I was recently invited to a prayer breakfast with guest speaker Janet Huckabee (wife of Gov. Mike Huckabee). I had prior plans to attend my weekly BSF class, but decided this would be an excusable absence from the class with such a strict attendance policy. Some may chuckle as BSF is only a bible study, but it is not just a bible study, but an intense in depth study of God's word that thousands of women all over the world come together one day a week, not to socialize, discuss church politics, or current politics for that matter, but to learn more from the Book that was written for us to use as our map and guide in this gracious life we were given. So yes, it kind of was a big deal to skip:) I accepted the invitation and responded to the RSVP, changing my Wednesday morning plans.
As I excitedly entered into the building where I was soon to meet one of my favorite Christian leader's wives, I found myself sitting at a table of strangers. Among them was a 19 year old girl named Zoya, who introduced herself, displaying a very Russian accent. We all carried on introducing ourselves, but centered in on Zoya, who began to share with us how Russia was a Godless society. I was immediately intrigued by her as I love to hear about other cultures and people's stories of how they came here, and especially how they came to know Christ in spite of communism! I could tell by her talk she was a Christian and asked her where and how did she learn about Jesus and she told me it was in an orphanage. Her parents, young brother and older sister had died in a car accident when she was three, so she and her twin brother were sent to an orphanage. I was instantly burdened at the thoughts of this but I knew this story would only get better as the happy ending was sitting, in person, right before my very eyes! She asked me If I had heard of Samaritans Purse, and the Christmas shoe boxes. Of course I had! We shopped for three orphans last year and placed a picture of each of our A's in each box. She told me how Samaritans Purse is only allowed to come to the orphanage twice in a life time, but each time they present the gospel. The first time she did not accept Christ, maybe because of fear, maybe because she wasn't ready, but the seed was planted and the second time when they came she prayed, giving her heart and life to the Lord! In her prayer she requested for a family in America to adopt her and her twin brother soon so they could worship the ONE true God in a God honoring country. (He will give you the desires of your heart, when He is what your heart desires!...Just one of my all time favorite quotes I had to slip in there) Back to her story. Six weeks later, her and her brother were adopted to a family in Missouri.
Tears flooded my eyes as this 19 year old told her astounding story with little to no emotion herself. What was really heart wrenching was her mentioning how those gifts were the only two they had ever received while at the orphanage. She said it was so important that we put a picture in it, because each orphan would take that picture ( if they got one) and place it over their bed to remind them that someone really does care and someone loved them enough to send them a present. What a perfect entrance to display the knowledge and truth that there is also someone who loved them (these orphans) enough to die for them and the shoebox is how we as Christians, "little-Christ's" are able to exemplify just a very very small attribute of His love for mankind. For me, this young lady's story took the significance of Operation Christmas Child to another level. Sometimes we do things so routinely that you have to wonder, is it really making a difference? Well on this day I couldn't help but walk away thinking, the little things that we do that sometimes can seem so small and quaint for the cause of Christ, in the end, work together for His Kingdom in a very big way!
In speaking of Christian love, I don't want to forget about another testimony I was privileged to witness while attending this event. This one is very different, but I am going to tie the two together in the end. Mrs. Huckabee called a lady to come to the microphone and share her story and testimony. This lady was a little hesitant, but she went up and began to speak. She was a victim of abortion. She had aborted her baby years ago and since has had two beautiful little girls. She talked about how God has forgiven her, but is reminded often throughout her life of the missing person that isn't there to share life with the remainder of her family. What an emotional yet brave thing for her to get up in front of so many and share her story without holding back. I made my way to talk to this lady after it was over, and told her about a memorial service we held at our church in Miami. This was for all of the babies who had lost their lives and the hurting moms who were suffering with the memory of what was allowed to happen. I expected this woman to say she has heard of this sort of thing, but tears came to her quickly as she said she never had and how amazing that would be to have an opportunity for closure. She told me that in the past she had thought republicans hated her for what she had done, but it wasn't until she met Todd Akin who approached her in a very loving and accepting manner, that she realized we only see them as a victims of this holocaust. This woman, who is a believer now, said she will deal with the consequences of this for the rest of her life, but she has peace knowing she will see her baby one day in heaven, and God has forgiven her. People are so deceived when what they think is a right or a choice, is the very thing robbing them of the CHOICE...the choice should come when the baby arrives. Every mom should have a chance to look her baby in the eye and decide whether or not she wants to keep her baby or give it up to a family in need. What is so hard about that? There is no killing involved and a family gets blessed while another is relieved of the responsibilities of being a parent. There are so many couples wanting to adopt, and have so many hurdles to climb in their efforts to do so. I even know of some who have spent $35,000 dollars in this process. In spite of what they spent, that adopted child is priceless to them. How is it possible that in the same country where the demand for babies is so high, thousands of babies are being killed everyday? We sure are one blinded society.
Both of these woman I was so privileged to meet and hear stories from bring together my two biggest reason's for why I am voting Romney-Ryan this coming election. A godless society says it all when Zoya spoke of socialist Russia and what she knows and has experienced to be true there. If we continue in this direction, I'm soon not going to be able to post blogs using the name of Christ. Our freedoms will be stripped away from us piece by piece and God's hand of protection will strongly be lifted away from us as a nation. I don't think there really is an answer for all of the mess we are in, but if we continue in this blinded chaotic spiral to destruction, it will only get much much worse. Our children will only dream of life as we once knew it and our country will no longer be the special sought-after land it once was. Yes, we need to take care of our planet. Yes, we need to help others in rightful need. But no, we do not and cannot do it right without God... One Nation Under God...Obama, you can work towards taking away our freedoms, but I will die before allowing you to rob my family of my Faith.
