A seed was planted

Left alone to become broken

Living water begins to soak in

New life is granted

Beauty from God’s own displayed        

Treasure of His heart traced

To bring Him glory only by His grace

Shines the Light, shows the love, shares the truth arrayed

God’s own Son came to earth

Wholly God left His throne to be with us fully human

The Great King of measureless worth

Forsaken by all to become the Lamb of God slain on a cross with

nails driven in

With the purpose to serve perfect from birth

Giving His blood for our sins to be forgiven

Died, buried 3 days, the miracle of God is risen

Free Gift of Salvation received in being born again

In Christ –A new creation!

                 Heaven’s elation!!

Jesus, the Savior for the nations!!!

Longing for relationship with the praises of hope overflowing

 from my lips

Waiting to be equipped with Your Words like rain drops that

start to drip

Into a downpour of refreshing showers to replenish within the

soul and spirit

Until the dark clouds of selfish pride in me clear for more of You

to appear

And Your promises remembered by the rainbow now to steer

my heart and mind on this journey with You near…

 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  James 14:6  

It is only by Jesus’ blood shed for us that we are forgiven.

I wrote about watching “The Lost Boys” documentary in my second blog entry.  It was special to read today that one of those lost boys, a 6yr. old at the time of fleeing Sudan, is chosen to carry the American flag at the Olympic Games.  Lopez Lomong is 23 yrs. old now and a middle distance runner who became a U.S. citizen back in 2007.  Read the story:  Former ‘Lost Boy’ to lead U.S. Olympians in Beijing

I was moved to write the following poem back on March 14, 2005 about the Darfur, Sudan situation:

Darfur, Sudan

A Storm of violence arises

A form of silence demises

The trek of refugees seek a refuge now

The wreck in degrees seen, – a huge town

Walking against the wind blown with sand

Stalking tense toward men, women, and children honed to be

banned

Forced to move on without food, water, or home

Course through desert clout, rude and hotter from which to roam

So uncertain the destination, leapt for rope of some intervention

No pertinent information except for hope of freedom mentioned

Christians, God’s own, to reach them with love in deed shown

Mission, Jesus alone, to teach them in Word inspired from

above to be sown

Far more, to the Lamb

(Approximately 2.5 million people have been forced away from their homes and an estimated 300,000 have died during the conflict in Darfur.)

I then read about Steven Curtis Chapman, who is interviewed by Larry King and can be seen tonight,  concerning orphans, the tragedy of their daughter, and adoption.  Read the story:  Our Tragedy and God’s Love for Orphans

How precious is their family who seek to honor God and bring Him glory.  They are truly being a voice for orphans in promoting God’s heart for orphans to be loved, provided for, and ultimately adopted into His family through His Son JESUS…  Learn more about their ministry:  Shaohannah’s Hope

We stepped out in faith to move closer to my work and to be more involved in serving the Lord with the church.  As of yet, we have not physically moved.  The closing of our house was yesterday, but did not happen due to unforeseen circumstances.  The closing date on the house we are to move into was to be in 3 days.  We wait in trust and faith for God’s working out His will which is best we know.  

It is unnerving when my focus though can so easily shift from the Lord who is my shield and strength to the situational occurrences I have no control over.  Each time I have to turn back to Him for what He alone can do.  I have let the stress and uncertainty about the moving delay get to me.  We will be having a newborn into our family soon.  In seeking the Lord, I’ve cast all my cares and anxieties upon Him often which has helped.  His Word has encouraged and moved us forward when the doubts or fears try and set in.  He continues to share His love and tells us to trust Him.  He is the faithful One after all.  He is unlike people who can let us down or not come through for us and unlike circumstances that are unstable or uncertain.  He reminds that He alone is the One who provides.

I thought I had put all my hope and trust in God concerning the details of our move.  However early yesterday morning, I found myself wrestling once again with unsettling thoughts and feelings inside concerning God’s will, my own desires, and ultimately believing by faith.  He prompted me to read Psalm 84.  The essence of what stood out was God provides a home for the birds and I remember Him saying we are worth more than the sparrow.  Most importantly, He is our dwelling place.  Our home is with Him.  He is our home.  I received from Him the peace that surpasses all understanding after reading these comforting words.  His presence and love is what we really need most and desire for…    God reached my heart and renewed my mind all in a moment’s time.  He alone is willing and able to meet our deepest needs and desires to grow in us faith, hope, and love .

He has moved me indeed already.  Closer to Himself!  He did a work in me that I was needing to encourage me, increase my faith, and know that He is my hope, my life, and my destination…

I wrote the following poem after experiencing His peace that He graciously gave to me:

Jesus redeems

I bow at His feet

The King of kings

My everything

Desiring His hands to greet me

Receiving peace beyond understanding

From the Word of truth leading me to glean

Provision of His riches will meet our needs

Awaiting for Him to renew my strength to soar on eagle’s wings

His love and presence means more than what is seen

With hope to store more treasure in Heaven bringing

Where my heart is safe in His keeping

A place He prepares for us with no more weeping

My heart and prayers also turn to God our Father during this time to provide for the orphans and widows along with the pastors, teachers, and caretakers who have committed their lives to service unto the Lord in India whom we love.  They are my brothers and sisters in Christ who have great needs.  They do not have homes of their own.  Their daily food intake is limited.  They face hardships that I do not.  They experience suffering and going without more than I understand.  Would you join in prayer for God to meet their needs moreso, provide them with His joy, and bring about a hope and a future He desires for them to experience? 

Pastor Hariya, one of the pastors in India we help support, recently shared his heart with me.  He too has a family of his own.  They live with the orphans not in their own home , eat the minimal amount just the same as what the orphans eat, and his kids get the same schooling as the orphans with limited resources.  He doesn’t do it for material possessions or for money.  He is one of many who give their lives to serve the Lord in sharing the gospel through many difficulties.  What a blessing it would be if we as Christians took more seriously the priviledge of sharing and giving toward the needs of pastors, teachers, and caretakers in poor rural villages who in turn give to the needs of orphans and widows whom God desires to support and defend.

Have you considered supporting a pastor such as in India who also care for orphans?  If interested let me know by email:  jeff@koreministry.org You can also look to help other pastors in need through the Gospel for Asia ministry.

May God bless you with a heart to be a voice for orphans and in some way support and/or serve the least of these.

Kristin gives voice for orphans on ABC News.  Way to be, Kristin!  You can donate on the Faith West Academy website to Kristin’s Miracle House.

You can now find out more on the Family Legacy Missions International website about Kristin and the outreach to Africa’s orphans as well as to donate to this worthy and noble cause.

Philippians 2:4

Kristin Elizabeth Elliot responds to God’s heart with hope and faith to one day have a home built for orphans in Africa.  I read Kristin’s story and how wonderfully she has become a voice for orphans.  At 18 years old and facing a rare type of cancer, she was approached by Make-A-Wish Foundation and asked what she wished for.  She wanted a home built for the orphans she had visited once before on a mission trip…  Awesome!  What a blessing it is to give and a blessing she is for the orphans.  Way to go, Kristin.  Thank you for being faithful to God and an inspiration to all.  Let us hold our sis up in prayer and God’s will be done for the orphans.

In spending time in the Word, I read in Psalm 48 how God is worthy of our praise for He protects, defends, saves, provides, and guides.  I give thanks for His unfailing love!

Our kids are back with us.  I drove half way to meet my parents who took care of them for 2 weeks while Tami recovered from surgery.  I enjoyed the eight hour round trip while listening to Air 1 -a Christian alternative radio station.  Getting to hear new songs I haven’t ever heard lead me to focus on the LORD and get caught up in worshipping Him.  Refreshing! 

The desire to have our kids with us grew stronger once my daughter, Joy, expressed with tears the need to come home with 5 days left to go. 

 Tami definitely needed the recuperating time though.  She experienced months of sickness and depression.  She conceived in December.  She faced what we thought was a miscarriage in January and still may have had one if there were twins.  She was continuing to have severe pains and went to the doctor.  It was discovered that she was still pregnant and an ultrasound 2 days later confirmed it.  We had a healthy baby!!!  She went to another hospital for further tests and a tumor was found on her ovary that was twisting it.  She called me after 1:00 and was going to have outpatient surgery at 4:00.   I called Pastor Chris and other family friends to pray during this time.  God answered and Tami’s surgery was successful and the baby was alright through all of this stress.  I’ve used the term “whirlwind” to describe it all. 

I needed time too in order to unwind.  I tried to take care of everything relying on the LORD for help and often crying out to Him.  Working, letting Tami rest, taking care of the kids moreso, and upkeep of the house became more difficult and took a toll as the months went by. 

How I need my helpmate and thankful to the LORD for her!  We enjoyed time just the two of us -actually having more lengthy conversation and a few dates going out to eat.  We watched some movies that were inspiring:  The Ultimate Gift, Amazing Grace, Glory Road, Born into Brothels documentary and God Grew Tired of Us documentary.  It was a bit different from the norm of Veggie Tales and Little Bear. 

In God Grew Tired of Us , the portrayal of the Lost Boys of Sudan is told where approximately 25,000 boys flee from the genocide taking place at the time.  Tears welled up in my eyes before even pushing play in seeing the boys walking while one in particular limps along holding a stick for support.  Only about 12,000 make it on the trek of 1,000 miles into Kenya through the desert without food and water while facing dangerous attacks from lions.  Some of the boys are chosen to come to the U.S. to make a living.  It is extremely moving to see one of them, who thought his parents may not be alive, reunited with his mom after 17 years.  His name is John Dau and was a leader in charge of over 1,000 boys while fleeing Sudan.  One of his jobs was to bury those who died along the way.  He is now a director of his own foundation to improve healthcare and education in Sudan.  He is a strong voice for orphans and the poor and needy.

I was so excited to finally see my children and eager to bring them home after they were only gone 14 days.  In this short period of time away from them, I now appreciate each one moreso and choose to be intentional of showing my love with arms wide open ready to give hugs or hold them close offering encouraging words and a listening ear.  God is bringing about needed change in me to become consistently patient and kind again rather than so easily angered, frustrated, and harsh in my tone.  I love that God the Father, is merciful, abounding in love, full of compassion, and slow to anger.  I need that from Him and so do my kids…

I’m reminded of a time before when the expectant hope of seeing my family grew so intense.  On a trip home from Quito, Ecuador where I had spent 15 days at a camp for handicapped and orphaned children, I wrote this in anticipation:

Reunion

I look forward to seeing my wife and daughter again.

May I anticipate with a growing expectant hope of Christ’s return more so even…

When I see my wife coming, I’ll go to embrace her showing

            appreciation and knowing she loves me better than a friend.

may it be a glimpse of the precious encounter with the Savior

glowing as the author and perfection of love greater than anyone

sure to gladly rend.

Then I see my daughter running while flowing

            with excitement to speak “I love you” and “I missed you” rejoicing

            when I look into her eyes and see her smile as I bend down to pick

            her up holding her once again ready for any needs to tend.

May this represent a glorious reminder of the Father’s bestowing

            acceptance of His children welcoming them home as a treasure

            more abundant than the ocean and more awesome than the  

            mountains proven to be faithful, full of grace, merciful, full of

            compassion, mighty to save and strong to defend, the heart’s hurts

            and soul’s wounds to mend in a joyous family reunion we’ll attend

            made and kept forever in Heaven.  

Most orphans are not able to reunite with their parents who have either died or abandoned them.  Reuniting into the ultimate family of God though is possible through Jesus Christ who longs to care for each one in being their Good Shepherd. 

“I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.”  John 14:18

David, a man after God’s own heart, made sure an orphan named Mephibosheth was well taken care of and shown unconditional love.  David responded to the orphan’s feelings of worthlessness and handicapped condition with provision for:  a family in being welcomed and accepted, food in getting to sit at the King’s Table all his days, a home in restoring land back to him, and help from having servants to meet his needs.  Mephibosheth then had his own family.  God is awesome in His wondrous works to reunite lives into His family through the ultimate gift of His Son.  Let us give thanks for the grace and mercy He has shown in reuniting us to Himself.  Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever… Psalm 107:1

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”    Proverbs 31: 8-9

I’m inspired once again to move forward in the calling God has given me to be a voice for orphans… You can read poems I’ve written concerning orphans on the Poems page within the K.O.R.E. (King of kings Orphan Reach Evangelism) website.  It is now time to do something new.  So, here starts blogging…  “I commit this to You, Lord, that You may encourage and equip those who want to do Your will in response to the needs of the least of these.  To You and You alone be the honor, glory, and praise… in Jesus name, amen.

“Reflecting upon this wondrous gift of salvation given by God through His Son Jesus Christ during the Easter celebration brings me gratitude for forgiveness of sin by His blood shed on the cross and for a hope and future because He is risen.  Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, is the One who makes all things new.  Jesus has given me new life, my wonderful wife/helpmate/best friend -Tami, our gifts of precious children -Joy 6, Josiah 4, Jeremiah 2, Jacob 2, a 13 week old on the way, and purpose in being a part of supporting orphans.  Giving to this cause has been a wondrous blessing for us over the past 4 years and continues to be…  Across the vast expanse of ocean, past cultural boundaries, and beyond tribal tradition from rural villages in India are the orphans, pastors, teachers, and widows who make up our extended family.

There are so many orphans here and all around the world in great need of being reached out to with the love of Jesus.  God is moving mightily in His people to respond to their cries and continues to call out more to be involved in this work of His love.  You may ask, “what can I do?” 

*First, believe in God to do immeasurably more than you can think, ask, or imagine… (having faith in what He alone can do pleases Him)  

*Next, bring yourself before God in prayer and ask Him to enlarge your heart for orphans, to give you insight and wisdom on how you are to be involved,  and to have a willingness to be an answer to a need they have utilizing your God given gifts & talents and/or through practical giving… (being with Him, delighting yourself in Him, involving yourself in what He cares about pleases Him)

*Then, begin to seek God for direction to an existing ministry or an open door for a new one you’re to start in order to support one or more orphans.  (committing what you do to Him, trusting in Him, and being a doer of the Word pleases Him)

Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you;  seek and you will find;  knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives;  he who seeks finds;  and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Let us know how God is working in your heart, any ministry to orphans you’re a part of, and the wondrous works He has done.  If you need prayer, we would love to come alongside and pray for you…