I met a woman a few days ago who is homeless. Her drug addiction, she said, has cost her her family. They do not care anymore about her life. Picked up off the streets by a Christian half-way house, Patty has been drug free one day at a time for thirteen months. Patty was an orphan. Wandering alone without hope. Until...until her God saw her there, alone. Granted, she made her own pain. But that does not seem to matter to her Father when He hears her cry for help. This child of God says that she always trusts Him for the day ahead. Looks no further. Just one day at a time. Just like a kid.
I was collecting money that day for the homeless. Ironic, I know. She was out of the halfway house because a friend, who was getting a manicure at the time, had come to give her a day out at the beach. After our conversation, Patty walked away. Fifteen minutes later, she returned with three one dollar bills in her hand. She wanted to give her only money to the homeless shelter for which we were gathering donations. She adamant that she had received so much from people who cared that she wanted give back. That was that.
It made me think how all of us are homeless until we meet Him. He is our home. And He loves orphans....and widows. Part of the old law is dedicated to protecting them. Exodus 22:22: Do not cheat a widow or an orphan. If you do, and they cry out to Me for help, I will certainly hear their cry. I will be very angry and kill you in war so that your children will be fatherless. Cringing a little with me? I know. Sounds pretty hardcore. But our God is indignant with taking advantage of the poor, the widows and the orphans.
In Psalm 10, it is this kind of evil behavior that David sees and it makes him so angry. He wants God to do something, already! Lord, rise up and punish the wicked. Don't forget those who need help....Lord, surely you see these cruel and evil things; look at them and do something. People in trouble look to You for help. You are the One who helps the orphans. Break the power of the wicked people. Punish them for the evil they have done.
God promised to see, hear and help. And heaven help those who oppress,because it makes God really mad. Rightfully so. It even looks unfair to us, and we only have a finite understanding of justice.
When Jesus talked over Passover seder with his disciples, He wanted to make sure they understood that His going away was not abandonment. He will never leave us or forsake us. "I will not leave you as orphans," He promised. "I will come back to you." And He did. He rose again. Then sent the Holy Spirit, that Spirit by which we are able to call out "Abba!" That Spirit that brings us, adopted, into the family of God. No longer orphans. Fatherless. Homeless. But rich beyond measure. Robed extravagantly by a Father Who is so crazy about us that He has our names written on His palm. We no longer need to beg because He has rescued us from the streets, and we are empowered to live a different life. Even the wicked can partake if they turn. Because God loves those who cry out to Him.
I was collecting money that day for the homeless. Ironic, I know. She was out of the halfway house because a friend, who was getting a manicure at the time, had come to give her a day out at the beach. After our conversation, Patty walked away. Fifteen minutes later, she returned with three one dollar bills in her hand. She wanted to give her only money to the homeless shelter for which we were gathering donations. She adamant that she had received so much from people who cared that she wanted give back. That was that.
It made me think how all of us are homeless until we meet Him. He is our home. And He loves orphans....and widows. Part of the old law is dedicated to protecting them. Exodus 22:22: Do not cheat a widow or an orphan. If you do, and they cry out to Me for help, I will certainly hear their cry. I will be very angry and kill you in war so that your children will be fatherless. Cringing a little with me? I know. Sounds pretty hardcore. But our God is indignant with taking advantage of the poor, the widows and the orphans.
In Psalm 10, it is this kind of evil behavior that David sees and it makes him so angry. He wants God to do something, already! Lord, rise up and punish the wicked. Don't forget those who need help....Lord, surely you see these cruel and evil things; look at them and do something. People in trouble look to You for help. You are the One who helps the orphans. Break the power of the wicked people. Punish them for the evil they have done.
God promised to see, hear and help. And heaven help those who oppress,because it makes God really mad. Rightfully so. It even looks unfair to us, and we only have a finite understanding of justice.
When Jesus talked over Passover seder with his disciples, He wanted to make sure they understood that His going away was not abandonment. He will never leave us or forsake us. "I will not leave you as orphans," He promised. "I will come back to you." And He did. He rose again. Then sent the Holy Spirit, that Spirit by which we are able to call out "Abba!" That Spirit that brings us, adopted, into the family of God. No longer orphans. Fatherless. Homeless. But rich beyond measure. Robed extravagantly by a Father Who is so crazy about us that He has our names written on His palm. We no longer need to beg because He has rescued us from the streets, and we are empowered to live a different life. Even the wicked can partake if they turn. Because God loves those who cry out to Him.
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