Changing a life

"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." -James 1:27

"A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation." -Psalm 68:5

“You shall not afflict any widow or orphan”. -Exodus 22:22

“Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” -Isaiah 1:17

“Your rulers are rebellious, and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless.” -Isaiah 1:23

“But You, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.” -Psalm 10:14


“Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of the least of these, you did it unto Me.” -Matthew 25: 45


There is an growing epidemic going on in the world that is only getting larger. Today there are an estimated 163 million orphans and displaced children worldwide (some sources site as many as 210 million) and that number is growing by one orphan every 2 seconds. That is enough children to go around the world at the equator 3 times! That number is also greater than the population in all of Russia. This sad number doesn't even include the millions of children that are abandoned or sold/trafficked. Without assistance these orphans continue the cycle of poverty, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, prostitution and slavery that haunts developing countries. In Africa due to HIV/AIDS, the number of orphans is growing exponentially. Africa has by far the greatest proportion of children that are orphans while Asia has the largest number of orphans due to its population size. In Eastern Europe, less than 50% of the orphan population will live to see their 20th birthdays and of those that do survive, 50% will end up in organized crime, drugs, or prostitution. In Africa, homeless children are armed and used for war. In the US, 25,000 children will leave the foster care system without families and 25% of these foster children will become homeless. 56% of these emancipated foster care children in the U.S. enter the unemployment ranks. 27% of the emancipated male children in foster care end up in jail and 30% of the emancipated foster care females experience early parenthood. 30,000 children in foster care are dropped from the state system because they ran away. In the US, there are 500,000 children left in the foster system each year. California alone is home to 20% of the national total of foster care children, a percentage that is drastically much larger than any other state. 70% of prison inmates in the US are said to have spent some time in a foster home at one time. That makes every person's life affected by this horrible statistics either directly or indirectly.

“Whoever receives a child in My name, receives Me.” -Matthew 18:5

In Russia, there are over 3 million orphans and homeless children. 60% of Russian children are sick and 1.5 million Russian children are classified as "special needs". After leaving a Russian orphanage, 80% of the females become prostitutes, 40% of these children become addicted to drugs, 50% become incarcerated, and more than 10% end up committing suicide.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." -Prov. 31:8

"Some studies have found that violence in residential institutions is six times higher than violence in foster care, and that children in group care are almost four times more likely to experience sexual abuse than children in family based care."

Every day 5,760 more children become orphans. Each day 38,493 orphans age out. An estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked every year; 2 million children, the majority of them girls, are sexually exploited in the multibillion-dollar commercial sex industry. (THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2005)

In Russia, 25% of children live in institutionalized orphanages. China is home to millions of abandoned children, mostly girls, living in institutions across the country. These facilities lack heat, electricity, indoor plumbing and adequate laundry facilities. These institutions are often understaffed, overcrowded and under-resourced. Special needs children are especially underserved.

My heart breaks for these millions of children who deserve to feel loved and deserve to know about Jesus and the TRUE Father to the fatherless. Please pray for these children and that God will give them a better future with an opportunity to hear about His love for them; that God will continue to send more laborers out into His harvest, to share HIS love to these precious children. These statistics can be overwhelming, but nothing is too big for our God. He loves His children and wants them protected. As one person we may not be able to change the world, but we can change the world for one person. Change the world for the heart of that child who deserves to know and feel love. Adopt, foster, sponsor, counsel, mentor, lead, protect... most importantly LOVE HIS PRECIOUS CHILDREN.

Jesus said, "Let the children come to ME, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven". -Matt. 19:14




Amazing organizations that make a difference in their countries in the lives of orphans:
Russia: http://agaperu.org
Africa: http://www.empoweringlives.org

Sponsorships:
World Vision: http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/pages/sponsor-a-child?open&campaign=1193512&cmp=KNC-1193512

Gospel for Asia: http://www.gfa.org/sponsorachild/

Why Orphans? from World Orphans on Vimeo.

WAIT on the Lord- Ps. 27

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter". -Martin Luther King Jr.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

I read a quote that touched my heart deeply during my devotion the other day, "What's your dream and to what corner of the mission's world will it take you?" That is a question I have now posted above my desk so that I can read and ponder it often.

"If missions languish, it is because the whole life of godliness is feeble. The command to go everywhere and preach to everybody is not obeyed until the will is lost by self-surrender in the will of God. Living, praying, giving, and going will always be found together." -Arthur T. Pierson

There have been many things on my heart lately as I prepare for the many opportunities to serve the Lord this year in ministries He's called me to and as my heart gets prepared for the major direction changes He's bringing. As I have spent much time in reflection and searching the Lord's direction for my life, one thing I have fought to come to a conclusion about is that I need to distinguish my will from the Lord's will so that as I conform my life more to Christ, His will becomes my will. When we choose to follow Christ, we are no longer our own, no longer of this world, no longer lord of our own lives... for our will died with our flesh when we chose to obey and follow Christ with our lives. We lay our lives down at the cross, surrendered and ready to go the direction the Lord wills, and to serve Him with all that we have, however and wherever that may take us.

"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice is too great for me to make for Him". -C.T. Studd

The reason for mission trips, is to grow closer to Jesus and to share Him with others. It's about evangelizing the lost and discipling the saved. "We are His workmanship" (Eph. 2:10)... we no longer serve ourselves, but the Holy and Mighty God, Creator of the world. I believe that's a huge part of serving the Lord: to be able to go anywhere, do anything, and lay down everything to serve Him, to follow His path and will for our lives. This has been one of my biggest prayers for years, yet also a part of me can honestly say, one of my biggest fears is what that may bring. Last weekend my pastor at church remarked about following the Lord as feeling like: "I'm willing God, I'm trembling and scared, but I'll go".

"Where You go, I'll go...Where You stay, I'll stay... I'll follow YOU."

"I have but one passion: it is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ."

I pray so often that the Lord will help me to obey what He's calling me to do, because as He's revealing more and more His plan for me, the choices I have to make will not be easy. I pray He Strengthens me to advance His Kingdom and that it is only Him who is living and moving in me. Often times we can feel like we wish we knew what God was doing with our lives, for what purpose events are occurring, or better yet, where are You taking me Lord? Sometimes I wish I had the answers to these questions as well, to reason that, possibly it would be easier to follow if I knew where I was going. In being completely honest, would it really make anything easier? Or would it be more difficult to be obedient if we knew what trials or persecution await us in the future? Every time I read the Gospels, I am in awe that Jesus made the choices He did, to come to earth knowing what was awaiting Him. He freely chose to give His life and die that we might live and have everlasting life... knowing the persecution and hatred that would come, He still came, He still lived on this earth, and He still died on the cross for us, so that it would be finished. As His followers and as missionaries, how I wish that even my love for Him would easily compel me to make the same decision. To give up what He tells me to give up, to go where He calls me to go, to serve who He calls me to serve, and to love His people whom He's called me to love. Oh how I wish that were an easy decision... throughout the many lessons these past several years this has become easier, but it is still far from easy. How often do I drag my feet in "obedience" or deny having heard His voice or calling on my life or freely take in His blessings but not commands or how often do I even surrender back over to Him, His blessings that He's bestowed upon me, without calling them my "sacrifices to Him"?

With all of these struggles and questions filling my mind lately, I am so ever thankful that I can always find rest in my almighty, powerful Lord; He alone is my Comforter, Sovereign King, Abba Father, Jehovah Jireh and my true Refuge in times of struggle or pain. His joy comes in the morning, I don't need to lose heart because He has overcome the world; no matter who leaves or forsakes me, God will never leave me nor forsake me, He is my Rock and in Him alone, I find peace and hope in my soul.

"It is inconceivable that our Master would leave us to stand alone when we are standing for Him". -Amy Carmichael

"The word "forsake" conveys the idea of 'leaving comrades exposed to peril in the conflict, or forsaking them in some crisis of danger". Our Lord God, Provider and Protector, could NEVER do that. Even though we may be trembling at what He calls us to do, we never need to fear obeying the inward calling on our lives.

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me... no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand." -John 10:27,29

"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you... And the LORD, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed". -Deut. 31:6,8