Boundary Lines

"Don't stealthily move back the boundary lines or cheat orphans out of their property, For they have a powerful Advocate who will go to bat for them." Proverbs 23:10-11


What are these boundary lines? The lines that Mercy and Grace drew out years ago. The lines that define who we are as a Church (believers in Jesus Christ). The line that Jesus drew when He said, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." He went on to say, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." When the curtain falls and the music fades, what side of the boundary lines will Jesus find us on?

This is Tsveti. I heard the news that she died, yesterday. Tsveti lived her entire life as an orphan. 11 years, she spent in a crib, waiting to be chosen, waiting to be seen. God help us. We've left the boundary lines so far behind us, that Tsveti never had a chance. What did we cheat Tsveti out of? Aside from the most basic of human necessities, like food, medical treatment and good care. We cheated her out of life. By spending time, energy and resources on things that have no eternal value, we spoke loudly, saying that we did not value Tsveti. My heart aches for all that this little one should have been, but I rest in knowing that today, Tsveti is in the arms of Jesus. She is whole and well and finally, she knows that she belongs.

I'm praying that Tsveti didn't live 11 years alone and die in vain, but that she will be the wake-up call that so many of us need, to run back to the other side of those boundary lines. There are so many more waiting.

Like Tania, who is 10 years old. Look at how precious she is. Let's not cheat her out of all that God intended for her, too. Let's decide that she is worth the effort, the sacrifice and yes, the hard work of loving someone who has not been valued for years.

Or how about Clarice? Clarice will turn 13 in July. For 13 years she's waited to be chosen. She's been shut away with other children who have down syndrome and completely cut off from the rest of the world. Imagine how much joy she's going to bring to her family. Imagine holding her hand as she discovers the great, big world around her. Wow! She's amazing. Please, let's not cheat her out of her hope and her future.

There are so many more older girls who are waiting to be chosen. Each one on this page has waited 10 years or more to be chosen, to be called daughter. Let's stop pushing back the boundary lines and taking from them what is rightfully theirs. Let's be a part of helping make the sad things come untrue. Let's be the hands and feet of Jesus. Let's do it to honor Tsveti, to say how sorry we are that we allowed her to die alone, an orphan.

God is watching. He's waiting on us to say, "Enough! No longer will a child die, while I have plenty. I will not  rob an orphan, so that I can have the latest gadget or the nicest car, house, toy, etc. I will not push back the boundary lines!" There is freedom, when we walk where Jesus has called us to walk and more JOY than we can imagine.

Pray, Adopt, Advocate, Support...Do Something!

Hidden in Christ,
Mandy