Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11 is probably one of the top 5 most memorized verses of the Bible amongst professing Christians. Jeremiah 29 is a letter from the prophet Jeremiah to the surviving elders among the Jewish exiles that had been carried off to Babylon. This prophet tells the Jews living there to settle in this foreign land of their captivity, raise their children, seek peace, pray to God, don't listen to those who try to deceive you with lies, and that after 70 years of captivity in Babylon - God will bring them out of captivity and free them to go back to Jerusalem. (And for those non-believers in the truth of the Bible out there: history confirms these prophesies because that's exactly how it happened. Check it out for yourself) 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Verses 12- 14 go on to say, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord."

As you know by now, I work with a ministry that helps orphans. So I see the orphan day in and day out and then I contemplate verses like this one and ask God, "okay so I believe your Word but could you please explain this one to me? How does that promise apply to the orphan or the child prostitute or the forced child labor slave? In essence... WHAT THE JUNK?!?!" And this conversation as been ongoing between me and God for quite some time now. And then I read verses like Isaiah 45:7 where God says, "I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things." I completely realize that God is not in the least bit surprised when a child is orphaned. He knows. A lot of times, when Christians see evil in the world, I think we just blame sin for those bad things or situations and think that God couldn't possibly have anything to do with it. But God says in Isaiah that it is He who creates disaster - like earthquakes and hurricanes and famines and droughts. The Weather Channel does not control the weather - God does. So what is that about?!?

Lately, I feel like perhaps God is allowing me a bit of clarity in his message and response to my anger and frustration at why are there orphans and a host of other injustices going on in our world at a prevalence that few are willing to acknowledge. I think he is telling me this - "I see it. I know these injustices exist and now so do you. You see it. You are on earth for a reason. You were born for such a time as this. I don't make mistakes. And if you are willing, you have the opportunity to be my hands and feet on earth and go rescue those people- FOR MY GLORY, NOT YOURS. You, the CHURCH, have this opportunity and honestly this biblical command to do something about it. I promised Jeremiah 29:11 to you, to the orphan child, to the child slave, to the child prostitute in Cambodia and in Miami and in Chicago -- and YOU can rescue them and YOU can bring my promises to them." So my next question in this conversation with God has been going like this, "Okay. I am completely ill-equipped here. You're going to have to lead me one step at a time."

A few days ago, I read Proverbs 31:8-9 and felt like God gave it to me - right now, where I'm at, what I see everyday and on top of that - this is a biblical command to both Jews and Christians as it falls in the Old Testament. It reads, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." What does it mean to "defend their rights?" I'm pretty sure that involves A LOT more than just acknowledging that orphans exist - like millions of them worldwide or that millions of CHILDREN are bought and sold for sex against their will everyday. Defense involves force sometimes, action, rescue, help, justice, danger. I don't understand the battles God is fighting around the world or why He set up the world and history the way He has but I think He intended to involve those who pledge allegiance to Him to have something to do with the rescue - don't you?

Your thoughts are more than welcome here

Biblical HOPE

An encouraging word from Beth Moore that just resinated with my soul this morning:

"Hebrews 12:1 tells us that we are part of a great cloud of witnesses. It is our turn as the children of God to be residents of planet Earth. We are called to faith. We are called to be lights to an extremely dark and dismal place. Fulfilling this destiny will take courage and perseverance.

The New Testament lexical aids give synonyms for the greek word for hope: Subjectively, the inner, psychological sense of hope; confidence, eager anticipation, expectation, longing or aspiration. This is not webster's "hope." This is the biblical definition of "hope" because even when you do not see God around you, you know - He is about to show up. And you know that if you haven't seen him, in the contrast of not seeing Him for a while, when He shows up - it's going to be a GRAND appearance. When He comes into a place or in your life, it's going to be good."

And so I have HOPE that God is on the move, especially in those places where you know His Glory has not been shown in a long long time. And I'm getting excited.

Prayer for CHD (continued)

"Many people want to speak to a ruler,

but justice comes only from the LORD." - Proverbs 29:26

I have found this scripture to be so true with my frustrations at Casa Hogar Douglas. Right now, man can not help me to right any wrongs. Man can not execute justice for those innocent children - but God sure can. The only thing that stops me from yelling in out right anger and trying to take matters into my own hands everyday is the fact that the Bible talks in depth about Jesus Christ who will reside as Judge over all on the day of judgement. I pray Jesus executes justice for them. Lift up a prayer and ask God to move in this home.

Prayer for Casa Hogar Douglas

This February we as a staff team are asking each other and our ministry partners all over the U.S. who love the kids at Casa Hogar Douglas to cover this children's home in prayer all month. I'll be the first to admit that the children's homes we serve here in Monterrey are not all perfect. Each home has it's own list of issues or concerns or reasons to pray- aside from the emotional wounds of the children as a result of being abandoned. God has laid the kids at Douglas on my heart and this is the children's home that I spend the most time at here in Monterrey. Honestly, the more I'm there and the more I know - the more I find to pray for. God loves these kids so I'm asking you to pray through this list this month and beg God to move at this home. I want big and i mean BIG changes at this home. I want the BEST for these kids. Most days, I feel like giving up and just kidnapping all the younger kids (that's about 25 kids) and taking them to live with me in my apartment - but i'm not allowed to do that so it's probably best to try to make where they have to live - the BEST environment possible. Thank you!

Here is the prayer request list that is being sent around:

Thanks friends for joining us in prayer for Casa Hogar Douglas. Just for clarification, Wyman is the man who is the director there. Jim and Betty are the Back2Back staff who are captains of Douglas. Following is specific ways to pray for them:
1. Care givers would be full of the love of Christ.
2. Children of all ages would experience God's Love in this home.
3. Financial needs of the home would be met.
4. Fear and pain would be minimized in the kids' lives.
5. The Holy Spirit would come and fill every dormitory.
6. God would protect this place with a "Band of angels" guarding against all evil.
7. That this home would be a "Shelter" and a "Rufuge" for these children.
8. Wyman would be open and supportive of changes we suggest need to occur.
9. We would find tutoring help for kids that need help in school.
10. God would remove anything or anyone that hinders the spread of His Revolution in this place.
11. God would raise up positive role-model leaders within the older boys' dorm.
12. The younger kids would look up to and follow these positive leaders.
13. Every care giver and child would know that they are part of the family of God.
14. Light would cause darkness to flee.
15. All care givers and staff would seek truth in their own lives.
16. All care givers and staff would demonstrate compassion in discipling children.
17. Betty & Jim would be filled with Godly wisdom and courage as they minister.
18. All outside influences (other groups) would be edifying to the Spirit.
19. Godly people would not grow weary of doing what is right.
20. The leadership would be sanctified for God's service.
21. Tired workers would have time to rest.
22. God would use the church to minister to staff and kids weekly.
23. All staff not filled with the Holy Spirit would leave.
24. Staff and kids would recognize and give testimony to God's provision in their lives.
25. God would complete His promises in the lives of these children.