Are You Blessed?

Matthew 5, 6, & 7.  This is a scripture passage I have been contemplating and meditating on, for several months now.  It's one of those scriptures that keeps coming up in Bible studies, on the radio, is shared in conversations and then, randomly, His Spirit brings it to mind.  And Matthew is also this year's focus for Bible Study Fellowship. 

This portion of the Bible is most notably known as Christ's Sermon on the Mount.  The first 12 verses of chapter 5 are referred to as the Beatitudes.  

Jesus said:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

I wanted a deeper understanding of the word beatitude/blessed, so I did some research.  The limitations of the English language will not allow for an accurate translation of the Greek word makarios or 'blessed' which means so much more than our English fortunate or happy.  Makarios has a much deeper meaning and one that is related to the condition of the soul and not based on our outward circumstances or conditions.  It is more deeply related to an inner joy and peace that only comes from a right relationship to God. 

I wonder, today, when we use the word "blessed" or "blessings" when speaking or writing to others, do we fully intend the deeper meaning or are we thinking more superficially and thinking more about physical blessings?

Apparently, the attitudes and actions Jesus describes as blessed or makarios (poor in spirit, mourn, meek, hunger and thirst for righteousness), are some, if not all, what we as God's children should be experiencing and emulating, especially if we want to experience the benefit of the blessings each brings.  Jesus does not mention asking for any of these things to be removed from our lives, which could be causing these attitudes and actions.  Nor does He promise He will remove them, but rather states when we experience them...we ARE blessed and exactly how we ARE blessed or makarios by each one.  Let me list for us the benefits/blessings/makarios Jesus mentions:

Yours is the Kingdom of Heaven

You will be comforted

You will inherit the earth

You will be filled

You will be shown mercy

You will see God

You will be called children of God

Yours is the Kingdom of Heaven

The above is how Jesus defines makarios, blessed!

I purposefully left the last one, verses 11 & 12, off the list above.  “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Once again, our Lord's perspective on markarios of the Christian's life seems to be in direct opposition to what most of us think it should be.  People insulting us and then saying all kinds of evil against us BECAUSE OF HIM, we should rejoice and be glad? 

He did not say we should feel offended.  He did not say we should become indignant.  He did not say we should demand our rights.  He did not say He would come to our aid and remove the evil and injustice being done to us.  He also did not say we should become prideful because of any of these things. 

What DID He say? 

"REJOICE AND BE GLAD!  BECAUSE YOU ARE MARKARIOS!" 

So You Want to Adopt a Deaf Child, Part 8...

What is BEST for the Deaf Child and Beyond?

The blogpost below was originally shared in September of 2013 under the title, "What is BEST for the Deaf Child?".  I have decided to include it, in its updated form, to become Part 8 in the series, "So You Want to Adopt a Deaf Child?"
In an effort to inform and equip adoption agencies, especially faith-based ones, as they seek to provide the best possible family environment for the raising of deaf children and to expand their understanding of the Biblical Worldview concerning the Deaf Peoples around the world, I have decided to write this post. 

 

Having numerous dDeaf family members (d meaning a form of deafness and D meaning a member of the Deaf Community) I often thought my husband, Charles, and I would end up giving birth to and being given the responsibility of raising a deaf child.  However, Rachel and Joseph are both hearing and we never had to face that all-encompassing question, "What is best for our deaf child?"   
 

Thirteen years ago when God led me to return to school in the fall of 2000 at the age of 41--2 yr. Interpreter Training Program degree and then 4-yr. degree in ASL Studies,--the answer to the question, "What is best for the deaf child?" became a personal quest of mine. At that time, I did not understand why I was so obsessed with wanting to know the answer to that question, but I do now, at least in part. 

I researched and researched and researched some more...I still do.  I talked to numerous educational interpreters, they are on the front lines and see what deaf children are faced with day in and day out...I still do.  I have also listened to many dDeaf people share their stories of frustration and pain with hearing family members who never learned sign language...and I still do.   And I listen to the stories of those who experience deafness, but do not know sign language or were not exposed to it until much later in life and do not feel accepted by hearing people or by Deaf people, to this day.  They do not really "fit" anywhere! 
 

Sometimes, I feel embarrassed to admit that it took me several years to come to my conclusion. However, that uncertainty forced me to develop a strong and sure foundation for why I can boldly say, today, without reservation or hesitation, that providing the deaf child a sign language rich environment, as their strong foundation, is by far...BEST!

In addition, over the past 14 years, I have become heavily involved with the Deaf Community.  I have learned they are among one of the top three unreached people groups locally and around the world.  An unreached people group is an ethnic or ethnolinguistic people in which less than 2% of their population know of and follow Christ.

 
Often, Deaf people remind me of this story in the Old Testament, Exodus chapters 3 & 4, where the LORD (Yahweh) is speaking to Moses from the burning bush and Moses is making excuses as to why he should not be the one to do what God has called him to do.

"Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue. The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? (Exodus 4:11, NASB)

Many Deaf people who do follow Christ, believe it is no accident God has allowed them to be deaf and that He clearly has a plan for each of their lives within their deafness.

This additional knowledge has led me to see more clearly, another reason, possibly even a stronger and more important one for granting the deaf child the right to be allowed to learn ASL and that is for the purpose of impacting those who are dDeaf with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We know, from much research, the ability to share the hope of Christ by others within their own people group is much more successful than when those from outside their group try to do the same.  If ASL-fluent and Deaf Culture-immersed families adopt deaf children and then provide them with a sign language rich environment there will be many more opportunities for God to lead some of those children to share their beliefs with other Deaf people as they become adults.   I already know stories of adopted deaf children who feel called to return to their home lands to share the gospel with the Deaf people there.  Their sign language fluent hearing adoptive family members will also have influence on the Deaf Community and vice versa.  However, if families never give their deaf children the opportunity to learn sign language or interact with other Deaf people, the possibility of them ever influencing the lives of Deaf people for Christ is minimal to none, at best. 

Maybe more of us hearing people should follow Paul's example, learn sign language and become immersed in the Deaf Community:

"Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." ~1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Some challenging questions for us to ponder:

For the sake of the gospel, should Christian hearing parents of deaf children learn ASL?  To date, in the US, 90+% of hearing biological parents never learn to sign with their deaf children. 

For the sake of the gospel, should Christian adoptive parents provide a sign-language rich environment for their deaf children? 

And, finally, should any and all hearing people learn ASL and be immersed in Deaf Culture, to possibly 'win the Deaf' and some how 'save some'?

Before I am misunderstood, let me go ahead and say clearly, I believe the BEST for the deaf child is knowing and embracing both ASL and English, as best they can. In addition, I also believe they should be given every opportunity to embrace both the hearing and Deaf cultures, as well. 

Ideally, I also believe it is also BEST for all hearing people and all dDeaf people to do the same. 

God has purposefully given us family members who experience deafness.  This is no accident nor is it only a result of the fall of mankind or sin which we should simply accept as a part of this life.  Why else would He continue allowing 95+% of deaf children to be born to and/or raised by hearing parents?  And why else would He be allowing as many as 70% of our aging population of hearing family members experience debilitating deafness in their final years? 

We are long overdue for asking God, specifically, what His will is concerning the dDeaf in our midst.  Over the years, we, hearing and Deaf people alike, have constantly been separating these two groups of people, but God is constantly trying to ensure that the vast majority of deaf people (old and young) always have hearing family members.  The family is a part of God's design from the very beginning.  When will we stop separting what God Himself has put together?  What are we missing when we separate ourselves from each other?

If you are an agency or a family not focused on adoption being, solely, His work and ultimately to spread His gospel, I urge you to do some soul searching and ask God to reaffirm to you why it is you are involved with adoption and more specifically the adoption of children who experience deafness.

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Persecution! Should We Be Outraged? Or...Should We Shout Praises To God?

The outrage--righteous indignation--some Christians voice against the persecution of those who faithfully follow Jesus, appears to be an accurate response, from our human perspective.  But, have you ever pondered God's perspective on Christ-followers who are persecuted or even martyred for their faith?

I did some research on the word, martyr.  In the original Greek the word was martus and it means "witness" or "one who saw".  It was later, when the word witness or martus became synonymous with our word "martyr".  Today, Webster defines the word martyr as "a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion." I suspect the persecution and murder of numerous Christ-followers and other religious fanatics helped to shape the now meaning of our word, martyr. 

In New Testament times, when someone became a follower of Jesus Christ they KNEW they would be persecuted for their faith and the possibility they would be forced to choose between life and death was very real.  Jesus Christ, Himself, was the first martyr, in the New Testament.  Stephen followed close behind.  Persecution was a part of the everyday Christian life, back then!  When you made the decision to follow Jesus you accepted the fact you would suffer for it, it was the norm, not the exception.

John 15:8 - If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated me first."

Matthew 5:11-12 - "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Matthew 5:43-45 - “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

Wow!  According to Jesus, we are to expect to be persecuted, we are blessed because of it, and we are to pray for our persecutors.  He does not teach us to pray against persecution nor does He teach us to try to prevent it.  Is this an oxymoron from what we thought should be a right response to persecution?


As I look back, when I was saved or became a follower of Christ, thirty-nine years ago-- March of 1974 to be exact --the thought never occurred to me that I could be put to death or martyred for placing my faith in what Jesus had done for me by dying on the cross.  At that time, in America, it was popular to become a Christ-follower, during The Jesus Movement, and many willingly surrendered to His call during that time. 

When Rachel was old enough, two or three years old (she is now 28), Charles and I began to have devotions and prayer with her every night before bed. A few years later, when Joseph was about one, he joined us.  We tried to keep them, age-appropriate for topic and time.  In the beginning, it was not easy and they were easily distracted and did not always pay full attention, but we persevered and often had some great times of sharing and praying together, just before bedtime.

We would also pray nightly for missionaries on their birthday. We had an inflatable globe that Rachel and Joseph would take turns locating the country where each missionary was serving.  Oddly enough, it was during that time when the FMB (Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and since 1997 the International Mission Board or IMB) began assigning aliases to their missionaries who were serving in especially dangerous places, for their protection.  And the names of the countries where they were serving were no longer shared, as well. 

We used a variety of devotional books and resources through the years, but when the kids were older one of the most impacting resources we used for our family devotion times were the "Jesus Freaks" books, compiled by the Christian music group "dc Talk".  You can still purchase these books, today, and I carried one of them to Liberia with me, two years ago, to give to our 19-yr old, then Heart Adopted deaf son, Amara, a Muslim.

 

There were more than a few stories, of those who experienced a martyr's death, whose captor's and executioners became followers of Christ after watching their victims refuse to renounce the name of Christ...no matter what they were forced to endure. Were these brothers and sisters "super Christians" and not afraid of suffering?  Not necessarily, but through their fear and their pain they remained resolute to never recount the name of Christ.  So, their physical death, full of pain and suffering, meant eternal life for others. Sound familiar?  Often the stories of these martyrs were told by their captors who were so impacted by these believers, willing to die for their beloved Lord, they, in turn, became Christ-followers as did others they shared their new found faith with!  Persecution meant...the gospel spread!

There are numerous stories from the Bible and other historical writings of those who died because of their faith in Christ and relentless following of their Savior and their Lord.  Paul's list of persecutions and perils he experienced, during his earthly life and while imprisoned for the sake of Christ is extensive, and are recorded in 2 Corinthians 2:11.  For a list of what the other apostles, themselves, endured and how they died check these links:

http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-martyrdom.html

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09736b.htm

Do not be naive, however.  There are martyrs for many different religions, not just Christ-followers.  The Quran encourages those of the Islam faith to become martyrs in several different ways. In fact, martyrdom for Allah's cause grants entrance into Paradise.  

"On that day [the day of Stephen's stoning] a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria." Acts 8:1

Another event which forced believer's to scatter from Rome, in the AD 60's, was Nero's deliberate, burning of a significant amount of that great city.  Peter's two books are written specifically to those who had been scattered making it possible for the gospel to spread even further.  Read "Walk Through the Life of Peter:  Growing Bold Faith" for greater insight into this event, when "Christian-killing became an acceptable and popular indulgence."

As Christians, we must not form opinions about events in this world without applying the truth of scripture.  If we are careful to do so, our "Christian world view" will become vastly different from what we think is right...based on scripture and not based on our own opinions and this world.  "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."  2 Timothy 2:15

Oh, To Be Like...Joseph!

As I was listening to Chip Ingram this week, I was reminded that one of the most important things we can do, if not THE most important, as Christians, is to never be in a hurry.  We have been studying the book of Genesis this year in BSF (Bible Study Fellowship), and I have been struck time and time again by the actions of God's children who want to "help" God's plan along, by "hurrying", only to cause much greater harm than good, in the end. 

Oh, to be like Joseph! 
(Genesis 37-50)

There is no record of Joseph questioning God about anything that unjustly or unfairly happened to him.  As a young boy, God gave Joseph dreams where his brothers and family bowed to him, but the fulfillment of his dreams would not be experienced until he was in his 30's.  And it was not until Joseph experienced a life of humility and obedience that this came to pass.  I wonder, what if, Joseph had demanded that his brothers and family bow to him before God's perfect time was accomplished?  Suppose Joseph had "hurried" God's plan instead of waiting patiently for it to come to pass?  We will never know, since Joseph did neither and allowed God's perfect plan to unfold in His perfect timing.  
 

Joseph's brothers were planning to kill "the dreamer", but brother Reuben intervenes and, instead, they sell Joseph to a caravan of Ishmaelites on their way to Egypt.  Sold into slavery, by his brothers, at the age of 17, Joseph became a slave in Potiphar's house and then a prisoner, falsely accused, when "the LORD was with him and gave him success in whatever he did." We would say Joseph had every right to demand justice, but obviously God had other plans.

Could it be that God's greatest plans for our lives are IN the suffering or what is produced in and through us by the suffering?

I doubt many of us will experience slavery and imprisonment, in our lifetime, but slavery and prison could be equated with financial hardships, chronic health issues, dysfunctional families, 24/7 pain, job-related injustices, prodigal children, the "untimely" death of a child, mental illness, and the list goes on. 

Obviously, Joseph never took anything that happened to him, personally, and was an incredible witness for God in these places of disdain.  His goal was to benefit others, no matter their status in life.  Self was not his focus, but rather the lives of...others.

Let's just suppose a few things.  Let's suppose, Joseph was filled with "righteous indignation" for his brothers' hatred and unjust treatment of him.  Certainly, God had already revealed through his dreams they would bow to him, why not now? Let's suppose, Joseph began to doubt God's plan and he chose to embrace a "victim" mentality and became a complainer.  Let's suppose, Joseph, rightly, defended himself when Potiphar's wife accused him of trying to rape her.  Let's just suppose, Joseph was a whiner, while in prison, instead of one who tended the needs of the other prisoners.  Let's just suppose, Joseph took credit for his ability to interpret dreams.  What do you suppose would have been the outcome of all of the above...in relation to Joseph and in relation to those Joseph's life touched? 

Allow me to point out that the "success in whatever he did" was directly related to causing pagans, those who did not know/follow Joseph's God, to recognize the One True God!  The Pharaoh proclaimed, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in who is the spirit of God?"  Joseph was careful to give God alone the glory for the things he accomplished, including his interpretation of the Pharaoh's dreams.  Joseph appears to have no pride.  Some label Joseph a "tattler" and a "boaster", when he was young, but his actions in Egypt, as a slave and prisoner, were those of a wise and humble man and God blessed him for it.  Joseph not only surrendered to the WHATEVER God planned, but he embraced it fully.

As the story of Joseph unfolds, God orchestrates events, unjust as they may seem to us, so the Pharaoh ultimately puts Joseph in charge, second-in-command, over all of Egypt, "lord of his entire household and ruler of all of Egypt".  Joseph's resume' stated he had just been released from prison and he was a foreigner in the land.  But...God!  Only Pharaoh was to be considered above Joseph.  This is in the land of Egypt, not the land of Israel.  God continued to be with Joseph in this new position of Egyptian authority, as I am sure Joseph continued to point others to Him, in a way that was attractive and appealing with wisdom and discernment.

The climax of Joseph's story comes when his brothers come seeking food from him, during a time of severe famine.  The same brothers who plotted for his demise, those who hated Joseph were begging him for food so their family could survive.  This was the fulfillment of the dreams Joseph had as a young lad.  When they realized Joseph was their brother, whom they had sold into slavery so many years before, they were petrified.  Joseph explained, "Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.  So, it was not you who sent me here, but God."  

So, Joseph is completely assured that all that has happened to him was directly from God.

Wow!  Most of us would be in awe of this high-level of "forgiveness", but let me remind you, the scriptures never mention Joseph "forgave" his brothers.  Apparently, Joseph had no reason to forgive them, since he saw their actions as being part of God's divine plan, not actions against him.  Interesting, to say the least, huh?  Remember, our "battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." 
 

Oh, to have that level of "faith" and the ability to live above our circumstances, like Joseph.  Not to take anything that happens to us...personally.  But rather, recognizing it, all of it, as being from the hand of God and for a greater purpose than we can comprehend.  I know we want God to remain the "God of love" who, of course, would never want us to experience and suffer "bad things".  Sarcasm intended.  But He IS the "God of love" since He loves us too much not to allow us to experience those "bad things" He knows is necessary for our own good, our own spiritual growth.  God teaches us, clearly, through His Word, if we simply will believe and embrace it:  "We know ALL things work together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose"(Rom 8:28).  By the way, those things we tend to label "bad", in God's perspective are not bad.  We are the ones who "label" our circumstances as either good or bad.  God simply calls them "all things". God's greatest desire is for each of us to become like His Son, Jesus (Rom 8:29).  He knows just what each of us needs to provide the best possible circumstances to promote that kind of spiritual growth in us.

How is it that Christians grow in their faith and become like Christ? "...Though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:67).  God desires for us " to rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us" (Romans 5:3-5). Then James has the audacity to tell us, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."  And why should we do such a thing?  James continues,  "And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4). 

Suppose we looked at every situation as being "sent by God" with a greater purpose than our own self preservation?  Suppose we saw the world through the eyes of Joseph; all this happened to me "to save lives"?  How would we be different if we had this perspective?  What could lower our stress-levels more? How would our world look different, IF we had the same attitude as Joseph and never tried to manipulate something to happen sooner than God's perfect timing for it? 

So often, I have asked God to remove my circumstances when I should be praising Him for them.  He, alone, knows what is best for me and for my spiritual growth.  He, alone, knows the full scope of what my circumstances mean for others...possibly "to save lives."

The ultimate Joseph attitude?

Reassuring his brothers after their father died, Joseph said,

"What you meant for evil, God meant for good, to accomplish what is now being done the saving of many lives." 

 

"Why Not Me?"

Typically, Christians--and others--tend to ask the all-consuming question, "Why me?", when their circumstances become more difficult than what they think they should be.  We have been told, for years, it is perfectly fine to ask God, "Why me?".  Was there a time, in history, where asking God, "Why me?" was taboo?  I do not believe any question we might ask God is ever off-limits.  He already knows our thoughts so asking Him is no different from thinking it. 

You have searched me, Lord and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar. 

You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Psalm 139:1-6 

The words David chose to describe our LORD's relationship to him and to us--knows, perceives, discerns these things about us, you are familiar with all my ways--can be so reassuring and intimate.  On the other hand, for some, this might be unnerving if they are not living in a right relationship with their LORD.  But for me, this is comforting, as I realize that God knows all these things about me and yet...He still loves me!  That's unconditional love, 1 Corinthians 13 love, agape love! God is all-knowing and He not only knows our thoughts, our ways, our words, before we think, say or do them, but He knows--intimately--our frustrations, disappointments, and even our pain.

 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses,
but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy and
find grace to help us in our time of need. 
Hebrews 4:14-16

Honestly, in my opinion, "Why Me?" reveals a self-focused, self-absorbed, self-righteous attitude, or a victim mentality, if you will.  This is where the vast majority of us live, every day.  Some how we have been convinced that we have certain rights and we deserve a certain level of comfort and a life of ease.  Yes, our Declaration of Independence states we do have certain rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights are more focused on the physical.  This focus on our physical pleasure, robs us of our ability to live abundant lives, spiritually-rich, full lives, which God has promised.  God's view of our rights tend to be more spiritually focused and based, instead of physically and/or temporal. But do not be deceived, the spiritual influences the physical, as well.

Abundant life, right now; we don't have to wait until we get to Heaven.  Abundant life, in the midst of the difficult circumstances. Abundant life, full and overflowing, in the midst of pain and suffering.  Hard to grasp...huh?

 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:10

It is not an accident that God chose to contrast the "thief", Satan, and what he does, with Himself and what He does.  Steal, kill, destroy vs. life, more abundantly!  Again, this abundant life, is for the here and now...not just the sweet by-and-by.

 What does God really say about our rights...to a life of comfort and ease?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20a
You should know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit who is in you. You have received the Holy Spirit from God. So you do not belong to yourselves, because you were bought by God for a price.

Luke 9:24
^"Those who want to save their lives will give up true life. But those who give up their lives for me will have true life."

Matthew 5:11 
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me."

He tells us on multiple occasions, we will suffer in this life.  Why, then, are we so quick to demand "our rights" to a life of ease, as a believer?

^{I want to change my mindset from one of a victim to one of a victor!} 

"Why Not Me?" reveals a life that recognizes this is no longer my life, but it is His...24/7/365 or 366! It is completely surrendered to my LORD...even when it hurts.  This attitude is an empowering attitude and grants the believer the ability to bask in the knowledge that our God loves us, and that His love for us will not take us where His strength cannot keep us.  

The Bible is vividly clear on this teaching, so why do we so often allow the Enemy to deceive us into thinking the exact opposite?   

This was the same strategy Satan used in the garden of Eden with Eve and it is the same strategy he uses on you and me, today, IF we let him.

 
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”  The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”  “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  Genesis 3:1-4

First comes the Deceiver's strategy...and God tells us straight out,"he is more crafty than any of the wild animals"...to plant doubt about what God really said (Genesis 2:6,7). "Did God really say?" Then Satan misquotes what God said by including all the trees in the garden as being off limits for food.  This caused Eve to add to what she knew God had said, originally, "you must not touch it".  God never told them 'not to touch' the tree, only not to eat of it.  Satan's response, "You will not certainly die" to Eve's addition planted another seed of doubt in Eve's mind and gave him the foothold he needed for the planting of the victim-seed; the only reason God told you this is to prevent you from being like Him, knowing good and evil.  God is withholding this knowledge from you, which is your right to know.  You are...a victim!

A 'Why not me?' mindset grants the believer a different perspective on their current circumstances.  Instead of feeling like God is against them or Satan is working overtime, it gives a freedom to develop God's perspective on their circumstances.  When we can grasp that all of life's circumstances are truly His grace, then we view our circumstances as opportunities to draw closer to our Heavenly Father, trusting Him more and more.  This is part of the process whereby we are growing into His likeness. 

Jesus never succumbed to a victim mentality.  Oh, He struggled with the temporal physical (death on the cross) and the emotional (separation from God when He became sin for us) sufferings of His life, but He never demanded His rights and He certainly could have, especially, since He was and is equal with God. 

However, if we do not know the promises God has made us, we cannot quote them back to Satan accurately when he tries to plant those seeds of doubt.  You can be assured he will do his best to secure a stronghold in our lives by causing doubts and by trying to make us believe we are a victim and not a victor.   By 'renewing our minds', as Paul exhorts us to do in Romans 12:2, we can develop a mindset that is the same as Christ's himself.  

Asking "Why not me?", when life's circumstances become challenging, will help us be ready to receive all God has planned for us, even in the hard times. 

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.
On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments 

and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,
and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.  2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

 

How It All Started!

I am republishing this post from New Year's Eve 2011, "How It All Started", new name since the original one is no longer accepted by Blogger, go figure, in anticipation of the 5-year anniversary of God's call on March 18, 2008.  This was the original blog post and I am sure you wish all my blog posts were this short-and-sweet!  

Well, as you can see I am a terrible blogger. I could promise that 2012 will be different...but since my life continues to be so full without blogging, I doubt that promise would have much impact on my changing my ways in the new year. As many people have told me over the past three years, "You should be writing all of this down!", I have wondered if blogging could become my journal of sorts for some of the things God has been teaching me on this new adventure He has called me to. Sometimes I call this new adventure a roller coaster ride where I find myself hanging on for dear life.

I have never journal-ed, so it would certainly be a challenge for me to begin now (at almost 53 years of age) and no doubt a challenge for your eyes and mind, should you decide to follow my blog posts. But since I find myself alone in the pre-dawn at my mother-in-laws on this last day of 2011, I will at least post a final blog for this eventful year.  

I think for this post I will take you back prior to March 18, 2008. The four year anniversary of that life-changing moment will be here soon. That is the day God broke into my world and said to me, "I want you to coordinate the adoption of deaf orphans in the world." Nothing has caused me more shock than His words created that morning. Shock that I heard His voice and shock of what He was telling me to do. I was driving to class at Gardner-Webb University (GWU) in Boiling Springs, NC that morning, just as I had done for the past 5+ years. I had been making that trek from Asheville to the GWU campus since the fall of 2003. It is a 70 mile trip...one way.

Following the Lord's leading, I returned to college at the age of 41 in the fall of 2000. My husband, Charles, was in full support (emotionally and financially) of me doing so. Since our youngest, Joseph, was still in middle school, I chose not to be a full-time student, which meant my two year associate's degree in American Sign Language Interpreting became a three year degree. I do not want to mislead you, I was not one of His "instantly" obedient children in this...returning to college. I had refused to follow His nudging me to go back to school for two years stating that I was too busy doing what He had already asked me to do. Don't misunderstand me, I was fully following the Lord on a day-to-day basis; asking Him to lead me each day, to work through me, to be honored by my life. And I was exactly where I believe He had placed me...wife, mom, Bible Study Fellowship discussion leader, Asheville Christian Academy (ACA) Land Search Committee member , Mission's Committee member at my church, etc. You get the idea. Anyway--after two years, amazingly, two of the most time consuming duties came to an end. God did not remove them, mind you, but in the spring of 2000 I completed the 7-year BSF program and ACA purchased land. In late fall of 1999, through my BSF study questions, God made it evident...one more time...that He wanted me to go back to school and become a "certified" interpreter. Little did I know what that really meant or what it would lead to next.

Well, as the sun comes up this morning this household is waking up to New Year's Eve. Only God knows the plans He has for each of us in the year 2012. We will see when I get back to this continuing saga....so stay tuned!This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile." Jeremiah 29:10-13

Adoption & Orphan Care! It Is Not One or The Other, But Both!

"Coordinate the adoption of deaf orphans in the world!"  What DID He mean?

Part 2 of...

After God called me to "coordinate the adoption of deaf orphans in the world", in March 2008, He made sure I was exposed to the larger world of orphan care and not just adoption.  It is much harder to miss the atrocities of abuse, violence, oppression, and exploitation that takes place in the orphan crisis arena, then it is in the adoption arena.  However, the similarities are all too often similar.

Signs for Hope board members, the Penlands, adopt 2 deaf children from China!
November 2012

In a very short time, 4 years, I have watched the world of orphan care and adoption evolve. That evolution includes the "how", "what", "when", "where" and "why" of doing it.  Our doing has rarely matched what really is truly needed nor answered the greatest need of long-term life change and self-sufficiency...empowerment!

The most impressive orphan empowerment program, which I have seen with my own eyes, is the model God gave a Rwandan woman, named Epiphanie.  ZOE Ministry supports this model in multiple African countries and I am in awe of how this program is empowering thousands of orphans for self-sufficiency in under three years! Phenomenal!

Epiphanie with one of the many ZOE orphan groups in Rwanda!

Enabling those in poverty, by the Christian world, is one of the reasons I was so ready for the book, "When Helping Hurts", when Joseph recommended it to me Christmas break of 2009.  I was so disillusioned by how little life-change there was when someone "helped" another in need.  I watched this viscous cycle in the local community surrounding my church and in the local Deaf community, for years.  This was easy to see in multiple poverty-stricken countries around the world, as well.  Most often our helping does nothing more than make us feel good and perpetuate a mind-set of poverty and continued low or no self-worth.  A hand-out is rarely a hand-up! Trying to break that cycle is not easily defined and not a quick-fix, nor is it for the faint of heart.

This is one way God prepared me for recognizing that Signs for Hope was not only to be involved in the traditional adoption of deaf orphans, but some how helping care for and empowering the thousands of deaf orphans and children that will never be adopted or cared for by others.  The numbers of deaf orphans/children suffering greatly in this world are staggering and while SFH cannot help them all, we can begin helping one-by-one, starting with the deaf children/orphans in Liberia, West Africa.

God would not allow me to overlook this much larger population of deaf children in need, those that will never be adopted.  Signs for Hope calls this part of our ministry Heart Adoption (monthly sponsorship).  The monies are spread throughout ALL the children.  However the personal relationship you develop with your monthly sponsored, Heart Adopted, child through daily prayer and your sending small hand-carried packets a couple of times during the year is life-changing, for them and for you.

While most large monthly sponsorship organizations are focusing on children, still in a family, and mostly at risk of not being able to receive an ongoing formal education (or Christian education), the SFH Heart Adoption program is providing the basic needs of life; food (two meals per day), shelter, fuel for cooking, and funds for basic medical needs.  Sometimes funds from the Heart Adoption ministry also go to pay teacher stipends at the Deaf school.  But, for the most part, daily survival is still top priority in Liberia.  Email me for a list of over 25 deaf children who still need sponsors in Liberia.

Heart Adoption...somebody loves me!

At the Oscar & Viola Stewart School for the Deaf, located just outside the capital city of Monrovia, most of the deaf children have some family, but the communication gap added to the stigma of their not being able to speak (or hear) is too much for family members to overcome.  Deaf children are considered a punishment or curse by God and many are discarded as refuse or exploited for personal pleasure and/or gain.

Yes, there is some education, for these deaf children, mainly because developing African nations, as do all others, place education in such high priority.  I am learning more and more that orphans and more specifically deaf orphans/children are in much greater need of learning a trade or a skill than they are of spelling, history and English.  And their need for training in agriculture and basic business management is more vital, than say, Recitation.  Giving them language, sign/manual language, is paramount even before the above can be implemented.  Deaf children as old as 15 come to the Deaf school and still have no language, no way of communicating.  Try to imagine this...if you can.

While the above realizations are beneficial, trying to tailor them to the deaf children will be more challenging given the vast language barrier between them and the majority hearing world which most often exploits them for their own profit.  This barrier will not just magically go away, but it will be a life-long challenge. 

Deaf children are the least of the least, around the world.  Evil people can take disgraceful advantage of them without any fear their evil deeds will ever be told.  The percentage of abuse, of many kinds,  toward deaf children is far greater that that of hearing children, in America, and around the world.  I will expound on this in-justice in a future post.

While some orphan care organizations are helping implement, encourage, and educate indigenous foster families (within their own countries) to rise up and care for their own orphans or children that have been abandoned, around the world, the fact remains that rarely are there foster families willing to foster deaf children.  Again, the communication gap and stigma between hearing and deaf is much too great.  And many times the deaf children are never granted the opportunity to even learn a sign language and are forced to live lives of utter frustration trying desperately to communicate what is stuck inside.

Fact:  In America, today, it is estimated that only 10% of hearing parents learn to sign with their deaf children.  That is in the year 2013...here...in America.  Let that sink in for a moment.

What is the answer for all these deaf children who are precious in His sight?  I don't know, yet, but He does.

Raising awareness that deaf people are equal to their hearing peers, in developing countries, in their villages and their governments, is one place to start.  In fact, God is opening this door for Signs for Hope during our February 2013 Mission Trip to Liberia (February 12th - March 1st).  A team of hearing, Deaf, ASL signers and ASL interpreters will be sharing this truth, as well as, the gospel in sign during the ACFI (African Christians Fellowship International) annual conference. 

Over the past 4 years, God also made sure our son, Joseph, shared the ugly truths surrounding orphans and child-trafficking through recommending books, movies, and the like to help give me a more realistic perspective.  Slum Dog Millionaire (R), just happened to come out in 2008.  Joseph repeatedly told me I had to see it, even though he knew the initial impact it would have on me.  Blood Diamond was another movie Joseph said I should see, warning me of the horrific atrocities it portrayed. The book "Half the Sky", released in June 2009 was another.  These, and others, are how God is preparing me for His work, "Coordinating the adoption of Deaf orphans in the world!"

Shell Casings lining the streets during Liberia's civil wars!

While preparing for my trip to Liberia in 2010, I came across some "documentaries" about the civil wars in Liberia on Youtube.  These were filled with the mind-scarring atrocities and evil that took place in Liberia during their civil wars and after. Pictures and stories I will never forget, though I wish I could. Others recommended Kay Warren's book, "Dangerous Surrender" (thanks Beth Carr).  Reading her book was like reading about my own life as it was unfolding; God's opening my blinded eyes to see a hurting and suffering world of humanity all around me and wondering where do I fit in His plan for impacting these precious human souls God loves, had died for and now lives for.  

Maybe this will give you better insight into why this ministry, Signs for Hope, is not only involved in the adoption of deaf children into a loving family, but equally involved with the caring for deaf children who will probably never be adopted.  The word "adoption", for me and Signs for Hope, has grown to have multiple meanings:  1)  Traditional adoption of a deaf child into a family  2)  Heart adoption (monthly sponsorship) of a deaf child that will probably never be adopted traditionally 3) The most important adoption of all for each of us...His adoption into His, one and only, forever family. 

****Our Deaf pastor and his wife, Phillip and Elaine Easterling, as well as one of our ASL interpreters, Heather Farmer, are still raising their funds for the Liberia trip.  You can partner with them for this trip by clicking on the donate button on this blog.  If you prefer mailing a check, please make it to Signs for Hope and mail to PO Box 460, Fairview, NC  28730.  Your gifts are tax deductible.

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Once our eyes are opened we cannot pretend we don't know what to do. God who weighs our hearts, and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act.  Proverbs 24:12

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 
Romans 8:14-17

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 
Ephesians 1:4-6