Blessed Beyond Measure

Luke 12:48 (the second half) "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask more."

Not everyone is called to adopt. Not everyone is called to be a missionary in a foreign land. Not everyone is called to visit the homeless. Not everyone is called to teach Sunday School. But everyone is called. In one way or another you are called to give back.

By American standards, I'm not considered wealthy. Are we financially stable? Sure! Can we pay our bills? Oh yeah! But wealthy? I don't think so. But by the World's standards, I am wealthy. According to most of the statistics I found around 1.5 billion people in this world live in extreme poverty. And most of those are in what we call developing nations or third world countries. They aren't just hungry, they are literally dying of disease and starvation and living in conditions that we cannot even fathom.

I realized last night as I sat in my big bathtub filled with hot clean water (sorry, it's one of the only places I have a quiet moment to think), in my air conditioned house, where the cupboard is far from bare, that I have been given much. And that much is required of me. I think we, both Patrick and myself, began to realize this a long time ago, but last night it really came into perspective.

So one of the ways that we will give back is through adoption. I am not saying that you are supposed to run out and adopt a child. If it's not in your heart then it would never be the right thing for you. What I am asking is that you look at your life. Have you been given much? I'm not just referring to finances . . . I'm referring to family, I'm referring to health and the availability of health care, I'm referring to food on the table (even when it seems a little meager), I'm referring to a roof over your head, I'm referring to clean running water. "To whom much is given, from him much will be required".

Can you teach Sunday School and minister to the lives of little children? Can you donate to the local food bank? Can you give financially to a missionary or a group supporting missions? Can you give time and volunteer at a local school? Can you read with a child for a couple of hours a week? Can you donate a box for Operation Christmas Child this fall? Can you sponsor a child in a foreign country? Can you give to an orphanage? Can you send used clothes to tornado victims? Can you be a mentor? Can you help in the church nursery? The list is never ending. You don't always have to shout God's Word on the street corner, you can live it through your actions.

The poster above is used with permission from our adoption agency All God's Children International. Not only do they facilitate adoptions, but they also have orphanages and minister through mission trips. I am very passionate about helping children in need. Nothing is more heartbreaking to me than to see children dying of starvation and preventable (easily preventable diseases). This is getting long. I could go on and on, but I'm going to stop. Below are links to three organizations that I believe in and trust. If you have some time take a look at what they are doing. And spend some time thinking about how you can help. This is by no means an advertisement for these organizations, and I'm not asking you to give to them and them alone. I'm just asking you to give back in someway somewhere.

All God's Children International
Ambassadors to the Nations
Samaritan's Purse