Look at it this way, I don't want you to miss out on a blessing, your welcome :)

 

There are moments when I realize that people can say things much better than I....this is one.  I hope you enjoy!  You know me, so if I made a comment in this blog post I it will look like this  :)

if you would like to read the blog post directly from the source and miss out on my random comments, click here....  PS so we are clear - I realize a good majority of you would wish I would just stop talking about adoption......sorry!

Look at it this way, I don't want you to miss out on a blessing, your welcome :)

Forgotten Fridays: A broken system full of brokenness

Today I want to deal with the call to foster care and adoption(international, domestic, 
and any other way it can happen).  This is a ministry

I feel many are called to, yet few answer the call. 

Often times we think or say "It is a broken system full of corruption, 

how can I make a difference?"  Well you can be the one that isn't corrupt.  

If it is international adoption you can make sure that your child isn't a 

trafficked child.  You can do this by making sure your agency is upstanding and 

does due diligence some people even hire their own personal private investigator. 

check out LifeLine and ask for Leslie :) If you are going to adopt domestically 

through the foster care system you can be that safe family.  You can be the 

one that stands up for what is right.  The LORD never 

promised that when he called us into ministry it would be safe.  

In fact it is just the opposite.  We are living a life devoted to the LORD.  

It isn't comfortable or safe when you love with your whole heart, but it is 

full of purpose and blessings.  In Roman times unwanted children were left to 

die in fields and on the side of roads, Christians adopted these children and 

at the risk of death.  I think that the risks we are taking are far smaller then 

some of our ancestors. 

In response to fear we should turn to God's word for answers.

Isaiah 41:10  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, 

for i am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you 

with my righteous hand.

Isaiah 41:13  For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right 

hand and says to you Do Not Fear; I will  help you.

Isaiah 43:1-2 But now, this is what the LORD says he who created you, 

O Jacob, he formed you, O Israel: "Fear not for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  When 

you pass through the waters , I will be with you; and when you pass 

through the rivers they will not sweep over you.  when you walk through 

the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Do you believe these promises? (ouch!)  If you do then the call should 

not bring up fear, but anticipation for what the LORD will do through you.

International or domestic you are dealing with a broken system because this

 is a broken world.  Don't run the other way because the system is broken.  

The children in the system need you. They need love, they need hope, 

they need healing.  Brokenness should draw you in because 

the answer to brokenness lives in you and through you.

I could put all the verses that talk about defending the fatherless 

and taking care of the orphan but you already know that list is endless.  

So I will just put one verse up that I think sums it all up.

James 1:27a  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and 

faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress...

I was at an adoption prayer group the other day and two ladies shared 

what their husbands said about adopting "Our lives are too easy, 

our lives are not meant to be easy."  I thought this was 

such a neat way to look at life.  Why are we always looking to make 

our lives easier?  The LORD did not call us to an easy life. 

He did not call us to a life free from hurts. What He did promise was to 

redeem and bring beauty from ashes.  He also promised to be with us as

we walked through trials.

The orphan issue can be overwhelming when we look at the numbers, 

so don't look at the numbers anymore just resolve to make a difference

in just one orphans life.  I challenge you to just take in one orphan if you 

are feeling called.  Maybe it will be through foster care, or maybe you will travel to 

Ethiopia or Russia.  It may be a baby or a teenager.  Maybe you know a teenager 

who may not be up for "adoption" in the legal sense but you know they are 

lacking a family.  There are so many ways this can look. (I do always lean on -

 both husband and wife have to agree that they want to adopt - no forcing or guilt trips -

patience Grasshopper.   It took a year of prayers from my hubby and God to 
open my heart.)  

You can adopt not because you have the ability or the time but because 

The LORD will equip you.

I will give you an out - if you know that adoption isn't right for you and if you live in 
Bardstown or surrounding area - you can help 
support Maggie's Hope.  If you want to give a tax deductible donation simply 
send a check to Lifesong For Orphans to help fund grants or no interest loans 
(If you want it to go to Christian Families in our local area please
put P335 in the memo and help Parkway Baptist Church grow their fund!)