Chosen and Loved

This morning, I heard stories from around the world, stories of children who live without clean water or nourishing food, without education, without health care. Some lived in fear, in places where girls could end up as prostitutes or bullets and bombs could harm and kill. And what do they have to look forward to? Nothing but the next day.

I've shared about Compassion before, but I was hit hard today as I watched a video of a girl receiving the news of her sponsorship for the first time. She cried as she laughed. Her mom cried. Her dad cried. And I couldn't help but cry myself. I had seen sponsorship as an opportunity to help a boy or girl; these children see sponsorship as an adoption. What I hadn't known was that children can sign up to be in the Compassion program before they are sponsored. This girl was already receiving the benefits of being in the program, but having a sponsor meant something completely different for her. It meant that she was chosen. She felt cared for. She felt loved. She looked forward to receiving letters from her sponsor. It's more than a chance to escape poverty; it's a relationship. 

Which reminded me of the joy I felt when I first realized that I was adopted by my Father. I found comfort in knowing that I was special. I had peace because I knew that Someone was watching out for me.

…even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ… In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us… as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things to him, things in heaven and things on earth. ~Ephesians 1:3-10

Being chosen. Being loved. There is nothing that satisfies our souls more deeply. And what's even better news, for many of Compassion's sponsored children, their earthly 'adoption' leads to their heavenly adoption. Compassion goes beyond feeding hungry stomachs and healing broken bodies.

Please take the time today to find out more about Compassion and child sponsorship. Click on this link for more information and to see the video I had mentioned: Compassion

It costs less that $50 a month. And it's much more than writing a check every month. 

Sunday Expectations

(This post is based on thoughts that are directly and indirectly connected to my last post on koinonia.)

Do you get annoyed when you order something at a restaurant and the waiter says, "Oh, we're out of that today"? Or when you are at a store and you wait and wait for service, and finally someone comes to help you?

We have an expectation of a certain quality of service when we enter an establishment, whether it is a restaurant, grocery store, or nail parlor, but (time for a heart check) do we have those same expectations when we enter our church building on Sundays?

Ask yourself these questions honestly:

-Would I be grumpy if there were no donuts and coffee at church?

-Would I complain if the music was different or someone other than the usual preacher gave the sermon?

-Would I be angry if there was no children's or youth program?

-Would I leave if the chairs were hard or the temperature too hot or cold?

Sadly, here in the United States, many church-goers (and I say church-goers because this includes those who go to church out of habit and those who are Christ-followers) have lived in comfort for so long that sometimes they treat our Sunday mornings like they would a trip to a restaurant. They go there expecting to be served and they have come to expect all churches to provide certain services. And if they don't receive it at one church, they simply go to another.

We, as Christ-followers, must remember to be gracious. If I can be gracious when I see a waiter running ragged to fill in for a sick co-worker, or when a store or restaurant is out of stock on an item, then I can certainly be even more gracious when it comes to Sunday mornings. If I simply remind myself that a church is NOT a place of business, then my expectations will also change. Why do we gather with other Christians? To serve one another, with the gifts that God has given us. It's our opportunity to care for people whom we don't see everyday. It's our chance to invite people into our family. It's koinonia.

So, what should we expect from our Sunday (or Saturday) worship time?

1) The church is full of broken people, all in need of a Savior. Though a person may look happy and healthy on the outside, his/her inside may be crying and looking for comfort. Go to church expecting to be used by God to meet someone's need.

2) The church is served mostly by volunteers. These are people who are giving their time and energy, on their own accord, to help make a Sunday morning service happen. Be grateful for those people (say "Thank you!" to the one who picks up the donuts every week) and be gracious when something happens and that person is not there to fulfill his/her role. Go to church expecting to serve those who are serving you!

3) Expect things to be different from week to week. The Church is not static, nor is it confined to a building. Missions trips, visitations, and pastors speaking at other churches are all a part of a healthy church body. If you are in search of a new church, I recommend visiting a church more than once to get a better feel for the life of that church body.

4) Expect God's spirit to fill the place with warmth and love whether or not there are coffee and donuts, a five-piece band, cushy chairs, or a top-notch, state-of-the-art childcare program. If you visit a church that has all of the above but is lacking in strong, Biblical teaching or a welcoming spirit, "all of the above" CANNOT fill that hole (and neither is it really a church then… it is a childcare facility that offers free food, live music, and a place to kick back.)

Koinonia

My family just got back from a weekend in the mountains with our church family. As always, our time together was fruitful: new friendships were formed, old friendships were deepened, memories were made. This year, I was especially blessed because I am now 31 weeks pregnant and people were quick to step in and help with our tent or our energetic toddler. I love the strong feeling of community that I get on a weekend like this one.

But even as I experienced wonderful care and friendship, I noticed that there were people on the outskirts. I know how hard it is to break through the invisible barrier of an established community. Which is why I especially love our church body; we strive to practice koinonia.

If you've never heard of the word koinonia, let me tell you a little about it. It is a Greek word that means 'communion', 'sharing', or 'fellowship'. It is the deep connection that Christ nurtures in a church body, one that goes beyond superficial commonalities. An example of koinonia can be found in Acts 2:42-47:

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

It is koinonia that sets the Church apart from the rest of the world. It is koinonia that astounds people when they see multiple cultures and social classes worshiping together. It is koinonia that allows people of different backgrounds to form a bond of love and encouragement. Without Christ as the foundation and koinonia as a fruit of His love, the Church would fall apart. As Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsame:

The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (John 17:22-23)

And so, even as I noticed those on the outskirts at camp, I also noticed those who were dedicated to cultivating koinonia. I saw them making an effort to meet new people and to reach out to those who didn't easily mingle, and I was so thankful for them. At dinner one night, a young friend of mine came to me, her plate in hand, and whispered, "I'm looking for a place to sit, with people I don't know. Do you have any recommendations?" 

I pointed to a table where an older, tattooed, grizzly-looking gentleman was sitting. I had only met him the day before, but I knew that he had some great stories to tell.

"That man there has fostered more than 200 teenagers in 15 years. He's amazing. Sit with him."

Our last morning at the camp was especially sweet. My young son was waving and saying 'hi' to everyone he saw. Everywhere he looked, he saw a friend. During our morning service, I glanced around the room and felt an overflow of gratitude for the people I saw, especially those that I had gotten to know over the past two days. I prayed for the man who was reevaluating his life after experiencing heart failure; the couple who was recently married and were now learning to join their families and their lives; the homeschooling family who moved from another state and was looking for a new church family. Before I left, I invited this family to join us on Sunday mornings. I want them to experience koinonia through our church body like I have.

As a Deer