Thoughts from my quiet time....

James 1:27
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

God recently put it on my heart to read James.  I have been going through a really neat bible study with my church's women's ministry and I have a break week this week.  I wanted to have a plan of something to read this week so that my quiet time would not go on the back burner.  I felt drawn to James.

This is the last verse of the first chapter really hit me.  James 1 is full of what God does not want us to do.  Then at the end he added one sentence about what to do.  He said to care for the orphans and widows.  I find it fascinating that he told us to care for orphans and widow in the same sentence to told us not to let the world corrupt us.  Over and over again in the bible God warns us to be IN the world but not OF the world.  We as Christians take this command very seriously and strive to accomplish is command. Our whole lives we try not to lie, cheat, or steal. What about taking care of the Orphans and Widows?

God commands that we take care of them in the same sentence he commands us not to be corrupted by the world. Why is it that we take one command more seriously than the other. My entire life I have worked towards not  letting this fallen world corrupt me.  Only recently have I made an effort to care for the orphans and widows that God loves so much.

The sin that I have committed when I was living Of the world grieves me.  I am just as humiliated and saddened that I have never bothered to take care of the least of these.  This verse is so beautiful because it shows us God's heart for these people less fortunate than us.  He loves them so much and COMMANDS us to take care of them.  What an awesome God we have!

There are so many ways that we can care for these people.  We can sponsor children in third world countries, we can come along side of a single mom who needs a babysitter and prayer, we can adopt, we can mentor children who don't have a father or mother, we can foster children.  There are so many things we can be doing to Glorify God in this area.  Lets get to it!

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!
Gavin and I have blessed with a job that will allow us to put $3,000 towards submitting our dossier!  It is very obvious that God gave us this job specifically for this adoption.  We will get the money right before its time to submit our dossier.  We still need your help raising $1700.  We are still selling T-Shirts, cookies, and  coffee.  You can also simply donate if you feel led.  The ways you can help us financially are all on the right side of my blog.  First and foremost, please be praying for our growing family!