The Widow's Mite

You've all heard the story before.  The widow, as an offering to her God, gives a mite and is scoffed.   It's value is less than that of a penny today, but it was all she had.  It was sacrificial and because it was, it was a fragrant aroma before an almighty God. 

It's been a while since I've posted.  In part because I felt I only had a mite to give and didn't feel it was enough.  I know I was wrong.   God has continually been reminding me of the story of Jesus and the little children.  Luke 18:15-16 tells it this way:
     People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them.  When the disciples saw this, they   
     rebuked them.  But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do
     not hinder them, for the kingdome of God belongs to such as these."
I am as amazed by the passion of those who were bringing their children just to be touched, as I am by the image of Jesus calling them to him, not just touching them, but forever impacting their hearts with his tenderness.  What about the others?  What about the children who didn't have parents to take them to see Jesus?  What about the ones who were hindered?  How will they know the love and compassion of a Jesus who would call them to come and know him?

If I close my eyes, I can see them.  I can see the little ones, and the big ones, that will come to the Ranch.  I can feel their hurts.  I can feel their need to trust, to feel loved and accepted for who they are.  I know their anger towards the ones who have betrayed them.  Most importantly, I know the Jesus who will heal it all and who will wrap his arms around them and show them love like they've never known.  It's our privilege at the Ranch to be the hands,  feet and arms of Jesus for them.  We get to be the ones to bring them to him so that he can touch them and forever impact their hearts.  We get to bring what might seem like a mite and watch it be multiplied by the One who is pleased until lives are changed, hearts are mended and hope is restored.

I recently heard Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife tell their story.  Their hearts for orphans is an inspiration to the world and they touched my heart in a way I can't really express.  I've said it before, and I will certainly say it again, God continues to confirm our journey and our desire to pursue this dream.  I have heard Steven's song "When Love Takes You In" many, many times.  I've never heard it like I heard it that day.  I want to share the lyrics with you:
I know you’ve heard the stories
But they all sound too good to be true
You’ve heard about a place called home
But there doesn’t seem to be one for you
So one more night you cry yourself to sleep
And drift off to a distant dream

Where love takes you in and everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in

And somewhere while you’re sleeping
Someone else is dreaming too
Counting down the days until
They hold you close and say I love you
And like the rain that falls into the sea
In a moment what has been is lost in what will be

When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
And this love will never let you go
There is nothing that could ever
cause this love to lose its hold

When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in it takes you in for good
When love takes you in

You can hear it here:  http://s0.ilike.com/play#Steven+Curtis+Chapman:When+Love+Takes+You+In:195332:s33877826.9505109.9599630.0.2.120%2Cstd_7cbe41795f2647e489660346e8a92d2a

Our desire is that the Ranch will be a place where they know they can belong.  A place they can call home.  A place they will know the love of family and will come to know the love of Jesus.

Please continue to pray with us.  God is moving.  We are ready.