I was an orphan.

Day 7: What are three passions you have? 

1.) Orphans.  I could talk about this forever, about how the Lord's heart is for orphans, how we are orphans without the grace of God, how so many children in this world feel completely forgotten.  I could keep writing until my fingers fall off and still not be able to accurately describe God's passion for orphans and for adoption, but I will say this.

There are more than 200,000,000 orphans in the world today.  That's a number bigger than what you or I can comprehend.  200 million is a number too big to grasp, but each of those numbers have faces and names and emotions.  Broken hearts.  Hopeful hearts.  The Bible says that pure and faultless religion is to look after orphans and widows in their distress.  You've been called.  I've been called.  Whether the call is to adopt or to send someone else or to go or to sponsor, there is a call on your heart for orphans because it's on God's heart.

I was lost in my sins.  I was an orphan.  But I have been adopted as a daughter of God, as one who is cherished by the King of Kings.  Romans 8:15 says, "The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.  And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'"  I've been adopted.  I am no longer an orphan.


There are billions in this world who are spiritual orphans, running from God and lost in their own sin.  It's God's desire to adopt them, call them sons and daughters.  And it is your call and my call to speak His Name to all nations.

Orphans are my passion because they are a passion of my Father.  

2.) Writing.  I love words.  I'm not always a great writer.  Practice makes for great writing and I don't often have enough time to spend the needed hours writing and reading to sculpt my words in the loveliest way.  But I love to write.  I love the power of words.

3.) Redemption.  This one is difficult to explain.  I often meet girls who believe they have made too many mistakes to be forgiven by God.  They believe they're too far gone.  They've run too long to find their way back.

This breaks my heart.  I was once one of these girls.  I thought, "I turned away from God.  I made stupid mistakes.  I'm worse than the worst.  I'm past forgiveness."  And yet I was forgiven.  I was redeemed.  I was made into something beautiful by a God who could have thrown me away like rags.

When I meet girls who believe they are too far gone, my heart yearns with a desire to show them the redemptive love of Jesus Christ.  No one is too far away for His amazing grace to reach.  His love spans across the heavens.

What are your passions?

Two years ago: Looking for Prayer
Three years ago: Just Keep Swimming, Swimming, Swimming