EXPERIENCING church

Who doesn't enjoy sitting through a nicely organized, smooth, church service: nice sounding band, lots of nice programs, a good sermon? But I experienced church this morning, not because of those aspects of a Sunday morning, but because of relationships.
~This morning church was talking to 3 teen guys who went to pray with and serve the people of inner city Philadelphia. Their faces lit up when I asked them: "Did you tell those Philadelphians about Jesus?" (Yes I know, Philadelphians is not a real term). These 3 young men see what it looks like to be bold and share what they believe. One of the 3 boys was in toddlers with 2 little boys on his lap reading to them when I talked to him...talk about melt my heart! I pray for these 3 young men to keep the fire that I can see on their faces for sharing and showing Jesus. We need men who are willing to live on mission, feed the hungry, hold children, and pray with the broken.
~Church was hugging a beautiful and sweet friend of mine that I have been incredibly blessed to watch grow in her faith in leaps and bounds over the past 9 months. She went on her first cross-cultural missions trip this weekend and as she said, "I'm ready to go!" Not only has she been convicted to go and tell people about Jesus, but she also understands how it will affect her children. This understanding has become more of a motivation than a restraint....she gets it!!! I love looking at her little girls' faces as their mom tells us about her trip. They are soaking in how their mom is loving people in other places in the name of Jesus. Seriously, what else is there to teach our children? I have known her pretty much all of my life but I am beyond encouraged to have a meaningful and deep friendship with her as we now grow and serve together.
~Church was hearing the news of an adoption within our church family, hugging the adopting mom, and crying as I heard about how God has orchestrated this glorifying adoption. These 2 little girls have been through more than my heart can imagine, but God is painting them a beautiful picture of what it means to be loved and adopted by our heavenly Father. His hand has been evident in the entire process, even before we knew that these little girls would be orphaned. And to know that a family is responding to the call of Christ to love the orphaned as God loves us is what being the church is all about! Now we as a body of believers need to come behind them and support them and pray for them. I can bet that their family will be under attack because the last thing Satan wants is for Jesus to be glorified.
This morning I was lifted up by people spreading the Gospel and sharing God's love in impactful ways. I am feeling so blessed after EXPERIENCING church this morning. God is so gracious to allow me to see His hand in others' lives.

Guatemala

    The opportunity to take part in another adventure has come to my door. Although I've known about Kelly Shank’s plan to go to Guatemala for months I have swept it aside due to school and work and figuring that I probably wouldn't be able to get off for it anyway. But here I am: off work for that week, I’ll be finished school, and nothing standing in my way of going to Guatemala. I have never been to Guatemala so I am excited about the unknown and all that I have to learn before this trip. I took 4 years of Spanish so I’m going to brush up on my very very rough Spanish. Unlike my last trip to Brazil where I struggled to even read Portuguese out of my translation book, I am slightly familiar with Spanish. Because medical missions is something heavy on my heart, I have ideas swirling around as to how I can incorporate 1^st aid and medical education into this trip. I also can’t wait to explore all of the tools and resources out there to spread the Gospel in Spanish. There are tracks, bracelets, and books that are only a purchase away from going with me and being in the hands of the Guatemalans. We will be partnering with Forever Changed International and while there we will work in workshops for local woman, a preschool, a feeding center, and Dorie’s Promise.

     One thing that also strikes me as being especially exciting about this trip is that it is my first international missions trip with my home church. Recently I have been learning a lot about what it means to be a part of a local church and what community looks like. I have learned that we often do not live life together on a day-to-day bases and we only meet together to learn once or twice a week, but we do not serve our broader community together very often. I believe that this is where true community will come alive! Although meeting and talking about biblical truths is important, I feel closest to people when I serve with them for the cause of Christ. When I think about the women that are going on this trip I am so pumped! I have known many of these women for many years. Two of these women I baby sit for and I LOVE their kids, 2 ladies I have met with and grown with through encouragement and discipleship, and others I have recently gotten to know much better through book studies and serving locally together. I cannot wait to serve with these women and then come back home with a deeper spiritual bond as a body of believers with the same mission locally and globally: spreading the Word of God.

    If you’re interested in supporting me for this trip, Valley Grace Brethren Church is where my funds will be collected. Gifts are tax-deductible. You can send any financial support to 17310 Gay Street Hagerstown, MD 21740 with checks made out to Valley Grace Brethren Church and a memo of Elizabeth Draper-Guatemala. It will cost approximately $2000 for the entire trip (airline tickets haven’t been purchased yet). Plus I plan on buying things to use including first aid supplies, salvation story bracelets, tracks, and maybe books.
I am so excited! Please join me in prayer in preparation for this trip!

WWSD...What would Santa Do?

      I love Christmas time including beautiful Christmas music, hymns by candlelight, gift-giving, white lights, rustic decorations, and snowy scenes. But I am honestly pretty discouraged when I sense that Jesus is a part of Christmas instead the center of Christmas.

      Honestly, I think Saint Nicholas would be downright embarrassed if he saw how glorified his name is in the Christmas season. Saint Nick was a follower of Jesus that saw the poor and needy and responded. He gave to others in the name of Jesus and he received joy in return. I can’t help but think this man, with his servant’s heart, would be flabbergasted to hear that now “Santa” lives in the north pole and gives all the greedy children more than they need or could even want. He would probably be brokenhearted to see that Santa is glorified by the provisions that GOD has given. I’m not just saying this. He was a follower of Jesus. I have a pretty good feeling that this is pretty accurate. Saint Nick actually used his inheritance from his wealthy deceased parents to give to the poor. He gave out of his plenty. Do we? Do we follow Saint Nick's, aka Santa Clause, lead by giving out of our plenty to provide for the poor (James 1:27)? Not only that, but Saint Nick was persecuted for his faith! Whoa... Would that change the “meaning of Christmas” if we actually acted like “Santa!” 

         Saint Nick was also considered a “protector of children.” Sure we do our best to protect our children from being kidnapped, sick, and harmed….but how do we protect them from selfishness and gluttony when we give them so many expensive and ridiculous gifts? How many children in this world truly need protection?.... Children in Asia who are sold into sexual slavery by their parents who cannot afford to keep them, baby girls killed from the gendercide in China, children in Africa exposed to malaria, children in South America drinking dirty water full of parasites that will kill them......Who will protect them this Christmas? Will you be a “protector of children?”

This is what Saint Nick (Santa Clause) would want us to do isn’t it? I know its what God wants us to do.

               So in all fairness I leave you with some ways to apply a “Christian Christmas”…..

1. Lets start with the trinity: Maybe instead of talking about how Santa Clause is going to bring your children gifts (aka lying to them if you ask me), how about you talk about how God the Father gave the best gift ever conceived!....Jesus! This was no ordinary gift, He was sent as a sacrificial gift. Jesus would die on the cross to save the world from their sins that separate us from eternity with a Holy God. My goodness what more glory and excitement do you need in celebrating Jesus’ birth!?!?! We talk about the “magic of Christmas” but this is no mystical story with reindeer and a fat man who can fit through a chimney….it is an inconceivable mystery that God would love us so much to send His Son to die for me!!!! I think I’ll forgo the world’s idea of a “magical Christmas” because the real deal is infinitely more glorious and wonderful. This type of Christmas should bring us to our knees in worship!
And instead of “elf on the shelf” (I find the pictures of to be pretty funny at times), let’s talk about how the Holy Spirit is always with us. Not only does He see the bad that we do (like the stuffed doll can supposedly do) but He can give us the power to overcome sin and all the bad things we do….I’d say the benefits of the Holy Spirit are infinitely better than “elf on the shelf.” The Holy Spirit is actually that and so much more! He is God within us! (Read “Forgotten God” by Francis Chan if you want to know more about the Holy Spirit)!
2. I’m going to suggest something that might seem next to impossible. I’m going to suggest that in memory of Saint Nick and his obedience to Jesus’ command to take care of the poor that we don’t get our kids so many presents. Yea…I know….crazy. And your kids can hate me for suggesting it (I don’t mind taking a punch for your children’s spiritual well being). Instead, go to www.indiamission.org or Samaritan's Purse , or an organization that means something to you and your kids (suggestions to the right of my blog page), and have your kids pick out a gift for a child somewhere else in the world to help. By doing this over time you will teach your kids to have a mindset like Saint Nick and like Jesus. You can't put a price tag on giving your children that.

Have a Merry Christmas!!!!

 http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/who-is-st-nicholas/