They Have God’s Full Attention
Four years ago, I completed a training session in Kisoro, Uganda. Several leaders asked me to walk with them to the nearby Potters Village Orphanage, run by the church. I was introduced to a little baby who was only hours old. His mother, a DR Congo refugee, had died in childbirth. There was no known father, grandparent or relative. He had nothing. His legal status was as a newborn refugee and with no family whatsoever. They asked me to pray for him; his name was Emmanuel.
Saturday morning, I held my first grandchild, Kian, a precious little boy. At his birth, he was surrounded by a loving mother and father, four grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles and a host of cousins. His legal status was clear, and a loving family was everywhere. As I held him and prayed to God a prayer of dedication, I was reminded of how thankful we should be for what we have.
The God of the universe sees every child, in every context.
God spoke clearly in my heart while holding Emmanuel those years ago. He had His full attention on Emmanuel. He reminded me that His own Son had been a refugee who fled to Egypt, with His parents fearing for His life. He grew up to be abandoned by everyone. While holding Kian, I was reminded that God has His attention on Kian as well.
God’s attention is on child after child around the world, desiring for each one to grow in awareness of Him, experience His great love and find joy in the life He has for them. The Bible makes it clear that each and every child has God’s full attention. Kian and Emmanuel have reminded me anew of the need to be thankful. Indeed, the right response to the love of God and the life He has offered to each of us through Jesus Christ is thankfulness.
Every Generation Ministries is working with churches around the world to help them share the love of Christ with children like Kian and Emmanuel. We are equipping churches to give little boys and girls opportunities to respond to God’s love for them with thankfulness and praise. We rejoice in the knowledge that His eyes are on them all.
This beautifully illustrated piece of communication from you, EGM, (Daniel) has overwhelmingly blessed my heart’s renewal as well. SO valuable, precious, meaningful, and touching!! ….certainly realistically with Kian’s “entrance”! May my heart be “touched” even more throughout each day for children’s lives around the world because of children learning TRUTH about JESUS and HIS most special love for “each child”. Have just heard again of a 17-yr. old girl committing suicide — her 15-yr. old brother committed suicide, also !!, just 2 yrs. ago. What grief down here, but also on our Father’s heart. Let them hear !
Jean,
Thank you for the kind words and encouragement. We thank God for your love for children and common desire to see them know Christ and the abundant life He has for them. So thankful today for all the work Wes did to set the foundation of EGM’s work.
Daniel
Congratulations Daniel on your new Grandbaby!! xo
Your comments brought leakage to this now grandmother of two–little Dawson now joining his sister, Vera. I have thought about how blessed our children and grandchildren are to be so surrounded by those who love and pray for them. May we pass that blessing to others like little Emmanuel. Thanks for being a blessing to me, Daniel, and to my daughter and son-in-law! Love you!
I remember this day perfectly when we met little Emmanuel. It is one of those unforgettable moments. I’ve just come from Uganda where I met EGM’s new national director and talked with Alex Bruda and Emmanuel Manishimwe. What a solid team EGM has in place to reach this region of the world where needs are so great. The harvest is truly plentiful. We’ve spent enough time in Uganda and DRCongo to know that there are so many leaders ready to be trained and so, so, so many children to be reached. Love, love it that you are now a grampa!