Desensitized

I'm going to share a secret with you. I check the Chip In Widget on the side bar of this blog multiple times per day. I am SO excited to see God provide for this family through people like us.

I'm going to share another secret. I was disappointed to see that we still have so far to go. I've been wondering,

What will it take for people to give?

More compelling text?

A give away?

How can people turn their eyes away from an urgent need like this? We're talking about two girls that no one wants! We're talking about girls with special needs that deem them unlucky, contagious, and without value in the culture of China!

These precious girls have value for the same reason that you and I have value...because God MADE us! God LOVES us! His love for us gives us worth and it's the same for them!

So what keeps people from giving?

Fear? Selfishness? Desensitization?

All these things I've been pondering and had begun formulating into a post when

God asked me

"What about YOU, Jessemyn?"

What keeps YOU from doing more? Sharing more? Loving more?

Fear? Selfishness? Desensitization?

Yes. Yes. and Yes.

But what does this say about my faith in God? If faith is TRUSTING in One that I cannot see, then do I really believe God is who He says He is? Do I trust that He will provide for all of my needs? If so, then why do I feel I must hoard my possessions? And aren't they His in the first place?

The prayer, "Break my heart, God, for the things which break yours" is a life-changing request. If we are to truly be like Christ, we must have complete confidence in our heavenly Father and be completely submitted to His will.

"Religion that our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after widows and orphans in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27)

I've been so moved by the first part of this verse that I haven't stopped to consider how the second part so beautifully ties into it.

What does the world say?

Look out for yourself.

Take care of yourself; no one else will.

Life is about your personal happiness.

This morning I see how easy it is to be polluted by the world. To have my thinking subtly challenged. To wonder, "Did God REALLY say..."

The truth is that God is so worthy of my trust! Isn't that what Jesus showed us? His complete and perfect submission to the Father perfectly demonstrated that God can be trusted in all things! For our security. For our provision. For our future.

THAT is the real motivation to live for Christ! His love is so awe-inspiring we can't help but respond! Knowing who He is moves us to our knees and compels us to live our lives for His glory!

I can't think of a better way of showing His glory than by coming alongside those in need and as we feed, clothe, and love them. And while doing so, to whisper

You are God's child! You are fearfully and wonderfully made! And He can't wait to spend eternity with you!

God, move us to action! Remove our fear and doubt. Give us deeper faith and greater courage. Use us to love your people. Not out of guilt. Out of love. Your love. Perfect love. World-changing love.