8/3/09

Gods heart for Orphans

"Defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
Psalms 82:3

43.3 million orphans live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

87.6 million orphans live in Asia.

12.4 million orphans live in Latin America & Caribbean.

At any given point 500,000 children are in the U.S. foster system.

In 2010 the # of children orphaned by AIDS is expected to be 25 million.


These are real statistics. They are shocking but easy to forget.
They are just numbers so they are easy to put out of our minds.

What we need to remember is that each one of those numbers is a forgotten child, a neglected resource, and a priceless treasure.
They have the same needs any of our children and have the same value.

They need the freedom to be children and to act silly.





They need a mommy to love them and make them feel safe.



They need a swing to go high as the trees.



They need to taste of the sweet side of life.


They need security, love, affection, a sense of purpose, hope, nutritious food, education, discipline and guidance.

They need a Mommy and Daddy to tuck them in at night and kiss their little forehead.

The sad fact is that millions of children in the world have no Daddies to chase away the scary monsters. No mommies to kiss their boo-boos'. No safe secure loving place to call home.

The statistics for "Orphans" are staggering but this doesn't even include the millions and millions of children that are neglected, abused and abandoned. Technically not "orphans" but emotionally they are orphaned.

These are our children. They are the future generation who will shape our world.
Ignoring these children now will have dire consequences later.

The children that these statistics represent are most likely to be exploited, abused, uneducated and desperate. Little boys without the guidance of a mother or father are likely to run in packs and join gangs in order to survive. They are more likely to commit crimes and fall into addictions. They are more likely become little "soldiers". Without healthy attachments and love they are likely to grow up with-out compassion and sometimes even a conscience. These are the future men of our world.

Little girls left to raise themselves are exploited, abused and too often enter the sex trade at a young age. They are uneducated and are likely to continue the cycle of AIDS and poverty. These are the future women of our world.

These children have experienced grief, loss and other horrific things in their short lives. Will they be able to overcome the statistics and their pasts and become the people God created them to be? Not without help.


Who will love these children? Who will rise up and train these impressionable little boys to be men of true strength and integrity? Who will show these precious little girls how much they are valued by the God who created them?

Who will defend the cause of the fatherless, the orphaned and the weak?

My desire is for the Church as a whole, the global Body of Christ to rise up and reach out.

If only 7% of the 2 billion "Christians" in the world would give hope to an orphan their would essentially be no more orphans.

We look at the disturbing and overwhelming statistics and it seems too big. We ask why God allows these children suffer.
I ask where are His people?

I have a feeling that for each specific need in the world God equips someone to fill that need.
Each need is different just as God gives each of us different talents and resources.
The problem is we forget why He gave them to us and in the rush of life we fail to see the need in front of us and fail to reach Gods purpose for our lives.
Sometimes that need is a woman who has lost hope next door to us and sometimes its a lonely child on the other side of the world. It might be extending a much needed friendship or it might be opening up your home to a child. It could be using your financial blessings to help bring together an orphaned child and his forever family.

Give me your eyes Lord. Break my heart with the things that break your heart. Use
my hands to reach those that need your touch.

For more information and ways to help children visit:

www.showhope.org

www.ffhm.org












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