America Voted...and the World Fell Apart

"If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone." - Romans 12:18

Disclaimer: This post is not supportive of any political candidate or my viewpoints on the election.  It is about the aftermath of Election Day.

On Tuesday, November 8, 2016, America voted....and then the world started falling apart.

I have refrained from sharing anything about the election on social media because I just really feel like it does more harm than good to post about my views/feelings concerning politics as so much can be taken out of context when you aren't talking face-to-face with someone.  Think about it.  How many things have you read on Facebook or Twitter and believed AND shared, just to later find out that it wasn't true or that you interpreted it the wrong way?  How many times have you read something that someone else wrote, and judged them based on what they said only later to find out that the way they formed their post didn't really or appropriately express the thoughts they truly had?  Give me a human being to talk to any day.

Admission: I am over it.  Over the negative posts about the candidates and about other people.  Over the name-calling of one another.  Over the bullying from both sides.  Over the hatred of someone believing differently than another.  It was old months ago during the election season and it most certainly is old now.  This isn't about Republicans or Democrats.  This isn't about particular candidates or supporters.  It's about everyone...all of it.

Ya'll it's bleeding into our children's lives.  In the past two nights since the election results, I have had to personally deal with kids bringing up to me the election and their fears and anger about it.  And honestly, it hasn't been just a certain race that's talked about it; it's actually been all races.  Some of them are on Facebook (yes, 13 year olds are still children).  Some of them hear it from their parents at home.  Some of them have television or internet access.  Children learn their behavior from adults and I can speak from personal experience, they certainly are watching.

I'm fairly certain that those of you who read my blog are followers of Christ.  I'm speaking to you.  A number of Christians have been just as yucky about political posts as non-Christians.  So take a minute to hear me out.

Jesus commands us to "love one another" (John 13:34) ... that includes people we don't like or have strong disagreements with (aka: enemies) (Matthew 5:44).  People are gonna disagree...we're all different, God made us that way.  Accept those differences; love them through those differences; show them the grace and mercy of Jesus.  And if you feel as though you need to speak truth, then speak it in love.  Ephesians 4:15 says, "But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head - Christ."  Let me just stop right here and say, a bunch of posts have not been very loving - instead they've been insulting and harsh; and again, I'm not speaking to one particular side...I'm talking to all sides.

No matter what the outcome on Tuesday night had been, God was in control.  And He still is...He really is.  He knew the outcome before the world even began.  It's not a cliche or a "Bible phrase."  It's truth.  Now it's up to us to carry this truth to the world.  We are the light in the dark world (Matthew 5:14).  We are to do unto others as we would want them to do unto us (Luke 6:31).  We are to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).  **side note: Jesus - the Savior of the World...the man who died on the cross for you - said all of those things.  Just FYI.

So friends, as you are posting on social media or encountering someone who has differing opinions than you do, remember these things.  Be gracious in your speech to one another (Colossians 4:6).  Encourage and build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  And love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31).  

Finally, I leave you with the words of Paul in Romans 12.  Here was a man who encountered a lot of differing opinions in his lifetime.  He had, in fact, been a man who believed differently in his earlier life - I mean he was so dead-set against Christians that He tried to kill them.  But after his conversion experience and after his experience of many hardships and people who didn't agree with him, he found a way to learn how to get along with others without being hateful.  I think Romans 12 is a glimpse into his mindset about that.  I hope you will take a few minutes to read, reflect, and apply to your own life.

God is in control, people.  Don't freak out. 

Romans 12 (HCSB)

A Living Sacrifice

1 Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.[fn] 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Many Gifts but One Body

3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. 4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. 6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts:

If prophecy,

use it according to the standard of one’s[fn] faith;

7 if service, in service;

if teaching, in teaching;

8 if exhorting, in exhortation;

giving, with generosity;

leading, with diligence;

showing mercy, with cheerfulness.

Christian Ethics

9 Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His[fn] wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay,says the Lord. 20 But

If your enemy is hungry, feed him.

If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

For in so doing

you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.

21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

Love Knows No Color

“I give you a new command: Love one another.
Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another” 

John 13:34

My heart hurt when I woke up this morning and saw the news about the tragedy in Dallas and how it was precipitated by other tragedies that had happened in other cities across the United States earlier in the week.  Jesus calls us to love one another – and that’s not just a specific race to another race – it’s everybody loving their fellow human enough to respect their feelings, and most especially, their life. 

Upon hearing this morning’s news, my mind immediately jumped to a conversation I had with one of the inner city children I worked with last Monday.  For those who are unaware, in January I became the childcare coordinator for a Christian ministry in downtown Nashville (in addition to my full-time job) where I am responsible for not only the kids, but the childcare volunteers and program schedule on the two nights we meet each week.  We keep the kids while their moms are learning and studying to pass their GED test so that they can get a good job and provide for their families.

Anyway…back to my conversation with this five year old little girl…

During Bible story time, she had a very pouty look on her face and so I pulled her out to the hall to find out what the problem was and how it could be fixed.  She wasn’t in trouble; I simply wanted to find out what had happened.  (I ended up finding out that one of the other workers had asked her to sit away from another child, so as not to disrupt story time; and she didn’t like that someone was telling her what to do.)  However, instead of explaining to me why she was pouty, she goes into a 20 minute speech, in which she was basically yelling, about black people and white people and how white people don’t like black people and vice versa.  Calmly, I explained to her that this was not the case – especially here at our ministry, but still she continued.  I explained the Bible and how Jesus calls us to love each other, but she brought up stories that involved beatings and violence. I assured her that no one in our group felt this way against anyone and that she could trust that we had hers (and the other children’s) best interests at heart, but she exclaimed that she didn’t believe me.  Ya’ll, she’s five years old.  Five.

It appalls me that a five year old knows and can articulate division and strife among race in her community.  It breaks my heart that she thinks yelling and hate are the responses to counteracting the division and strife she sees.  But honestly, if that’s all she sees, then that’s all she’s going to know.  Unfortunately, this is the case and not just with her, but with all of the children that I interact with at this ministry.  I pray daily that we childcare workers show these impressionable children how to counteract hate with love.  I pray that they are learning from us how to be civil and handle conflict calmly and not through violence and harsh words.

Sadly, though, it’s not just violent news stories where children see negativity.  It’s in their homes.  It’s in their schools.  It’s in their communities.  It’s in politics.  It’s even in the church.  How can I teach love, trust, patience, kindness, compassion, and so on when pretty much every other place these kids live, watch, play, or breathe are filled with hate or violence or dirty words or distrust or lying or countless other negative acts and feelings?

When asked by the Pharisees what was the greatest commandment that all people should follow, Jesus responded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).  Everything that Jesus said in Scripture is for sure important and noteworthy, but anything that Jesus COMMANDED in Scripture must be followed…has to be followed...and followed to the letter.  He spelled it out plain and simple - love your neighbor.  We know this command is important because Jesus mentions it, yet again, following His Last Supper, “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another” (John 13:34).  What better example of showing love to others than Jesus – the ultimate example of love.  

Loving your neighbor isn’t always going to be easy – they may have caused some serious distrust in your life. 

 Loving your neighbor isn’t going to be comfortable – you may have to step waaay outside your comfort zone. 

Loving your neighbor may cause you to have to give up something that’s been a part of you – a piece of your past that you need to let go. 

BUT it’s important.  

It’s necessary.  

It’s Christ’s command.  

Jesus never promised that this life would be easy.  When we became His followers, we said we were willing to deny everything – our legacy, our family, our lifestyle, and the list could go on and on – to take up our cross and follow Him – Matthew 16:24. 

It’s not about religion, it’s not about lifestyles, it’s not about race, it’s not about flags, and it’s not even about whether or not somebody’s got a tattoo … every.single.human.being.alive. is the “one another” Jesus was talking about.  If He meant for us to leave a particular group out, He would’ve said it…but He didn’t.  One another means everybody.  Loving them like Jesus doesn’t mean you agree with their thoughts and feelings; it means you are being the light of Christ in their lives…and that, my friends, is what our ultimate goal as Christians is in this life – to be His light and help turn the lost to the cross.

I want to end this heart-felt post with a positive conclusion to the conversation I referenced earlier between me and the rather vocal five year old.  About half an hour after her bizarre protest, the precious little girl apologized to me.  She told me she had made a bad choice to say those words and that black people and white people could be friends and get along with one another.  She said, “Even though I have different skin and you have different skin, God made both of us and we are all the same on the inside.”  You’re right, sweet girl, you are so right.  Love - most especially God's love - knows no color.  We are all the same on the inside and we can show friendship and civility to each other.  Now if we can get the rest of the world to realize that.

Love knows no color.  Neither should we.

Love Hurts

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. – 1 Corinthians 13:7

The title of this blog post may seem quite unusual considering today is Valentine’s Day.  We mainly celebrate this holiday by centering on happiness and lovey-dovey gifts and gestures.  However, there’s another side to love that I want to touch on…a side that seems hard to deal with on the surface, but actually says a lot about how we love.  In fact, the purpose behind this Valentine’s Day post is in connection with a statement my pastor, Mike Glenn, made last Sunday.  It is a statement that is a bit strange, yet is absolutely true.  He said, “Love hurts.  If you’re going to follow Christ and love a world that can’t [and I, Allison, want to add in here, might not] love you back, it’s going to hurt.” 

If love is going to get to a place where it can hurt, it’s because we have given so much of ourselves to that person/place/thing.  Although it sounds hypocritical to think about something hurting us as we approach Valentine’s Day, getting to a place where love hurts actually says a lot about our walk with Christ as it shows how we have poured our life into something or someone so much so that we are willing to open ourselves up to potential hurt that might happen.  Paul talked about this in 1 Corinthians 13:7 when he said that love “endures through every circumstance.”  Every circumstance most definitely includes hurt. Maybe someone you love disappointed you, maybe someone you cared deeply for passed away, maybe you lost a job that you poured your life into, maybe you were rejected for speaking the truth into a friend or loved one’s life – whatever happened, something or someone you loved hurt your heart.  It doesn’t take the love for them away, but it still does hurt…and probably very deeply.

Jesus understands, more than anyone past, present, or future that love hurts.  The greatest example of this is seen as we read about how He sacrificed His life by dying on a cross for all of humanity’s sins. 1 John 3:16 says that “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us.”  Notice those words, “…Jesus gave…” these words show us the incomparable character Jesus exhibited as He willingly gave his life for us just because He loves us.  Love hurt Jesus that day.  Another example is seen a few days prior to the crucifixion, as Jesus was riding into Jerusalem following His triumphal entry.  Luke 19:41 tells us, “But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep.”  Jesus cried for Jerusalem because He knew what the future held for them (and it wasn’t a good future, if you catch my drift).  He had such a deep love for the people He had taught, healed, and ministered to and hated that they were going to have to go through hardship.  Love hurt Jesus that day.

Giving your love to someone or something else is a very vulnerable action.  You are opening yourself up to whatever the other contributor gives back.  It could be a blessing or it could be a hurt.  It could be something you anticipate might happen or it could just blindside you like a tackling football player (sports fans be proud of me for using this analogy).  It could mean accepting forgiveness from the other party or it could mean that you may be ignored by them for the foreseeable future.  There’s always the risk…but the risk of loving and being open to the possibility that the love might hurt you is one that we should all be willing to take. 

Should we get to a place where we should avoid loving something or someone because we don’t want to be potentially hurt by them or even regret that we ever loved them in the first place?  No.  In fact, that’s not very Christ-like.  Look at Jesus; He keeps loving us even though we still hurt Him by sinning.  

Real love may get to a place where it is going to hurt; but getting to that place means that we have invested ourselves, our time, our prayers, and our service to them – something that Jesus has commanded we do (Mark 12:31 - “love your neighbor”; Matthew 5:44 – “love your enemies…pray for those who mistreat you”; Mark 9:35 – “become a servant of all”). 

Missionary Amy Carmichael is quoted as saying, “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.”  As a missionary to India, she most likely experienced the hurt of love.  You don’t spend 53 years as a missionary and not give yourself to a people and location, that more than likely (especially the first few years) didn’t love her back.  She knew full well that what it meant to love ”through every circumstance.”  But, like Paul urges, she never gave up, never lost faith, and remained always hopeful.  What an encouragement and example to us all of truly loving “through every circumstance”…even the circumstance of hurt.

Quote: Amy Carmichael; original designer unknown

Take a Selfie of Your Heart

The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. – 1 Samuel 16:7

One current trend that I love is the photography of individuals, friends, family, engagements, weddings, etc. in a setting other than a photography studio.  Don’t get me wrong, yearbook and church directory photos serve their purpose, but there’s just something about spontaneous photography that can reach your heartstrings.  Whether it’s outside in a field, in a historic building, or in some other out-of-the-ordinary setting, I absolutely love how photographers can capture people “in the moment” and evoke emotion and personality out of the photos they take.  These kinds of photos tell a story about a person…who they are, what they enjoy doing, and what their everyday life is like.  My sisters and I have had photos taken like the ones I am describing and below is one of my favorites.  This photo definitely speaks “The Young Sisters!” :)

In this world of “selfies” and having “the perfect picture,” it is very easy to become self-conscious about how you look and whether or not the picture turned out good.  This isn’t just a 2014 issue, it’s been an ongoing problem – people want to look a certain way in order to be who they think they have to be.  From elementary school to adulthood…everyone, to some extent, feels they have to be something they aren’t in order to fit in.

Thank goodness God isn’t worried about any of that nonsense.  God tells the prophet Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7 that, “The LORD does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”  He said this in relation to David being anointed King.  Samuel kept thinking that God wanted him to anoint David’s older and more muscular-looking brothers.  David was the youngest and I have a feeling a little scrawny compared to the rest of his siblings (we know this from how he was described when meeting Goliath for the first time).  Surely God didn’t want the scrawny brother to be King of Israel?  How could he fight in a war or represent the nation?  BUT…God told Samuel that physical appearance doesn’t matter to Him.  What matters is the heart of the person. 

1 Peter 3:4 is a great encouragement to this thought as well, “let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”  God doesn’t care about the current fashion, pearly whites, or ear/nose/bellybutton bling.  He cares what you adorn yourself with on the inside…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Galatians 5:22-23).  Don’t worry about what you look like –  worry about your heart.  Do you follow Christ?  Are you kind?  Do you show compassion?  Do you seek to serve God?  Are you encouraging?  And the list of positive attributes you relate to yourself could go on and on and on.  The phrase “be yourself” seems so cliché, but it is so true.  There’s no one quite like you.  You are unique.  You were fearfully and wonderfully made by a Creator who always does something for a purpose (Psalm 139:14, Romans 8:28).  That in itself, quite frankly, is beautiful.

I’m in no way harping on selfies or picture taking…keep taking those pictures!  But next time you do take a selfie of your heart and think “Does this picture reflect me on the inside?”  Again, that’s why I love “in the moment” photography so much because I can truly see the heart of the person/people in them.  Props to all those photographers out there who are able to reflect our hearts through their craft.  Just remember, dear friend that as God’s child you live for Christ, not for others, and no matter what you think about how you look, Jesus thinks that heart of yours is the most beautiful thing in the world.  And THAT is all that matters in this life.

A Chosen and Priceless Love

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins.” – 1 John 4:10

Whether it’s love for a friend, a family member, your significant other, your dog, your car, or your favorite dessert (mine’s cheesecake by the way)…we’ve all experienced some sort of love for someone or something else at one time or another in our life.  It’s an emotion that brings not only joy to our soul but a smile to our hearts.  To love is to show your affection and/or concern for something that you value.  It’s a chosen and priceless emotion…not a forced and insignificant one.

1 John 4:10 is pretty straightforward about God’s love, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins.”  God loves us so deeply and values us so greatly that He sent His one and only Son to sacrifice His life for all of our wrong-doings.  John 3:16a says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”  God didn’t have to send His Son and Jesus didn’t have to die on the cross, rather they chose to do that for us.  It was a chosen and priceless decision based on an immeasurable love for us.  We are valuable, we are significant, and we are treasured because we are LOVED by Father God and His Son, Jesus!

Through this incredible love, we are even given a free gift of everlasting life with the Father and Jesus in heaven!  (Now how many acts of love do you know of that don’t come with a price tag?)  John 3:16b goes on to say, “…that whoever believes in Him (Jesus) will have everlasting life.”  All that is required to receive this free gift of everlasting life is to ADMIT we have sinned, BELIEVE that Jesus is God’s Son, and CONFESS our faith in Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  For us, it’s a chosen and priceless decision based on a chosen and priceless love.

No matter who you are, what you’ve done, or where you are in life, Jesus cares about you.  He gave His life for you because He values you.  Chosen by God to be your Savior, rest this Valentine’s Day in the simple and precious truth that Jesus, this Chosen Son and Priceless Love, truly loves you.

Love Through Action

“Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
– 1 John 3:18

The Mario Brothers…apparently that’s “THE” costume this year as was evidenced by the masses that showed up to Morristown’s community-wide Boo Fest extravaganza.  I think Mario & Luigi must have come through the FBC Morristown booth at least a dozen times last night…except they all looked a little different in the face!  **Side note: wasn’t that video game popular in like the ‘80s?  Crazy how fads disappear and reappear!**

Anyways…our church brought out our mobile bus to this community event and created the coolest booth I’ve seen…a slide booth!  In order to get off the bus, the kids had to slide out it!  I got to be in the bus as the kids prepared to slide out and let me tell you, 100% of the kids had huge smiles on their faces as they realized we weren’t joking…we had a real, bon-a-fide slide!  I heard this over and over, “THIS IS SO COOL!”  I never realized how many people showed up to an event like this and was so overwhelmed that we were able to outreach to that many people over a 4 hour period.  No, we didn’t preach to them, we showed love to them…love for the community, love for the families, and love for the kids.  And I think that’s where outreach starts…love.

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  This was a quote by guest speaker (and friend) Rabbi Greg Hershberg this past Sunday when he spoke at First Baptist Morristown.  It was an original quote by Theodore Roosevelt, but the point the Rabbi was making was that in order to reach others for Christ, it is vital to build relationships with them.  This quote rang over and over in my mind last night at Boo Fest and really as I thought about outreach in general.  Jesus said in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  Jesus isn’t just telling us to love one another; He’s commanding us to love one another which means we MUST do it.  When we love others as He loved us, we are setting an example to the lost around us that Jesus lives in us and is love thereby showing them that He loves them too! 

The lost don’t care if we have a Masters degree in Christian education.  It means nothing to the lost that we have years of evangelism experience in the church.  The lost couldn't care less about how many people attended church last weekend.  But there’s one common concept that the non-believer will understand and that is love.  The average person knows what it means to love someone or something and understands that if they are shown love and care, then they are valued and special.  I think the following scripture speaks so well to this point, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).  As this verse continues, Paul goes on to describe love…that it is patient and kind, it doesn’t envy, isn’t showy, isn’t rude, rejoices in truth, that it “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things,” and finally that it never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 paraphrased). 

As we reach the lost, let’s strive to build relationships with them!  I am seeing this at our seasonal backyard Bible club as we are going to the same location, building relationships through love and care with each of the children, and seeing those relationships lead to eternal decisions…just a week ago one child came to know Jesus through our efforts.  I’ve seen that outreach through love works!  Paul was right, “Love never fails!”

We have a message…a hope…a LOVE that the world needs to hear!  Jesus told us that we are the light of the world and are to shine our light so that others “may see [our] good works and give glory to the Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).  Shine your light for Him by building relationships with others through love.  Show them you care.  Show them they’re special.  Show them they’re valued not only by you but by Jesus too.  Love through action.

You've Got a Friend in Me!

 “A friend loves at all times” - Proverbs 17:17

Lucy and Ethel.  Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.  Woody and Buzz Lightyear.  These are just a few of the many examples of friendships that we see on television/movies or read about in books.  Here are friends that laugh together, work together, and yes, even get in trouble together; if these friendships were real, I think they would most definitely be friendships that last a lifetime.

I am SO thankful for my friends.  They offer encouragement, advice, a listening ear, and a huge hug.  Some I’ve known for a long time and others I’ve only known for a few years.  Some are older than me (no…I didn’t say they were old… J) and others are my age.  Some I get to see often and others not as often as we both wish.  No matter who they are or where in the world they are, my friends are individuals who are a text/call/Facebook message away and I know they will be there to rejoice, laugh, cry, and/or pray with me about whatever is going on in my life.  My dear friends are individuals who truly take Proverbs 17:17 to heart and “love [me] at all times” and I pray I can be as good a friend to them as they are to me.

Did you know that as believers we all have a mutual friend who is one that “loves at all times?”  This person is my friend and your friend and even the friend of people we don’t even know!  The awesome thing about this friend is that He is with you no matter where you are or what you’re going through.  If you’re by yourself, He’s there.  If you’re with other friends, He’s there.  He never changes.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!  No matter what is going on in our lives, He promises to never leave us or forsake us.  All we need to do is to stay in constant communication with Him (through prayer and Bible study) and He will direct and help us.  His name?  Jesus.  “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.  What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.”  Thank you Jesus for being our everlasting friend.

Do you have someone who has been with you through thick and thin?  Offered advice in a time of need?  Laughed at your not-so-funny joke?  Rejoiced with you in the good times?  If so, these are people who have “loved you at all times.”  Take a minute to pull out your phone or write them a message letting them know how much they mean to you…it doesn’t have to be long or wordy.  Let your message come from the heart.  Be the friend to them that they are to you.

A Note from Nelly Nama

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” – Luke 6:38

When we show the Operation Christmas Child videos in church, there’s always one or two that talk about someone who included a letter in their shoebox and heard back from the child that received it.  I’ve always thought how cool that would be, but I also knew that it wasn’t likely to happen to everyone, especially with the number of shoeboxes OCC sends out each year.  Nonetheless, each year I have packed a shoebox, I have also included a short letter inside about myself.  When I’ve talked to the kids about packing shoeboxes, I’ve encouraged them to include a letter too.  I know that many of the children that receive these boxes more than likely don’t have access to or funds to send mail overseas, but at least a letter shows them that someone cares about and is praying for them.  Like I said, I’ve always heard stories about people that got letters, but never have gotten one in return.  Until today.

This afternoon, a special envelope came in the mail addressed to “Miss Allison.”  I looked at the stamps and immediately knew it was an international piece of mail, but thought it was from a missionary that the church kids had written during missions time.  When I turned to the back and saw “Cameroon,” I knew immediately that it was from the child who had received my shoebox.  Thanks to OCC’s EZ-Give online, I received an email back in December that told me where in the world my shoebox went.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever hear back from her.

I opened the folded up letter and read the precious words of a child from the other side of the world.  I share sweet Nelly Nama’s letter with you (translated from French into English):

Dear friend,

Merry Christmas!  It has been a pleasure for me to read your letter, I really and a great honor in knowing you.  It was with a lot of care and attention that I have listened to your advices, because the Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

I am 11 years of age, speaking in French language. I live in Cameroon, I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers and my mom.  My dad is deceased. I'd like to be a teacher later as you.

The Lord bless you!

HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!  

Jesus was right when he said, “Give and it will be given to you...”  I love how The Message puts it, “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (Luke 6:38 MSG).  This sweet note is definitely a huge “bonus and blessing!” :)

I urge you that if you haven’t ever put a note in your shoebox…do so!  Who knows, maybe you’ll hear back from them!?  Let that precious child know that they are loved, prayed for, and valued by someone half a world away.  Your gift inspires them to be interested in and learn more about Jesus because the Gospel is shared with them right before they receive their shoebox.

Also, I ask that you join me in praying for sweet Nelly Nama…that she comes to know Jesus if she hasn’t already, that she is able to serve and trust Him, and that she grows to become a beautiful woman of God.

To find out more about OCC work in Cameroon, check out this link: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/cameroon/