Bondservant: “Devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests.”

Cry of my heart . . .

Bondservant (copied from The Bondservant website):

The best definition here is “devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests.” On its basic level a bondservant is simply following your master to complete disregard of your own will, emotions, desires.

To put it into contrast of being a Bondservant of Christ, it means a complete and utter devotion to God, His word, and His will.  It is disregarding your own desires and will in all things to lay your life at the Cross and follow Christ.  It is not being perfect, yet it is a dedication to following God in all things.

A Bondservant is to love as Christ loved; to walk as Christ walked.  It means standing strong when you are weak and have nothing left.  It means not letting up, giving up, or putting up with anything less then a true and full releationship with God as a friendship and partnership through this world, doing His will.  Being a Bondservant is Standing strong on the Word of God while seeking God first, above all else.  Everything is secondary to your relationship with Him.

This past weekend Randy and I had the opportunity to visit a church whose pastors we've had the privilege of meeting and being in services where they were ministering.  They are anointed.  Their church is anointed.  The few times that we have visited their Sunday services we leave feeling refreshed and blessed.  This past Sunday was no different.

Although we only got to hear the introduction to Pastor Sander's message "Are You a Bondservant of Christ?" I couldn't but help think about missions and the missionaries that give of themselves for the Kingdom of God.  They can be the true examples of a bondservant - someone who is simply serving the King of Kings, giving of themselves sacrificially, someone who has died to themselves and realizes it's not about them but about the Kingdom work that we as Christians are ALL called to do.

I have had the honor of sitting around the table listening to the cries of missionaries hearts.  The cry that resonates to the core of their soul - to help just one person, show them the love of Jesus, and introduce them to the Kingdom of God.  But first they need to meet the personal needs of the one standing in front of them who is hungry, needs medical treatment, needs a home to get off the street, needs help with addictions that is consuming them.  But with these needs comes the need for resources - money, expertise, labor, etc.  These missionaries use up their personal savings, income, energy to just serve.  THEY NEED OUR HELP!  They need our prayers.  They need our giving.  They need our words of encouragement.  I have seen the tears when they are tired, worried, overwhelmed.  I have hear their cries when they don't think they can take another step, when their hearts break when it is time to return to 'normal life' knowing that there is sooooo much more to be done, so many more needing help.  Sometimes now knowing when they can return.

I have never really understood until these last few weeks when God began to open up my eyes to see their needs, my ears to hear their cries, and my heart to hurt for them and especially those that they are trying to serve.

I ask that you take time to pray for the missionaries who give of themselves sacrificially.  Pray for their strength, that their needs are met, that their energy is renewed each day.  I have seen first hand that it is non-stop - each and every day.  The end is near, they feel it in their bones, they are urgently trying to do the Kingdom work that is still yet to be done.  Send them a note of encouragement; let them know you are praying for them, share a verse, and kind word.  You never know if it is exactly what they need to hear at that moment.  Pray about sponsoring them and supporting the people they are serving. Give sacrificially to allow them to do the Kingdom work on your behalf.  You have NO idea how far even $10 can go to make a difference in the life of someone.

Yes, missionaries are the true example of a Bondservant.  God, please bless each and everyone of them.

Praising God for a Changing & Breaking Heart,

Kim

They replied, "Seven loaves, and a few small fish."

In Matthew 15:34 Jesus asked the disciples "How much bread do you have?"  they replied, "sevel loaves, and a small few fish." 


WHAT?  ONLY this to feed the multitudes, the thousands that are hungry?  The thousands that are seeking something from a man who brings hope for a future, dignity to the poor, health to the sick, peace to the hurting?

The other day, one of the LAMb missionaries posted a blog with all of the needs that they have facing them personally and the LAMb team in general.  Surgeries, home for transitional teens, Dayspring sponsorship's, orphan sponsors, senior sponsors, training supplies, travel needs, the list goes on.  Want to see what I mean:  Act of Kindness.  Take a look.  It can feel overwhelming.  But the needs are legitimate.  Can you imagine how much this weighs on the hearts of the LAMb team to want to help, to want to make things just a bit better, to bless those they come in contact with?  It takes support.  Support from those of us here in the comforts of our North America homes where we have SOOOOO much more than those in these third world countries, those who live with unstable governments, those who see there is so much more to be done in their own country if only they had a little help to get started.

Today I was talking with a friend about Randy and I going to an adoption conference this weekend to represent LAMb.  My heart is heavy with the burden to find support.  It hurts not knowing how to get the word out.  My prayer each time we do this is to reach a heart of an individual, a pastor, someone that sees that they can do something to help support a missionary team and make a difference in the life of someone whom they may never meet.  She mentioned that she wishes and prays for the day when they have the money to support missions.  I realized instantly that we so often don't even realize that $10 a month can make a BIG difference.  Why?  Because one $10's here and another here comes to $20.  Maybe someone can donate $20 a month or more and then the support goes up!  We start to meet the needs that we mention because one person realized that their $10 DOES make a difference.  Look at the boy and the seven loaves of bread and a few fishes . . . Jesus didn't scoff and such a small amount when faced with the thousands . . . He multiplied the givings and fed the thousands.  God still works in the land of miracles.  He hasn't stopped since Jesus went to be in heaven with Him.

I want to get the word out that $10 a month to help an orphan, senior or a family in need will grow.  It will grow and those who give will be blessed.  God doesn't look at the amount, He looks at the giver and the deepest part of their heart and blesses them for helping those in need.

Please DON'T EVER think that $10 can do nothing . . . if ONLY you knew what God can do with that $10!!!!!

Be blessed my friend!

Kim  

The Old Man in the Store

I was in the Honda dealership this morning to have my car AC looked at - it's blowing hot air - not a good thing.  And no . . . it wasn't hot air coming from me!  I'm waiting for the call to tell us how much.  God is in control and whatever it is, it is.  We will survive.

But that isn't the purpose of this blog, it's about the man I 'met' in the dealership storeroom.  I had to wait for the shuttle driver to return from his previous run to take me to work.  As I waited I looked around but couldn't but notice an older man sitting in a chair waiting for his car to be ready.  Based on how he was dressed and looked I imagined him to be someone who was used to be up early to get things done.  Probably a farmer in his younger years.  Maybe getting ready to have breakfast with his buddy's at a local diner.  He had a nice smile and seemed very pleasant.  I thought several times as I paced around the new cars that I really should say something to him.  Lots of times, elderly and the disabled are ignored and not spoken to. Unlike a good looking man or woman who people want to interact with.  I am trying to change that about myself.  The stories they can tell.  I want to learn to enjoy them.  I want to truly listen and engage and make it about them and not about me and what may make me uncomfortable.  Kyrgyzstan has done that for me.  The seniors at Kemin who just want to talk, the men at Iskra who have said 'Thank You for touching us and treating us with dignity' - people shun them, ignore them, afraid of them - they are just like us . . .

So, I finally said to myself 'Kim here's your chance to make a difference'.   Finally after five minutes I took a real close look (from a small distance) and thought "he isn't moving".  I causally moved to the other side to get a different look at him and casually evaluated him, and thought "he is't blinking".  Something wasn't right here.  I began to worry.  Do I just leave with the shuttle driver and let someone else deal with this?  I did said to him, "so you are waiting for your car as well?".  No answer.  Then I made my decision.  With determination but not panic to cause undo attention, I sprinted to the service manager.  I called him aside from a customer and asked about the man sitting in the showroom.  We were within eyesight of the man and I was cautious not to make it totally obvious to the man that we were talking about him.  The service manager just smiled and said "that is your shuttle driver, didn't he come to get you?"  I was like "no, the older man sitting over there.  He isn't moving and isn't blinking."  The service manager reiterated "That's your shuttle driver".  I replied again, "no the older man sitting there".  Keep in mind this man was sitting in the showroom when the manager took me up there to look for the driver.  All of a sudden the manager started laughing.  The older man was actually a practical joke on the owner of the dealership several months back and their little 'friend' has remained in the showroom to create conversation for those who have come in.  They have had '911' called, someone try to break the glass to get to him to get him assistance, and many many other stories.  The older man is actually an amazing amazing 'dummy' that is so lifelike that it is almost impossible to realize he isn't real.

I laughed it off, took some pictures, and proceed on to work when the real shuttle driver arrived.  But what I did realize is that I am changing. I took the time to at least talk to this man who seemed pleasant and interesting.  And who I was sure had stories to tell.  Well . . . he does but he can't tell them.

I also took action and went to get further assistance.  What if he had truly expired?  What if I had just left him sitting there without getting him help.  I am proud of myself.  Proud that God is changing my heart for those who others may not want to engage with.  Not proud actually . . . thankful.  Thankful that God is giving  me a compassionate and caring heart and spirit.  I know I keep saying this but I can't wait to go back to Kyrgyzstan.  I want to just sit with the seniors and hear their stories and talk about their lives, their dreams, their wants.  I want them to know that someone from another country loves them but more importantly that GOD loves them.  I want to spend time with the men from Iskra and experience new things with them like the man in the wheelchair that had the FIRST ever opportunity to feel the spray from a waterfall on his face because his buddies and the LAMb team CARRIED him up the hill/mountain to the falls.  I want to talk to the orphans and hear about their dreams for the future and pray that I can help find the resources to help them make that dream come true.  I want to do more . . . I want to be God's hands, His Feet, His mouth.

Back to 'Normal' Life

Based on my phone, it's been 33 days since our departure date for Kyrgyzstan.  I wish it was since we arrived in Kyrgyzstan and that we were still there.

Randy and I are back into our normal schedule finally this week after a few crazy weeks doing things out of the normal since we returned back to North America.  Our return this time is different.  I definitely know it is for me and I can tell in lots of ways it is for Randy as well.  A day doesn't go by where I don't think about the people we met in Kyrgyzstan.  I can still feel the hugs from the Girls of Dayspring, see the years of experience in the eyes of the seniors of Kemin, the need to be accepted from the disabled men in Iskra, the eagerness to share culture from the families of the Village of Kemin, the disbelief on the faces of the staff at medical centers and orphanages when they receive a donation from foreigners that they can't afford to do on their own (basic medical supplies included!!!!!!!!!).

This time to leave was VERY hard and I don't think many days go by that I don't tear up and feel the loss of separation from those that I met.  (nice . . . tears and I'm sitting in a public restaurant . . .)  This is REALLY different from last year.  My heart is breaking.  I want to do more.  I want to make a difference.  But I don't know how.  What is needed takes money to support those who are there working, those who want to move there permanently but don't have the resources.  The monies to purchase more space for the national staff to work from and to manage the activities going on in Kyrgyzstan, the monies to purchase a home to rescue transitional teens who are aging out of the orphanages and if they don't get rescued will only have a 1/3 chance of survival.  THIS IS OVERWHELMING!!!!  I feel this burden like never before.  I feel this burden for the LAMb team as they see the needs and try to figure out HOW to do it all.  If my heart is breaking just imagine how they are all feeling . . . they know the orphans at risk of being abandoned to the streets, the families that are struggling to survive - they know the faces, they know the potential if only they just had a little help.

What can we do?  We can continue to pray - pray that God opens up the floodgates in this wonderful country. Pray that the LAMb team is blessed and anointed to do His work.  We can also get the word out.  We can find sponsors willing to support a child, a senior, a family, a disabled man on a monthly basis.  We can go to adoption conferences to talk about LAMb, we can find churches that want to hear more about A World without Orphans, we can find organizations that want to know how to help an orphanage or a medical clinic that has nothing including basic supplies.  We can do this but how to start?  I don't know but time to take that to prayer as well.  God is changing us.  He is changing our hearts.  We want to listen.  We want to obey.  We are seeking for our purpose here on this earth . . .

This blog may be a bit rambling or confusing but it is my heart.  It is some of what I am thinking and feeling now that we are back.  I can absolutely say that I am forever changed and I'm 99.9999999% sure that Randy is as well . . .

His vessel to be used,

Kim