I also fear that the focus and debate may discourage prospective adoptive parents from pursuing adoption. Nuf said!
If we are abiding in Christ, living a daily, growing, intimate relationship with Him, we will hear God's voice ABOVE all others..and we will be compelled to obey. Nuf said!
No, I don't have all the answers, I make my share of mistakes and ask daily for forgiveness. I am learning that the grace the Father extends to me in boundless measure is meant for me to extend to others. My hope and prayer is that my children will extend that same measure of grace to others and to me when they are grown.
I also think it's easier to give advice than to live it. If I feel the urge to criticize, I start chanting, "Walk a mile...walk a mile...walk a mile." The more I seek the Lord, the more in awe I am, and the more I realize I DON'T know. Sometimes I think we pretend to know more than we really do by criticizing or giving advice to those walking a different mile.
As God always does, He gave me passages this week that have spoken volumes to me.
"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be discouraged. Deut 31:8
"Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope." Psa 119:49
"Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies." Psa 36:5
"For God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience." Rom 11:29-30
I am not the giver of hope, but as His child, I cheerfully consider it my obligation to share the One who is! Whatever He is calling you to, seek Him and avoid the influence of this world, because it will surely be contrary to His will.
Dissension in the adoption communtiy, governments shutting down adoption, interference in getting adopted children into families...all Spiritual Warfare. I seems to be spreading(not just in the adoption world), and we as Christians are going to have to stand up and proclaim HIM with boldness. I love the TRUTHS you speak!! Have you read Ni Hao Ya'll blog (yesterday's post I think). She wrote a marvelous post on listening to God's call and on adoption.
ReplyDeletePraying that we can continue to STAND together...
Love ya friend
Kim
AMEN to what you wrote and I also agree with Kim.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure exactly what's going on in reference to this post, but please know that you are in my prayers. I admire you, not as a "perfect" person, but as a woman on this journey of life trying to become more like Jesus and love your children with His love. I'm here for you if you ever need someone "far away" to talk to. In the mean time, keep living that crazy life of yours and keep loving those crazy kids!! You're a good mom!!! And God has shown me in this last year that that's what matters to Him!!! I love you, sweet friend!
ReplyDeleteI read several family blogs that have adopted children, as well as belonging to several adoption-related Yahoo groups. I feel that there is a tremendous need for all of us to commit to a corporate day of prayer/fasting for God's will in the life of orphans. It seems many, as indiviuals, are asking for prayer. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all came together and laid all of our "orphan/adoption" issues at Jesus' feet? I don't even know how to go about getting something like this together. I have a small group of followers of my blog, but it would be great if the adoption community came together.
ReplyDeleteHe never said it would be easy! There's so much trust in HIM with adoption. I've never had something test and grow my faith like our years of waiting to adopt and finally getting Avery. It's something I would not have missed for the world.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you said. Honestly I don't know how people go through IA without Jesus. We are in the midst of another adoption, our 5th from China, and it is harder every time.
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