Orphans

Gods heart for the orphans.

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Many times in life there are people who are unappreciated, abused, or abandoned. The poor, the widow, and the orphan often fall into this category. They are the forgotten…the unseen. But while the rest of the world may overlook them, God doesn’t. Scripture is clear that God has a special love in His heart for children. Jesus stopped, despite His disciples’ rebuke, to spend time loving on little children. He also tells us to be like little children and to view Him as our Father.

If Jesus has a heart for all children, how great do you think His love is especially for those who are left behind without parents to love and guide them? God tells us again and again in His word that He loves orphans and has an incredibly compassionate heart for them. He is their Father and their Protector, and He invites us…His children…to participate with Him to care for them. This is the sole reason we are here.www.ceapu.com

When it comes to orphans…

God is a Loving Father

The Bible illustrates over and over that God loves orphans, that He holds them close to His heart, that He has compassion and mercy on them. Although they may not have an earthly father, He is their eternal Father and longs for them to enter into an intimate relationship with Him. They may be overlooked in this world, but God sees them and chooses them. LOOK

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families …” (Psalms 68:5-6), “For in you the fatherless find compassion.” (Hosea 14:3 NIV), “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18), “You have been the helper of the orphan.” (Psalm 10:14) and

 “For in you the orphan finds mercy.” (Hosea 14:3 NLT)

 God is a Mighty Protector

Not only does God passionately love the orphan, He proudly protects them. Scripture gives us multiple warnings from God against those who mistreat or oppress the orphan. This is in such alignment with the Fatherly love He has for them. If you love someone, you will defend them at all costs. If you see someone abusing them, they better watch out because you’ll come after them and make them stop! This is exactly how the Bible describes God’s stance against anyone who is messing with His children.

“Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry.” (Exodus 22:22-23)

“He executes justice for the orphan and the widow.” (Deuteronomy 10:18)

 “Do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow.” (Jeremiah 22:3)

“Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against…those who oppress…the widow and the orphan.” (Malachi 3:5)

 God Invites All of Us to Join Him in Caring for Orphans.

So what about those who are not oppressing the orphan? Clearly, we’re not in danger of the wrath of an angry Father, but God still calls us to do more. God has made His people, His church, and His disciples to stand as one and connect their hearts with His. He invites us to partner with Him to care for, love, and defend the orphan. Although this is something that God can do on His own, He desires to have us work with Him. Isn’t that amazing? But this isn’t something we can do from the stands. This is an intentional invitation from the Lord to get up, get involved, and give back to Him as we care for His children.

“Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, and plead for the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17)

“When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.” (Deuteronomy 24:19)

 “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)

“Once our eyes are opened we can’t pretend we don’t know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows that we know and holds us responsible to act.” (Proverbs 24:12)

As we discover God’s heart for the orphan, we can’t help but recognize the similarity of His heart for us – for you and me. God is also our loving Father, our Mighty Protector, and Generously Invites others to care and defend us. He pursued us when we were abandoned, alone, and lost. He took us in, giving us the “right to be children of God” (John 1:12).

Don’t you see, we are not to simply pity orphans and feel bad for them? We are called to be filled with compassion because we can relate. We were once orphans too, before our heavenly Father adopted us into His eternal family. Now He’s calling us to join in His work: to love, pray, advocate, defend, sponsor, support, and adopt.

If you feel called to take a first step and sponsor a child today, click on the children on our website. Then go to contact and have it set.

Through our website you can also send us an email and we shall be glad to connect with you.

THERE IS POTENTIAL IN A CHILD

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sponsored children getting giftsOnce upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first tree looked up at the stars and said,” I want to hold treasure I want to be covered with Gold and filled with precious stones .I will be the most beautiful treasure in the whole world! “The second little tree looked out at a small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. I want to be travelling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I will be the strongest ship in the world.”

The third tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town and said “I don’t want to leave this mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they will raise their eyes to the heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world. “Years passed, rains came, the sun shone and the tree little trees grew tall.one day the wood cutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said,” This tree is beatful.it is perfect for me, “With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree fell.” Now I will be made into a beautiful chest. I shall hold wonderful treasure! “The first tree said

The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong, it is perfect for Me.” with a swoop of his shinning ax, the second tree fell. “Now I shall sail mighty waters! “Thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings! “The third tree felt her heart sink when the third and last wood cutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall pointed bravely to heaven but the woodcutter toppled it and said any kind of tree will worker for me. He muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to the carpenters shop. But he fashioned it into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold nor with treasure .She was covered in saw dust and filled with hay for hungry far m animals .The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her into the shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and sewed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail an ocean, or even a river; instead he was taken to a small lake. The third tree was confused when the wood cutter cut her into strong beams and left her into the lumberyard. “What happened? “All I wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God.”

Many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. “I wish I could make a cradle for him, “her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth sturdy wood. “The manger is beautiful, “she said. And suddenly the first tree knew she was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hands and said,” Peace, be still”. The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew she was carrying the king of heaven and earth. Early one morning a couple of years later, the third tree was startled when her beam was yanked from the forgotten wood pile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands to her. She felt ugly and hash and cruel. But three days later with the sun shining and the earth trembling beneath her, the third tree knew that Gods love had changed everything .It had made the third tree strong and every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God which was better than being the tallest tree in the world!

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed” Proverbs 16:3