19 "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." NKJV
Jesus mentions the orphan. in John 14, but we also see it in the Old Testament.
Lamentations 5:1-5......1 Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us;
look, and see our disgrace.
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to aliens,
our homes to foreigners.
3 We have become orphans and fatherless,
our mothers like widows.
4 We must buy the water we drink;
our wood can be had only at a price.
5 Those who pursue us are at our heels;
we are weary and find no rest. NIV
James 1:27..........27 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. NIV
Psalm 25:16-18.............16 Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me,
For I am desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart have enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses!
18 Look on my affliction and my pain,
And forgive all my sins.
NKJV
Many people today are voicing loudly their life of the desolate. Many have not seen the example of a "figure" to lead them with wisdom. Many today have been led by maybe a sibling or friend and most have been taken far from the place of being nurtured in love, but brought up in neglect, or left as in abandonment, and in deprivation of anything to sustain them to life. Love never enters the arena where they reside. These are they who are usually used in some way for another's gain.
These are the "orphans"!
This has come on my heart to write in the last few days. I was never left an orphan, but I met many who had been left to their own devices. I met many who had to fend for themselves, and I saw the mistakes they made by trying to be "grown up" when there was still so much of a child inside. One young lady who had failed a couple of years in school, desired to quit school and marry. I remember watching this game being played at our school one afternoon. It was a basketball practice being held outside and I remember sitting next to this young teen. Although she was some three years older than me, I liked her gentle spirit. She loved to talk and so did I. I was in Jr. High and liked being that age and being in school.I loved "homework"! But this one talked how she wanted to be married and take care of a home. I wondered, "does someone really like cleaning house and cooking food"? Remember I was in Jr. High.
Today we are seeing many displaced people who desire living out on the streets and alley ways. Some got there by misfortune and others because they chose it. A friend of mine for some years, worked down in the Seattle area, and she saw this women one day with a shopping cart loaded down with all kinds of things. The Lord had told my friend to walk over and talk with her. Well, the first time, she said no to the Lord. But the next time, she went quickly with a willing heart.
I remember her take on the whole conversation. She said as she approached the woman, who was nicely dressed in Asian apparel. Her hair appeared nicely cared for and did not look like someone who lived on the street. My friend offered the lady some money and told her that "the Lord loved her". The woman told my friend that she liked living on the street as she did not want to work! My friend encouraged her in some way and walked away. She said she remembered turning back for a last look at the woman and felt sad for her. She saw the Asian woman one more time on that street corner and then saw her no more. Today, when people get into a "fix" by either spending too much money, one spouse passes from sudden death or long illness, or a job is lost with no back-up savings, many people find there is no home to go back to as there was many decades ago. In decades past, If someone came upon hard times, the family came together and often times lived in the same house for years. It happened in the Dust Bowl era and crash of 1929. But today, there is no place to go to, and many have found they can draw a check from government and never have to work again. I wonder what will happen when the government stops sending those checks out?
Yet, there are those who need not a handout but a hand up......a lifting with encouragement and maybe rent for a month!
Many times a youth is thrown out of their home because of not obeying the rules of the house or they want something that the parent's see as detrimental to the youth's or teenagers whole being. It is important for us to be fruitful and produce a place where others will desire to come. People have no homes they were raised in to go back to, but what if there is A PLACE in God that we can be fruitful in and present to those who are wandering in the desolate area of life?
Today we are seeing many displaced people who desire living out on the streets and alley ways. Some got there by misfortune and others because they chose it. A friend of mine for some years, worked down in the Seattle area, and she saw this women one day with a shopping cart loaded down with all kinds of things. The Lord had told my friend to walk over and talk with her. Well, the first time, she said no to the Lord. But the next time, she went quickly with a willing heart.
I remember her take on the whole conversation. She said as she approached the woman, who was nicely dressed in Asian apparel. Her hair appeared nicely cared for and did not look like someone who lived on the street. My friend offered the lady some money and told her that "the Lord loved her". The woman told my friend that she liked living on the street as she did not want to work! My friend encouraged her in some way and walked away. She said she remembered turning back for a last look at the woman and felt sad for her. She saw the Asian woman one more time on that street corner and then saw her no more. Today, when people get into a "fix" by either spending too much money, one spouse passes from sudden death or long illness, or a job is lost with no back-up savings, many people find there is no home to go back to as there was many decades ago. In decades past, If someone came upon hard times, the family came together and often times lived in the same house for years. It happened in the Dust Bowl era and crash of 1929. But today, there is no place to go to, and many have found they can draw a check from government and never have to work again. I wonder what will happen when the government stops sending those checks out?
Yet, there are those who need not a handout but a hand up......a lifting with encouragement and maybe rent for a month!
Many times a youth is thrown out of their home because of not obeying the rules of the house or they want something that the parent's see as detrimental to the youth's or teenagers whole being. It is important for us to be fruitful and produce a place where others will desire to come. People have no homes they were raised in to go back to, but what if there is A PLACE in God that we can be fruitful in and present to those who are wandering in the desolate area of life?
We are to value our children and grand-children and not throw them into the street to fend for themselves. But so many have been dealt a brutal blow by those that gave them life and are now these have grown into adults and are raising their own children. And that orphan mentality can certainly affect how we raise our "kids" if we are still experiencing this "orphan" image.
God surely created us in His image and He desires good for us. He planned for us and when we would exist to accomplish His plan in the earth.
Genesis 1:26-28.........26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
NKJV
Isaiah 40:18-20..........18 To whom then will you liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare to Him?
19 The workman molds an image,
The goldsmith overspreads it with gold,
And the silversmith casts silver chains.
20 Whoever is too impoverished for such a contribution
Chooses a tree that will not rot;
He seeks for himself a skillful workman
To prepare a carved image that will not totter. NKJV
What image have people followed? What god did they create for themselves to follow? Did they follow their own lusts to find defiance and death? Did they follow those "voices" of destruction, those who use and throw away children? How about the little 5 year old who has no name, and was found dead in a trash bag in the harbor of a great city? How did we get to be a nation who cares not for their children? There is no other way to life other than Jesus. All others lead to destruction. Everything else is but a lie, and can be beautifully ornamented as we see from the scripture above. Those things of the world are not the real life God has for us. He has placed eternity in each of us and He desires us to know Him and spend quality time with Him.
Apart from God, we can only experience death.
Matthew 5:48............48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. NKJV
Those who walk those crooked paths are certainly found out. As we see from Proverbs 10:9......Proverbs 10:9...........9 The man of integrity walks securely,
They are shown to be what they are........2 Timothy 3 :2-5.......2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. NIV
We are seeing generation after generation,those who have no influence that leads to righteousness, but those who saw a parent die, and the other be a lover of themselves. We are seeing those who have been abandoned by another's own brutal behavior, lack of love, and displaying unforgiving hearts!
Apart from God, we can only experience death.
Matthew 5:48............48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. NKJV
That perfection is in that perfect love seen in 1 John 4:18. His love is spoken throughout to us in that word written as the Bible. He speaks in truth to us and we grow more in Christ......that unrelenting pursuit was seen in Jesus and accomplished on the cross.
Those who walk those crooked paths are certainly found out. As we see from Proverbs 10:9......Proverbs 10:9...........9 The man of integrity walks securely,
but he who takes crooked paths will be found out. NIV
Those who walk out their journey through other means than love for their neighbor end up in "bad places" and with not so good people!
Those who walk out their journey through other means than love for their neighbor end up in "bad places" and with not so good people!
They are shown to be what they are........2 Timothy 3 :2-5.......2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. NIV
We are seeing generation after generation,those who have no influence that leads to righteousness, but those who saw a parent die, and the other be a lover of themselves. We are seeing those who have been abandoned by another's own brutal behavior, lack of love, and displaying unforgiving hearts!
Those who truly follow their own passions find heartache, loss and loneliness. And those children who are left behind to fend for themselves wonder why "the parent" left them. They wonder why "the parent" chose alcohol or drugs or just chose to desert them.
But Jesus said He would not leave us orphans. He said that He would come to us!
Psalm 25:16-21.............16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.
18 Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
19 See how my enemies have increased
and how fiercely they hate me!
20 Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope is in you. NIV
Lately I have seen those who walk in integrity toward others and still seem to get the "shaft". They are sorely mistreated! And these people feel abandoned by society themselves. They have been in "church" but not followed the true path of knowing God and what Jesus did for them.
The psalmist wrote in Psalm 25 and verse 20....that he desired God to guard his life.......rescue him for the person had sought God as His refuge. The person did not want to come to shame. (shame: an embarrassment of foolish behavior) The psalmist desired to be one of integrity and uprightness. He had directed his hope in God!
Romans 15:13..........13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. NIV
The psalmist wrote in Psalm 25 and verse 20....that he desired God to guard his life.......rescue him for the person had sought God as His refuge. The person did not want to come to shame. (shame: an embarrassment of foolish behavior) The psalmist desired to be one of integrity and uprightness. He had directed his hope in God!
Romans 15:13..........13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. NIV
In prayer we are to fasten upon the names, the titles and
attributes of God. As we confess, and spend time with those scriptures our
faith in those names, title and attributes of Who God is strengthens our faith.
As the God of hope fills us with all joy and peace as we put our trust in Him, we overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
But God! When we turn away from the world and look into God's instruction (the Bible) we find our path!
Can we possibly nurture others in the God of hope?
Can we influence them, with a Godly heritage and beckon them to God's holy word of repentance and life? Just because "maw" or "paw" went to the church for many years, does not make one a Christian. Following Jesus and the commands given to us, is the Way, the Truth and the Life! It is not following what religion speaks, but what is in your heart to things of God. If we direct people into fellowship of God and the Holy Spirit, we direct them into "freedom".
Then the "orphans" leave bondage and the drudgery of the negative lifestyle or traditions. As each of us spend time in this beautiful love letter, we become aware that we were and are truly loved by God!
Can we influence them, with a Godly heritage and beckon them to God's holy word of repentance and life? Just because "maw" or "paw" went to the church for many years, does not make one a Christian. Following Jesus and the commands given to us, is the Way, the Truth and the Life! It is not following what religion speaks, but what is in your heart to things of God. If we direct people into fellowship of God and the Holy Spirit, we direct them into "freedom".
Then the "orphans" leave bondage and the drudgery of the negative lifestyle or traditions. As each of us spend time in this beautiful love letter, we become aware that we were and are truly loved by God!
He has the answer! Our diet must change to the sustenance that will sustain us We must turn from that replaying that tune or hearing those voices of yesteryear that come to remind us that we were abandoned. We must tune out those lies that destroy and turn to truth that brings life to us. Our instruction must come from God and Him alone. We must join ourselves with the flock that follows Jesus as Lord and our Defender!
I have seen this in a young pastor who just found his calling a few years back. He is giving back of his talents and the gifts God has in him and he moves easily from neighborhoods to the market place.
And to those who might have had, even some Sunday school as youths and teens, you are still called of God to fill a place. If that one place within you seems void of life, now is the time to turn toward God and call on Him to fill that void by His Holy Spirit. I know I experienced it as well. I know it exists, but do not spend your years on the fruitless and lifeless things like I did, turn now and find that life God has for you and will direct you into.
I have seen this in a young pastor who just found his calling a few years back. He is giving back of his talents and the gifts God has in him and he moves easily from neighborhoods to the market place.
And to those who might have had, even some Sunday school as youths and teens, you are still called of God to fill a place. If that one place within you seems void of life, now is the time to turn toward God and call on Him to fill that void by His Holy Spirit. I know I experienced it as well. I know it exists, but do not spend your years on the fruitless and lifeless things like I did, turn now and find that life God has for you and will direct you into.
If you are still facing that "orphan" attitude, then ask God what you need to hear and learn to leave the other behind. Ask God to lead you by His Spirit into that care of His loving kindness that will replenish the spirit, soul and body. Ask Him to show what instruction you need and to please send those instructors and teachers your way. Ask HIM to help you hear the voice of life unto life. Ask Him to show you those who are allowed to speak into your life.
Remind God that He created you for a purpose in His mind and ask Him what it is. Know that He is for you and not against you!
Romans 8:31-35...........31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? NIV
Psalm 32:8-9.......8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you. NKJV
When we allow God to have His way in our lives, we can "finish strong"........!
Proverbs 23:12 12 Apply
your heart to instruction,
And your ears to words of knowledge. NKJV
Proverbs 24:11 11
Deliver those who are drawn toward death,
And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. NKJV
Proverbs 5:1-2 ....... My son,
pay attention to my wisdom;
Lend your ear to my understanding,
2 That you may preserve discretion,
And your lips may keep knowledge. NKJV
Psalm 42:8 ...... 8 The LORD
will command His loving-kindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me--
A prayer to the God of my life. NKJV
Jesus sent His Spirit..........and it is renewing the face of the earth. For what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden..........Jesus took all that sin and nailed it to the cross and through His body. The Comforter, the Helper has come!
John 14:25-31.......25 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard Me say to you, 'I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, 'I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. NKJV
Let not the orphan attitude keep you away from the plan God has for you. Move forward to confess and rehearse those scriptures to remind you that God is still on the scene. He has not forgotten you or forsaken you.
Understand and know that Lord will not hear if we regard iniquity in our heart.
He desires us to forgive, forgive and forgive! He desires us to forgive others as He has forgiven us.
For those who still sense they have that "orphan" attitude......please pray to the God of your life.
Today, I pray,................I recognize I have a Father You planned for me. I am loved. I may not know the extent of it yet, but YOU are for me! A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows are You God in Your holy dwelling. It is YOU Who has set the lonely in families and You lead forth the prisoners with singing. (Psalm 68:5-6)
Father God, make me strong and courageous. I have read that the NAME OF THE LORD is a strong tower and the righteous run to it and are safe. (Prov. 18:10)......Help me not to
be afraid or terrified because of anyone else, for You, the Lord my God, go
with me; You will never leave me or forsake me. (Deut. 31:6)
Lord, how I thank YOU for the assurance that You will not
reject Your people; You will never forsake Your inheritance. (Psalm 94:14)
Father, today, I bask and take comfort in Your promise that You will go before me
and make the rough places smooth; You will shatter the gates of bronze and cut
through their iron bars. (Psalm 107: 15-16) You will give me the treasures of darkness and hidden
wealth (riches) of secret places, in order that I may know that it is You, the Lord, the
God of Israel, who calls me by name. (Isaiah 45:2-3)
Father God, I ask You to lead me when I am blinded by ways I
have not known. Help me to walk along the unexpected and unknown paths. Guide me into Your glorious Presence so that I can hear Your voice. Please,turn the darkness
into light before me and make the rough places smooth. I know You will not forsake me. ( Isaiah 42:16) I pray these things You will certainly do.
I receive You as my Father. Lead me into that You planned for me. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, whom the Father sent in Jesus' name, He will teach me all things, and bring to my remembrance all things that has been said to me of truth, in discipline, and guidance in YOUR holy word. I thank YOU for Peace that YOU left with me, I will not let my heart be troubled, neither will I let it be afraid.
Amen and Amen.
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