Filled to Overflowing

Filled to overflowing...


The Chip In account.  Twice a goal has been set.  Twice it has been exceeded.  All because of His overwhelming generosity displayed through the donations and prayers of so many of you.  Thank you!


Filled to overflowing...


The suitcase that sits in the corner of my room.  A testimony to His mercy.  Two cases of formula are here.  Two more will arrive this week.  A little girl has been lavished with love by Him through you.  And additional funds have allowed for the purchasing of even more supplies including much needed nebulizers that will be used by many of the other children.


Filled to overflowing...


This mother's heart as two little girls made their way to my room the other night, fists tightly clinched around wrinkled bills.  "Will it be enough?" they asked as I counted.  Yes.  Enough for one more can of formula for little Rosie.  They beamed and I marveled.  And was reminded once again that God is doing a thousand things in everything He does. (Piper)


Filled to overflowing...


The heart of a Father towards His children. "He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out..."


And He invites us to join Him.
To receive.
To give.
To love.
And to be filled to overflowing with Him.

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways 

so that you're ready for anything and everything, 

more than just ready to do what needs to be done. 

As one psalmist puts it,    

He throws caution to the winds,
giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
never run out, never wear out.
This most generous God 

who gives seed to the farmer 

that becomes bread for your meals 

is more than extravagant with you. 

He gives you something you can then give away, 

which grows into full-formed lives, 

robust in God, 

wealthy in every way, 

so that you can be generous in every way, 

producing with us great praise to God.

2 Corinthians 9: 8-11 (The Message)

Good News...

We received our first shipment of Rosie's formula today!

Turns out it doesn't weigh as much as I thought. 
Or take up as much space.
(Confirming the fact that math is not my strong point.)


But as the lovely and gracious Lia demonstrates below, we have room for even more!

 $30 will provide Rosie with one can of formula.

And we are about $80 away from being able to buy 2 more cases.
Thank you so much for your contributions and prayers towards this sweet girl!
It is so exciting to watch Him provide for her in such a way.
 

Eyes to See

On the surface it may seem like "no big deal."

A little girl in need.
A few cans of formula.
A quick online order.
And that's it.
It's how we do things around here.
No big deal. 

When I first contacted the orphanage about what type of supplies we could bring when we came, I was told that Rosie, one of their little girls, was in need of a special kind of formula.

I didn't know why it was needed.
Or what it would cost.
Or how to get it.
But I would try.


OK, I'll admit, that much, in and of itself, was a big deal.
Fundraising, organizing, attention to detail.
For some people that comes easy.
They can do stuff like that in their sleep.
But not me.
I can't even sleep in my sleep most nights.
And any ability to give attention to detail or stay organized disappeared about 3 children ago.

Still I wanted to help.
It wasn't rocket science but it did take some time and thought.
Both of which are scarce these days.

And so it began.
I searched for the formula.
Explored ways to have money donated.
Corresponded with the orphanage.
Put up a post with a way to contribute.
Made a pretty good mess of it the first go round.
Wondered if I really should be doing this at all.
Tried it again.
And waited.

In a few hours a little over $300 was given. (THANK YOU!)
When combined with other donations, that amount covered the cost of 2 cases of formula.
The order was placed yesterday.
In a few days it will arrive on my doorstep.
In a few weeks we will deliver it to Rosie.
No big deal. 

Except...

Except that it IS a big deal.
And here's why.

While corresponding with the orphanage, I learned that they are trying to stretch her current supply to last until the end of February.  
We planned our trip months ago.
We barely knew who this sweet girl was let alone her need.
But, Lord willing, we will arrive in Beijing the first weekend in March with more formula. 

It's a big deal because I don't know Rosie at all.
But Jesus does.
It's a big deal because I didn't know that the time of our visit would correspond with the time she would need more formula.
But Jesus did.
It's a big deal because I didn't know that 1 year ago, while standing in the Beijing airport, struggling with the consequences of our canceled flight and the need to spend more money on new tickets, those chain of events would allow us to go back. 
Because if all that hadn't happened, we probably wouldn't be going back.
At least not right now.
But Jesus knew.
He knew every last bit of it.

And through all these seemingly insignificant circumstances this is what I see.

I see the heart of a Father who delights in showing mercy to those in need and is pleased to use the weak to do so.
I see the strength of a King who holds all time and circumstances in His hands always working them for our good and His glory.
I see the compassion of a Savior who desires that we would have eyes to see His matchless grace that is put on display all around us over and over again throughout the course of our days.
And that in so seeing, we would believe that He is every bit of who He says He is and live accordingly.

Too often I rationalize away the countless works of His hands that happen right in front of me as "no big deal."
But today He gave me eyes to see.
And I believe.