Journal from Zanzibar

Cottonwood sent a group to Zanzibar recently to visit our missionaries there, distribute mosquito nets, and to connect with the Zanzibari people. Belinda Koestle shared a little snipet from the trip which was so meaningful, I asked permission to share it on the blog. Below is an entry taken from her journal on while she was in Zanzibar.

When we were getting ready for this trip,Dave gave us some insight into making this trip as meaningful and pleasant as possible. Besides stressing the value of being flexible, he wanted to prepare us for all the very noticeable differences we would experience while we were here, compared to life in the United States. He encouraged us to see this difference not as bad or wrong – but to view it for what it really is – it is just different. I wanted to be a model team member so I decided I would be very intentional on this trip to be very flexible and embrace different – even enjoy the differences. I wanted God to reveal more about himself to me in the differences. So, as we were flying in, I thought about God and his creation. He created the seasons, 4 very different seasons. He created diverse terrain. Mountains like Mount Killamenjara, which we flew beside, talk about seeing God’s majesty on display. God created the rain forest, the desert, even land below sea level that cities have been built on. All of this is God’s doing. If God delights in different – I should too! I was ready to go out and soak in all the differences in the Zanzibar culture yesterday while distributing mesquite nets. So Dave really caught me off guard yesterday while at the village he asked me if I saw any similarities between village life in Zanzibar and my life in Stephenville, TX, USA. My first thought before I answered him was “Is this a trick question?” Wasn’t he suppose to ask me about the differences I had so boldly noticed and accepted as just different, not bad or wrong – just different? I could have given him 25 examples just off the top of my head if he had just asked me that question. But God knew that I was missing seeing Him by not looking at what I needed to be focused on. So Dave did ask me the correct question and I thought about Psalm 139:13-16. This passage is David expressing who God is for him, but these words are true for every single person whether we know it as truth or not.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

No matter where you live, what you look like, what you have, or who you know, God’s character goes into the creation of every person, and he desires to have a personal relationship with each and every one of us. So those of us who have experienced that relationship – how can we not share and desire that for all people? Yesterday, I saw men working to provide for their families, I saw mother’s caring for their babies. I saw children playing in the school yard. The people here feel the pain from a pulled tooth and want relief from that pain just like I do. I saw women washing clothes, cooking a family meal and cleaning house. We talked to a man whose face lit up with joy when he talked to us about his children and his desire to have a total of 13 kids. He joked with Dave about only having 3 kids. Yes, the people here even have a sense of humor, and you don’t have to understand their language to enjoy their laughter. I see an island full of people who need a savior and I see Jesus dying on the cross, being buried and rising on the 3^rd day to be their savior. I see a people God loves and longs to walk with. Each person is fearfully and wonderfully made by God, he knew each one of us before we were born, whether we live in the United States, Zanzibar, China or anywhere else in the world. We are all created by God and we’re really not so different after all.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

This is the family picture from our Thanksgiving today. Our gathering was smaller than usual, with several family members were missing, but we had a great time. I am very thankful for this family. My parents are in the middle, my 95 year old Dad in the gray suit, my 96 year old Mom in the white shirt and black slacks. I am standing behind my Dad, and my three sisters are lined up next to me. My daughters, sons in law, and grandchildren are scattered around. I am very thankful for a wonderful family, and I am grateful to have them so close.

Dealing with Pain

We just completed a study of When the Hurt Runs Deep by Kay Arthur. This book is filled with principles from God’s Word, and with insights that Kay has learned from living through pain in her own life. At the end of the book, she has an appendix called A Few Practical Helps, which I felt was worth passing on. If you don’t have time to read the whole book, maybe you can get a little help from these practical tips which I have summarized.

How do you get through the day and the night that follows when the hurt runs so terribly deep?

1. Make sure you consciously inject, include, acknowledge God in every situation.

In Philippians 4:13, Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” In Thessalonians he told the Christians who were suffering persecution to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything. These verses tell us to draw strength from God, take everything to Him, acknowledge that He is in control and working in every situation, and to take joy in Him.

2. Find what lifts your spirits.

Many people recommend journaling during times of deep pain. That is a great idea, if it works for you. You may pour your heart out through poetry or writing songs. Kay Arthur wrote that her greatest help and comfort comes from quietly bathing herself in God’s word, just reading and letting it wash over her. She also is helped by reading biographies of other Christians.  For me, I can lose myself in study, reading a passage and looking up words, running references, searching for other  verses that relate. Find what works for you and do it.

3. Make sure you give your body what it needs.

Hurt, stress, and anxiety all affect us physically. We need to take good care of our bodies during difficult times. Rest, proper nutrition, exercise, and sunlight are important to our health. It is hard to think clearly or keep together emotionally when you are tired. Getting out of your house to walk in the sunshine. Sunlight triggers your body to lift its mood and secrete the chemicals you need.

4. Resist the tendency to isolate yourself.

As tempting as it might be to close yourself off from everyone else, you can’t stay there and get well. Galatians 6:2 says we are to “bear one another's burdens”. Ecclesiastes 4 tells us that two are better than one because if one falls, the other can help him up, if two lie down together they can keep warm, and two together are stronger.  You may have to call someone. Don’t sit and wait and feel sorry for yourself if no one comes to you. Take the necessary steps to get out among people, call someone to share your burden.

5. Master your thoughts, or your thoughts will master you.

2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ. Bring all of your thoughts into line with God’s Word. You are in warfare, and your enemy, the devil, wants to direct your thinking, to fill your thoughts with lies, deceptions, and tormenting thoughts. Refuse to accept his attacks on your mind. Proverbs 23:7 tells us ?For as he things within himself, so he is.” Your emotions are fed by your thoughts. You can master your thought life, but it takes discipline and hard work.

6. Read the Psalms.

Whatever pain and brokenness you have experienced, the Psalms will minister to you. The writers of these songs pour out their deepest heart hurts, their praises, their thanksgivings, their questions, even their anger, through genuine, raw emotions. Reading them is salve to the soul and strength to the spirit.

7. Play music, sing, and (if you can) laugh.

Listen to music that sooths or lifts your spirit. Put on your favorite CD and dance. Sing along, even if you don’t feel like it. Laugh. Even when the hurt runs deep, find a reason to laugh. Read funny stories. Watch a movie that is uplifting and funny.  Proverbs 17:22 tells us, “A joyful hear is good medicine”.  Laughter releases God-created feel-good chemicals.

8. Hug someone.

Touch is healing. Researchers have found that safe, caring touches are good for the mind, body, and spirit of an individual. Touch reduces stress, boosts immunity, lessens the blues, and eases pain as it stimulates the brain to produce endorphins.

Walk Right In

Heb 10:10, 19-23                                                                                                                   We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all…19  Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

I have been thinking about this verse the last few days, really appreciating the fact that because of the sacrifice of Jesus, I can go into the presence of the Most Holy God with confidence! Confidence! No fear, no guilt, no shadow, no anxiety, no quesy feeling in my stomach. That is really an amazing fact. 
When Les and I go to a movie or anything that requires payment to enter, he usually goes ahead of me and pays for both of us. I walk in without paying, but I am not afraid or worried that I will be thrown out, that I don’t belong there. I did not pay my way, but someone else did.
Even if we went to the best museum in the world, like maybe the Louvre in Paris. If Les paid for my ticket, I could walk right in without paying. I would be in awe of the beauty of the building. I would be respectful of the art work. But, I would walk around freely and with confidence that I belonged there. I would enjoy being there, and want to fully experience the beauty and the majesty there. I would not miss one minute of enjoyment by worrying that I would be kicked out because I did not deserve to be there.
Because Jesus “bought my ticket” by the shedding of His blood, I can go into God’s presence any time. God beckons me to walk right in and enjoy everything about Him. 

What I see may not be what actually is!

There is an interesting story in the Bible.

Mark 8:23-25
And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Do you see anything?"  24 And he looked up and said, "I see men, but they look like trees, walking." 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
I find this story fascinating. First, Jesus spit on is eyes. Wow, why that? But that is not my point  here. After Jesus touched him, he said, “I see men, but they look like trees, walking.” The objective fact is that he was looking at men. But, because he could not see clearly, to him they looked like trees walking around. Jesus touched him again and he saw everything clearly.

The fact is, without a new, fresh touch from Jesus, we don’t see people clearly. All of us see things through very personal lenses. We perceive the things that are spoken and the circumstances of our lives based on our past experiences, on our individual personalities, our teachings, our culture, our family culture…

If you had a teacher who was unkind to you, you think that teachers are unkind. A teacher can make a very innocent comment, but you perceive it as unkind because of the lens you filter it through.

OK, I have written another paragraph 5 times, and deleted it. There are just too many examples. I will leave it to any reader to look into your own life and mind and see if you agree.

Helping or Trying to Fix?

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?  5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” Matt 7:3-5

As Christians, we care about people. We see our friends having problems and we want to help them out. Often, our desire to help becomes a need to fix. It is not our job to fix anyone. We think that if we see a problem, then we need to point out to our friend what the problem is and how that can be solved. The thing is, people don’t respond well to that, they usually become defensive, angry, or depressed. What we need to do is create an environment in which people feel safe, a place where people feel loved and accepted, where they can face their problems. When we express God’s love to other people, we help them have the courage and strength to go to God and allow Him to reveal their problems and issues, and show them how to deal with them. Only God can truly help anyone solve their problems, get over their issues, and repent of sin.

2 Cor 3:18 says that as we look at Jesus, we become more and more like Him. The fact is, people become like whatever they focus on. People who focus on their faults don’t overcome those faults. If I spent my time with people pointing out their faults, I would be hindering any progress they might make. Instead, if I point them to Jesus, and help them keep their eyes on Him, I am truly helping them.

Jesus calls us to follow Him, which means looking at Him, listening to Him, focusing on Him. Jesus is the center of our lives. As we focus our attention on Jesus and experience His love and acceptance, we will become confident people without the need to find and fix another person’s faults. Then, the love and acceptance that flows from our lives will be the catalyst for other people to look to Jesus for themselves and become more like Him. 

Free from Judgment, and Free from Judging

Recently, my thinking has been challenged on Matt 7:1-2 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

I have always understood this to mean that if I judge other people, then God will judge me. The verse does not actually say that. It just says I will be judged. The next verses deal with human relationship; don’t try to take a speck out of your brothers eye, don’t give dogs what is holy. Maybe this verse means that if I judge other people, then other people are going to judge me.

Luke 6:37-38 "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

This also may be dealing with human relationships. In dealing with people, if I judge and condemn, then other people are going to judge me and if I forgive, then other people also will forgive me; and the way I treat others will come back to me pressed down and running over. When I am harsh and critical with someone, they usually return even more harsh and critical. If my treatment of other people is gentle and merciful, that is what I will get in return.

Judging may be negative, but not always, mostly, to judge is to decide what is the inner motivation of a person, to think I understand why a person does the things that he does. It is not judgmental to have a thought like, “That person is really dirty.” That may be an observation with no values placed on it. We can’t help but observe the things that are around us. The judgment comes when I think, “He should have put on clean clothes before going out” or even, “I bet he works really hard for a living.” I don’t know why he is dirty and I don’t need to have an opinion about the fact. Then, there may be the temptation to think, “He just does not care what he looks like in public”, which would be to judge the persons heart or mind based on what I observed. I really can’t know what is going on inside a person.

I have really worked hard to stop making any kind of judgment on people, and I will say it  is really freeing. I am training myself to just observe the facts and recognize when I cross over into making judgments by placing a value on what I see.

National Orphan Sunday

You may not know this, but today is National Orphan Sunday.

Estimates vary, but  between138 million and 163 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents. There are 500,000 children are in foster care in the United States; 118,000 are eligible for adoption

These are heartbreaking numbers, and there are more; 18,000 children die every from starvation, another 6,000 die from preventable diseases related to poverty. Of course, not all of these children are orphans. Many are in areas of the world suffering from severe drought and famine where entire families are starving, but the plight of the orphan is especially severe.

What does that have to do with us?

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means
caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let
the world corrupt you.”
James 1:27 (NLT)

God cares about the orphans, and He has called us to take care of them. This is something that is very dear to my heart. I have 4 grandchildren who would have been orphans, who God placed in our family through adoption. Three of these precious children were born in Korea and came to our family through international adoption, one came to the family through the Texas foster system.

I cannot imagine that any of these 4 could have been left in distress, living without hope for a better future.

If you want to see their stories, here are blog posts from their moms.

http://cherrycokecruising.com/?p=1489

http://psalm139verse14.blogspot.com/2011/02/2-years-ago-email-changed-our-family.html

I know not everyone can adopt, and you probably want to know other ways you can help the orphans. One way is to help through a good organization. We sponsor children through World Vision. I know that almost all of  the money really does go to help the children and the communities they live in. I also have pictures and we get updates and even letters from the children. Here is the link.

http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/pages/sponsor-a-child?open&campaign=1193512&cmp=KNC-1193512

You can encourage families who want to adopt, and consider helping them out. International adoptions cost around $20,000 and many families need help to cover that. 

One last thing you can do is not be too quick to decide that you can’t adopt. Maybe God has a child somewhere who belongs in your family. Katie Davis is a 23 year old American who now lives in Uganda and has adopted 13 children. I know, that’s pretty extreme. A family in our church has adopted 14 children through the foster system. Families with more than one biological children have adopted. Adoption is not a last resort option.  Adoption is one very wonderful way that God brings people together to build families.