write these words...

...for they are faithful and true.

So said Jesus in Revelation 21:4-6. The oft quoted verses begin "He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, neither sorrow,nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things have passed away. "Behold I make all things new..."

I can only imagine

a place where there are no orphans
a place where babies are not abandoned when they are born with broken bodies
a place where I will never cry

I can only imagine

On Sunday afternoon as we walked through the orphanage nursery, many of the babies there last year have passed on to that other side to be with Him. The cribs are still filled to capacity - unfortunately babies here are still being abandoned - especially those who have disabilities beyond the resources and education of the parents to understand or cope with.

The infants wear tattered rags fashioned into diapers- there are no disposable ones in this facility - to cost prohibitive. The windows are open to ease the odor for the workers and any outsiders who may happen in - but as the odor drifts out the cold winter wind blows in. 90% of the babies are girls, all but one have a disability (most are down syndrome, one 15 yearold girl - the size of a 4 year old, has cerebral palsy) They have been abandoned for their brokenness.

As we were leaving the orphanage my translator, a young Chinese Christian man said "I have never known children had such situations, I have never seen such things as this. It makes me realize that without God we are truly orphans!" The Father's word goes beyond the promise of a future where there is no suffering and all tears will be wiped away. He promises He will not leave us as orphans - He will send a comforter.

Sometimes He sends in the clown...