Time to Rethink

"All I can do is pray," I thought. A second later I had a mental, "Whoa, there!" as I realized what my thought implied. Although I hate to admit it, my deep-down throught process was, "If I could only step in and have a hand in this situation, I know exactly how I could 'fix' it. But I guess I'll have to let God do the best He can."

Um....ouch.

It's embarrassing and rather sad that I could think that way. I want to have big thoughts about a BIG and GREAT God. And obviously the words "O ye of little faith" could apply to me when it comes to prayer. Still, I feel a little better when I realize that the disciples themselves had the same problem-and yet Jesus didn't give up on them. So I'm asking Him to do the same for me. I echo His followers in saying "Lord, teach me to pray." I'm going to be spending a while seaching the Bible for what God says about prayer. I'm so glad to know it has answers for me!

On a slight side tangent, I find it so amazing that God is completely sovereign over all circumstances and yet in a mysterious way He uses and listens to our prayers. God is utterly sovereign and prayer changes things. And yes, it's okay if your mind is spinning over that (mine is too);  thankfully we don't have to have God and His ways figured out!

I've seen God do great things in answer to prayer. I believe He can do mind-boggling things in response to our requests. He is so good to listen to us! So I say with the father in Mark 9:24 "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief."

~Lissie

Молитва за сирот-video

This video was created by Ukrainian Christians for Orphan Sunday (November 6, 2011): a day for the church to remember and act on behalf of the fatherless and vulnerable. In the words of Jedd Medefind on the Christian Alliance for orphans blog, the Ukrainian church is "on fire" in its desire to adopt and care for the orphans in its country. *Enter personal commentary: It makes me extremely excited to see Christ's church on the other side of the world passionately living out the Gospel to the needy!*

(The video is called "Prayer for Orphans," and the words at the end basically say that there are more than 30,000 orphans in Ukraine and that each person's prayer can make a difference.)



Is the church in America on fire to live out James 1:27? Please leave a comment if your church is doing something for Orphan Sunday! I would love to hear from you.

~Lissie

Not Unwanted

Angelina and 10 other children visited this  church last January--all but one of the other children had hosts on that trip, and 8 of the other children (3 of them my siblings) now have a forever family. Angelina remains an orphan. 

       
          No wonder she is shy and insecure. Rejected times innumerable by her birth family, by school mates, by potential friends at her orphanage, mocked and ostracized often, Angelina feels entirely unwanted by all the world at the ripe old age of twelve.

        This young girl was in my brother Alexander's group in his orphanage, but their lives could not be more sharply contrasted now. Alexander is universally loved and admired. Angelina is ignored or made fun of. Alexander has a family. Angelina has no one to call Mom or Dad, no sisters and brothers to play with, no grandparents to remember her birthday or her favorite color. Alexander's future is bright with possibilities and opportunities. Angelina's future is bleak, if not even grim.

          Yet Angelina is not unwanted. Her future is not without hope. Little though she may know it, she has a Heavenly Father--the self-proclaimed Father of the Fatherless-- who is looking out for her and loves her more than anyone ever could here on earth. This Father calls us, His adopted children, to look out for those who are vulnerable and orphaned.

          Would you be so good as to take 5 minutes and read the article about Angelina below (written by the very same Becky who assisted us so much in our adoption), and would you please pray for this precious little girl? Would you pray for her shattered heart? Would you pray for her salvation? It is more than likely that she has never heard the true Gospel, which alone can give her never-ending hope. And, would you please pray that God will give Angelina a godly and loving family? After all, it may seem unreasonable and impossible by human standards, but nothing is impossible with God!

Link:
Angelina--Crushed Little Blossom

Fragments: Is there anyone out there?

Standing here, looking up,

Empty sky mirrored in my heart;

Is there anyone out there?

Can anyone hear the half-spoken prayers

I pray in the dark?

My weak, frail breath begs for answers.

If God never sleeps,

Why do I not hear replying echoes?

My prayers are soaring higher,

Up into the soulless, empty sky.

They fly past the stars

Into the blackness of awesome galaxies,

Pregnant with hope.

Oh, the piercing light of Your answers!

Even before the prayer leaps

From my lips,

You’re holding my hand.

You leave Your light-years of dying stars,

To help my dying soul.

You uphold my arms of faith

You tell me I am not alone.

You will never betray me,

Your promises are true,

You never deceive,

You love forever:

I am not alone.

~ Tessa