Archives for March 2014

Songs in the Night

March 29, 2014 by Ellen 16 Comments

Job 35:10 “But no one says ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night.’”

Do you ever get “songs in the night” and wake up with the tune and lyrics stuck in your head? Me, too!

It happened the other day. I wish it would have been Mandisa’s “Shackles”, Mercy Me’s “Shake” or Big Daddy Weave. BUT NO-O-O-O-O-O. It was Bette Middler. Bette Middler?!? Where did that come from? I know this will anger some people, but I am very thankful that it wasn’t “The Rose” rolling around in my brain!

The music that kept playing was “From a Distance.” Over and over it played in my head, like a jukebox stuck on B17! Ohhhhh, the insanity!

God is watching us, God is watching us

God is watching us, From a distance …

God is watching us, God is watching us

God is watching us, From a distance …

To stop the music, I started thinking about the words. God is watching from a distance. WRONG (imagine needle scratching vinyl record here). Our God wants a relationship with each of us. He is a personal God!

He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden: Genesis 3:8 “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…”

God made them clothes from animal skins: Genesis 3:21 “And the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.”

The Psalms tell us He doesn’t sleep while He watches over us, and He guards us when we leave and when we return (Ps. 121:3, 4, 8). God keeps track of our sorrows, and bottles up our tears (Ps. 56:8). Pretty hard to do from a distance.

Jesus felt someone touch His cloak. It was a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years. He didn’t ignore her and continue walking. He stopped. He SAW her. He healed her (Mark 5:25-34). Right then, right there. Not from a distance (although He could have done that too!).

Jesus wept at Lazarus’ grave (John 11:35). He loved Lazarus (John 11:3). He wasn’t aloof with Lazarus, Mary or Martha. He had a relationship with them. That is what He wants with each of us.

I have a personal relationship with God through my faith and trust in His Son Jesus. The only time He feels distant, is when I hold Him at arms length. When I push away…stiff-arming Him.

I had a long season in my life, as a young adult, when I distanced God. But He was relentless. He wouldn’t let me go too far. He drew me back. And, like the prodigal son’s father, even when I was still a long way off, He ran to meet me. That bears repeating:

When I was far away, He ran to meet me.

Oh Lord! How thankful I am that You are an intimate God! You love me with an everlasting love. You see me, and You know me – up close and personal! You don’t watch from a distance. You draw me back to You. Thank You!

Photos by John Chauvin

The ABRO Years – Anastasia

March 15, 2014 by Ellen 6 Comments

1 John 3:18 “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

They told me she was 12. And that she would probably be tiny.

They told me her name was Anastasia, or Nastia.

They told me she didn’t speak English.

They told me she may not be familiar with indoor plumbing.

One thing they DIDN’T tell me: that I would fall head over heels in love with this child from Belarus. I love her like she is my own child!

Meeting her for the first time, she looked like a 20-year-old fashion model! Not the tiny little girl I was expecting. She looked scared. Who wouldn’t? She was a twelve year old child, and had traveled half way around the world to stay with people she had never met.

She slept in the backseat on the two hour drive home. When we pulled in the driveway at midnight, it was dark, it was out in the middle of nowhere, and she had to trust that we were kind, and not killers! I imagine she was terrified!

Inside, we took her bag to her room. I showed her the bathroom and asked if she needed help. She knew indoor plumbing, and was excited to have a hot shower after the long trip. I said a silent prayer of thanks that I wouldn’t have to “potty train” her!

We had many prolonged silences during the first couple of days. I would try to talk with Nastia, and she would shrug her shoulders. One day, happily splashing in our neighbor’s pool, I managed to convey to her that I wanted to learn her Russian language. Once Nastia understood this, she began teaching me.

She cupped her hands, filled them with water and said “Voda.” She made me repeat the word. It was truly a Helen Keller moment! Next was pool – “basseyn”, pronounced similar to our word “basin”. Hey, I think I can get this: voda=water, basseyn=pool or basin! Bring on more Russian, sister! I can learn it!

Then came the words with the rolling R’s: Lar-r-r-r-r-r-r-rushka (frog) and R-r-r-r-r-r-ryba (fish). I am originally from Mississippi, and we DO NOT roll our R’s. There is just no need for that nonsense, you know?

Anastasia was a relentless task master and repeatedly made me pronounce the rolling R words. And I couldn’t! She tried and tried to get this Mississippi gal to speak proper Russian, to no avail. Finally, she gave up on me!

That evening, John pulled up a restaurant website, and asked Anastasia if she like pizza.

A smile lit her face! “Da!”

I asked, “Nastia, what is the Russian word for pizza.”

“Pizza”, she replied.

“No, teach me your word for pizza!”

“PIZZA!”

“No, Nastia, teach me the RUSSIAN WORD FOR PIZ-ZA.” I enunciated very slowly, in a very LOUD VOICE, so she would understand me.

She looked at me, held my gaze, and very slowly, in a very LOUD VOICE, she said “PIZ-ZA!”

Some things just don’t need translating! Like the love we have for Nastia.

Hugs tug hearts, and smiles go miles to show Christ’s love.

Anastasia sensed – with our hugs and smiles – that we genuinely cared for and loved her. With language as a barrier, we had to SHOW her the love of Christ.

Have you had an opportunity to show the love of Christ? If so, drop me a comment! I would love to hear from you!

“There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark.” ― Helen Keller, Light in my Darkness

*For more information on the ABRO program, and how your church can become involved, go to:

http://www.abro.org

If you are a member of Highland Baptist Church in New Iberia, LA, and want to host a child, contact the church office 337-365-5471