It's not about me. It's not about you. It's about the lost, the broken, the ones that the world says are worthless. The fatherless, the orphan. The heartbeat of THE FATHER.
World Aids Day is tomorrow. Watch and listen to the heart of this Mama - Carolyn Twietmeyer.
Adopting HIV+ children is possible. It's not a death sentence. It's a life sentence that gives hope and love that would not normally be there to a child (or 3) if you will take the time to get educated. To learn the truth about HIV and AIDS. What you do with that edcuation is up to you but my hope is for you to ACT on it. Whether through adoption. Whether just sharing TRUTH with those around us. Whether it's supporting a program like Project Hopeful by donating. Through advocating for children with HIV. By supporting, enocuraging and standing with a family who has adopted an HIV + child.
God has had me in Jeremiah the last few nights. This verse: Jeremiah 22:3 ‘Thus says the LORD, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place" has had me thinking the last several days. I can't seem to get it out of my mind. It doesn't seem to be a passing thought. It's got me thinking. One word stands out to me OPRESSOR. Merriam-Webster defines oppressor this way: archaic : suppress: to crush or burden by abuse of power or authority: to burden spiritually or mentally : weigh heavily upon.
The Hebrew word for oppressor used in Jeremiah 22:3 is Yanah and it means to oppress, suppress, treat violently, maltreat, vex, do wrong; (Qal) to oppress, suppress; (Hiphil) to treat violently, maltreat.
Do I think I am an opressor? I'm not sure. Not in the sense that I abuse power or authority. This does weigh heavily upon me. But do I suppress by not speaking out about what I know is truth? Absolutely!! We are the voice. We are the people, God's people, that have been chosen for this time to step up and out of our comfort zones and speak for those who have no voice. This has been the cry of my heart for years now. To be a voice. A voice that can be used for the glory of GOD! and yet, I have sat quietly by, not using my voice to share the truth about HIV.
Many of you are probably wondering, does she have it? No. Does my husband? No. Do any of her kids? NO. Then why do I feel the need to share it? Because when I look at the eyes of these kids who do. When I hear the stories of families who have been kicked out of churches, lost friends, the multitude of invalid reasons go on and on and they all make me sick! To think of the millions of kids who need homes because they DO have it and no one wants them because of three little letters - it breaks my heart. To know that chlildren will not have forever families because of a virus. Because of FEAR. Because of the STIGMA associated with it. Because we are afraid to bring them into our homes or to have a voice for these little beings that God has called HIS children. The ones created in HIS image just as you and I are created in it.
It's time for the TRUTH PANDEMIC to take hold. For us to stop hiding our heads in the sand. It's time for us to get in the trenches with other families and stop the stigma that families who adopt HIV + children face on a day to day basis. It's time for us to lock arms with these kids, with these families, with like minded people and fight for their right to live. It's time for us to live a life according to the purpose God has called us.
Here's one more video I want to share from Carolynn Twietmeyer and Project Hopeful
So, could you pick out the children who had HIV? or the two with AIDS? Prayerfully consider partnering with Project Hopeful with a $25 or more donation a month and their TRUTH PANDEMIC Campaign. Help be a postive voice for these kids.
By the way, Does your heart beat with the FATHER's?
STHWTHE,
Laurie
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