Spiritual Malnutrition
By Melissa Cotter
The un-denying sad image flashes across the screen daily. Boney, pale fingers connected to thin, string-like arms. Bare, bruised and cut feet connected to stick-like legs and rickety knees. A bloated potbelly connected to a cage-like set of rib bones cascading across the chest. All these features connected to a beautiful face with the deep brown eyes of a young child.
Yes, we are given a message of physical malnutrition in an area of the world with a desperate need. Those listening are asked to give or do anything that could contribute and help these children.
The Lord has a similar message of His children suffering from spiritual malnutrition. Instead of the quality food of His Scripture filling our bellies, we have junk food such as an unbeliever’s argument to our unknowledgeable Bible skills, or quick snacks here and there to keep us going, such as one verse for the week. We aren’t going to die from skipping a meal or two presented to us by the preaching, but slowly our arms began to wither. Our muscles are too weak to help hold up and encourage our brother or sister in their time of need.
Traveling down the road we are set to secular radio stations, hearing the messages of fornication, alcoholism and temptation. God may not strike us dead, but we miss out on the love He is sharing and His presence just a dial away with inspiring tunes telling of His gospel. We are losing spiritual nutrition, and now our hands and fingers are too weak to be lifted up in praise of His glory.
At home when we are presented with a trail or an unfortunate situation, we talk of all the possibilities our minds can imagine. We skip bending to our knees in prayer and become weaker. Now, our legs and knees no longer function to carry us along God’s path for us in His will.
When Wednesday or Sunday church services approach, we clutch onto our reason to be anywhere but participating in the fellowship of God’s people. Again, we lose spiritual growth and become weaker in our faith. Instead, our feet are no longer grounded on the foundation God has given us and we waver at any sign of outside force caught up in deceit and confusion.
We haven’t been feeding ourselves with the food God is providing. We find ourselves picky eaters and most often times going to bed hungry. We have enough to make us look okay with a potbelly, but connected to that is weak and unfruitful members of the body that can no longer be utilized for God’s work. It truly is a sad image, a spiritual malnutrition child of God.
The Lord is sending out the message that there is a desperate need in this world. As children of God, He wants our cups to be overflowing, for us to have gone from milk to meat. He wants anyone who will listen to give anything or do anything that would make a change and benefit the lives of the spiritual malnutrition of His children.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Malia
Setting in a medal chair across from a woodworking table in shop class as the teacher rolled a television into the corner, I never thought my vision would be impacted in such a big way.
My shop teacher brought to class that day a collection of a few documentaries showing the story of Chinese orphans. He probably thought he would make a bunch of teens take a second and be thankful for the American way of living. It was much more to me, and what I have invision from that day has never faded.
I decided in shop class I wanted to have the opportunity to adopt a child from one of these orphanges. I wanted the opportunity to take in one of these little girls with the privledge of becoming their mother. I wanted to offer hugs and kisses, and more importantly, love.
Of course, 7th grade was a very long time ago. At that time, I didn't know how far I would go with my education. I didn't know who I would date or marry. I didn't know if I would give birth to any children, yet my desire remained and remains today.
I am married to a wonderful husband. We have Autumn, our first little girl. As I look at my family, I pray there is still the opportunity in the future to fullfil my desire. My desire is to bring more children to our family to love.
China's requirements for adoption is that the parents are at least 30-years-old. I will be 26 in three months. Four years and counting down. It becomes more real as more time passes, and as Brandon encourages the decision with more support. This was my dream, my desire, and my hope, but as I have always wanted to adopt from China, Brandon has adopted my dream, desire and hope as his own.
Her name will be Malia... which means perhaps or probably... So, in years to come Malia will probably be welcomed to our home if it's God's will.
SIDE NOTE: I had the priveledge of meeting with a family in 2007 who adopted their little girl, Malia, from China. Their story made my vision real and obtainable. It also surprized me with her name being the very same name, God gave me as a teen for our little Chineese girl.
My shop teacher brought to class that day a collection of a few documentaries showing the story of Chinese orphans. He probably thought he would make a bunch of teens take a second and be thankful for the American way of living. It was much more to me, and what I have invision from that day has never faded.
I decided in shop class I wanted to have the opportunity to adopt a child from one of these orphanges. I wanted the opportunity to take in one of these little girls with the privledge of becoming their mother. I wanted to offer hugs and kisses, and more importantly, love.
Of course, 7th grade was a very long time ago. At that time, I didn't know how far I would go with my education. I didn't know who I would date or marry. I didn't know if I would give birth to any children, yet my desire remained and remains today.
I am married to a wonderful husband. We have Autumn, our first little girl. As I look at my family, I pray there is still the opportunity in the future to fullfil my desire. My desire is to bring more children to our family to love.
China's requirements for adoption is that the parents are at least 30-years-old. I will be 26 in three months. Four years and counting down. It becomes more real as more time passes, and as Brandon encourages the decision with more support. This was my dream, my desire, and my hope, but as I have always wanted to adopt from China, Brandon has adopted my dream, desire and hope as his own.
Her name will be Malia... which means perhaps or probably... So, in years to come Malia will probably be welcomed to our home if it's God's will.
SIDE NOTE: I had the priveledge of meeting with a family in 2007 who adopted their little girl, Malia, from China. Their story made my vision real and obtainable. It also surprized me with her name being the very same name, God gave me as a teen for our little Chineese girl.
Another article to read
They were wrong...
By Melissa Cotter
People always said I would drag you down in life. They were wrong. You pulled me down beside you on our knees in prayer.
People always said it would be too hard to live in separate cities. They were wrong. We live together in each other’s hearts.
People said we wouldn’t finish a higher education. They were wrong. God brought us to our college graduation with honors.
People said I wasn’t pretty enough for you. They were wrong. Our relationship is a beautiful creation from God.
People said we were too different to last. They were wrong. We have forever to learn our common interests.
People said I didn’t have enough money to deserve you. They were wrong. I am richly blessed with your love.
People said we were too young to say, “I do.” They were wrong. From sweet 16 to our 60s, our commitment is an unbreakable tie.
People said we weren’t ready for a kid. They were wrong. God gave us a precious gift; a child, and an example of pure love in parenting.
People said we weren’t strong enough. They were right, because in our weakness, the Lord shows us His strength.
This is for everyone who was ever told they weren’t good enough; that they couldn’t make it. Those words are easily spoken, as God easily proves them wrong.
By Melissa Cotter
People always said I would drag you down in life. They were wrong. You pulled me down beside you on our knees in prayer.
People always said it would be too hard to live in separate cities. They were wrong. We live together in each other’s hearts.
People said we wouldn’t finish a higher education. They were wrong. God brought us to our college graduation with honors.
People said I wasn’t pretty enough for you. They were wrong. Our relationship is a beautiful creation from God.
People said we were too different to last. They were wrong. We have forever to learn our common interests.
People said I didn’t have enough money to deserve you. They were wrong. I am richly blessed with your love.
People said we were too young to say, “I do.” They were wrong. From sweet 16 to our 60s, our commitment is an unbreakable tie.
People said we weren’t ready for a kid. They were wrong. God gave us a precious gift; a child, and an example of pure love in parenting.
People said we weren’t strong enough. They were right, because in our weakness, the Lord shows us His strength.
This is for everyone who was ever told they weren’t good enough; that they couldn’t make it. Those words are easily spoken, as God easily proves them wrong.
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