meaning of a sentence. It can
change the entire course of one’s life.
The doctor quickly reassured us that one baby was healthy
and on track. However, the twin had “failed to develop”. The tech heard one
heartbeat, not two. She saw a fetal pole on one embryo, but the other appeared
to be an underdeveloped yolk sac. I heard little after that. I tried to keep up
with the topic of conversation, to understand what had happened and what that
would mean for La Manda and our baby still alive and growing inside of her. It
was difficult for me to focus. I remember asking the doctor, “So, does this
mean that the other yolk sac will not continue to grow?” I appreciated her
candid honesty and the shred of hope she offered: “I never say never. Strange
things can happen.” That was just what I needed at that moment; an opportunity
to believe. It was an opportunity to believe in a God who is greater than me,
greater than the doctor, greater than what science says should be—not matter
what will happen. So, my prayer became that God would spare the life of our
second little baby.
Although I hope for the best, I cannot help but be aware of
the worst. I struggle to know how I’m supposed to feel; and so most days I
don’t. When I think about the little one we may have lost, I am sad. There are
those who will say a yolk sac isn’t a baby. They cannot understand how I feel.
Yet, Jeremiah 1:5 makes it clear that God knows us even before he forms us in our mother’s womb! I want to celebrate
the surviving twin, but I feel as though I need to mourn his or her’s brother
or sister before I can fully embrace joy once again. I am saddened that we will
not meet our little one this side of heaven. I am saddened that our children
will never all play together on this earth. I do not like to engage in “what
ifs” or what might have been . “What would this child have been like?” “What
would they have grown up to become?” Clearly, this is how God intended it to
be. I can’t imagine why, but neither have those who have experienced this loss
countless times before me. Yet, “I will rest in knowing, heaven is your home…And
it’s all you’ll ever know…” –from Watermark’s
song ‘Glory Baby’
I do not know what the doctor believes. I don’t know if she
believes in God or doesn’t. I don’t know if she believes that life begins at conception
or not. However, I am very thankful that she did not try to lessen the impact
of the news by belittling our baby’s existence. She referred to him or her as a
twin. That one word that means two broke my heart and gave me peace at the same
time. Not only did we finally have a reason for Lam’s extreme illness, but our
doctor also recognized and honored the personhood of our babies.
I don’t know how men are supposed to react to a miscarriage.
I don’t know if we are supposed to be indifferent or withdrawn. I don’t know if
we are expected to focus solely on our wife’s emotions and ignore our own. I
haven’t read up on it or Googled it, nor do I plan to. I only know how I feel.
And that is this: I am saddened at the loss of our unborn baby’s life. I am reminded
that the only difference between our little one and the millions who are
aborted every year is this: our baby was loved and wanted. So, I will grieve
the loss of our twin. I am a father separated from his child only by this life,
not eternity. I believe with great certainty that one day I will be united with
him or her again. So, until then…“Baby let sweet Jesus
hold you ‘till mom and dad can hold you…You’ll just have heaven before we do…” –from Watermark’s song ‘Glory Baby’
At least that’s what they want us to believe. It’s the
American dream, right? You can have it all; whatever you want as long as you
work hard and believe to achieve. The thing is we can’t. There is too high of a
price to pay. Just ask Jesus. Do you recall how in Matthew 4, Jesus was led
away by the Spirit to be tempted of the devil? That’s what it says. He was led
there by the Spirit. I never noticed that before. God intended for Him to be
tested.
Three times the devil tempted Jesus; each time more intense
than the last. The final time …the devil took him to a very high mountain and
showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will
give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” [Matt. 4:8-9] The whole scene has always seemed ridiculous to me. Here Satan was
offering Jesus everything He had created and already owned—as God. Yet, as the
Son of Man he had nothing; not even a place to lay His head. The temptation was
very real on a human level. In fact, later in Hebrews we read that “…we do not
have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have
one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. [Hebrews 4:15]
Just think: had Christ given into temptation
there would have been no salvation. God’s perfect plan to save man would have
been ruined. Jesus held out and in the end when He returned to God’s right hand
He had everything Satan had once promised Him back again. Too often we take the
temporal things that the devil offers us--the fast fortunes and miss out on God’s
lasting blessings.
The temptation is to want what everyone else has.
We want the perfect wife, the perfect life. We dream of white picket fences,
bright green lawns, and a big house for our flawless family. We work hard to
pay for it all, but in the end, who really wins? We have sinned by coveting to
keep up with the Joneses and completely lost focus. Pastor and author John
Piper has said that God created us for His glory; essentially, we are here to
tell His story. He has made history; now we are to act it out. Instead, we are
more focused on our own thumbnail images instead of the big picture.
So, the question remains…can you have it all? The
answer is no. We can have everything the world holds or we can have Jesus. We
can’t have both. Matthew 6:24 reveals that we cannot love both God and money: "No
one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or
he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.Obviously that does not mean that we cannot have anything. David rose
from a shepherd boy with nothing to a king who had everything. Still, he was
called a man after God’s own heart. The answer lies in what we want to perfect.
What do you desire more? The pursuit of God or what the world holds? Do not store up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not
destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also. [Matt. 6:19-21] Where is your heart? You
can have it all in this life; or you can have it all in the next.
“All you need is love”, so sang the Beatles. And a study of1 John chapter 4 appears to give confirmation to that pop culture call forpeace. A quick read finds this simple line hidden inside verse 16: God is love.Groundbreaking thought, isn’t it? Especially for those of us who have heard ita million times in church. It’s the underlying theme of almost every messageever preached in Christendom. God loves us; we are to love one another. Amen,Hallelujah, pass the plate and lets pray. But what if we really stop toconsider the meaning behind that simple sentence?
God is love. The arrangement of those few words issignificant. God IS love. Now, I hate to invoke a former president’s paper-thinargument about what the definition of is IS, but I have to say: it IS veryimportant here. The Word says that God IS love. It doesn’t say that God loves,although we read that elsewhere. Love is WHO God is. It is His very existence.Love is what makes Him up. I venture to say that true love does not exist apartfrom Him. After all, if God is love itself, mustn’t he be the source of thatlove which is pure and undefiled?
Early on in verse 16 I am challenged by the truth that “…weknow and rely on the love God has for us.” There is so much there. First andforemost, as Christians we KNOW that God has love for us. It is inescapable. Itis undeniable. A crucified and risen Savior is all the evidence I need. Butthen comes the word RELY. Wow. Do I really? Do I rely on the love that God hasfor me? Not always. Truthfully, rarely. What does that even mean? Carefulthought leads me to the conclusion that my life would be radically altered. Ino longer rely on myself—my talents and abilities. I am no longer responsiblefor the outcome of situations but my participation in the process. Myself-reliance becomes complete dependence on He who is Love.
And what do we know about love? According to the apostlePaul, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, itis not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is noteasily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil butrejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes,always perseveres.” Wow. Love is who God is. He ispatient and kind. He takes pleasure in us. The Lord of all Creation is humble.God honors those He created, is selfless, patient, and forgiving. He is theway, the Truth, and the life. He protects us, trusts us, hopes for us, and perseveresin His pursuit of us. Love is so much more than what He does; it IS who He is.
Early in the 4th chapter of 1 John, verse 12 reads:“…if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”I love that! God’s love requires our participation to be “made complete”. This reminds of a song lyric by MichaelW. Smith in which he sings: “Love isn’t love/Until you give it away”. For God’slove to exist in the way He intended it, we must spend it on one another. Inthat we experience love in its totality. It is not lacking in any way. We getthe full effect. Love Himself is inviting us to let love explode from withinus, leaving no one surrounding us untouched by who He is. It’s kind of like amushroom cloud from a volcano (like the one pictured) or an atomic bomb. Here is how it works according toWikipedia: “Themass of gas rises rapidly, resulting in turbulent vortices curling downwardaround its edges, forming a vortex ring and drawing up a column of additional smoke and debris in the center to formits "stem". The mass of gas eventually reaches an altitude where itis no longer of lower density than the surrounding air and disperses, thedebris drawn upward from the ground scattering and drifting back down.”In short, the fallout is widespread. That’s how our love is to be madecomplete. Be the blast that lasts!
“Let love explode and bring the dead to life/A love sobold/To see a revolution some how” [from ‘Like a Lion/My God’s Not Dead’]
The #stopkony and #kony2012 campaign took the world-wide-web by storm recently. People posted, re-posted, tweeted, shared, linked, forwarded and every other internet-related verb possible to rally millions of people around a worthy cause. After all, who wouldn’t want to stop evil? Especially an evil that destroys children. The problem is that once the emotional high of the compelling half-hour documentary wore off, few people did more than make a simple click of their mouse, a fleeting touch of their iPhone, or have a brief albeit serious chat around the water cooler or with their co-worker in the adjacent cubicle. Many have labeled (perhaps unfairly) those impacted by the Kony campaign “slacktivists”. So what is a slacktivist?
According to the Urban Dictionary, slacktivism is defined as “the search for the ultimate feel-good that derives from having come to society's rescue without having had to actually gets one's hands dirty or open one's wallet.” Basically, you cry at the Sara McLachlan SPCA End Animal Cruelty PSA but do nothing to stop animal abuse. There’s something about those black and white photos of animals set to the “Arms of an Angel” song. It gets you every time. The problem is it doesn’t actually get you to do anything.
We want to help you avoid the same fate. You see the need in foster care here in Arkansas. You are moved in your spirit to do something. The problem may be that you don’t know how you can help. The good news is we can help you with that! At The CALL we are passionate about connecting you with where you can best serve. We encourage volunteers to find your place in this fight! The James 1:27 mission doesn’t call us all to foster; however it does command us all to care. Here’s how you can best do that: (Please read through the entire list to find your perfect fit.)
CHURCH REP – Believe it or not, one of The CALL’s greatest obstacles is getting into new churches. We need people who are passionate about the James 1:27 mission to be our champions at their churches and with their pastors and leaders. We need you to volunteer to be the liaison between your church and The CALL. It’s a simple job that opens the doors for us to come in and reach potential foster parents. (This person serves in support of The CALL)
FOSTER FAMILY SUPPORT SYSTEM (FFSS) – These married couples and singles are qualified to care for children in foster care for up to 72 hours in their home. Often times they support a foster family in their church. While you may be able to drop your biological children off at Grandma and Grandpa’s, children in care must be in a DCFS approved home. That means many families need the support of others so they can enjoy date night, take care of an emergency, or just get a much-needed break. (These volunteers serve in support of DCFS)
TRANSPORTER – The Division of Children and Family Services is in need of volunteers who can transport children in foster care. Basically, you let them know when you are available and you drive kids to their dr.’s appointments, family visits, or wherever DCFS needs them to go. It requires filling out a transporter packet that includes a background check. The packets are available through The CALL. (These volunteers serve in support of DCFS)
MENTOR – So many of the children who come into care age-out without every being adopted into a “forever family”. These young adults are essentially out on their own when they turn 18 with some supervision and assistance from DCFS. However, there are many things they may not have learned to do. Mentoring a young adult means that you not only help them learn to handle their money, you also invite them to church with you, visit their home and invite them to yours. You build a relationship with them. (These volunteers serve in support of DCFS)
FUNDRAISER – Until now, The CALL has been able to operate on a relatively shoe-string budget. While we continue to be as conservative as possible, we have added a part-time paid staff member. It is imperative that we have operating funds to continue recruiting, training, and supporting foster families. We are looking for a volunteer with either a background in fundraising or who is good with money and passionate about caring for children in foster care. This person will lead a team of volunteers to create a plan for the year and implement it. (This person/team serves in support of The CALL)
SOCIAL WORKERS (MSW OR LCSW) Could you donate your time to conduct one or more home studies per month for CALL families? This is a crucial way to help families become certified more quickly so they can be ready to take in children. (This person serves in support of The CALL)
Questions? We thought so! Learn more by calling our county coordinator, Jared Broyles at (479) 274-9505 or emailing us at sebastiancounty@thecallinarkansas.org or crawfordcounty@thecallinarkansas.org
I don’t know a whole lot about kids; I don’t have any of my own. I know about as much as any single, 30-year-old man does which is not a lot. Everything I know about children I’ve learned from working with them at church. I’ve spent many Sundays with 2, 3, and 4-year-olds. I’ve come to the conclusion that kids are pretty cool little creatures. And as we all know, they say the darndest things.
Not long ago, I was by myself in the 2’s. Usually the kids are pretty good about playing on their own, and I can give one-on-one time. But that morning, everybody needed something from me. I was sitting at the table trying to help one kid with a puzzle and talking to somebody else. I thought I heard little Elizabeth say something to me, but I asked her to repeat it. She looked at me with her adorable face and said, ‘You be the queen, I’ll be the princess.’ I had to try really hard not to laugh, and I just said, ‘Okay.’
Throughout the Bible we see God’s great love for children. Time and again we read that we are to care for the orphans and widows. In Deuteronomy and Psalms He executes justice on their behalf. In Psalm 68 David sings that God is the father of the fatherless, the protector of widows. He proclaims that God sets the lonely in families. Isaiah insists that it is our responsibility to ensure justice for orphans and to plead the widow’s cause. Proverbs 31 declares that we are to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. James says that real religion is lived by those who look after orphans and widows. Do you see the common theme? The repetition must mean something; perhaps that we are to pay attention.
When the disciples came to Jesus to ask who is the greatest in Heaven, Christ called a little child over and had him stand among them. He told them that anyone who welcomes a little child in His name…welcomes Him. Have you ever asked yourself how you would treat someone if you were talking to Jesus? Here He says you are. When we respond to a child, we are responding to Christ. He goes on in Matthew 18 to warn them that anyone who causes a child who believes in Him to sin will wish they had been drowned in the sea. That tells me we have a responsibility to teach our kids about Christ.
In Arkansas there are more than 4,100 children in foster care. Sadly, there are fewer than 1,000 families to care for them. Nearly 520 of those kids have had their parental rights terminat--meaning they will not ever be going home. Now, they are left to hope that someone will adopt them. As they age that hope begins to fade. Most people want the cute, innocent babies, not an older kid with behavioral problems from their previous life and years in the state’s system. Other children have physical or developmental disabilities that many people don’t want to take on. Then, there are siblings who are desperate to stay together, and that makes it more difficult to find them a home.
There is much more to the problem. Recent numbers show that Arkansas has the highest number of hungry children of any state. Many of these kids don’t know where their next meal will come from. One social worker told me that she’s had kids who will eat until they are sick when they are first placed in foster care. They are afraid that there won’t be anything left later. Many of them are hoarders. They will hide food in their clothes at the table so they can stash it somewhere safe.
Ironically, Arkansas also has the highest number of obese people in the union. Clearly, most of us are not doing without. How much food do you throw away each day? We have plenty and yet are failing to give it away. I think we will answer for that one day.
Worldwide more than 5 million children die of hunger-related causes each year according to World Vision. That’s a child every seven seconds. Add to that the fact that 145 million children are malnourished. The number of global orphans is more difficult to define. Many children live on the streets and go unaccounted for. Others come and go from the orphanages. Some countries simply don’t have a system to record the numbers. What we do know is that is in the millions. Estimates range anywhere from 143 to 210 million. While those numbers aren’t even close, we do know this: while the need is great, our God is greater. Those numbers may seem overwhelming and it’s tempting to do nothing. So focus on this: ONE child is waiting for you to do SOMETHING.
What will happen when we begin to see people with the eyes’ of Christ? He doesn’t see them as less than Himself. He simply sees the need. A friend of mine once told me, if you see a need and can meet it, then you are supposed to because someone else may not. We must stop turning a blind eye to the blind. We must stop pretending that we are deaf and do not hear. The need is here. It is impossible to ignore, yet somehow we manage to clear our conscience of conviction.
The word religion is used less than a half dozen times in the entire New Testament. Its translation is the outward practice of serving a god. In James 1:27 it is used to mean worship. 27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. Caring for those in need is considered worship. Here we learn that pure religion is practicing God’s word. Later, in Chapter two James declares that a man’s faith is useless without works. We can’t just SPEAK the love of Christ…we must SERVE others. We have to do something.
14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
In Matthew 25 we find God readying Himself to judge the Gentiles who have lived through the tribulation. He separates them as sheep from goats according to how they treated the brethren: the Jews.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
One of the things I love most about this section of Scripture is the response from the righteous. It’s as though they have no idea what He’s talking about. They did what they did because they loved Him. It was a natural, spontaneous response to the needs that they could see. They loved Christ, and therefore they loved people. Their acts of kindness were not out of guilt; nor were they forced. The comparison that the King makes is astounding! “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me…” Jesus is saying, they are Me! That’s pretty powerful.
The question to me is who are the least of these today? I can’t help but believe that they are the children of Arkansas…the children of the United States…the children of the world. They are the ones too weak to defend themselves. Justice must be won on their behalf. They must have someone to speak for them for their voice alone is not enough. We must feed and clothe them; we must take them into our homes as our own.
I well remember standing in the gallery of the Arkansas House of Representatives as Governor Mike Beebe gave his state of the state address last year. The governor told legislators that he wanted to see additional funding for the Department of Children and family services, and then he denounced the voters’ decision to prevent unwed foster parents from living together. Many have called it the gay adoption ban. I remember being offended by what he had to say, yet that was quickly replaced by conviction. Here is the challenge that Governor Beebe issued to the people of our state:
“I was disappointed when voters passed an initiated act last November limiting the number of Arkansans who may qualify to become foster and adoptive parents. Before Act 1, we already had three times more foster children than we had qualified homes available. Now our ability to place these children is further impeded. It is imperative for those who supported shrinking the pool of potential foster parents to realize that the number of young and vulnerable Arkansans needing foster care will only continue to grow, and action must now follow their words. More than ever, we need Arkansas families to open their hearts and their homes to give these children the chance to grow up in safety and security, with devoted families who can raise them with care and compassion.”
I was stunned. What I realized is that he was right. If we as Christians are going to prevent others from caring for these children, then we must step up and do it. It is our responsibility as the church. We cannot tell others that they cannot provide for these kids, yet fail to do so ourselves.
Showing up to church is no longer enough. It never was. Christ charged us in the Great Commission to go into the world and make disciples of all nations…not to come and simply sit in the safe, comfortable walls of the church. What better way for us to share the love of Christ than to first meet people’s physical needs? Time after time we see Jesus tending to the hurting which then led to belief. What better opportunity for us to share the gospel than by caring for children who have been abandoned? Not only are we showing them the love of Christ, the world is seeing our witness.
These children need to be fed, clothed, and have a place to call home. They need moms and dads who will love them and teach them about Jesus. We can start right here at home. Some of you have the love, time, and financial resources to adopt. Many people already have children and choose to add to their family. Some have already raised their kids. The thing is, you don’t have to start over with those 2 AM feedings. There are many teens who are waiting. Hundreds “age out” of foster care each year without permanent parents. Maybe, you can’t commit to adoption but you still feel called to minister to these kids. As I’ve said, there are fewer than a thousand foster parents for more than four thousand children in the state. You get to choose what child or children are placed in your home. You have the say in their age, challenges, and gender. Financially, the state pays foster parents a stipend each month for the children’s care. They also pay day care costs. Money should not keep you from opening up your home if that is what God is calling you to do.
International adoption is also another option. Steven Curtis Chapman may best be known as a pioneer in contemporary Christian music. But he and his wife Mary Beth have become adoption advocates. The have now adopted three little girls from China and formed a non-profit called Shaohannah’s Hope to help other families. As you may know, China has a strict one child per family policy. Many want a boy to carry on the family name and little girls are discarded like trash. The continent of Asia has the greatest number of orphans. Africa’s aids crisis has left many children to fend for themselves.
Backpacks For Kids is a phenomenal program for hungry children here in our area. Many children rely on the two meals they get at school. Those may be the only times they know they will eat. Unfortunately, that only covers five days of the week. The program provides the kids with food for the weekend. Every Friday, teachers make sure the kids’ bags are packed.
One story goes that a counselor had finished her usual Friday distribution when she realized she had one bag left over. The woman thought back through all of the backpack kids and was certain that all of them had been at school that day. Then she realized it was Amy who was missing. She thought maybe the girl had gone home sick and she just didn’t know it. On her way to her car she heard a child crying. It was Amy. When she asked what was wrong Amy told her that she had forgotten her backpack that day and didn’t have anything for her to put the food in for the weekend. The little girl thought she was going to have to do without. The counselor took her by the hand and found her a loaner backpack.
Other organizations like World Vision and Compassion International are feeding children on a global scale. Sponsoring a child through them provides food, clothing, and education. They are able to do what we cannot. Not only do they meet the children’s physical needs, they also teach them about Jesus. How amazing is that we can love kids from a world away?
Our initial reaction is to write a check. Here in America we like to throw money at the problem. It keeps us from having to get dirty. It requires very little from us. For some of you, that is all you can do, and it may be a financial sacrifice. For others, maybe that is all that is asked of you. Yet, I think for the majority of us God requires much more. We need to get to work.
If this blog sounds like my own personal agenda, it probably is. But I also believe that it is God's. Caring for orphans and widows is not a calling; it is a command. Whether we are able to adopt a child, serve as foster parents, sponsor a child through a Christian organization, give to local charities, or volunteer, we need to respond now. Find your place. Remember, if you see a need and you can meet it, then you are called to do it. Don’t wait.
These children have seen the worst that humanity has to offer. You and I have the best that God can give. It is not our responsibility to save the world. Christ has already done that. However, we are commanded to care for the least of these.
She was only 12, but her tired eyes gave away the years of abuse she had suffered as a child prostitute in an Indian slum. Her name was Bandhura, which means pretty in her language. Despite the obvious scars on her face and the deep bruising where she had been struck repeatedly by her master and the men who used her, she was still a beautiful little girl.
I first spotted her as I walked down the dirt, trash-filled alley. She was caged, literally like an animal, her head bowed low as though she were unable to look at the next man who was going to use her for his own personal pleasure. Anger rose inside me at the blatant injustice; how much pain had this little girl endured? What had she possibly done at such a young age to deserve this? But greater still, I knew the love that my God, her God had for her. I knew the love I felt for her and a holy anger burned inside. I could not walk away. I would not walk away; not without her.
I boldly approached the man who I assumed was her owner. He looked eager to meet the perverse needs of an American tourist; and clearly saw an opportunity. My eyes must have flashed the anger that was seething inside of me. I asked him sharply, 'How much for her?' He quoted an amount in Rupees, and I knew he didn't understand. "No. I am going to buy her from you," I said. "I want to redeem her. Name your price." He replied, "I make my living off of this trash; and not much at that. She's not for sale."
I knew love would not let me leave. I had to take her with me. I had to set her free. This was not what she was created for. This was not the end of the story. "You don't understand," I said. "There is no cost too great; even if it is my own life." The man looked almost as if he was afraid. I could see the questions forming in his head. Yet, he quickly managed to muster a response. "What if you traded yourself for her? You come to work for me. I can hire you out for manual labor." "If that's the price I will gladly pay it," I said without hesitation. He stood amazed. The man clearly thought I was crazy.
"You can have her for one thousand American dollars," he finally managed to mutter. "You will have the money in the morning," I said. "But right now, she's coming with me." One look at her face, and I knew that grace was what I would give; undeserving, unmerited freedom to a little girl I didn't even know. She had done nothing to earn it. I owed her nothing. Yet, I loved her. Grace was a gift that I wanted her to have so desperately.
If you have yet to see, you and I are Bandhura and God our Redeemer. It was grace that caused Him to take our place. No price was too great. Satan tried to steal Him away with temptation. Yet, His great love for us would not let Him leave. This is His story; it is our story: the history of grace.
For more information on how you can be a part of helping end the horror of human trafficking please visit http://www.thehomefoundation.net/. It is a non-profit organization founded by Christian music artist Natalie Grant. Women and children around the world are being sold as sex slaves. Give the gift of grace.
There is no doubt that the greatest act of God's might occurred because of the cross. His death was the perfect sacrifice. Our sins were forgiven, yet the deal would not be sealed unless He was raised from the dead. Thanks be to God that on the third day He rose from the grave! I see such parallels between the Israelites and us. We too were living in bondage. Humanity had lived so long as slaves to sin. We were crying out to be free. God heard us, and just as He sent Moses to the Israelites, this time He sent His Son Jesus for us.
Most of the time we hold our heads high, defiant of the Enemy. But there are those rare times when, I don't know about you, but for me I wonder why Jesus ever saved me. What was the point of the cross if I don't get to always walk in victory? Sometimes my sin seems safer, easier, and offers security. Even though I was miserable, I at least knew what to expect. I begin to doubt the God who saved me. Where is He? When the whole time His master plan is that He get the glory. Remember what Paul writes? That His power is made perfect in our weakness. It's not all about you. It's not all about me.
Like those in the Exodus, we often fail to see beyond our own need. Yet, just as God did in ancient Egypt, He will get the glory in the end. His Son will be crowned with it. From Genesis to Revelation we see the greatness of God.
The fear that God caused in the hearts of the Egyptians and in the eyes of the Israelites was so they would know His name. The whole point of his mighty show of power displayed was so that they would give Him glory. That they would recognize that this is His story. God intended for His miracles and signs to be seen by the world with the intent that they would worship Him. The question may come up, 'Was God showing off?' and the answer is YES! God is not trying to impress man; He has no need for that. What we do or believe does not change who He is. But He is trying to impress upon us that He is mighty and because of that we are to fear and revere Him. We are to bring Him glory!
Fear and pride keep us from recognizing God's might. Fear says we can't do it; pride is confidence that we can. But both arise when we try to do it on our own.
So, what do we do with this truth that God is mighty? We do what Moses commanded the people of Israel to do. There are times in our lives when are simply supposed to stand still, not be afraid, and watch what the Lord is going to do. But as God commanded them, we keep moving! You gotta love the irony. Be still and move. Don't allow yourself to be paralyzed. And once God gets the glory, we respond just like the Israelites...with worship. They sang a victory song. They called him their strength, their song, and their salvation. They called Him a warrior.
I have to ask you. Is God getting the glory for the victories in your life? Or are you walking out with your head held high and defiant like the Israelites? God is mighty; He will get the glory. So, why not willingly give it to Him?
