You have no idea how much God can use you.

You can impact lives here on earth and for eternity.

Overseas missions trips are a great reminder of that.

Danny and I have taken many teams overseas to both Ukraine and Latvia. The message we hear over and over is how these trips have changed the lives of those who went with us.

Why is that?

There’s something about stepping out of your comfort zone and reaching out.

Sure, there are a lot ministries we can–and should–do in the states but there’s just something about reaching out over the oceans, into a different culture, a different life experience. It ignites a passion for the gospel message like no other way.

Maybe it’s  because they’re more receptive. Some cultures are.

Maybe it’s seeing God work in and through your weakness and frailties.

Maybe it’s seeing what a difference you can make in the lives of people so unlike you.

Whatever it is, step out in it. It’s powerful.

There have been times my husband and I have gone to bed at the end of a day and said “Today was a good day. We put food in the mouths of orphans.”

What can he do through you? Who can you reach? What difference can you make?

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” (Proverbs 19:17)

Have you ever wondered how you can possibly lend to the God who created and owns everything? How can you lend to the owner? That’s exactly what this verse says. It seems impossible, at least to me.

The point here is that the Lord considers caring for those in need so important that he will be personally indebted to those who do it. He will reward them.

The bible is filled with examples of how God loves the orphan, the helpless, the hopeless and the poor. It is the very heart of God.

We certainly can’t fix them all. We can’t even reach them all. But we can reach one or two or maybe 1000. Who knows what God can do if we make ourselves available to him.

Reach out today; not just with your feelings. Do something. Ask God to show you how you can impact a life. God only knows how many lives will be touched and what rewards will await you.

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” Isaiah 1:17 (ESV)

The fact of the matter is that caring for orphans is the heart of God. James 1:27 tells us  “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
It’s not just that God loves the fatherless, but he IS love to the fatherless! Caring for the orphans, the widows, the hurting is the very soul of God.
Do you want to be more “God-like”? Begin pouring out to those in need, especially to orphans. Trust me, you won’t be sorry.