Orphan.. He will never leave you!

Orphan... He will never leave you!
by Heather Collver

Jesus said "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." in John 14:18.

Who was he talking to? He was talking to his followers. They had parents, they were young and old. So what made them orphans?

The term Orphan is defined as a child deprived by death of one or both parents. It is also defined as a child that is left fatherless.

Those who don't recognize their Father, our God, are orphans. They are special to God, he wants them to know Him.

Almost 10 years ago I was in search of my own father. I found out when I was 13 who my real father was. It was not what I had always imagined. He was not who I needed him to be. He left my life when I was 4-6 years old, so I don't remember him at all. After having our daughter, I felt a deep sense of wanting to know who my father was. I searched for almost 2 years before I found his mother by looking in an old phone book my grandma had kept from the 80's. I called the number and introduced myself. She told me that her phone was to be shut off that day because she was moving in with her son, my uncle. That weekend we made a long trip to meet my family. I was able to meet my aunt and uncle, grandma and sister and brother from my father's side. I learned more information about the character of my father and decided that I would no longer search for him.

A few years later, that deep feeling was still there, I wanted to be loved by a father. My father-in-law has always loved me like I was his own daughter, don't get me wrong, but I was young and wanted my OWN father. I didn't want to be adopted. I wanted to be with my creator. I had no desire to believe in this big and wonderful God, so faith was not a factor in this search. So I thought anyway.

In was in my own search for my father that I was united with God. I found what I was looking for through his grace, forgiveness. Through his mercy. It wasn't overnight. I still remember the first time I called God my Father. It was like a flood rushed over me and everything I needed, that hole that needed filling was overflowing. If only every child who is fatherless could come to know the Lord and feel whole, that would be such a blessing in this world. The empowerment of knowing that you are loved no matter what and that your creator could actually smile down on you. That all that you have you don't deserve a bit of it, yet he overflows the blessings in our lives. He has made me complete!!!!

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

One of my favorite verses. If anyone asks what religion is to me, that is it. I know that the orphans that he is talking about includes those who have lost a mother and/or a father to death, but I also know it means we are to take care of those who don't yet know their true creator. What an amazing calling we have in our lives. We are to comfort those in need of his love. If we don't yet know who our real Father, creator, is, then it is our job to be in a relationship with him. Get to know him. Spend time in his presence and praise him for his blessings.

Dear Lord, thank you so much for the unconditional love you have for your creation. Help us to know that we are each so uniquely special that you care about each hair on our heads, each thought in our mind and each word that is spoken. You desire us to draw close to you. You love us so much.

Please pray with me this week for JoAnne A.- She is special to me and to many in this devotional group. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. If you want to read more about her story and join her prayer chain, go to https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/grandmagreat

Please also pray for Roger, Lisa, and Kimberly this week.

Please also pray for McKayla, our little sister, who is in need of a Father. She is in foster care and dealing with hurts. She is 15.