My new book Sons and Daughters releases everywhere on October 9th. This book embodies my life message and I am so anxious for you to read it and discuss it. Here is an excerpt from Chapter 2.
Most people I meet who are plagued by an orphan spirit believe that Jesus Christ can save them; they just can’t seem to fathom how he adores them too. It’s interesting, isn’t it? The cry of the orphan heart is, “Won’t somebody please see anything remotely worthwhile in me?” And all the while God lovingly says, “I do. I really do.”
Every weekend at New Life, as I’m dismissing the service, I ask our congregation to take time before they leave to introduce themselves to two or three people they do not know. It’s not just a fleeting comment; there is deep purpose behind my reminder. What goes through my mind as I say those words is, Please, New Life, do what I’m asking you to do. Please let God lead you to a possible divine encounter. The power of even a passing word can radically change a life.
Countless people sitting in our auditorium every weekend carry an orphan spirit. They are unimpressed by flashy lights, loud surround-sound, and the slightly above-average speaker on the stage. What impresses them—what really moves them—is to be seen. To be acknowledged. To be greeted. To be embraced. To be cared for and prayed for and loved.
God knows it’s what moves us all. He knows that’s what brings us home.
September 17, 2012 at 1:40 pm
I wonder if not just the fellow congregant.
What about the guy at the genius bar at the Apple store?
What about the checker at the grocery store?
What about the guy who was busy thinking about something and kinda cut me off?
What about the black sheep in my family?
Plato is quoted as saying, “be kind; everyone is fighting a great battle.”
Somebody else borrowed from Isaiah and proclaimed, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”
I’ve said before that’s what I’ve invited into my heart and lives within me.
I know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Do I?
Really?
What, then, shall we say in response to these things?
September 17, 2012 at 2:30 pm
My husband and I were blessed to adopt Anya from Russia in 1997. Yes, indeed an orphan, and unlike many nations even the govt. failed these precious ones. Dean and I visited one orphanage, whose little ones were in the fields digging for potatoes from a field already harvested.
Because of survival skills, sometime a callous protective layer lies over their hearts to protect from further injury. In God’s perfect timing this hardened protective exterior will melt away. Faithful and steadfast love over a long period of time seems to be key in reaching these wounded ones.