God's Promises

Ever wondered what the Word of God (the Bible) has to say about orphans?  The more time I spend around these Christ centered orphanages, the more I'm convinced that God loves orphans with the kind of everlasting love it talks about in Jeremiah 31.  A recent group from Family Christian Stores' James Fund painted new coats of paint at 2 of the orphanages we serve and then posted all the promises that God makes specifically to the orphan child in Scripture all over the 2 homes - in the front offices, the kitchen, their bathroom, their bedrooms, the hallways... everywhere.  

Here is what the Bible says about God's promises to the orphan child and what is now posted on the walls:

God promises to defend you.

        Dios promete defenderte.

God promises to rescue you.

        Dios promete rescatarte.

God promises to deliver you.

        Dios promete llevarte.

God promises to come to you.

        Dios promete venir a ti.

God promises to hear you.

        Dios promete escucharte.

God promises to not leave you.

        Dios promete no dejarte.

God promises to lift you up.

        Dios promete levantarte.

God promises to lead you out.

        Dios promete dirigirte.

God promises to be your Father.

        Dios promete ser tu Padre.

God promises to make you a home.

        Dios promete hacerte un hogar.

God promises to not forget you.

        Dios promete no olvidarte.

God promises to execute mercy toward you.

        Dios promete tener misericordia de ti.

God promises to execute true justice to you.

        Dios promete hacerte justicia verdadera.

God promises to give you food and clothing.

        Dios promete darte alimento y ropa.

God promises to help you.

        Dios promete ayudarte.

God promises to maintain your cause.

        Dios promete ayudar tu causa.

This same day, I heard crying coming from the younger kids' dorm room and went inside to check the situation out.  I found 3 year old Sarai just laying on her bed in the corner and crying.  I laid down next to her and asked her what was wrong and one little girl told me that "she was crying because she wanted to cry."  And Sarai just kept saying "I want my mommy."  She has lived at this orphanage practically her entire life with her now 5 year old older sister Juanita.  So I laid on her bed next to her and just rubbed her back for a long time and cried on the inside with her.... and as I sat there not having a clue what to say to her to try to make her feel better, I saw on the wall one of God's promises for her - God promises to execute true justice towards you - I just started praying for God's promises to her to become evident to her in the years to come and for God to heal the pains of her tiny little broken heart.   

1 Thes 5:24 "The one who called you is faithful and He will do it."  I try to rest in this verse and its truth.  He is faithful and He will bring His promises to completion.  

Yesterday the 60 children from Casa Hogar Imperio de Amor brought a group of 21 visiting americans to tears as they sang in english and in spanish songs about how they don't have moms or dads but in Christ, God has given them a huge family in God.  They sang of God's promises to them as loud as Gators cheer for touchdowns.  I am convinced that I serve a God of justice- a God who is passionate about the poor and broken hearted.  He has a plan, I know He does.  And when nothing here seems to make any sense to me at all - when i question everything - I just know that one day God will right every wrong and injustice.  He will.  He promised.