we are trees

This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
he will not see prosperity when it comes.
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.

He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
(Jeremiah 17:5-8)

Let us pray today and thank our God that He makes us like trees by the water.
That He is the one who grounds us deep.
He is the one who makes our leaves green (and enables them to serve as healing! -Ezekiel 47:12)
He is the one that carries us through drought and He is the One that bears fruit through our lives.

Let's pray for the beloved children who are suffering injustices today.
Let's pray for God's people to rise up and speak on their behalf.
Let's thank God for the work He is doing in the world- and in our hearts.
Lord, we put our confidence in YOU today!

October 13: God's Lavishing Love!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As I've been trying to reflect on my time in Ethiopia, God keeps bringing to my heart the words "lavishing love". Many of you probably know the feeling...going into an unfamiliar place, experiencing things you've never experienced before, being changed in deep ways...and then being at a loss of words when someone asks how your time was. That is me- even after two weeks. I still can't put into words my first experience in Africa. But slowly, God is helping me work through it all. For now, I will share this with you.

Lavish: Sumptuously rich and elaborate. (To) bestow something in generous or extravagant quantities upon. Characterized by or produced with extravagance and profusion. Immoderate in giving or bestowing. Using or giving in great amounts.

The Bible talks about God's lavishing love to us- as shown through the sacrifice of His Son, through His adoption of us, through the gift of the Holy Spirit. In Ethiopia, I felt this lavishing love in very real and tangible ways. As we drove up to Tulo in Awassa, kids came out of nowhere to run after the van. Smiling, singing, wanting to see us. See us!? Why? Spending hours with them, I felt genunely loved. As the kids fought to be near us, to hold our hands, to hug us...we experienced God's heart for us as "His beloved". We know God's heart for these children is HUGE...but do we remember His heart for US ? We, too, are called "children of God". We, too, although once far off, have been brought near because of His extravagent, 'sumptiously rich and elaborate' love for us! Let's praise Him today together as we remember His lavishing love for each one of us. And let's ask Him to fill us so we can pour out that same love in immoderate and genrous ways!

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." (John 3:1)

love,

abby

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Children's HopeChest:

1. Our board meeting this weekend
2. Our trip next week to Swaziland
3. Our trip to South Africa in November
4. Our various launches for new sponsor communities that are launching soon (approx. 14)
5. For our US and in country staff worldwide who face constant attacks from the enemy

Orphan Care Alliance:
1. Adoption Seminar on 10/16 and the families that will be coming for direction on their adoption journey.
2. Mentor Training on 10/23 - we have between 25-35 individuals that have a desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus through mentoring a foster care child aging out of the program or tutoring them.
3. The Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit VII is in Louisville in 5/11 - pray for the development of this conference and all involved.
4. Pray for the Pastors across the country that God would awaken them to the call/mandate on the Church to care for the fatherless.
5. For the directors of OCA and their families.

Amazima Ministries International

Exec. Director, Katie Davis's daughter Scovia is so sick... no one can really figure out what it is. Please pray for healing!

Orphan Relief and Rescue (Liberia)

-Continued good health and safety for the children in the homes we are
working with.

-Strength,wisdom and creativity for our field team in Liberia working
with limited resources.
-Favor in fundraising and spreading the work about ORR around the states.

Indian Rescue Mission

They are conducting Investigations in a place in Karnataka State, India.

Pray that the team to be successful in gathering information through investigations.

Cinderella House
A couple from Colorado Springs is starting an aftercare home for girls coming out of domestic minor sex trafficking.
Please pray for the beginning stages, for wisdom, partners, and provision from God!

Please join us tomorrow for a time of prayer!

The conference call times and instructions are as follows:
Wednesdays 9:30 AM (eastern) at CALL IN # : 760- 569- 9000 ID: 968101
AND
Wednesdays 1:35 PM (eastern) CALL IN # : 760- 569- 9000 ID: 968101
this one will specifically focus on prayer for those who are being trafficked into the sex trade.

sorry...a little late!

We have an ADVOCATE!
"My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous." (1 John 2:1) "If anyone does sin, we have an advocate." Yes, though we sin, we have Him still. All the sin that a believer ever did or can be allowed to commit cannot destroy his interest in the Lord Jesus Christ as his advocate. The name given here to our Lord is suggestive. "Jesus."

He is the kind of advocate we need, for Jesus is the name of one whose business and delight it is to save. "

You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." His sweetest name implies His success." (Charles Spurgeon/Allistair Begg)

As we strive to advocate for people around the world in great need, we must remember that we, too, need an advocate- and praise God that we have one! However embarressing to admit, sometimes I forget that I once lived in darkness. I once was stuck in sin. I once was without Jesus. I once had no hope. The only reason I have true hope, true forgiveness, true life, is because Jesus advocated for me. He stepped in on my behalf and paid the price for my rebellion. This realization should bring me to a place of deep gratitude and adoration of the One who gave all so I could be near Him. As Henri Nouwen writes, "to adore is to be drawn away from my own preoccupations into the presence of Jesus."

Let us adore Jesus together today. Let us come before the Advocate in pure gratitude of the great lengths He went for each of us- For the love He lavishes on us even when we didn't deserve it. Let us go forth to advocate for the beautiful people in need, in the strength and faith that Our Advocate goes before us always.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Children's Hopechest: Praise for the Ethiopia team's return- for the ways God moved in and through the team members. Please pray for the in-country staff of Ethiopia- for encouragement, protection and direction as they serve the children and communities around that country.

Orphan Relief and Rescue ; Elena and Debbie arrive back in Liberia on Friday. For now it is just thetwo of us holding down the fort here. Please pray for strength andwisdom and we find creative ways to continue to love on the kids here.Finances continue to be a need throughout the organization and wellare guarding against discouragement.
Colorado Human Services (orphans of our community in El Paso Co.): Pray for Gretchen. She is a 13 yr old girl who has been seperated from her siblings, and is the only child not adopted in her family of 6 siblings. She is a GREAT kid! She's in the advanced program at school, she's hilarious, she loves the Lord. But families that she is placed with don't know how to parent her.
Indian Rescue Mission (from Sept.28th) The team led investigations at places called Sangli and Miraj in Maharastra State, India. It was known that they have investigated 3 red light areas in the city and are on search of a 14 yr old girl who was seen a week back at the Miraj red light area. They are making their best efforts to trace her and as soon as she is found, we will make plans for the rescue.

Please join every Wednesday for a time of prayer! I promise, you'll be blessed!

The conference call times and instructions are as follows:

Wednesdays 9:30 AM (eastern) at CALL IN # : 760- 569- 9000 ID: 968101 AND

Wednesdays 1:35 PM (eastern) CALL IN # : 760- 569- 9000 ID: 968101

this one will specifically focus on prayer for those who are being trafficked into the sex trade