https://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/14638083253 Gypsy girl
Listen to the words and remember we have been adopted into the family of God. We were outcasts, indigenous people, and now have a Father, family, tribe, and nation. (Ephesians 1:4-5; John 3:16)
Sinti or Romany A group of Sinti or Romanies in a forest. There is a lot to discover here, including a mobile rabbit hutch. Scan of a glass negative. Unfortunately I have no further information about this photograph. No photographer, no location and no time. I assume, however, that it has been taken in Germany in the 30s or 40s.
Gypsies, tramps,thieves,half breeds
Gypsies, tramps, thieves, half breeds, and dark ladies are still among us. (Mark 14:7) In Romania and other European countries, the Gypsies are the outcast and are seen as the “deplorables,” the dregs of society. Yet, I saw them as people of worth. They had hearts full of hurt and longing. People just like me. Yes, they came for what we were freely offering them. What some received was a new heart! HOPE! A seed planted into a people group who may have never heard the good news that God loves them too!
Solomon’s Words
Solomon had much to say to these liars, deceitful, and cursed people. He constantly warned against association with them and he warned his children to be careful not to become one of them by heeding His Words in their hearts. (Proverbs 1:10-19) Gypsies are considered liars, robbers, deceitful, promiscuous, charlatans, and abominable. Today, we, the church of Jesus Christ, see others around us in this way. We judge all by one. We act as if we are better than the members of the LGBTQ community, those who have had abortions, are Democrats or Republicans, how someone talks, walks, the preacher on television, mulattos, drug addicts, people with HIV/AIDS, ladies of the night, those on welfare, and the list goes on and on and on!
This is what the LORD is asking today: “Are you REALLY any better than they?” We want to rate sin on a scale of one to ten. My sin is a one but yours is a ten. And the LORD finds this abominable because He looks at the intentions of the heart (Proverbs 16:1-2) and our actions. (I John 3:18; Titus 1:16; James 2:14-18; Luke 6:46)
Gossip
We think gossip is innocuous. Wrong! (Proverbs 26:20) It hurts like hell! We say swearing and using Jesus’ name is just an expression of our frustration. WRONG! (Exodus 20:7 Deuteronomy 5:11) We believe Jesus died for me and nothing else is required. Lord, Have Mercy! (James 2:14-26) We think taking a pen from the office home as “just a mistake, no big deal.” The LORD calls it stealing. (Exodus 20:15). We think they are abominable but in reality I am abominable to God if I do any of the things listed in Proverbs 6:16-19!!! (Notice what is not listed!)
All this has grave consequences. This is what Solomon is driving home to his progeny
(Proverbs 1: 24-32; Proverbs 2:11-22; Proverbs 3:32-35; Proverbs 4:10-19; Proverbs 5:7-14) over and over and over again. Nearly every chapter of Proverbs is a plea from THE FATHER through a father for us to look into our heart and see “if there be any wicked way in me.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
Deplorables Welcome
I think I John 2:1 says all this succinctly: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. I was once a gypsy, tramp, and a thief: a person of curses, deceit, stealing, judgment, wandering around in my lostness, and even if only in my mind, an adulterer. I am NO better than the rest of the deplorables. But praise be to God the Father, Jesus asked me to “Come.” And I said yes! He now sits at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 12:2) and when I approach the Throne of God, the Father sees Jesus in me and asks, “What do you want?” I am free to make my petitions known! (Hebrews 4:16) I have been adopted by God! (Ephesians 1:5) No longer lost and wandering around just eeking out an existence. This can be yours as well!! Call on the name of the Lord and you shall be saved. (Romans 10:13) He is asking you to “Come,” through this blog. From a gypsy, tramp, and thief to a child of THE MOST HIGH GOD: A part of a nation of prophets, priests, and kings, this is who you too can become. The Spirit and the Bride say, “COME!” (Galatians 3:26-29; Exodus 19:6; Revelations 1:6; Revelation 22:17)
- From a gypsy, tramp, and thief to an adopted orphan of God. Thank you Lord! WE WERE not
It is worth repeating until it gets into a heart!
Oswald Chambers writes, “In every degree in which you are not real, you will dispute rather than come, you will quibble rather than come, you will go through sorrow rather than come, you will do anything rather than come the last lap of unutterable foolishness—‘Just as I am.’” (My Utmost for His Highest 10/8).
It is a battle of our Pride vs Submission
Yvonne Jones
