The Lie

Sometimes I see things that leave me speechless.

And breathless.

And wondering.

And heartbroken.

And shaken.

And changed.

At least for a time.

And then I venture back into my comfy life, and it's almost as if I never left it.

I see orphanages full of children.

They seem happy enough.  And a week later I believe the lie that they are.  Except...

 ....this time is different.  I asked if any of these children had families committed to them, thinking I would take a photo to send to the waiting mommy and daddy.  The response:  "Some of them are 'stolen.'"  What?  They were taken from their families and have been recovered, but the families haven't been located yet.

We know it's real.  
Trafficking.  
Now an orphanage is a haven for recovered children?
I am thankful for this orphanage, and I'm even more thankful that children have been reclaimed.  I pray they are reunited with their families!

Church, what will we do?
About oppression?
About orphans?
Some think we need to 'take care of our own'.
Great!  What are you doing to 'take care of our own'?
I'm not suggesting that children on another continent are any more important to the Father than others.  Not at all!
But really, are we just too busy or too lazy to take care of anyone but ourselves?
We believe the lie that we are:
*too busy
*too poor
*too limited 
*too old
*too young
*too ______ 
*the problem is too big

And it's not just orphan care.  Maybe it's your neighbor.  The widow down the road.  The single parent.  The veteran.  The impoverished.  The differently abled.  The addicted.  The imprisoned.


Perhaps the biggest lie we can believe is that this life is about US!

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  

Ephesians 2:10

Wanted!

Have you ever listened, I mean really listened, to the lyrics of Dara MacLean's song, Wanted?  It brought me to tears the first time I heard it, and it still has the same effect on me.
It speaks of the Father's love for each of us, but it is a crucial message to those very dear to my heart, those who struggle with the lies, loneliness and trauma of their past ~ the orphan.

From the day you were born 
And took your first breath 
You opened your eyes and in came the light 
He was watching you 
But all of your life you couldn't shake the lies in your head 
Saying you're a mistake 
Oh but you were made 
By a God who knows your name 
He doesn't make mistakes 

CHORUS 
You are wanted 
To every broken heart, He stands with open arms 
You are wanted 
To every searching soul, look to the rising sun 
If you're lonely, hurting, gone too far 
To the outcast you come as you are 
For you, you are wanted, you, you are wanted 
You, you are wanted, you, you are wanted 

Let this be the day that joy takes the place 
Of all of the years that shame tried to steal away 
He is calling you 
Lift your eyes to see His face 
Come run into the arms of grace 

CHORUS 

You, you have been marked 
You're set apart 
And He calls you His 
So you don't have to search 
Don't have to look for where you belong 

You are wanted

How Did Your Church Recognize Orphan Sunday?

November is Adoption Awareness Month, and yesterday was Orphan Sunday!
Sadly, we did not corporately recognize the day.
See, to speak of the orphan is invasive.  It's disturbing.  

Some are tired of hearing about it and even think that to adopt 'may be for you, but it's not for me.'   I'm certainly glad my Heavenly Father didn't decide to give up on adoption before He saved me.

People don't much like to acknowledge there is a crisis that is OUR problem.  Yes, if we are a follower of Christ, it is our problem.

Oh, but we are so busy.  We don't have time to think about the millions of children around the world who deserve love and hope.  So, let's not be bothered by the truth.

After all, we have our own problems, right?
Which place will we celebrate Thanksgiving?
Which car will we drive to work?
Which new outfit will we wear today?
Which restaurant will we eat at tonight?

My friend Adeye has posted about the need for awareness, and you can read it here.
I contend that if we claim to follow Christ and believe God's Word, this is indeed our problem.

Please tell me how your church either recognized Orphan Sunday or is planning to do so.

Fill Their Stockings

Look what my friends Stefanie, Diana and Lisa are up to! Fill Their Stockings is a unique fundraiser to help support orphans in China through the amazing organizationAn Orphans Wish!