As Orphan Sunday approaches Nov. 6, 2011, a day where we remember children without a family. I am reminded of words spoken by the orphans. I must tell you, wise words sometimes come out of the mouths of babes. The plight of the orphan is near and dear to my heart. Two of my children are adopted, once orphans, without a mother or father to care for them. I have thought about what the orphans have spoken. What could I do? How should I respond?

The first orphan I will highlight is a bright, thought-provoking, young girl. Upon meeting her in the Ukraine, she began her interrogation by asking me "Why would you want to adopt from the Ukraine and why would you want more kids?" She wanted a prudent answer. She knew I had four children and that was plenty in her eyes. Excellent question! What did motivate me? A verse comes to mind, I Jo. 3:1 "Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God!...". God's love towards me compels me to love others. (She is no longer an orphan)

Another child, a seven year old, orphaned, Ukrainian boy is continuing to ask his teacher "Can you find me a mom?". How does one answer him? He is not asking for something frivolous, but for someone to care for him. My conclusion comes from Is.1:17 "Learn to do good; Seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.". God calls me to defend the orphans whenever I can, this is His heart. (He is still an orphan)

As I listen to what comes out of the mouths of the orphans I long to respond with the heart of God, one overflowing with love. For me , my response was to reach out to a nine year old orphan from the Ukraine, who trustingly at our first meeting, looked into my eyes and grabbed my hand and said "Mom?". Would I or wouldn't I answer her plea? I answered yes, because of God's love for me and my desire to live and give His love to others. James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion is visiting widows and orphans in their distress..." . God wants me to model true religion, not just to be religious, but by being involved in their lives. (She is no longer an orphan)

Will I allow God's love to compel me to love others, particularly the orphans? Will I assist in defending the orphans whenever I have the ability to do so? And finally, does my life model “true religion” or am I merely religious? My desire is to look and listen for the need of those around me, will you join me?

For those of you who were 80's kids, do you remember the old Garbage Pail Kids Collection Cards? You know those cards that mimicked the Cabbage Patch Kids, yet were about as detestable as they come. They took those sweet little Cabbage Patch Kids, which were intended to be cute and made them completely disgusting. When it comes to my speech, I sometimes look more like the Garbage Pail Kids, gross and reproachable.

God created me to reflect Him in all I do, including reflecting Him in my speech. For all those times, when I had could have said something that would have made someone look good, I said something that made them look bad... I resembled something ugly, not God. When I had an opportunity to say something that would encourage someone and I opted to be critical instead.....I never portrayed God. Times when I could have used my lips to speak thankful words....I opened my mouth to complain and grumble....I did the opposite of what God designed my lips to do.

I know I must actively turn away from being a “Garbage Mouth” and turn and model God with every word that comes out of my mouth. Making my words pure and full of grace for those who hear.

“She opens her mouth in wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her lips.” Pro. 31:26

“Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth only that which is necessary for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Eph. 4:29

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Ps. 19:14

So, maybe the next time before I speak I will ask myself:

- Will this be something that others would consider to be kind and helpful to them?

- Would I be embarrassed about the things I said if others overheard?

- Am I modeling speech that I want my children, friends, and others to imitate?

WHAT DO I WANT TO BE KNOWN AS, A “GARBAGE MOUTH” OR A “GODLY MOUTH”?

Everywhere I turn I see an appealing opportunity to make my self look better. My options are so numerous, it is like going to an all-you-can-eat buffet and being overwhelmed with all the choices. Everything in me says you deserve whatever you want , take it. So many inticing things are available, it almost seems too daunting of a task. If I no longer like my hairstyle, I can get extensions. If my middle is a little softer than I wouId desire it to be, I can have it “tucked” (whatever that means , where exactly do they tuck the fat into?). Honestly, I realize I could spend a lifetime pursuing alI those things. Yet, if I am truly honest, I would have to admit I need a makeover in a desperate way, but one of a different accord. I need a spiritual make over.

Any make over has its purpose and desired outcome for the one pursuing it. Generally, we want to “look good”, have people notice, and complement us on the way we have changed. My greatest desire though, is to “look good” and have others notice, but I want it to be because of how I am being made over spiritually. If I began to change, I think people would notice. A makeover that would cause others to go' “WOW”, what is different with you?'. I Pe. 3:15b “...and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”

I am sure a whiter brighter smile would make me more appealing to people, but even more than white teeth, would be having a countenance that was overjoyed with serving my Lord . What would need to change so I could “WOW” the crowds? I would need to concentrate on:

1) Focusing on things of eternity vs. earthly things. Col. 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not on the things which are on earth.”

2) Being ready and willing to do good for God. Titus 2:14b “ a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

3) Having a thankful attitude vs. being a grumbler Php. 2:14-15 “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves blameless and innocent, children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,”

4) Trusting God with whatever He has for me, resulting in a joyful countenance. Pro. 31:25 “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.”

Are you in need of a makeover that will really make a difference for eternity?

I was birding in West Palm Beach on a layover (yes, I know it's freezing in Michigan, but what was I supposed to do, stay inside?). I was at a little pond when I came across a bird that was standing on the shore with its wings stuck up in the air, looking for all the world like he was being robbed.  "Hey, buddy, stick 'em up!" This is a sure sign of an anhinga.

Anhingas are water birds; they eat fish like cormorants do. They have one disadvantage from other water birds though. Most water birds have oil in their feathers that make them essentially waterproof (thus the expression, "like water off a duck's back"). The poor, little anhinga doesn't have waterproof feathers. This means that he spends a lot of time getting his waterlogged feathers dry.

If you ever seen an anhinga out of water, he will probably look like he's being robbed. He'll have his wings spread high, drying his feathers in the sun. Mr. Anhinga doesn't waste a lot of time complaining that God made him without waterproof feathers, he just adapts to how he is made and even uses what seems like a handicap for an advantage. Waterlogged feathers make him less buoyant, which actually makes him a better swimmer.

Anhingas are a beautiful spiritual lesson for us. They willingly accept how God made them. It's easy to look around at other people with greater gifts and wish that God had made you like them. Or perhaps you are handicapped and you look at people that aren't and wonder why God created you with a handicap. When you're wondering why God made you the way he did, or why he put you into a situation in which you do not wish to be, just think of Mr. Anhinga. God in his all-wise purposes put you into your situation for good reason. Accept what the Lord gives willingly and find out how you can glorify God in your situation, or with your handicap.

Christians ought to be the anhingas of the homosapien world. People should see us and say to themselves, "Those Christians sure look funny, but you never see them complaining about their situation, they just willingly accept who they are and make the best of it."