by Sonali

India is the seventh largest country in the world, but it is also the second-largest country in population, being the home to over 1.2 billion people.  Poverty and disease run rampant, and it is estimated that there are over twenty five and a half million orphans under the age of 17, living in India.  That's more than the population of Texas.

India is my home.  My heart is there.
And so is the heart of Jesus.

Charity is not a secular virtue.  The heart of God for the lost, the suffering, the lonely, the orphans, is clear throughout the Scriptures. 

    "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction..." (James 1:27)

    "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.   For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,   I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'  
    Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?   And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'  
    And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
(Matthew 25:34-40)

    "Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause." (Isaiah 1:17)

    "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified." (Isaiah 61:1-3)

    "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others." (Matthew 23:23)

We can adhere to a "biblical" dress code and listen to "biblical" music and attend a "biblical" church (unfortunately, "biblical" is a very vague word that can be used to apply to just about anything, even opposite things), but if we are neglecting those for whom Christ died, living our own lives in comfort and forgetting those who have nothing, we are missing the very heart of God.

This morning, Melanie discussed with Rebecca, Kirsten, and I the possibility of using our Etsy shop as a means to reflect the heart of Christ and reach out to those in need.  Together we came to the decision that 20% of all Etsy sales will go to India Christian Missions.  India Christian Missions is an organization started by James and Sarah Rebbavarapu.  It consists of a variety of branches: medical outreach, worship ministry, church planting, and children ministry.  Our desire is to reach out in particular to the latter, which reaches out to the orphans and disabled/special needs children of India.  They need to know that they are important in God's eyes, that He loves them as a Father.  They are my people-- I love them.  I am so excited about this opportunity to reach out to them.  It may be small, but if it can reach even just one child, it will be worth it.

Will you help me?  Help us?  Help them?


"Set the World on Fire"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66sQmu6fnxc&feature=share

I wanna set the world on fire
Until it's burning bright for you
It's everything that I desire
Can I be the one you use?

I, I am small but
You, you are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, you are strong enough
To take my dreams
Come and give them wings.
Lord with you
There's nothing I cannot do.
Nothing I cannot do.

I wanna feed the hungry children
And reach across the farthest land
And tell the broken there is healing
And mercy in the Father's hands.

...I, I am small but
You, You are big enough;
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to
Take my dreams;
Come and give them wings.
Lord with You,
There's nothing I can not do.
~Britt Nicole

Kelly
8/29/2011 05:14:32 am

Lovely post. I know how what it's like, I'm involed with a sewing group and we sew dresses (and shorts) for the children in Africa, Haiti and I suppose all those other countries, it makes me feel good to know I'm helping someone out and that the Lord is proud.

Keep on writing :D

Island Dreamer

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