Gather the Outcasts

Check out our web site www.gathertheoutcasts.com for upcoming events, audio messages, pictures of mission trips, and other contact information.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Speak Concerning the Drought

Dear beloved:  The dry hot summer has everyone concerned about drought and the long term effects on the cost and availability of food. Not only will it effect food prices, but also the cost of fuel because of the lack of available corn for ethanol production, as well as the ripple effect through the whole economy as grain and fiber production are curtailed.  Jeremiah 14:1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought. v2 Judah mourns, and the gates of her languish; they are black unto the ground; the the cry of Jerusalem has gone up. v3 The nobles have sent their little ones to fetch water; they come to the pits and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered  their heads. v4 Because the ground is parched, for there is no rain on the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. v5  Yes, the deer also calved in the fields, and forsook it, because there was no grass.

Many people are wringing their hands, anxiety quickens in them just as it did in the days of  Jeremiah.  Without rain, everything languishes, everything suffers; not only for now but maybe for a long time to come, depending on the duration of the drought.  In verse 7 Jeremiah acknowledges that sin is a part of the equation:  Oh Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, bring us rain for Thy name's sake; for our backslidings  are many; we have sinned against Thee.  He goes on to plead with the Lord in verse 8, Lord, don't be a stranger in the land, and again in verse 9, Lord, we are called by Your name; leave us not.

The Lord answers Jeremiah, and He tells him that the people have loved to wander.  v10Thus saith the Lord to this people, they have loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the Lord does not accept them; He will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.  Beloved, we need to acknowledge our sins and ask the Lord to forgive us of our shedding the innocent's blood, and our continued celebration of perversion and immorality in our homes, media, and government.  Lord, we cry out to you, forgive us our sins; we do not fear You as we should; we do not seek You as we should.  Lord, we cannot make even one drop of rain fall, therefore, we cry out to the One who can.  Beloved, get down on your knees today and cry out to the Lord.  God bless you as you pray today.  in Christ, Jim

Monday, July 2, 2012

Pure and Undefiled Religion

Pure and Undefiled Religion

Dear beloved: The book of James chapter 1:27 tells us this: "This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father; to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." And in Matthew 18 Jesus talks of the place of children in His kingdom. v1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" v2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, v3 and said, " Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. v4 "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest of the kingdom of heaven. v5 And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; v6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea." And again in Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." So we can see from these passages of scripture that Jesus places children in the highest place in His kingdom.

The opportunity has arisen for me to help build an orphanage in west Kenya, near the city of Mumias, that will house and school 40 children who have been orphaned because of the AIDS epidemic in Africa. The land for the orphanage has already been secured, and a good well is on the property, so all that is needed is the money for construction and yearly operating expenses. The estimated cost for construction is only $20,000 and operating expenses for the first year are projected to be about $3,000, a real bargain when you consider that the adoption of just one child from a foreign country can easily cost that much or more. This is a kingdom opportunity for someone reading this blog, and God has brought you here for this purpose, to raise up orphans and give them a good home, cared for in a loving Christian environment that will allow them to fulfill their destiny for which God created them.

If you are reading this and feel pierced in your heart please pray about your part in moving the kingdom forward in this project. Contact me at www.pureprairie@hotmail.com for more details and also pictures of the children. I will be going to Kenya in late August and would like to take a check with me, or have someone accompany me who could present a check to the pastor who will oversee the orphanage. Do something mighty for the kingdom, store up your treasures in heaven, and you will be blessed accordingly. May God bless you as you pray and answer His call today. In Christ, Jim