As I pondered what or how to write this post I was burdened for the least of these.... yes.. I know many of you are saying "so what else in new" Laurie you are burdened for them everyday... but I was more burdened for the hearts of those who "see" but turn away.... more on that in another post...but honestly, when I see pictures of the children who are "cast out" and "hidden" away from their birth because they are different.... I ask myself, why? WHY... so they aren't going to be on the star traveling team for baseball or soccer.... So they may never grace the cover of a popular magazine... Why do they have to be labeled as unwanted, unlovable undesired? Why do they have to live each and every day of their young lives in a place where they are hidden away from the world? Where they are not picked up and not played with and not held by 2 very special people in their lives... a mommy and a daddy. They don't ask for much... really they don't. In fact they don't ask for anything.... but they deserve so much more than what they are given! I know that God has a plan for each and every one of them. I know that there are families out there for each of them. I know that not everyone can be the parents of an orphan. But I do know that each of us is called to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others with less than we have. God's word clearly tells us to care for the orphan...but also to feed, clothe and care for "the least of these" If you read this part of Matthew 25 you will see what I think are consequences to our lack of "application". See what you think....
Matthew 25:31-46
New Living Translation (NLT)
The Final Judgment
31 “But when the Son of Man[a] comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations[b] will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[c] you were doing it to me!’
41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.[d] 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
Some hard words to hear... but really if we are honest we all do this everyday... we get busy.. life is busy... kids, spouses, school, family time, etc... But I hope that God will prick my heart with this each time I "miss" an opportunity... That my heart will be broken for those who suffer each day while I am able to go on... and continue each day over and over and over again! So many times people will ask.... "why" why would you guys adopt AGAIN! (so much to say on that...but later) the short answer is because HE owns my life.... I hope that I die spent for the Lord! I hope that I will get better at not missing an opportunity to feed, clothe and care for any of those in need that HE puts before me!
We will be leaving on March 29th! In just over 2 weeks. We have received some donations for the children over there and are
thankful that we can bring them blessing! But I would love to have more suitcases packed with donations than of my own clothes! Just in case you thought about it and didn't have a chance to "go through those closets and dressers" you still can! We still have time! I want to extend this invitation again for donations for the children in the boys'
orphanage. We really do not have a true understanding of their daily
lives... that will be a revelation of raw truth when we go!
Here are the needs again....
*clothing size 0-6 boys or girls
* money to purchase diapers and creams over there as our dollar will go
much farther over there!
*money to help offset the cost for extra luggage
just a note.... when we brought donations to Ethiopia for Levi's transition home, we had 5 extra
bags! The sweet people at American Airlines waived our fees all the way to
Ethiopia on our first
trip! But not on the second trip (different airline). We know and have
faith that should God choose
to do that again. we will use the money to the benefit of the children in
the orphanage there!
Thank you for considering and again, you may email me privately at acts16.31@sbcglobal.net
peace,
laurie
Laurie, can we make donations for your trip next week through the donation button on the right of your blog?
ReplyDeleteSue & Sam Mayer