They Will Know We Are Christians By Our LOVE

So, we got into the elevator at the hotel with another man who looked like a business man from Egypt or someplace close to there.  He looked at us and said, "I have to ask you a question.  I see lots of foreigners carrying Chinese children around.  Why are they doing this?".  We explained that we were all adopting the children and he looked confused.  Please know that adoption is not at all accepted or done in some other countries.  He asked, "So, you take them home and raise them forever?  Do many people do this?"  We explained that yes, they are ours forever and there are lots of families that do this, lots here right now.  We of course did not know how he would react, but he was to his floor now and he got out of the elevator and smiled at us and said, "It is good.  It is good."

I know that what saves us all is the belief in Christ, and not any good works.  However, James also tells us that good works will follow when we become believers.  I hate to think so many people in the world, especially in America see Christians as fake and hypocritical and do not see God's love shining through each of us.  In truth, we are all sinners and we are all fallen, but shouldn't people  be able to say, "Hey, those Christians certainly aren't perfect and they mess up, but you can really see LOVE shine through them."  No one should be able to deny that we are a fallen bunch, but we do our best to be Christ-like.

We are kind of in a holding pattern right now here in Guangzhou.  Since we got in barely before the shutdown for Chinese New Year, we do not have our consulate appointment until tomorrow morning and then we do not get his visa until Friday and they couldn't get us out on Saturday, so we will leave on Sunday. That means today is a hang out day, tomorrow we have an hour consulate appointment and then we hang out, then Friday we wait until afternoon for the visa, and then Saturday we head to Hong Kong.  There is another lady here with her daughter who is in the same boat as us, so we are getting to know her better and she is such a great person that God had us planned to be together here.  :)  It is actually the same person who got our LOA switched months ago.  So, we are having fun exploring Guangzhou and eating the delicious breakfast here and getting to hang out as a family of five.  :)

 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it.   In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”  Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.  James 2:14-18