What about the Orphans?

Today, I have been kinda just contemplated "fatherlessness" in this country. Many are without a dad, but what about the others.

Let me just say it..

It's ridiculous that we have families that are have large numbers of their own kids. I am obviously thinking about the Duggars family that just buried their 20th child. It is a tragedy that their child passed. But at the same time, 19 kids....Really?!?
I cannot help but think that we are MISSING IT! Most American families do not have 19 kids. Probably couple only have a couple of kids.. Still, I can't help but ask..

What about the COMMAND to take care of the fatherless and orphans?!?!?!?!?!?

There are NUMEROUS scriptures that point directly to the orphans, and it seems sooo often that we forget about the orphans. Some of us may go do our mission trips, come home, and that's it.. What about the ORPHANS?? What about our fatherless neighbors? Part of this is just me expressing my frustrations (obviously), but really.. Are we so egocentrical that it is more important to bring one or more children in this world, and forget about those kids in needs of warm beds. There are MILLIONS of kids broken, hungry, and hurting because they don't have a place to call "home" and they don't have someone to just LOVE them and call them family and genuinely, unconditionally care for them no matter.

Tonight, I am in a state of frustrations and contemplating a lot of things...Orphans just happen to be one of the issues I am contemplating..

Only in God can we find care in the Lord. We were like sheep without a shephard. seems kinda close to being an orphan. We were lost and undone, and in need of God--our savior! We were screwed up and messed up...broken and left hurting where no resources. THATS when God showed up. We were orphans, but GOD took us in!!

With that said, God may not be calling all of us to adopt. Maybe, we don't have the health to take in a child full-time. Or, Maybe we just do not feel like that's something God is calling us to do. The majority of us have free time I am sure. We can find kids in need of love everywhere. The rate of fatherless children today in America is enormous.

Here are SOME of the statistics about fatherlessness..
· 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes. (Source: U.S. D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census).
· 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes.
· 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes.
(Source: Center for Disease Control).
· 80% of rapist motivated by displaced anger come from fatherless homes. (Source:
Criminal Justice and Behavior, Vol. 14, pp. 403-26).
· 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes. (Source: National Principals Assoc. Report on the State of High Schools).
· 85% of all youths sitting in prisons grew up in a fatherless home. (Source: Fulton County Georgia jail populations, Texas Dept. Of Corrections, 1992).

These statistics translate to mean that children from fatherless homes are:
· 5 times more likely to commit suicide
· 32 times more likely to run away
· 20 times more likely to have behavioral disorders
· 14 times more likely to commit rape
· 9 times more likely to drop out of high school
· 20 times more likely to end up in prison
Lastly..
• 73% of adolescent murderers come from mother only homes
Daughters who live in mother only homes are 92% more likely to divorce

Do you have time?
Pray about investing in ways to make a difference.
The difference is greatly needed. Pray about what God is calling YOU to do. How can you step out on faith? How can you start working toward being obedient to the command to visit the orphans and take care of the fatherless?

Here are some verses on orphans:

In you the orphan finds mercy.
Hosea 14:3

Never take advantage of any widow or orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure that I will hear their cry.
Exodus 22:22-23

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
Romans 8:14-16

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Galatians 4:4-6

You are the helper of the fatherless. LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.
Psalms 10:14,17-18

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
James 1:27

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families.
Psalms 68:5-6

When you are harvesting your crops and forget to bring in a bundle of grain from your field, don’t go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all you do.
Deuteronomy 24:19

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.
Isaiah 1:17

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
Proverbs 31:8-9

And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.
Matthew 18:5

I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!
Matthew 25:40

Statistics pulled from Fathers Unite:
http://www.fathersunite.org/statistics_on_fatherlessnes.html