Ashes: The remains from something destroyed.

The enemy: Referred to as the “destroyer” {1 Cor. 10:10, Ps. 17:4, Job 15:21, Ex. 12:23}.

Sin: Leads to destruction/death {James 1:15, Romans, Due. 24:16}.

Many of us have seen first hand the effects the destroyer and sin have on children.

Their lives become mere ashes.

If you would have told me 5 years ago {when we first started adopting} just how far the destroyer would go to destroy children to ashes, I would not have believed you.

Now I know differently.

I understand the lengths the enemy will go.

I know that sin, even in the life of a child, truly will lead to destruction/death.

My heart has been broken.

I have read about {and experienced first-hand} 5 year olds in bondage to,

sexual sin
idolatry
thievery
deception.

I have watched as my own 5-year-old daughter attempted to eat out of a garbage heap {despite the fact that she has never known hunger}.

BUT.

We have a promise, mamas.

One that is much, much bigger than the plans of the destroyer.

One that breaks the bonds of sin.

JESUS.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and the opening of prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to give them beauty from ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit, that they may be called the oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. Isa. 61:1-3

________________________________________

Zane and Summer McCourtney met and married in 2001. They have been ministering in Uganda since 2004, first at a Bible college and church planting and now working with the unreached people in Northern Uganda, a region of the country devastated by 25 years of rebel war. They