That's a reference from Hosea 14:3. After living out a picture of God's mercy to the unfaithful, Hosea instructed Israel to return to God... the God who extends mercy. The view we have of God must be informed by this portrait of his mercy: mercy to those who need both kindness and forgiveness.
I received an e-mail update from Covenant Mercies, an organization that desires to show God's character by their attempt to demonstrate God's mercy. (Led by Doug Hayes, a pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church, Covenant Mercies seeks to care for the widows and orphans who are living in Uganda, Zambia, and Ethiopia. It's estimated that there will be 42 million orphans by 2010 in the sub-Saharan Africa alone.) I wanted to make you aware of this ministry. In a small way, it's one of many organizations that provide us with the opportunity to support those who are fulfilling James 1:27, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction..."
What a privilege we have to partner with groups like this as pictures of our God in whom orphans like us have found mercy.
