Sunday, November 7, 2010

Today Is Orphan Sunday

Today is Orphan Sunday. Lots of churches and other organizations around the nation are doing special services, sermons, or even just showing special videos about orphans and the need for us to help them. Unfortunately I found out about it too late to be able to do anything with our church... Even so, I woke up this morning thinking about blessed I am:


I am blessed to wake up in a nice warm bed, with not only clean sheets, but a thick, warm, clean comforter. 

I am SO blessed that I woke up and was able to snuggle with my children in our bed when they woke up. (Many of the orphans in Ethiopia are only fatherless and lots have biological mothers. Unfortunately the mothers either just don't have the resources to take care of their babies or they're sick and dying, so they have to give them to orphanages. I just cannot imagine having to give my babies away knowing I couldn't afford to keep them or that I was so sick that I could not take care of them anymore... It breaks my heart to think of not being able to cuddle with my kids every morning and my heart breaks for these mothers...)

I am blessed that I have a nice clean kitchen to be able to cook and bake in. And that I have the resources to be able to make my kids cinnamon rolls this morning.

I am blessed that even though those rolls look and smell so yummy, I have a choice to not eat them (I am choosing to fast today and instead of eating, taking that time to pray fervently for orphans around the world, for our little boy or girl, and for God to speak to me on how to help in more ways than adoption). There are so many out there who don't have the choice to not eat - they just don't have food. Period. They CAN'T eat.

I am so blessed that we are able to have TWO vehicles when there are people in Ethiopia that can't even fathom having ONE. And with these two vehicles, we have the money to afford the gas to drive to church separately (Michael's playing on the praise team, so he had to be there early).

I am so blessed that we have the FREEDOM to go to church every week. Without having to worry about being persecuted or even killed for worshiping our amazing God. 

I am blessed with an incredible, handsome husband who loves God, is a fabulous spiritual leader of our home, lives to provide for his family, and is honestly one of the best fathers I've ever known...

I am blessed with two amazing, beautiful kids who mean the absolute world to me. They are some of the greatest joys in my life.

Lastly, I am blessed that God has chosen me to be the mother to one of the many beautiful children in Ethiopia. I am SO blessed that he/she will be able to call me: "Mommy"...





So... Today is Orphan Sunday. What can you do?

-Pray: Pray for the orphans around the world. Pray for God to set the lonely in families (Psalm 68:5-6a "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families...")

-Give: There are lots of organizations out there that you can give to. Here are just a few (click on the links for more info):
         -Compassion International - You can sponsor a child for just $38 per month to provide not only the daily needs of a child, but also help them learn about Jesus along the way
         -Show Hope - Show Hope is an orphan care and adoption fund organization created by Steven Curtis Chapman (a famous Christian singer).
         -Operation Christmas Child - With Christmas coming up, Operation Christmas Child is starting again. Pack a shoebox with simple toiletries and gifts for a child who won't be receiving any Christmas gifts at all! This is so simple to do and can make such a great impact on a child! Click the link on where you can drop your box off if your church is not collecting them (Collections are going from Nov 15-Nov 22)

Remember: Remember how blessed you are. Even when times are tough, remember how much better you have it than so many of the orphans worldwide...






Lastly, God calls us to care for the orphans. There are so many scriptures supporting adoption and orphan care, which I'll make a post about sometime, but for now I'll leave you with this:

Ilana learned a new Bible verse yesterday. Since we've been talking so much about orphans, she wanted to learn a verse about them:


"True religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans..." James 1:27

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