It is time for Christians to start living in a way that leaves opportunity for God to do amazing, only God-sized tasks. This is true Christianity. While Dustin was at karate Tuesday evening, as God perfectly ordained, I listen to two sermons on this subject. Very appropriate to our situation!!
Many of you have watched our journey of desiring kids. The loss of our first baby, Lil' Bean five years ago. On February 25, 2011 God gave and He took away. As beautiful a gift to know our child rests in the arms of our Father, it is still hard to this day (I had a good cry yesterday) that my baby never rested in MY arms.
BUT, through the loss of our child God used it to grow us, reach out to others needing encouragement, finish our seminary degrees, write a book to help others suffering, and bring home our precious Jaden. Could He have chosen a different road for us...allowed us to have our baby, still allow us to adopt Jaden, encourage others, write books, etc. Sure. He can do whatever He pleases. But, He didn't.
And through His direction, He guided our heart to begin a life of passionately pursuing the Lord, no matter the cost. Radical abandonment for His Glory. Our life, our ministry, our family. To others, this may look irrational at times. Truth is each step has been carefully prayed over and cautiously taken. Fighting to trust the Lord in His plans, even when the watching would may criticize our choices is a real struggle. But, if everything was "cookie cutter" it wouldn't look very extraordinary and God-sized would it? Review the characters of the Bible! People thought most were crazy!! Dustin and I haven't lived life conventionally, much to do with how God has directed our path...even at times against our own will.
Dustin and I are big believers in stewardship. That is why we "dubbed" this year: The Year of Rest. Every year on our anniversary (a day before the New Year), we review the year's strengths and weaknesses and prepare for the following year by a "dubbing." We believe stewardship is so important as a Christian it should permeate all of life: our finances, our relationships, our possessions, and certainly our time. Hence...the Year of Rest. Learning to rest and (be dependent on) our Great Lord.
Well, He has certainly started this new year off with a bang of reliance!!!! We need Him every moment and for every step.
A huge step of faith--expecting God to do the extraordinary--began with the process of adoption in November 2013.
And God still has us on this journey.
If I told you ALL He has done (and is doing...) you would find your mouth hanging open in amazement. Soon, there will be a day to share all of this.
Adoption is our want. Certainly. But, it is a NEED. For those who have joined with us to fight for the life of this child, Thank you!!! Prayer is needed to bring this child home safely. Jaden's adoption did fill our every longing to be parents. And God still used us to save him from his dark situation.
This second adoption, is so very different. God choose us this time. We weren't planning to go with an agency. We weren't even planning to adopt again right now. (Our plan was to start again in the next year or so). But, God determined in His (crazy-to-us) plan that we were the best fit for this child...for whatever purpose God has for his/her life. And we are amazed.This is different because though we are so excited to be gifted a second child, we truly feel this situation is God calling us out of our comforts (time, money, people's perceptions, etc.) to care for the life of an orphan! So with our experience of Jaden's adoption, and now the circumstances of this second adoption--God has made it clear to us He has called us to Orphan Care: To be a voice to the lost who desperately need their Father, and to change the cultural understanding of adoption, both in the world and the Church (James 1:27).
This calling has a practical side too. This side is the only reason people seem opposed to adoption. If you wonder about the finances of adoption...our government is ridiculous in many ways. Adoption is one of them. Our government would rather pay over $100,000+ for a child to stay in foster care for their entire life, than help couples adopt a child forever in their own home (costing the government more like $10-20K a child). Makes no sense.
But, because adoption agencies/attorneys have to comply with our government fees/marketing/legal system, etc. the couple trying to adopt must come up with this money. We wish we had $30,000 sitting free and clear in an account to adopt, but God has never abundantly blessed us with monetary wealth. Yet, He has ALWAYS provided for our NEEDS. We are so thankful for that! Adopting was always going to be an investment for us, and debt would be involved. As good stewards we would pay it off as quickly as possible. Buying back lives...is costly!
A couple weekends ago...In THREE days, we watched as God provided $11,000 toward our initial $15,951 for our match, birth mother expenses, and home study. Now, I start grant writing with the hopes that God provides in part through them the remaining $15,000 (total adoption is $28,000 + social worker visits and travel).
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Please pray for our hearts in this process to stay steadfast trusting our Good, Good Father. If He called us to this task, which however it appears by the watching world, we know He did...He will provide. We are certain of that.
- Pray we would trust His provision and preparation.
- Pray for our hearts to rest in Him as we seek to trust Him to protect our little one yet in the womb.
- Pray for the health of our baby and birth mom.
- Pray God would give us an opportunity to share the Gospel with our birth mom when we meet her (we already did through a letter). Pray she receives the letter with an open heart.
- Pray for God to answer prayers and do something EXTRAordinary!
Oh, God that you would continue to do God-sized tasks!
We are excited and waiting for His power to be displayed to the multitude.
And...pray we would be faithful to give Him all the glory!!!
If you want to read more or help practically, please visit our adoption page: Bringing Home Baby #2.
