An Abandoned Calling: Will the people of God step up?

There's no question in my mind that extreme poverty and injustice wreak havoc on this world; I've witnessed it with my own two eyes. I've seen wide-eyed toddlers wrangled up from the streets and brought to prison because they had nowhere else to go. I've walked into one-room homes for families of 6+ made out of scrap wood and garbage. I've stared into the weary, saddened eyes of orphaned children.

I cannot pretend that this unimaginable injustice is not happening...right as I type these words. Because it is.

There is a child whose belly angrily growls as he once again does not eat supper. There is a young woman who sells her body because she sees no way of overcoming her circumstances. There are literally millions of people dying because of disease, hunger, thirst...because of poverty and injustice.

And yet we're numbed.

The statistics. The stories. The commercials with the faces of "those hungry children." We flip the channel, shut the magazine, put down the paper. "I can't watch this," we say. "It's too sad." With the push of a button, we tune out living, breathing, human life.

What is wrong with this picture? Why have the people of God abandoned their call to bring the redeeming power of Jesus to this broken world?

Do we think Jesus was kidding when He said to love our neighbors as ourselves? Am I loving my neighbor when I don't stop care about his starvation? Myself doesn't even like to be hungry, let alone starving to death.
Was it a giant, inexplicable metaphor when He said, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40)? The widow. The orphan. The sex-trafficking victim. The homeless. As Mother Theresa said these are the "faces of Christ in one of its more distressing forms." How are we treating Jesus Christ when we choose to ignore the poor?


I make no claims to be above our sometimes chosen ignorance, or "forgetfulness," about the poor. There was a time in my life when I gave no thought to those across the globe and even in my own city who were living in poverty and pain. But God has opened my eyes; He has broken my heart. I refuse to let myself fall into this lie that it is not my responsibility to care for the poor. If I am who I say I am, a Christian, than I have an obligation to serve the poor. No, my works do not bring me salvation, but I have not been saved simply for heaven. I have been saved in order to bring a piece of God's glory to this earth by caring for His people--the lowest, the broken, hurting, oppressed. 


People of God, when will we step up? Will you support financially? Will you adopt? Will you serve where you are? Will you go abroad? Will you say, "Here I am, Lord, send me" no matter what He asks you to give up?

Can we pray this together?

"My name is [Ellie Billman], and I have been blind to the injustices and sins of omission committed by my own church. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, to see the world as You see it. Let my heart be broken by the things that break Your heart. Give me the ability to see through our culture and to lead my people with Your vision, instead of the world's" 
From The Hole in Our Gospel

A Train-track Kind of Joy

Happy Monday! 


As I begrudgingly checked my email earlier (side note: I've found that email gets less and less exciting as you get older), I found a little somethin' from my pops. Thanks for sharing out of your devotional with me, Daddio! 

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Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.

You’ll find nothing in that definition about happy feelings, because, as we all know, happiness is fleeting and temporary.

We tend to think that life comes in hills and valleys. In reality, it’s much more like train tracks. Every day of your life, wonderful, good things happen that bring pleasure and contentment and beauty to you. At the exact same time, painful things happen to you or those you love that disappoint you, hurt you, and fill you with sorrow. These two tracks — both joy and sorrow — run parallel to each other every single moment of your life.

That’s why, when you’re in the midst of an amazing experience, you have a nagging realization that it’s not perfect. And while you’re experiencing something painful, there’s the glorious realization that there is still beauty and loveliness to be found. They’re inseparable.

If you look down train tracks into the brightness of the horizon, the tracks become one. You can’t distinguish them as two separate tracks. That’s how it will be for us, too. One day, our parallel tracks of joy and sorrow will merge into one. The day we meet Jesus Christ in person and see the brightness of who he is, it will all come together for us. Then it will all make complete sense.

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To come later this week: Reflections on "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns 

Help a Sister Out!

If you've been around on the 'ole blog, you probably know that this summer I have the chance to go on a mission trip to Limón, Costa Rica, a region of this beautiful country where the people are marginalized by the government.

The total cost of the trip is between $2300-$2600 (depending on flight costs). I'm asking you to prayerfully consider partnering with me for this trip, first in prayer and secondly financially.

There are a couple ways you can help.

#1 Go to the Visiting Orphans and click on the "Donate" Tab. It's fairly easy to figure out what to do from there. Just make sure in the Fund category you choose: July 16-Costa Rica and then put my name in the blank that asks if you would like the donation to go to a specific team member. Honest to goodness, every dollar makes a difference. Even a $5 donation can be used mightily by God.

#2 Purchase some Visiting Orphans merchandise on their website! They just came out with a whole new spring line. When you checkout, you can choose to allow some of your purchase to go toward my trip. Just be sure to put my name.

Here's some of the stuff!!

Happy shopping! 

Rejoice, Rejoice, and Again I Say Rejoice!

Reach down. Put your hand on your chest. Ya feel that? That heart pumping gallons and gallons of life-sustaining blood through your veins?

Your heart is not beating aimlessly at this moment.

There is a reason you have been given today. No matter how tired, sick, unhappy, or overwhelmed you are...This day was not a mistake.

Will you step up? Will you be who God has called you to be today?

Rejoice loudly. Live boldly. Love fiercely.

For, this is the day that the Lord has made. Be compelled to rejoice and be glad in it. 

Extraordinary Blessings: Happy Birthday to my very own Proverbs 31 woman!!

Well, ladies and gents, it's time to wrap up the Billman birthday season with none other than...

Our mother dearest!! 

Happy Birthday to my very own Proverbs 31 woman! 

Mom, your profound influence on my life will never go unnoticed. I am who I am today because of you! 

We are so different, so so different, but I believe in the deepest parts of my heart that this is the way God has designed our relationship. 

He knew what I needed from the very beginning, and you have been exactly that...what I need, day in and day out. 

I needed to learn how to be a friend.  You are such a great friend. I've watched for years as God has brought new people into our family's life, and time and time again I'm astounded at your ability to make anyone feel loved and welcome. You are the easiest person to carry on conversation with, and everyone can tell that you are genuinely interested in what they have to say. Relationship building does not come as naturally to me, but you have modeled it so well. 

I needed to learn how to be confident in my identity in Christ. There's no beating around the bush, I have struggled deeply in finding my identity in Christ, but in all my wavering, self-conscious babble, and insecurity, you have never abandoned me as a lost cause. When I come to you for the billionth time, complaining about how I'm not happy with the way I am, you patiently repeat again and again, "You are beautiful;" "I'm proud of you;" "You will do great things." I cannot even begin to describe to you how much these words have meant to me.

I need to learn how to be a God-honoring wife. You know me, always thinking about the future...speaking of that, I'm so blessed to have parents who have modeled a Godly marriage! And being as I'll one day be a wife, I'm so thankful to have learned from the best. I love that you will candidly give us advice about married life, even now, instead of pushing it off to the side as something Emily and I will just have to figure out on our own. Watching you manage a household with ease is so inspirational; I want so badly to be a mom to my kids like you are to us and a wife like you are to Dad. Thank you for all your sacrifices for us: sleep, time, money to name a few. 

I needed to learn how to follow Jesus. The other day I was thinking about what my life would look like if I lived in a different family. The number one aha! that I had was that I might not know Jesus, if you and Dad weren't my parents. So, thank you! Thank you for modeling a relationship with God for me and for encouraging me to make it my own. 

Although we are different in so many ways, I also love the similarities we share. Cupcakes, cooking, Africa, reading books about orphans, Middle Eastern food, long conversations, Bible studies.

So, today, Mom, on your ? birthday (not sure you want the blog world to know ;) I hope you know how unfathomably loved you are. Thank you for all of your wise instruction, for teaching me how to do makeup and dress presentably, for loving me in spite of my many shortcomings, for giving me the idea to go to Africa on a mission trip, for your hours of work to make sure our family life runs smoothly, and, most importantly, for being a woman of God. 

I love you!! 

Extraordinary Blessings: Happy Birthday, Ry Guy!!

Happy Birthday, Ryan Paul! You've blessed me more than you could ever know. 

On March 6, 1995, I received a title that I've cherished deeply ever since. Ryan, you were the first to give me the honor of being a "big sister," and I am so so thankful that God placed you in my life. 

What a journey these last seventeen years as siblings has brought us! 

Perhaps a highlight reel is in order? 

In the last 17 years we have: 

+Welcomed two more Billman children into our family (and certainly showed them who the bosses were ;)

+Made countless forts and created millions of make-believe scenarios in our back yard 

+Prayed with Emily outside in the snow as she accepted Jesus

+Worked on countless math problem sets and papers (ok...maybe those weren't highlights...let's just stick with "learning experiences") 

+Rocked it out on PC Swim team together 

+Survived two big moves

A lot of times, people think that it's the little sibling that's supposed to look up to the older one, but truth be told, you are the one who should be admired in this relationship. I watch the steadfast love that you continually demonstrate to your friends...and I want to be a friend like that. 

I watch the way you approach life, easygoing and carefree, "sucking the marrow out of life" to quote you're favorite Thoreau (ha)...and I long to find joy like you, in even the most mundane. 

I listen to a room burst with uncontainable laughter (my own eye pouring out tears as I, too, laugh until I can no longer breathe) at your witty and timely humor...and I want to be around your contagious personality for hours upon hours.  

With fascination, I observe the ease and fluidity with which you recite mountains of information about Anatomy or History...and I think to myself, "This kid must certainly be a genius." 

I listen intently, as you vividly describe an experience or conversation related to faith and God...and my heart beats a little faster because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you will do amazing things for Jesus. 

Ryan, you are an absolute gift to this world: to our family, to your friends, and especially to me. I would love to claim that I "taught" you a lot of the things that you know, like a good big sister should, but the truth is that you have had so much more to teach me. Thank you for showing me how to live big, love hard, and enjoy the moments God has given me. Thank you for having a zest for life that beckons me away from my seriousness and not-so-sociability. Thank you for years of unconditional love that only a little brother can give. 

You are so so loved, Mr. Ry Guy! Cherish this day as we all celebrate 17 years of your life!! 

Happy Birthday!! 

Extraordinary Blessings: Who is it today?

The extraordinary blessing series continues!

I've had a bit of a dilemma, so before you think I'm completely jipping the other members of my immediate family, just know that Ry-guy and my momma will be getting "their own" posts, on their birthdays coming up next week. Miss Emily Kay got her "shout out" here; check it out to see what a gem this sweet girl is! 

So who do you get to read about in today's post?? 

Hmm...it was a tough decision ;) but I think we're gonna have to go with this guy! 

Mr. AJ Yunker.  

I'll try to condense the mush for you, but I'm not promising some won't sneak in ;) 

AJ, for those of you who aren't aware, is basically the best boyfriend that has ever walked the face of this earth...oopsies, let the mushy stuff sneak in already...darn. 

Seriously, though, talk to AJ for five seconds and you'll see it too. 

He has a fierce determination to accomplish anything set on his plate and a work ethic that knows no limits--not criticism, not crazily early mornings and tiring late nights, not an already full schedule. This determination applies to academics (he's a real smarty pants, let me just tell you!), his job with MSU's football team, and so much more. If AJ says it'll happen, it's going to happen, and you can count on that. AJ is as dependable as they come, never willing to compromise any commits that he has made. I'm inspired each day by his tenacity in making goals become a reality. Everything that AJ has accomplished in his life (believe me, the list is lengthy) has been earned by his own hard work. What a blessing to be daily challenged by this diligent worker!

Probably the thing I admire most about AJ is his love for God. I love his thirst for Biblical knowledge and for practical application in his life. I love that I am running this race of faith with someone who isn't afraid to ponder the tough questions, who is running fast after God, and who is a great encouragement to my own walk with God. 

There are so many things we have to learn from our close relationships, and my relationship with AJ is no exception. From him, I've learned many things, including: to find my value in who God created me to be; to never give up in an argument; and to march to my own beat and do what's right for me. 

AJ is...

A confidant for when my frustrations exceed tolerable levels. A reality check for when I feel like the weight of the orphans' burdens are heavy on my shoulders. A challenge for when I try to give up on something...again.  A source of joy as I'm reminded daily that we serve a sovereign God with impeccable timing who has woven our stories together in a topsy-turvy but oh so perfect way.

Thank you, Abba Father, for the way You have crafted my life with the utmost care. Thank you for bringing AJ into my life at exactly the right time, and thank you for the ways he continually blesses me. Again, I stand astounded at Your mighty work, both in his life, in my life, and in our relationship together.