seek justice

Did you know that there are over 148,000,000 orphans in the world today?  That is not including children in third-world nations who may have parents but are living in horrendous poverty and are on the brink of starvation, or dying of parasites or AIDS.

It's heart-rendering, really.  If that doesn't make you feel like DOING something, well....

These children are human beings too, with feelings!  They know the meaning of both pain and joy-- although probably mostly pain.  Their hearts and souls are beautiful and priceless like pure gold in the eyes of the Lord.  He died to redeem them so that they could go to Heaven too!  The Lord Jesus adores them beyond words.

Aren't we supposed to love what Jesus loves, and hate what He hates?

What I'm concerned about is that as Americans, we get so used to an easy, cushy, materialistic life where we have everything we could possibly want at our immediate disposal.  Eventually we have trouble understanding what the concept of poverty is.  This is so dangerous... it's called complacency! (NOT hating what Jesus hates to see-- a human heart suffering).

I mean, thank our gracious God that we are healthy and well-provided for, but did we ever stop and think that we might be heaping up for ourselves a whole bunch of additional "treasures on earth" (Matthew 6:19)?  maybe becoming infatuated with a happy little world we've constructed for ourselves, to the point where we lose sight of the fact that others aren't as fortunate as us?  I'm guilty and deeply ashamed of falling into this myself.

Really it's as simple as doing two things : (1) Do your your homework.  Just google it.  It wouldn't take you long at all to be awakened to the not-so-pretty reality of the needy orphans in the world. (2) Don't just leave and doing nothing about your knowledge.  If you are able, make an effort to give up something out of your abundance to someone who has nothing.  It would even be cool to get involved with a ministry that goes out and works with the needy and the orphans hands-on and shares the love of Christ with them... there are needy people right here in America too!   There are so many ways you can give of yourself... The Lord will reward you for anything you choose to sacrifice out of love for others and obedience to Him!  

Here is a link to a Christian site where you can learn more about orphans, and can have the opportunity to give/support.http://www.hislittlefeet.org/Home.html

 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."  James 1:17

"If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."  James 2:15-17 

"Is this not the fast that I have chosen:  to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?"  ...(they are humans just like us!!! don't avoid them!)...   Isaiah 58:6,7 (read the whole chapter, it's great!)