I encourage you first to read the lines below as you would read a poem. Then, when you have finished, if these words have quickened your spirit -- Read them again, but this time aloud as a prayer!
Stretch My Vision
For the orphaned, abandoned, and fatherless who have been:
neglected instead of loved,
hurt instead of protected,
crushed instead of encouraged, and
cursed instead of blessed
For these children Lord:
I desire redemption and salvation,
I want them to know Your life and light and love,
I want them to have the hope of the resurrected life not despair,
I want them to walk in Your power instead of in helplessness
For these children Lord:
I call upon Your blessings and Your favor to fall upon them,
I want them to hear of Jesus, trust Jesus with their life, and receive His grace,
I will be filled with joy when they receive healing, help, and hope,
I seek to see them delivered into a life of freedom and grace
For Your glory my Heavenly Father:
Open my heart up to be filled with an increased measure of Your Grace,
No longer allow me to turn my eyes away from these children but instead let me see Your pain in their gaze,
No more will I react out of guilt but allow my giving to flow out of loving compassion,
Guide me in planting seeds of faith, seeds of hope, and seeds of love into their hearts and lives
By Your Grace and Mercy:
Stir within my heart Jesus' love for children who have been discarded by the world,
Spring forth from my mouth the words of affirmation You, Heavenly Father, have for children who have been discarded by the world,
Shake lose the chains from my hands that have kept me from comforting the children who have been discarded by the world, and
Stretch my vision to see back to the cross when Jesus was discarded by the world
May 4, 2008
March 16, 2008
Sometimes
Sometimes we complicate the simple,
and sometimes we overly simplify the complicated.
Sometimes we think when we need to trust,
and sometimes we trust too much in what others think.
Sometimes we speak words of faith,
and sometimes we doubt the very words we speak.
Sometimes we rush out to do God's work,
and sometimes we are in a rush for God to finish His work.
Sometimes our lives make sense,
and sometimes we can't make sense of our lives.
Sometimes we have faith enough to overcome doubt,
and sometimes we doubt we will ever have enough faith.
Sometimes we are still and wait on God,
and sometimes God is still waiting for us to listen.
Sometimes we hear with our heart,
and sometimes we don't have the heart to hear the truth.
Sometimes we do what God has told us to forget,
and sometimes we forget what God has told us to do.
"The LORD God has told us what is right and what He demands. 'See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern and humbly obey your God." (Micah 6:8, CEV)
and sometimes we overly simplify the complicated.
Sometimes we think when we need to trust,
and sometimes we trust too much in what others think.
Sometimes we speak words of faith,
and sometimes we doubt the very words we speak.
Sometimes we rush out to do God's work,
and sometimes we are in a rush for God to finish His work.
Sometimes our lives make sense,
and sometimes we can't make sense of our lives.
Sometimes we have faith enough to overcome doubt,
and sometimes we doubt we will ever have enough faith.
Sometimes we are still and wait on God,
and sometimes God is still waiting for us to listen.
Sometimes we hear with our heart,
and sometimes we don't have the heart to hear the truth.
Sometimes we do what God has told us to forget,
and sometimes we forget what God has told us to do.
"The LORD God has told us what is right and what He demands. 'See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern and humbly obey your God." (Micah 6:8, CEV)
February 27, 2008
Now That You've Looked
When you hear them call "mommy"
When you hear them call "daddy"
What are you going to do?
You know they aren't calling for you.
But the ones they cry out for,
aren't there anymore.
What are you going to do?
The children, they've been there for days,
for weeks. They are poor. They are helpless.
They are hopeless.
What are you going to do?
Are you going to look away,
face the problem another day?
If you don't allow yourself to mentally go there,
you can once again avoid the cold, desperate child's stare.
What are you going to do?
This is not another emotional plea
based on guilt and shame.
The only question is:
What are you going to do in Jesus' name?
We need to face the problem,
and the problem is not the children.
The faces of the children, they force you and me to see,
the problem lies within you and me.
So, now what are you going to do in His name?
Now that you've looked the child in the face,
and seen the eyes looking back at you,
and realized the child is no different from you,
this child needs to be loved too.
When you hear them call "daddy"
What are you going to do?
You know they aren't calling for you.
But the ones they cry out for,
aren't there anymore.
What are you going to do?
The children, they've been there for days,
for weeks. They are poor. They are helpless.
They are hopeless.
What are you going to do?
Are you going to look away,
face the problem another day?
If you don't allow yourself to mentally go there,
you can once again avoid the cold, desperate child's stare.
What are you going to do?
This is not another emotional plea
based on guilt and shame.
The only question is:
What are you going to do in Jesus' name?
We need to face the problem,
and the problem is not the children.
The faces of the children, they force you and me to see,
the problem lies within you and me.
So, now what are you going to do in His name?
Now that you've looked the child in the face,
and seen the eyes looking back at you,
and realized the child is no different from you,
this child needs to be loved too.
February 16, 2008
The Plate Makers
One of the things God wants to show in this ministry is that it is possible for ordinary believers to make a difference even if they don't travel to far away places. There is an important role to be played in the area of helps. Just as God has gifted some people for the ministry of helps, He has called Seeds for the Fatherless to operate in the area of helps.
We may not be the evangelist who brings the children to Christ. We may not be the preacher who shares the Word with them. We may not be the teacher who explains the Bible to them. We may not be the missionary who prays with them and sees them healed. We may not be or directly do any of those things, but we can help to make them happen. This does not mean that we can't or won't ever go or do those things, but our primary function is to help others who have been called to be God's hands and feet. What a great and powerful ministry to be able to help other Christians serve Christ!
In the eyes of the world, the "middle man" is looked down upon. In fact, some may say, "Why should we give to you, when you don't provide any direct services?" You see, the world does not appreciate the humble people who serve in roles where there is no glory.
To illustrate the point, imagine eating in a fine restaurant. The chef prepares wonderful food. The waitress brings the food to the customers at the table. The people eating comment on the presentation and taste of the food. They may send their compliments back to the chef. They will tell their friends about the wonderful meal. They tip the waitress as a sign of their appreciation for her role in making a pleasant dining experience. They may even tell their friends about the friendly and competent waitress. The one thing few, if any, of them will think about is the plate on which the food was served. Somewhere far away from the restaurant someone made the plate. The plate was crucial to having a successful and memorable dining experience. The fact that when people tell the story they don't give any credit to the one who made the plate does not make the plate any less important or valuable to the experience.
You see, God provides the food to feed the spiritually hungry and needy orphaned, fatherless, and abandoned children. Missionaries, pastors, and others are in these places talking to, sharing with, and serving the food (spiritual, emotional, and physical) to the children. Far away, we at Seeds have been blessed to help provide plates to make these "meals" possible for at least some of these children.
At Seeds, we are ordinary Christians who may never see these children smile, hear their voices of gratitude, or feel the touch of their hugs of love. We are ordinary Christians with everyday lives in places far away from most of these children. Seeds is made up of Christians who believe they can change the world by giving financially to this ministry and by praying faithfully. And do you know what? These ordinary Christians -- changed the world!
The world and the children may never know who planted those seeds of faith, seeds of hope, and seeds of love, but God above knows and He rewards His humble servants. God gives eternal rewards to the plate makers. Does God want you to be one of the plate makers?
We may not be the evangelist who brings the children to Christ. We may not be the preacher who shares the Word with them. We may not be the teacher who explains the Bible to them. We may not be the missionary who prays with them and sees them healed. We may not be or directly do any of those things, but we can help to make them happen. This does not mean that we can't or won't ever go or do those things, but our primary function is to help others who have been called to be God's hands and feet. What a great and powerful ministry to be able to help other Christians serve Christ!
In the eyes of the world, the "middle man" is looked down upon. In fact, some may say, "Why should we give to you, when you don't provide any direct services?" You see, the world does not appreciate the humble people who serve in roles where there is no glory.
To illustrate the point, imagine eating in a fine restaurant. The chef prepares wonderful food. The waitress brings the food to the customers at the table. The people eating comment on the presentation and taste of the food. They may send their compliments back to the chef. They will tell their friends about the wonderful meal. They tip the waitress as a sign of their appreciation for her role in making a pleasant dining experience. They may even tell their friends about the friendly and competent waitress. The one thing few, if any, of them will think about is the plate on which the food was served. Somewhere far away from the restaurant someone made the plate. The plate was crucial to having a successful and memorable dining experience. The fact that when people tell the story they don't give any credit to the one who made the plate does not make the plate any less important or valuable to the experience.
You see, God provides the food to feed the spiritually hungry and needy orphaned, fatherless, and abandoned children. Missionaries, pastors, and others are in these places talking to, sharing with, and serving the food (spiritual, emotional, and physical) to the children. Far away, we at Seeds have been blessed to help provide plates to make these "meals" possible for at least some of these children.
At Seeds, we are ordinary Christians who may never see these children smile, hear their voices of gratitude, or feel the touch of their hugs of love. We are ordinary Christians with everyday lives in places far away from most of these children. Seeds is made up of Christians who believe they can change the world by giving financially to this ministry and by praying faithfully. And do you know what? These ordinary Christians -- changed the world!
The world and the children may never know who planted those seeds of faith, seeds of hope, and seeds of love, but God above knows and He rewards His humble servants. God gives eternal rewards to the plate makers. Does God want you to be one of the plate makers?
February 1, 2008
The Water's Edge
My chains are gone, I've been set free.
Father, grant me the pleasure and meet with me.
Draw me in to where You are.
Don't let me stray and go afar
from where Your grace and mercy rest.
Give me the courage to face the tests
and the strength to make it to the other side.
Your Spirit is the power working on the inside.
Your Son the tower of refuge I need.
You, Father, give me wise words to heed.
Lead me to the water's edge
for that is where effort ends and trust begins.
Individually and corporately to become what we are called to be, we must come to the water's edge. We don't want to be just another organization. We want to be an agent for transformation. We want to be a part of transforming the hearts, minds, and spirits of these children as well as transforming the hearts, minds, and spirits of ordinary believers so that they feel a stirring in their hearts to become part of something beyond their comprehension and to feel a spiritual connection with the heart of Jesus for the children who have been discarded by the world. Let us meet the Father together at the water's edge.
Father, grant me the pleasure and meet with me.
Draw me in to where You are.
Don't let me stray and go afar
from where Your grace and mercy rest.
Give me the courage to face the tests
and the strength to make it to the other side.
Your Spirit is the power working on the inside.
Your Son the tower of refuge I need.
You, Father, give me wise words to heed.
Lead me to the water's edge
for that is where effort ends and trust begins.
Individually and corporately to become what we are called to be, we must come to the water's edge. We don't want to be just another organization. We want to be an agent for transformation. We want to be a part of transforming the hearts, minds, and spirits of these children as well as transforming the hearts, minds, and spirits of ordinary believers so that they feel a stirring in their hearts to become part of something beyond their comprehension and to feel a spiritual connection with the heart of Jesus for the children who have been discarded by the world. Let us meet the Father together at the water's edge.
January 28, 2008
Defining Moments
In a one week period this month, Mama Carmen welcomed 15 children into the Casa Hogar Sion family. Five of the most recent children to come to live at this orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico are Felipe (11 years old), Mario (10 years old), Jon Carlos (6 years old), Lupe (5 years old), and Rubi (age unknown 1-2 years old). Some of these children will live their lives with no memories of what life was like before coming to live at the orphanage. However, some of these children are old enough that they will remember the day they first came to the orphanage. The first day at Casa Hogar Sion will mark a defining moment in their lives.
Each of us can recall defining moments from our past. Moments after which your life changed and would never be the same. Some of these moments were filled with pain and sorrow. Some of these moments were filled with joy and celebration.
I remember the defining moment when the Lord placed a burden on my heart for a group of children I had never seen. This burden led to a vision of the ministry of Seeds for the Fatherless. The responsibility that came with this vision placed a demand on my life, my time, and my priorities. I have been blessed and encouraged by the number of people who have decided to embrace this vision to honor Jesus Christ by sharing His love by caring for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the orphaned, abandoned, and fatherless children close to home and far away.
Little Rubi's life will be forever changed because she has been taken in by Mama Carmen and Jorge to live at Casa Hogar Sion. Not all of us will be able to go visit her and the many other children like her living in the thousands of orphanages around the world. We are not all called to go to foreign countries, but Seeds believes we are all called to help these children. "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27, NIV). We may not all be called to go, but we are all called to help.
Each of us can recall defining moments from our past. Moments after which your life changed and would never be the same. Some of these moments were filled with pain and sorrow. Some of these moments were filled with joy and celebration.
I remember the defining moment when the Lord placed a burden on my heart for a group of children I had never seen. This burden led to a vision of the ministry of Seeds for the Fatherless. The responsibility that came with this vision placed a demand on my life, my time, and my priorities. I have been blessed and encouraged by the number of people who have decided to embrace this vision to honor Jesus Christ by sharing His love by caring for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the orphaned, abandoned, and fatherless children close to home and far away.
Little Rubi's life will be forever changed because she has been taken in by Mama Carmen and Jorge to live at Casa Hogar Sion. Not all of us will be able to go visit her and the many other children like her living in the thousands of orphanages around the world. We are not all called to go to foreign countries, but Seeds believes we are all called to help these children. "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27, NIV). We may not all be called to go, but we are all called to help.
January 18, 2008
The Pruning Shears of Truth
When we have the opportunity to speak into the lives of children, we must avoid the danger of being overly critical, which can lead to hopelessness and self-deprecation. But we also must avoid the danger of lavishing false praise, which can lead to arrogance and an unrealistic sense of self-importance and self-efficacy. Perhaps more than anyone else, children need to hear the truth in love. But if they don't see, hear, and know your love for them, then the truth they hear may not be true at all.
How many father-son and father-daughter relationships have been destroyed, not by what was said, but by what was heard? What if these fathers had planted the seed of love and cultivated it before planting the seed of truth?
Truth spoken into a heart filled with pain, shame, doubt, fear, and insecurity is ripe for rejection unless the child hears the love in the truth being spoken. Truth spoken in love and received by children who know they are loved is ripe to yield the fruit of godly change.
If you grow the tree with love, when the time comes to separate the bad fruit from the good fruit, the pruning shears of truth are less likely to destroy the tree.
How many father-son and father-daughter relationships have been destroyed, not by what was said, but by what was heard? What if these fathers had planted the seed of love and cultivated it before planting the seed of truth?
Truth spoken into a heart filled with pain, shame, doubt, fear, and insecurity is ripe for rejection unless the child hears the love in the truth being spoken. Truth spoken in love and received by children who know they are loved is ripe to yield the fruit of godly change.
If you grow the tree with love, when the time comes to separate the bad fruit from the good fruit, the pruning shears of truth are less likely to destroy the tree.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)