What's Love Got to do With it?

One of the "hang-ups" people have about orphan hosting is that they don't think they can LOVE one of these kids. 
You know- they're here for such a short time... they're a stranger to you... they don't speak the language... they're not "your own" kids... maybe it's not really worth the effort, how much good can it really do?... you're pretty busy over Christmas... and they're damaged goods, right? I mean, if their own parents didn't want them....

New Horizons is a CHRISTIAN orphan hosting program; non-denominational, but CHRISTIAN nonetheless.

As Christians, we grow in our faith and learn how to live it out by reading God's word. We model our lives (or try to, anyway) after Jesus' example. After all, who better to try to emulate than the Son of God?! We use The Bible as our playbook... roadmap... S.O.P... whatever ... to tell us how to live.
Because as cool as Google Maps is... it's just not going to help in matters of spiritual guidance. (Well, unless you need directions to a church...)

So what does the Bible say about love?
A lot-- as you might imagine.

What does love have to do with hosting an orphan?
I'm SO GLAD you asked!!

Jesus tells us in John 13:34-35- "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

As Christians we are CALLED to love. We are called to love as Jesus loved. Better yet, when we love others we will be RECOGNIZED as one of His.

We also know from Romans 5:5 that: And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,who has been given to us.

And 1 John 4:7: Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. 

As Christians, we have been given the CAPABILITY to love. Not because we're just awesome like that, but because it comes from the Almighty.

In particular, we are to love STRANGERS and THE OPPRESSED. 

Hebrews 13:1-3- Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.  Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Generally, we tend to dole out our love only to those we deem worthy. Our love is available only to "qualified applicants." It's just easier than way. 

But thats not what Jesus did. He loved everyone... including those the rest of the world saw as undesirable.... unworthy.... undeserving.


The truth is, loving STRANGERS will stretch you and shove you way out of your comfort zone-and we don't usually like that. But the thing is, once you start showing love intentionally to someone... they're not really a stranger anymore, are they?

It's human nature to shy away from things that make us uncomfortable.
One of the ways we deal with that discomfort it to overlook or ignore the object of our affliction.

We overlook the orphan crisis in Eastern Europe (and other parts of the world) because it makes us uncomfortable.
We overlook it because it's easier to NOT know.
We don't WANT to see it or know about it.
Because what does that say about us if we KNOW--- and yet do nothing?

Don't overlook these children because it makes you uncomfortable.

We are to remember the oppressed as if we were being mistreated and suffering right along side them. There aren't many people who willingly go for the whole for suffering and mistreatment bit, I know.

BUT WAIT!
Jesus did. 
He suffered horribly and was grossly mistreated and died an agonizing death- for you... for me... and for them.
We are all the unworthy.
We are all the undeserving.


Don't overlook that either.

What's LOVE got to do with it?

EVERYTHING.



“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” 
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves


**Full disclosure here...
We're going through a series on Hebrews at church. Last Sunday, our pastor used these verses as the basis for his sermon. Thank you Pastor Dan for the inspiration!

Chance of a lifetime....

Hosting sign-ups are up and running.

If you haven't been following my blog or caught my facebook posts over the last 18 months, "hosting" refers to ORPHAN HOSTING.

Specifically, hosting through this organization: New Horizons for Children.

What is orphan hosting?
Simply put, you are inviting an orphaned child into your home, to stay with you for 4 weeks over Christmas.
But ohhhhh-- it's SO much more than that.
And thats where the chance of a lifetime comes in....

By "hosting"... you have a chance to absolutely change someone's life.
A child.... God's child.... Arturs has been told in words and actions all his life that he's not important to anyone.
A child.... God's child.... Nastya and her brother have been abandoned because her mom's new boyfriend doesn't want to deal with kids.
A child.... God's child.... Denis is years behind in school and can barely read because no one encourages him to do his best or makes sure he's doing his homework.
A child.... God's child.... Markus was removed from his home because the one who was supposed to love him and take care of him was a drunk... and couldn't do either.
A child.... God's child.... Tetyana, at age 16, will be kicked out of the only home she remembers to find her own way in an unfriendly world. No job skills, no life skills, no money, and nowhere to go.
A child.... God's child.... Sergiy's dad is AWOL and his mom is in prison. And even though there is family nearby.... no one would take him in.
A child.... God's child.... Inga, who had to grow up WAY too fast.
A child.... God's child.... Natalia's mom HAD to give her up because she couldn't find a job.
A child.... God's child.... Katya was removed from a foster home because the family being paid to take care of her was abusing her.
A child.... God's child.... Igor was found wandering the streets-  no one can find his parents, no one will claim him.
A child.... God's child.... Anya's parents died and there was no other family to take her in.
A child.... God's child.... Alexandrs has a medical condition (easily treatable in the US). But he's small for his age; and at night, the older boys beat him- because he's different, because he can't defend himself... and no one steps in to help.
A child.... God's child.... Artem has been in the orphanage for half his life- he doesn't know why he's there. But his mom visits occasionally and brings his little sister, who is still living at home.

There are literally millions of children living in orphanages around the world and they each have a different story. Different countries, different backgrounds, different experiences.

All of them His children.

Hosting can ABSOLUTELY change a child's life. They will experience (many for the 1st time):

Love

Hearing the Story of Christmas

Encouragement

New Language Skills

Humor

Warm Clothes

Board Games

Manners

A Candlelight Christmas Eve Service

Laughter

Sharing Jesus

Bedtime Kisses

New Experiences

Family Traditions

Enough to Eat

Making Christmas Cookies

Prayers

Decorating the tree

Affection

Parties

Learning Responsibility

Words of Praise

Getting Tucked in at Night

Hugs

Smiles

Positive Reinforcement

Family

Hope

Yes, hosting can absolutely change a child's life.

But it will change yours as well.

*If hosting isn't for you, but you have the financial ability to give, please consider a tax deductible donation for a partial scholarship. MANY families want to host, but they don't have the funds to do so. 
YOU could provide that chance of a lifetime.

You can make a general donation via Paypal, here.

Or you can choose which child receives your scholarship. 
1st, sign up for the photolisting, here. (You're not signing your life away, we just need to keep track of who's looking at the photos)
You'll receive an email with the link and password.
Check out each child... read the bios... hear their stories... and choose the child who's life you're going to change.

You may use the PayPal link above, or you can send a check directly to:

New Horizons for Children
3905 Cobb Pkwy., Ste 708
Acworth, GA 30101