I told the story of John earlier in the blog, the story continues......
Filled with the joy of finding out he could possibly have parents in America, John jumped for joy with his would be brother in the orphanage. The next day greeted John with the customary trip to the hospital for a checkup, which always follows the future parents inquiry of a child. Smiling from ear to ear, happy to get the checkup because it means his ticket out, waving to his friends in the orphanage as he pulls out the door. The others smile with happiness as they see that there friend is happy and could have a new family.
John never returned to the orphanage, after receiving his checkup he was ushered on to another orphanage site where they keep the HIV positive kids.
I love this boy and since I have heard the news today my heart is with him. I know he is sad, he watched his mom and dad die a slow death from AIDS, he knows. He also probably thinks it is the kiss of death for his hopes of finding a family. Moreover, he returned to yet another strange place with different people and, now, really a forgotten one. I can only imagine the tears of pain as they rolled down his face onto a strange bed. He is eight and has seen and suffered more pain than I have in my lifetime.
I spent a week loving on him. God loves him. Everything paled in comparison today after I heard that news. I take so much for granted. God comfort John and strengthen him like only you can.
11 hours ago
1 comments:
Yahweh is a warrior. These unspeakable things that are going on every moment on our planet- those are the work of the enemy we face- who seeks to steal, kill and destroy. And he is doing so much of that in the place you currently find yourself living. It doesn't make the ache and horror go away to know this. But it can make you stronger to turn around and fight. Invite His presence in to be a warrior here. Maybe you are the person to do this. It sounds so strange and yet He wants to be asked to come in to situations. Ask Him to fight here- ask Him for clarity for exactly what it is that you need to do right now. It will come.
love judith
Forewarned Is Forearmed
07/10/2008
Many people think the theme of war ends with the Old Testament. Not at all. Jesus says, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matt. 10:34). In fact, his birth involved another battle in heaven (Rev. 12:1–5, 7–8, 17).
The birth of Christ was an act of war, an invasion. The Enemy knew it and tried to kill him as a babe (Matt. 2:13). The whole life of Christ is marked by battle and confrontation. He kicks out demons with a stern command. He rebukes a fever and it leaves Peter’s mother-in-law. He rebukes a storm and it subsides. He confronts the Pharisees time and again to set God’s people free from legalism. In a loud voice he wakes Lazarus from the dead. He descends to hell, wrestles the keys of hell and death from Satan, and leads a train of captives free (Eph. 4:8–9; Rev. 1:18). And when he returns, I might point out, Jesus will come mounted on a steed of war, with his robe dipped in blood, armed for battle (Rev. 19:11–15).
War is not just one among many themes in the Bible. It is the backdrop for the whole Story, the context for everything else. God is at war. He is trampling out the vineyards where the grapes of wrath are stored. And what is he fighting for? Our freedom and restoration. The glory of God is man fully alive. In the meantime, Paul says, arm yourselves, and the first piece of equipment he urges us to don is the belt of truth (Eph. 6:10–18). We arm ourselves by getting a good, solid grip on our situation, by getting some clarity on the battle over our lives. God’s intentions toward us are life; those intentions are opposed. Forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes.
(Waking the Dead , 15–16)
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