In Awe of God. . .

In awe of our Creator today! Boy does He love the orphans. He moves mountains for them. Please don't ever underestimate how much any little (or big) part you play means.  It is incredible when you see God's people come together to get something done that God has set in motion.  We are working feverishly on a new adoption blog/website. I do not get giddy about these types of things. In fact, Jim wanted to do this and I was incredibly hesitant. But I am really excited about this one. I feel like God is putting a plan in motion so much bigger than us. Call me crazy but I do.

For this adoption, the website will serve several purposes. First, I will begin posting all adoption related blogs there. Second, it will be the location for our online auction and so much better than doing it on Facebook. And thirdly, we are going to have some amazing adoption T-shirts available there.

After this adoption, we don't know what the plans will be but perhaps it will be used in some wonderful way to continue to get the message out and helps others. Praise God for whatever He will do!  The 1:27 Mandate

Pertaining to the t-shirts. . .have I told you how big our God is and how much He loves the orphans. Whew!!! We have an amazing friend who is donating professionally designed beautiful soft t-shirts to sell!!! God moves His people! Praising Him for ever puzzle piece, every auction item, every t-shirt and most of all for bringing hope to a little girl who would otherwise have none. Don't you love when God takes hold of something and all you can do is watch in awe. Humbled. . .

Is this real?

One of the things that I love about God is that often where He takes you would not be where you would go on your own.  During the very early morning I laid awake listening to thunder roaring.  I begin to let myself think about what it will be like to bring our new daughter into our lives. What will she be like? Will the transition be hard for her? Will she grieve greatly all that she will leave behind? What will her personality be like? How in the world did we get here? How did we get to the point that we are willing to adopt an older girl from the other side of he world? God! It is the only explanation.  I remember just a month or so back saying to our pastor that it would take an act of God for us to adopt again. Well, I wonder if God laughed as I said that?

For the past couple weeks, I have struggled. I came to terms pretty easily with God's general plan. Just not so much the specifics. But He is teaching me, sanctifying me, and humbling me. This too I must fully lay on His throne. Hands WIDE open! Life lived for eternity!

Today. . . the "to do" list is long. Too long. And that is not helped by this growing passion that I am starting to feel that we need to work hard to go get our daughter as soon as possible. Is that my impatience or God's prompting. I am not sure. We don't know for sure how old she is so we have no idea if she is close to aging out. We don't know what if any special needs she has so we don't know if she needs other issues cared for. Thankfully, what we do know is that we serve a mighty God that day-by-day changed our hearts and minds sending us back to China for our new daughter. He is much more able than we are to care for her. And He is able to provide the way for us. Praise God!

So far, we have sold 16 puzzle pieces. 984 to go.  When people help, not only does it help financially but it also helps us see God's hand in this. He moves His people. I know that for these kinds of things people like to be the eluding "last piece", but we need 984 pieces before that. Would you be willing? Would you buy a piece today and maybe even ask a couple friends or family members to also buy a piece? Have you watched "God's Not Dead"? Our suitcase is in the car (so to speak). Will you put yours in with us? Faith.

Which piece will you be?

Pieces
1) Brian and WendyWatson
2) Brian and WendyWatson
3) Brian and WendyWatson
4) Brian and WendyWatson
5) Brian and WendyWatson
6) Brian and WendyWatson
7) Brian and WendyWatson
8) Brian and WendyWatson
9) Brian and WendyWatson
10) Brian and WendyWatson
11) Jason Owen
12) Amanda Owen
13) Allan Owen
14) David and Ann Ess
15) David and Ann Ess
16) David and Ann Ess
17)Rocky Carswell
18) Evelyn Carswell
19) Rico Carswell
20) Taylor Shelton
21) Taylor Shelton
22) Taylor Shelton
23) Taylor Shelton
24) Taylor Shelton
25) Edith Page
26) Evelyn Carswell in honor of Vesna Solheim
27) The Temple Family from Missouri
28) The Temple Family from Missouri
29) The Temple Family from Missouri

So here we go. . .step of faith

So.  . . Here we go.  With fear and trembling talking a step of faith.  Honestly, the whole fundraising idea makes us feel vulnerable and I gotta say that we still prefer the $30,000 miracle.  Wouldn't that be a story?  But while we know our God is able,  we know He may have other ideas including some that are $10.00 at a time.  So our step of faith will begin with a “puzzle fundraiser” for our adoption!

We are selling each puzzle piece for $10. You can buy one piece, or as many as you like. We will then put your name/family's last name on the back of the puzzle piece. Once we have sold all the puzzle pieces, we will have it framed (glass on both sides) and hang it the room of our new daughter as a lasting treasure. She will then be able to see who helped bring her home from China.

You can donate through PayPal or mail us a check. Please indicate what you would like written on the back of your puzzle piece(s).   Please share this information with your friends too!   it will take a huge amount of support to bring her home.  We will post updates on the progress of the puzzle as it is coming together. Thank you!

Orphan Ministry and next steps. . .

Orphan Ministry. . .how do you define such a thing? I don't know that you do. You might start off trying to define what it means to you but then it just grips you. God opens your eyes and peels back your heart. You no longer have much choice. . .you just move out of love and compassion.

Our journey with orphan care started out of infertility and not passion. It started as self care. That is a harsh but true statement. Oh, we were interested and compassionate about the plight of the children  but only to a certain degree. Then God brought two little boys into our lives. We were young and naive. They were traumatized and in many ways broken by the many hard places they had been. Their family failed them and then foster home after foster home failed them. Honestly, it was six years later before we came up for breath. It was that hard. One day we realized that we had breath and stated out loud how wonderful it was. But God saw hands that were about to relax and He said no.

It was time for the next part of the journey. But as I said, we were content and had no need. But He told us as clearly as writing on the wall that we had a daughter in China. What could we do but go get her. The Lord God had already pronounced her on loan to us. And the second journey began. We paper chased for a year. But then one day a FedEx envelope appeared at our doorstep with a picture of our baby girl. I cannot say it was instant love but it was as if I had always known her. This child that I had prayed for over the past year was already there with me in many ways. So we anxiously jumped on a plane for the long flight and brought home our daughter.  She has been a joy and delight. Finally, our family is complete.

Fast forward seven years. God opened our eyes to even a deeper level to the plight of the orphan and His heart for these children. Specifically, the many children that are forever orphans without families many of which are trafficked. So we began advocacy and began to really get involved in other families who foster and adopt. We even licensed to foster parent. But we felt like God clearly said "no, this is not where I want you." That took some time and prayer to digest and understand.

So we settled back. . .what next Lord? He began talking to us about "living life for eternity" and living "hands wide open".  These terms are still proving hard to grasp. After all, only our Savior could truly master that.  Meanwhile, we tried making plans for the next steps in our life but doors keep getting closed. While I am so thankful to not be allowed to go in the wrong direction, those doors are starting to get a bit bothersome even painful at times.  Yet at the same time it is clear to see God is up to something. He is preparing us for something. Both my husband and I are fully aware of this but what?

To my surprise, discussions from the most unlikely of places started surfacing about adopting again from China. But this time an older girl (in China they age out at 14). What???? Since we decided long ago that we were too old, too poor, too tired, etc to adopt again and that we would never adopt an older child. . .where did this come from? Hum? It is overwhelming and it will take a HUGE step of faith. Financially, we are not at a point to do this. God will have to provide it ALL. We have seen Him do that before but yet it feels more daunting now than ever. We covet your prayers. I jokingly said a few months back as I watched others do adoption fundraising that I would go back in a heartbeat if someone handed me a $30,000 check (that is how much it cost roughly). Um well, I think God is testing me on this but without the $30,000 check.

I have no idea what. . .if. . .when. . .etc.  We need desperately to see God's hand. There is nothing our God cannot do. We are sure of that. Prayerfully, we can be fully willing to do whatever He ask of us. Even if that is to prepare pile upon pile of documents, travel across the World, fund-raise tirelessly, parent patiently a little girl who has spent too many years as an orphan already. Again your prayers are greatly coveted. Please pray that we see God's plan more clearly, that He provides provisions and resources if we are to move forward, and that we will be His willing servant.

In order to help us take the first leap of faith,  would you consider purchasing a piece of the puzzle?If so, go to the next blog entry. . .Be a piece of the puzzle!

Thank you so much!

Eyes

Call me silly but I have been thinking lots about eyes lately.  Have you ever noticed how much you can tell about a person and their life by their eyes?  Ask any loving mother and she can certainly tell you.  Ever notice how someone who loves the Lord has eyes that dance with joy or those living in sin show darkness in their eyes. What about the orphan child with the blank stare showing a dull look in their eyes.  If you study a persons eyes, so often you can even determine if they are speaking truth.  Although, sometimes it seems easier to not know! :( So it made me wonder, what does the Bible say about the eyes?  Perhaps one of the best verses I found was Matthew 6:22. It says, "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,"  Wow!!!  Perhaps that is why you can see so much in the eyes.

Another incredible verse is:

"For this people’s heart has become calloused;  they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’  But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." Matthew 13:15-17

Have you also noticed that Adam and Eve's eyes that were opened when they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree. Not their hearts or their minds but their eyes.   As Christians, we speak of eyes often perhaps not even giving real thought to it.  We pray that the Lord open their eyes but do we think about it.  Do we realize that it is not just Christianese but truly that "the eyes are the lamp of the body"?  Do we realize that we are asking for their "while body to be full of light?"  That is an incredibly amazing thought!!!

Once God puts something on your heart, the simplest of things can be so complex and yet at the same time more simple than ever before.  Never again will I take lightly the truths or importance held by our very eyes.  I dare you. . .really look at people eyes for there you may see their heart also. Although, I promise, at times the truths you see there will be hard.

 

Baskets & Adoption

This morning I was busy rushing about doing the daily chores and getting ready. In the midst of it, our eight year old (adopted from China) just spurted out how she was just dumped in a street in China in a basket.  We have never kept any part of her adoption story from her so it was not a surprise that she knew.  However, the disgust in her voice was new.  Immediately our hearts were breaking together.  I could not love a child more than I love this girl.  She is so amazing and loves the Lord more than anyone I have ever known (young or old).  But she felt thrown away.

If you doubt the Holy Spirit. . .I wish you could have been there at that moment. He graciously gave every word to say to her. Praise Him!!!! Immediately, I said to her that her first parents did several very loving things.  For one, they allowed her to live and grow in her mommy's tummy.  Then I told her about Moses.  There are so many similarities.  During Moses' babyhood it was the boys who were in danger for their lives.  But the Lord helped his mother (and sister) care for him and protect him.  When they could no longer protect him, they put him in a basket and watched from a safe distance.  Once someone of authority took him, then they knew he would be safe.

Sometimes we think so harshly of those who don't choose to raise their children themselves but we shouldn't always.  I believe based on adopting three children and one failed adoption that the most unselfish thing a mother can do is seek something better for her child if she is not able.  I cannot imagine having to give up a child.  I nearly was crushed under the weight of giving up a child that I did not birth.  So how could I imagine such.

My dear sweet daughter and I sobbed as we talked about her feelings.  Now we are praying that her first mommy and daddy know Jesus (so she might know them in Heaven).  Praise God for His Word! It truly provides ALL we need to know to live.  His Holy Spirit is incredibly God within us! How could we ask for more? And yet He too adopted us into His family that we might have life eternal!  Praising our Lord and Savior!  I would love to hear some of your adoption stories and the ways the Lord has worked through them. Please feel free to comment and tell your story.

Close to my heart - Adoption

Today's topic is one very near and dear to my heart. It is adoption. Since all of our children are adopted, it is something that we have given a great deal of thought to. Often I will hear people say they would love to adopt one day. I say, in most situations "no time like the present". Just think. . . somewhere there is a child hoping each day that you will be brave enough and convicted enough to come and get them. Somewhere there is a hungry child that has not had a hug today that aches for someone to call mom or dad.

Sometimes people will say, I just have not been "called" to adopt. I have to beg to differ. You have! James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." I believe the pollution of the world is selfishness. As long as we think selfishly, we will not accept this calling. But clearly God means for the orphans to be taken care of. If you are a Christian, then you are called!

The next big objection is money. How true it is that nearly everything comes down to money these days. Sad isn't it? Especially when you consider that "...but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures..." (Luke 8:14) We let money just suck the good right out of life by giving it so much importance. Do you believe God's Word? Do you believe He is in control of everything? Do you believe that He intends to take care of the orphans? Do you believe that if you are doing His will that He would then withhold the resources necessary to do the job? He love us and provides for us. That includes the orphans.

We have a real life story of this. Our daughter was adopted from China. We did not have the money for the adoption and began on faith. We were simply being obedient and that was all we had to go on. God provided every cent needed. Some was provided through Show Hope, some through anonymous donations to the adoption agency, and much of it was provided through extra opportunities to earn it. But it was all provided (no loans necessary)! It was and continues to be a blessing beyond words!

Now, I cannot talk about adoption without going one more place.  Did you know that God loves you enough to adopt you? If you are a Christian, He already has.  You have been adopted as the son or daughter of the Most High God.  If you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior, then He is waiting for you.  He wants to adopt you as well.  Sometimes that is hard for us to accept that God could love us that much, but it is true. No matter who you are or what you have done.  He wants you as His own. His son, Jesus, died a horrible dealth that was meant to completely cover the debt of all you have ever done wrong (sins).  All you need to do is tell Him you know that you have sinned, you want His forgiveness and for Him to be your Savior.  That simple! Don't wait another day. This is the most important thing you will ever do. You could be living today as the son or daughter of the Most High God!!!

If you have questions about any of this, please don't hesitate to contact me.  You can do so through comments and just ask me not to post your comments if you want them private.