Where is the church?

I found DJ playing Legos under the trampoline the other day-

this is the battle of Helm's Deep.

 

Since we are in the process of finding our next child these days adoption has been on my heart a lot.  Right now in our state there are 850 children waiting to be adopted.  There are over 100,000 children in the United States who are just waiting, some for years- now listen to this- there are something like 300,000 churches in the United States right now also...  Umm, doesn't something seem wrong with this picture?  I'm not trying to guilt you into doing anything, guilt is not a good motivator, I'm just trying to make you aware. 

 

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.

James 1:27 

 

At our church we have begun an orphan ministry, and last Sunday night we watched a video by Family Life, and Dennis Rainey made this point.  For decades the church has campaigned to end legalized abortion.  That is a good thing.  We need to protect life at all stages.  But let's just imagine that Roe v. Wade was overturned- there would be thousands more children who would need to be adopted then, right?  If the church can't or won't take care of the thousands of kids waiting right now, why would we take care of thousands more?

 

Now you might say, well... those kids that are waiting, they have all sorts of issues that I don't think we can handle.  

But he said to me,

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

2 Corinthians 12:9

 

No, you or I probably will not be able to handle everything these kids might throw our way, but we have God!  In his power and strength, we can do it.  We do not need to be afraid.  You know, when God adopts us into his family, does he only adopt those of us who are perfect, who haven't made any mistakes or gotten into any trouble?  Of course not, he delights in redeeming us and healing us from all our past problems.  So why do we only want to adopt perfect babies, who haven't made any mistakes yet?  (I'm talking to myself here too, you know).  Adoptive parents wait for years to get their perfect baby, and 13 year old children wait years for their adoptive home.  Doesn't quite add up.

 

Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,

humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:12

 

Is there a part God wants you to play?