RUNNING all day & waiting...got the offical adoption decree, got registered for new birth certificates ( took hours) FOUND THE GIRLS THEIR "GOTCHA OUTFIT" ...took kittens to the orphange. Their new mamas are young ladies who are residents there ( they house kids and women with SNs) They are leaders & when we walked into their nice neat room, there was a big old calico cat on a bed:) They were thrilled with the kittens & we were thrilled with them taking them & thankfully to the director that let this happen:) Bet we're the FIRST couple to "give" an orphange kittens in Ukraine history LOL. Gave out our few remaining bibles to some older neighbors & our friend the owner of the internet cafe, pray that their hearts will be touched! This might be the last time we have a chance to post until we get to Kiev. And guess who offered to drive us all the way to Donesk (70 miles)....the orphange director himself in his car!!!!! We were speechless! I was so worried about how hard it would be to come here & know I'm so worried about how hard it will be to leave here....we will certainly leave a part of our hearts here!!!! Just in awe of what God has done...less than 6 months ago a little girl's picture kept me up all night, praying for her....now she is going home with us & our extra blessing is too!!!!! all I can say is listen to God's voice & He will take you places you never dreamed of!!!!!
The above was my FB post today....
All I can say is this has been the biggest unintended (by me- what I mean is it was not on my bucket list lol) adventure of my life AND I get to take two wonderful soviners home with me!!
I just want to tell you listen to God and be open...you have NO idea where · He can take you if you are obeidant! A year ago I could not have imagined any of this... Certainly, 8 years ago I could have never imagined where God would take us after we chose not to become bitter because of our little boy being born blind... Since making that choice & it was a choice, God has taken us all over the world and added three kids to our family! I thank God that He helped me to trust Him all those long nights in the hospital. he helped me to trust when sadness would wash over me like waves. He helped me when I was all alone with a sick baby, no friends in sight...it was hard and lonely but God was faithful and He was preparing my heart. Thank you Lord for being there in our darkest hours! now tht long hard walk has paid off, Sam is doing good, he has some sight after 40 plus surgeries/procedures and we have three more children to love! God knows best and he will order our steps....So no matter where you are right now, God can give you a future and a hope and use your situation to bring glory to HIM!!!!
"Our life maybe a crazy life but it's our life" I'm married to a pastor of a small rural church, who is also the prison chaplain. We have 5 kids, each with their unique story. I love gardening & we all love the outdoors. Our life is not the way we planned it to be, but we are learning to trust God in every area. Come and read about our life as we live it to the fullest!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
ORPHAN
Exodus 22:22-24
You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; and My anger will be kindled and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
Deuteronomy 10:18
He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.
Deuteronomy 14:29
The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
Deuteronomy 16:11
And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite who is in your town, and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your midst, in the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name.
Deuteronomy 16: 14
And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and widow who are in your town.
Deuteronomy 24:17
You shall not pervert the justice due an alien or an orphan, nor take a widow’s garment in pledge.
Deuteronomy 24:19-21
When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not go over it again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow.
Deuteronomy 26:12-13
When you have finished paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. You shall say before the Lord your God, “I have removed the sacred portion from my house, and also have given it to the Levite and the alien, the orphan and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed or forgotten any of Your commandments.”
Deuteronomy 27:19
“Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.” And all the people shall say, “Amen.”
Job 24:9
Others snatch the orphan from the breast, and against the poor they take a pledge.
Job 29:12
Because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the orphan who had no helper.
Job 31:16-18
If I have kept the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the orphan has not shared it (but from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and from infancy I guided her),
Job 31:21-22
If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan, because I saw I had support in the gate, let my shoulder fall from the socket, and my arm be broken off at the elbow.
Psalm 10:14
You have seen it, for You have beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Your hand. The unfortunate commits himself to You; You have been the helper of the orphan.
Psalm 10:17-18
O Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror.
Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.
Jeremiah 5:28
They are fat, they are sleek, they also excel in deeds of wickedness; They do not plead the cause of the orphan, that they may prosper; and they do not defend the rights of the poor.
Jeremiah 7:5-7
For if you truly amend your ways and your deed, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave your father forever and ever.
Jeremiah 22:3
Thus says the Lord, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place.”
Hosea 13:3
Assyria will not save us, we will not ride on horses; nor will we say again, “Our god,” to the work of our hands; for in You the orphan finds mercy.
Zechariah 7:10
And do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.
Malachi 3:5
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me,” says the Lord of hosts.
ORPHANS
Job 6:27
You would even cast lots for the orphans and barter over your friend.
Job 22:9
You have sent widows away empty, and the strength of the orphans has been crushed.
Job 24:3
They drive away the donkeys of the orphans; they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.
Psalm 94:6
They slay the widow and the stranger and murder the orphans.
Isaiah 9:17
Therefore the Lord does not take pleasure in their young men, nor does He have pity on their orphans or their widows; for every one of them is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth is speaking foolishness. In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away and His hand is still stretched out.
Isaiah 10:2
So as to deprive the needy of justice and rob the poor of My people of their rights; so that widows may be their spoil and that they may plunder the orphans.
Jeremiah 49:11
Leave your orphans behind, I will keep the alive; and let your widows trust in Me.
Lamentations 5:3
We have become orphans without a father, Our mothers are like widows.
John 14:18
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
FATHERLESS
Exodus 22:24
And my anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
Psalm 68:5
A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation.
Psalm 82:3
Vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
Psalm 109:9
Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.
Psalm 109:12
Let there by none to extend loving kindness to him, nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children.
Psalm 146:9
The Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, But He thwarts the way of the wicked.
Proverbs 23:10-11
Do not move the ancient boundary or go into the fields of the fatherless, for their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their case against you.
Ezekiel 22:7
They have treated father and mother lightly within you. The alien they have oppressed in your midst; the fatherless and the widow they have wronged in you.
ADOPTION
Romans 8:15
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have receive a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
Romans 8:23
And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan with ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
Romans 9:4
Who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises
Galatians 4:5
So that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Ephesians 1:5
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.
INSTANCES OF ORPHANS IN SCRIPTURE
Lot in Genesis 11:27-28
The Daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27:1-5
Jotham in Judges 9:16-21
Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9:3
Joash in 2 Kings 11:1-12
Esther in Esther 2:7
INSTANCES OF ADOPTION
Moses “adopted” by Pharaoh’s daughter in Exodus 2:1-10
Job cared for unnamed orphans in Job 31:16-18
Mordecai “adopted” Esther in Esther 2:7
Jesus “adopted” by Joseph in Matthew 1:18-24
Every Christian has been adopted by God through Jesus Christ in Ephesians 1:5
I borrowed this from "Precious In His Sight"
Lots of scripture to think about!!!
Exodus 22:22-24
You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; and My anger will be kindled and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
Deuteronomy 10:18
He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.
Deuteronomy 14:29
The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
Deuteronomy 16:11
And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite who is in your town, and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your midst, in the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name.
Deuteronomy 16: 14
And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and widow who are in your town.
Deuteronomy 24:17
You shall not pervert the justice due an alien or an orphan, nor take a widow’s garment in pledge.
Deuteronomy 24:19-21
When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not go over it again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow.
Deuteronomy 26:12-13
When you have finished paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. You shall say before the Lord your God, “I have removed the sacred portion from my house, and also have given it to the Levite and the alien, the orphan and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed or forgotten any of Your commandments.”
Deuteronomy 27:19
“Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.” And all the people shall say, “Amen.”
Job 24:9
Others snatch the orphan from the breast, and against the poor they take a pledge.
Job 29:12
Because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the orphan who had no helper.
Job 31:16-18
If I have kept the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the orphan has not shared it (but from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and from infancy I guided her),
Job 31:21-22
If I have lifted up my hand against the orphan, because I saw I had support in the gate, let my shoulder fall from the socket, and my arm be broken off at the elbow.
Psalm 10:14
You have seen it, for You have beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Your hand. The unfortunate commits himself to You; You have been the helper of the orphan.
Psalm 10:17-18
O Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror.
Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.
Jeremiah 5:28
They are fat, they are sleek, they also excel in deeds of wickedness; They do not plead the cause of the orphan, that they may prosper; and they do not defend the rights of the poor.
Jeremiah 7:5-7
For if you truly amend your ways and your deed, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave your father forever and ever.
Jeremiah 22:3
Thus says the Lord, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place.”
Hosea 13:3
Assyria will not save us, we will not ride on horses; nor will we say again, “Our god,” to the work of our hands; for in You the orphan finds mercy.
Zechariah 7:10
And do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.
Malachi 3:5
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me,” says the Lord of hosts.
ORPHANS
Job 6:27
You would even cast lots for the orphans and barter over your friend.
Job 22:9
You have sent widows away empty, and the strength of the orphans has been crushed.
Job 24:3
They drive away the donkeys of the orphans; they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.
Psalm 94:6
They slay the widow and the stranger and murder the orphans.
Isaiah 9:17
Therefore the Lord does not take pleasure in their young men, nor does He have pity on their orphans or their widows; for every one of them is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth is speaking foolishness. In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away and His hand is still stretched out.
Isaiah 10:2
So as to deprive the needy of justice and rob the poor of My people of their rights; so that widows may be their spoil and that they may plunder the orphans.
Jeremiah 49:11
Leave your orphans behind, I will keep the alive; and let your widows trust in Me.
Lamentations 5:3
We have become orphans without a father, Our mothers are like widows.
John 14:18
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
FATHERLESS
Exodus 22:24
And my anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
Psalm 68:5
A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation.
Psalm 82:3
Vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
Psalm 109:9
Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.
Psalm 109:12
Let there by none to extend loving kindness to him, nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children.
Psalm 146:9
The Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, But He thwarts the way of the wicked.
Proverbs 23:10-11
Do not move the ancient boundary or go into the fields of the fatherless, for their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their case against you.
Ezekiel 22:7
They have treated father and mother lightly within you. The alien they have oppressed in your midst; the fatherless and the widow they have wronged in you.
ADOPTION
Romans 8:15
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have receive a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
Romans 8:23
And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan with ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
Romans 9:4
Who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises
Galatians 4:5
So that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Ephesians 1:5
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.
INSTANCES OF ORPHANS IN SCRIPTURE
Lot in Genesis 11:27-28
The Daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27:1-5
Jotham in Judges 9:16-21
Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9:3
Joash in 2 Kings 11:1-12
Esther in Esther 2:7
INSTANCES OF ADOPTION
Moses “adopted” by Pharaoh’s daughter in Exodus 2:1-10
Job cared for unnamed orphans in Job 31:16-18
Mordecai “adopted” Esther in Esther 2:7
Jesus “adopted” by Joseph in Matthew 1:18-24
Every Christian has been adopted by God through Jesus Christ in Ephesians 1:5
I borrowed this from "Precious In His Sight"
Lots of scripture to think about!!!
Orphans~no excuses
Orphans....what do we do about them? If we are Christians, the bible is FULL of scriptures pertaining to taking care of orphans in both the Old and New Testament.
1.God calls Himself the Father of the fatherless.
· Psalm 68:5, “A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation.”
2.God considers spiritual service the purest when His people are taking care of orphans. (and) A religion that does not care for orphans is no religion at all.
· James 1:27, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.”
3.God’s people are commanded to care for orphans. To see an orphan afflicted, and to turn a deaf ear, is sin, even rebellion.
· Exodus 22:22, “You shall not afflict any widow or orphan.”
· Isaiah 1:17, “Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”
· Isaiah 1:23, “Your rulers are rebellious, and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless.”
4.We can be the hands and love of Christ Himself by providing practical care.
· Deuteronomy 10:18, “He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.”
· Psalm 10:14, “But You, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.”
· Matthew 18:5, “Whoever receives a child in My name, receives Me.”
· Matthew 25: 45, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of the least of these, you did it unto Me.”
5.Orphans are to be taken care of with the same honor and provision as a Pastor or Priest.
· Deuteronomy 14:28-30, “The Levite (priest), because he has not portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.”
6.A portion of all that we possess is sacred and belongs to the orphan.
· Deuteronomy 26:12-14, “You shall say before the Lord your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion from my house, and also have given it to the Levite and the alien, the orphan and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed or forgotten any of Your commandments.”
So what is our response? For many Christians, the response has been to do nothing....but what will we do when we stand before God on that day of judgement? I never heard a sermon ever about the respondabilty of taking care of the orphan in ALL my years of churchgoing... I had one friend who had adopted a child and I'd read a few articles about the plight of orphans... God help pastors to see beyond their four walls and talk about things that will make people uncomfortable.
Adoption is not easy. Your life is looked into, your parenting abilty questioned. It is expensive, travel is not comfortable, it COSTS, it COSTS alot, no doubt. But what is a human life worth? It is not an easy road. Soemtimes once the child gets home, it is very hard. If you are adopting internationally, chances are your child will have some issues. They maybe older, have been malnurished, may have attachement/bonding issues, physical issues...You probably won't get a nice clean smelling child who is perfect. You'll probably get a dirty smelly snotty child with diaper rashes and tummy issues....but guess what? That child will be perfect to you.
So what should you do? for some, there are reasons ( age, medical history, mental health or past criminal history) that would keep them from adopting....BUT if you don't have a barrier, you should seriously consider adoption. When you stand before God, you won't be able to say "it just wasn't the right time, we didn't have the money"
It's never been the "right " time for us, we've never had the money before we stepped out in faith to do it! If we can adopt ANYONE can! If you are one who has a valid excuse, then give to someone else who is adopting or help raise money for a waiting child to have a grant but if you don't have a valid reason....then do it!
People want to say "you have to be called to adopt" I don't believe that. The bible doesn't tell us to wait for a calling, it commands us to take care of the orphan. Granted I've felt a special connection with Shad and Sarah since the moment I saw their faces in a picture BUT that doesn't mean tht soemone has to have a calling. Selah was our surprise...I didnt' feel really drawn to her picture like I did to Shad's and Sarah's but she is our girl now both legally and in our hearts. It was more of a step of faith to adopt her. At first when we lost Seth, we thougt we'd just adopt Sarah and resisited all efforts of others to get us to pick another child. But we decided on Selah because she needed us. We both had reservations (not at the same time thank God) but we committed and then the love came...and it came in waves for our funny little girl with the unknown diagnosis!
Those scriptures are very weighty and other than my husband, I've nver heard a minister base a sermon on them! Soemthing is wrong there....
Do don't argue with me, argue with God, if you dare. I didn't write the book!
Maybe you are in a situation where your spouse does not want to adopt, all I can say is pray that God will change his/her mind!
Maybe you think you are so poor you have nothing to offer a child. Their are financial guidelines in some adoptions (international) but in some ( like thru the State Foster Care there often is not) But even with international adoption which is my heart, some guidelines can be waived in some special situations. I know we've had soem waived and some friends have also. God can make a way!
And I just have to say personally, I am thankful for the American foster care system. It's not perfect but I know some great foster care parents and there is a safety net that is not there in most every other country. I feel the need to talk about international adoption because there is such a great need and such poverty. I've been honored to go into two orphanges and have seen great need first hand. We do not have the needs in America like there is in international situations. There is no comparison...at all....
If you are interested and would like to contact me, feel free to leave a message. We've adotped from two different countries, one was with an agency , one was independant... God worked so many miracles for us and our children.....He can and will do the same for you!
1.God calls Himself the Father of the fatherless.
· Psalm 68:5, “A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation.”
2.God considers spiritual service the purest when His people are taking care of orphans. (and) A religion that does not care for orphans is no religion at all.
· James 1:27, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.”
3.God’s people are commanded to care for orphans. To see an orphan afflicted, and to turn a deaf ear, is sin, even rebellion.
· Exodus 22:22, “You shall not afflict any widow or orphan.”
· Isaiah 1:17, “Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”
· Isaiah 1:23, “Your rulers are rebellious, and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless.”
4.We can be the hands and love of Christ Himself by providing practical care.
· Deuteronomy 10:18, “He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.”
· Psalm 10:14, “But You, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.”
· Matthew 18:5, “Whoever receives a child in My name, receives Me.”
· Matthew 25: 45, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of the least of these, you did it unto Me.”
5.Orphans are to be taken care of with the same honor and provision as a Pastor or Priest.
· Deuteronomy 14:28-30, “The Levite (priest), because he has not portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.”
6.A portion of all that we possess is sacred and belongs to the orphan.
· Deuteronomy 26:12-14, “You shall say before the Lord your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion from my house, and also have given it to the Levite and the alien, the orphan and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed or forgotten any of Your commandments.”
So what is our response? For many Christians, the response has been to do nothing....but what will we do when we stand before God on that day of judgement? I never heard a sermon ever about the respondabilty of taking care of the orphan in ALL my years of churchgoing... I had one friend who had adopted a child and I'd read a few articles about the plight of orphans... God help pastors to see beyond their four walls and talk about things that will make people uncomfortable.
Adoption is not easy. Your life is looked into, your parenting abilty questioned. It is expensive, travel is not comfortable, it COSTS, it COSTS alot, no doubt. But what is a human life worth? It is not an easy road. Soemtimes once the child gets home, it is very hard. If you are adopting internationally, chances are your child will have some issues. They maybe older, have been malnurished, may have attachement/bonding issues, physical issues...You probably won't get a nice clean smelling child who is perfect. You'll probably get a dirty smelly snotty child with diaper rashes and tummy issues....but guess what? That child will be perfect to you.
So what should you do? for some, there are reasons ( age, medical history, mental health or past criminal history) that would keep them from adopting....BUT if you don't have a barrier, you should seriously consider adoption. When you stand before God, you won't be able to say "it just wasn't the right time, we didn't have the money"
It's never been the "right " time for us, we've never had the money before we stepped out in faith to do it! If we can adopt ANYONE can! If you are one who has a valid excuse, then give to someone else who is adopting or help raise money for a waiting child to have a grant but if you don't have a valid reason....then do it!
People want to say "you have to be called to adopt" I don't believe that. The bible doesn't tell us to wait for a calling, it commands us to take care of the orphan. Granted I've felt a special connection with Shad and Sarah since the moment I saw their faces in a picture BUT that doesn't mean tht soemone has to have a calling. Selah was our surprise...I didnt' feel really drawn to her picture like I did to Shad's and Sarah's but she is our girl now both legally and in our hearts. It was more of a step of faith to adopt her. At first when we lost Seth, we thougt we'd just adopt Sarah and resisited all efforts of others to get us to pick another child. But we decided on Selah because she needed us. We both had reservations (not at the same time thank God) but we committed and then the love came...and it came in waves for our funny little girl with the unknown diagnosis!
Those scriptures are very weighty and other than my husband, I've nver heard a minister base a sermon on them! Soemthing is wrong there....
Do don't argue with me, argue with God, if you dare. I didn't write the book!
Maybe you are in a situation where your spouse does not want to adopt, all I can say is pray that God will change his/her mind!
Maybe you think you are so poor you have nothing to offer a child. Their are financial guidelines in some adoptions (international) but in some ( like thru the State Foster Care there often is not) But even with international adoption which is my heart, some guidelines can be waived in some special situations. I know we've had soem waived and some friends have also. God can make a way!
And I just have to say personally, I am thankful for the American foster care system. It's not perfect but I know some great foster care parents and there is a safety net that is not there in most every other country. I feel the need to talk about international adoption because there is such a great need and such poverty. I've been honored to go into two orphanges and have seen great need first hand. We do not have the needs in America like there is in international situations. There is no comparison...at all....
If you are interested and would like to contact me, feel free to leave a message. We've adotped from two different countries, one was with an agency , one was independant... God worked so many miracles for us and our children.....He can and will do the same for you!
Just a few more days....
We only have a few more days in our girls' town. Tomorrow is our last "normal" day. Thrusday & Friday we have alot of paperwork (new birth certificates, passports, and we have to go to both of their birth towns) Saturday morning we will go to the orphange for the last time to pickup our girls and say good bye. I KNOW that will be hard. We've been allowed to play with all the other children and get to know the staff (as well as we could communicate) it will be hard to say goodbye. I get tears in my eyes just thinking about it.
BUT the anticaption in my heart to be able to take Sarah & Selah out of there and into our family is so high, I can't even let myself think about it too much:) Cause I can't hardly wait to do that!!!
It's been so hot here. We had packed light winter clothes for the girls but even that would be too hot. I'd been looking for some cute things for them but the girls clothing here isn't quite my style to say the least BUT I found some pretty little girlish things today woohoo!! I can't wait to dress them up:)
This trip has been amazing....we have "lived" here. We shopped in the markets, walked the streets, made Ukraine friends, found a church....we haven't been tourists (although I'm sure we stick out lol) In so many ways it will be hard to leave. My heart has been shattered a few times here, seeing the needs....but I love this country. Didn't really expect to feel like this....Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to getting home and FOOD...and Shad, our family & friends and FOOD....our home and having a car instead of riding in a 1960's van with no air....my bed...A/C and ceiling fans....FOOD... but Ukraine will be in my heart in a special way forever. It's been a trip of a lifetime. Jon is kidding mow how he took me to Europe for 6 weeks...he is so funny!
I haven't posted alot since we've been here. The expirence has been so intense, that all I could handle was remarks on FB:) I have so many pictures to post on here also but we use an internet cafe & it just is hard to do everything. Ilove to post the girls picutres on here, FINALLY to have them in my arms, it is such a wonderful feeling!
Everyday, even on the weekend & holidays we see them and we both take turns with both girls. When I hold Sarah on the swing, I tell her how I saw her little face & KNEW she was meant to be my girl! I tell her all about her room, toys, new clothes and ALL the people who are waiting to love on her! With Selah I tell her how God surprised us with her and we talk alot about FOOD:) She likes to eat, she is chubby, short and round, not what you'd expect LOL but so cute:) This month has helped us to get to know them & really understand what their lives have been like for the last few years. Honestly, even tho it's been a LONG trip, I really think it is best for the children to do it like this. (In china, I was taken to the orphange, handed Shad and we left and went to the hotel-we had to get used to each other in a much more invasive way. Here it's been gradual and every week, you could see their trust and love for us grow. The last few days it has been so hard for us to leave them. I am so glad that they just have 3 more full days there and then they'll wake up on Saturday morning and we'll dress them in their new clothes and shoes and we'll be on our way:)
Saturday we will take the afternoon train to Kiev & get there about 11pm. I am so thankful NOT to have to take the overnight train. I can tell you that was pure misery....Next Monday we'll have our embassy appointment and their medicals appt. then we will get their visas on Tues and leave on Wednesday morning! We will probably leave our apartmentat about 3 am, our flight leaves Kiev for Frankfurt Germany at 5:35am! then we fly to Dulles (Washington DC) where the girls will become US citizens!!! Then we'll fly to Tampa, getting there at 8:05pm! We will have traveled for about 24 straight hours...FUN with THREE handicapped kids, 2 who have not been out of their orphange for years...I apologize in advance to all who will share our flights....LOl Anyhow I know we're going to have some folks at the airport to greet us...CAN"T wait to see everyone espicially SHAD!!!! I'll probably start crying :)
I just think of that scene from "The Inn of the 6th Happiness" when the missionary comes hobbling into town with two kids in her arms after going thru many trials....it's very insipring...I can just see it in my mind's eye now:) What a feeling that will be!!!!!!!
Sarah has some major eating issues, even when I'm feeding her. So depending on how she is, we may or may not take her straight to All Children's. I'm afraid after traveling for 24 hours I may end up in jail if we have to go straight there! I get a bit over protective with my kids and medical people. I've never had good expirences there at ACH & don't have the relationships like I do at Lakeland Regional, but I know Lakeland would just send her to ACH anyhow...they dont' run diagnosistic tests on kids there. If her food & drink intake is ok, we may wait and go see our ped on Thursday morning. We'll see...there are pros & cons to both!
Selah is very healthy but has some issues with her legs, she was diagnosised with CP and is stiff. Otherwise besides the usual tests and shots, she should be fine.
So soon we will be home and leaving as a family of 7! Who would have ever thought I'd have 5 kids? Not me that's for sure!!!!!! I can't wait to show them LIFE:)
Monday, April 30, 2012
The Great Big Giveaway for HARPER!
Two wonderful ladies, Susan and Jennifer, who are both adoptive parents I've had the pleasure of meeting through Reece's Rainbow, have put together an online giveaway to help my friend Vera Cooper and her family raise money to BRING HOME HARPER!
Remember, Harper's situation is URGENT. She has a very serious condition and needs to be evaluated by doctors in the USA! She NEEDS to receive treatment!!!! The Coopers have 8 weeks to raise $14,000 and they need it NOW!
You can find all the giveaway details on Susan's blog The Ironic Catholic. You can also see all the great prizes up for grabs by clicking on that link! Here's a sneak peek of what's up for grabs:
Autographed books, gift cards, jewelry, accessories and MORE!
Here are the RULES:
1. Donate to the Cooper's Reece's Rainbow FSP grant. All donations are tax deductible. You can send a check to Reece's Rainbow if you prefer that to paypal.
2. Share on facebook/twitter if you wish
3. Share on your blog if you wish
4. Tell Susan how much you donated and if you shared. Jennifer and Susan promise to keep this information in complete confidence. You can tell Susan in the comments box, please, with email address for contact. (She has comment moderation on so she won't post comments on donated money, she'll just receive it, okay?) OR you can email her at ironiccatholic at yahoo dot com ; please put "giveaway" in the subject heading!
Here is the address if you'd like to send a check for your entry (and please enclose a note specifying your donation is for the Cooper Family's FSP to adopt Harper):
Reece's Rainbow
c/o The Cooper Family - "HARPER"
PO Box 4024
Gaithersburg, MD 20885
Entries key:
One entry for a blog post mention on the giveaway, linking to this post.
One entry for a Facebook or Twitter share on the giveaway, linking to this post.
Donate $1-10 = 1 entry
$11-20 = 2 entries
$21-30 = 3 entries
$31-40 = 4 entries
$41-50 = 5 entries
$51-75 = 8 entries
$76-99 = 12 entries
$100-150 = 18 entries
$151-199 = 25 entries
$200+ = 30 entries and a big virtual hug
PLEASE please donate to this family's fund and help bring Harper home!!! And you could receive some great prizes too through this great giveaway!!!! Every donation is TAX DEDUCTIBLE (what a bonus!) and even if you only share the link to The Ironic Catholic, you're still making a big contribution to this cause!!
So if you followed our journey and been touched as God provided for us...use this as a chance to help another family. Do it in honor of Sarah and Selah! Two little girls who are just days away from being taken out of the orphange forever to come home with us!!! This little girl & family NEED your help!!! Thank you for getting invovled...you are saving a REAL little girl!!!!! Just remember that!!!! She is real, she exists not too many miles from where we are now...waiting for her family...help her dream come true!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!
Remember, Harper's situation is URGENT. She has a very serious condition and needs to be evaluated by doctors in the USA! She NEEDS to receive treatment!!!! The Coopers have 8 weeks to raise $14,000 and they need it NOW!
You can find all the giveaway details on Susan's blog The Ironic Catholic. You can also see all the great prizes up for grabs by clicking on that link! Here's a sneak peek of what's up for grabs:
Autographed books, gift cards, jewelry, accessories and MORE!
Here are the RULES:
1. Donate to the Cooper's Reece's Rainbow FSP grant. All donations are tax deductible. You can send a check to Reece's Rainbow if you prefer that to paypal.
2. Share on facebook/twitter if you wish
3. Share on your blog if you wish
4. Tell Susan how much you donated and if you shared. Jennifer and Susan promise to keep this information in complete confidence. You can tell Susan in the comments box, please, with email address for contact. (She has comment moderation on so she won't post comments on donated money, she'll just receive it, okay?) OR you can email her at ironiccatholic at yahoo dot com ; please put "giveaway" in the subject heading!
Here is the address if you'd like to send a check for your entry (and please enclose a note specifying your donation is for the Cooper Family's FSP to adopt Harper):
Reece's Rainbow
c/o The Cooper Family - "HARPER"
PO Box 4024
Gaithersburg, MD 20885
Entries key:
One entry for a blog post mention on the giveaway, linking to this post.
One entry for a Facebook or Twitter share on the giveaway, linking to this post.
Donate $1-10 = 1 entry
$11-20 = 2 entries
$21-30 = 3 entries
$31-40 = 4 entries
$41-50 = 5 entries
$51-75 = 8 entries
$76-99 = 12 entries
$100-150 = 18 entries
$151-199 = 25 entries
$200+ = 30 entries and a big virtual hug
PLEASE please donate to this family's fund and help bring Harper home!!! And you could receive some great prizes too through this great giveaway!!!! Every donation is TAX DEDUCTIBLE (what a bonus!) and even if you only share the link to The Ironic Catholic, you're still making a big contribution to this cause!!
So if you followed our journey and been touched as God provided for us...use this as a chance to help another family. Do it in honor of Sarah and Selah! Two little girls who are just days away from being taken out of the orphange forever to come home with us!!! This little girl & family NEED your help!!! Thank you for getting invovled...you are saving a REAL little girl!!!!! Just remember that!!!! She is real, she exists not too many miles from where we are now...waiting for her family...help her dream come true!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Angela
Today my heart is heavy...for a little girl that is in my girls orphange. We sponser her thru Life 2 Orphans. she has an Individual Caregiver who works with her daily BUT she needs a family. She is 11 years old and has many medical needs. Even more than we could handle with our other children's needs. Her caregiver has her up and invovled with the different activities daily.
Today she had her out on the veranda while we were out with our girls & I asked if I could swing her. I did for the rest of our visit. She nestled into me, and I cried. She has so many needs, it's even overwhelming to me but isn't there someone who can be her parents? She is full of joy. I've never seen her not smiling. She has a smile on her face & is so appreciative of everything. She can not walk, not sure if she'd ever be able to and she is gaining weight. She can hold herself up but does have alot of medical needs.
Could you consider adopting her? If a family would step up, our family would help raise the money.... If you can't adopt her, could you give to her fund on Reece's Rainbow?
she is Angela....
I'm glad I had the chance to swing her today and hold her although my eyes hurt from tears. I can only imagine what the caregivers think of me sobbing today... she needs a family, she's blind, she needs love... The bible clearly tells us to take care of the "least of them" We are not to close our eyes to the needs but we are to step up and do what we can....Please pray and do what you can for this precious soul!
Monday, April 23, 2012
Thankfulness...
I read on FB how one family has struggled with finding support from friends for their adoption and some other families added their stories.....it made me think about our situation...
We have had nothing but 100% support from our Family, friends, church & Jon's co-workers. Everyone in our lives have said YES! Go get your girls! You all have prayed for us, GIVEN to us, hugged on us, been positive in every way ....what can I say? We are beyond blessed with the people in our lives!
Thank you for not doubting even when the task seemed so big! Thank you for not being afraid of their diagnosis! Thank you for knowing how beautful they are! Thank you for trusting that we had heard God's voice! THANK YOU! Thank you for not minding the incovience of us being gone for so long! Thank you to all the folks who are taking care of our various animals and our friend who is keeping a kid for 6 weeks! Thank you to our christian school who has been supportive of our crazy schedule! Thank you Grace Church for stepping up. Thank you Josh Conely for filling in, thank you to Jon's co-workers and volunteers at the prison for stepping up! Thank you that NO ONE ever has said a cross word to us about all that had to be taken care of while we are gone! Thank you to everyone who can't wait to see them safely home with us!!!!!
Thank you for giving....from the first person (my cousin) to the last person...you all gave to their ransom, thank you!!! Some folks we have never met and may never meet this side of heaven, have given to help us get our girls home. It's unreal to think of what God's people have done in the last 5 months for these girls and for us. We didn't have to beg, to fundraise, nothing.....we did our paperwork and you all did the rest....THANK YOU! We have been blessed over and over again and it is holy to us. You did not give for some foolish reason you gave because you beleive that two little lives needed to be saved!
My heart is just overwhelemed today thinking of all that has been done for our girls! We had a friend who painted and redid their closets and room, it's so beautiful and just waiting on them. A family gave us a brand new van... it's unreal!
Thank you for letting your hearts be touched, for caring, for loving & for having faith in us! We love you guys. This journey has been an example to Steve & Shad. We talked with them about how God provided EVERYTHING We needed and how He will always do that for them. The day we got the new van, I told the boys to always remember that day, even when they are old men. Remember how God provided for us, don't forget His goodness and never take it for granted! We shared with Shad how his adoption was just this awesome and how god provided everything we needed to go get him and I beleive it was a witness to his little heart of how God cared for him & how He cares for the girls.
You all that really know us, know we are not materistic and teach our kids not to be that way either...but god will provide our needs. He provided what was needed for this adoption, not so we could go on some exotic vacation or buy a bunch of jewelery...that's not how we roll. We have our jewles and that's our kids!!!
But God has shown HImself once again to be our provider! He used His people to do it!
Thank you all again, we love you!!!!!!!!!
We have had nothing but 100% support from our Family, friends, church & Jon's co-workers. Everyone in our lives have said YES! Go get your girls! You all have prayed for us, GIVEN to us, hugged on us, been positive in every way ....what can I say? We are beyond blessed with the people in our lives!
Thank you for not doubting even when the task seemed so big! Thank you for not being afraid of their diagnosis! Thank you for knowing how beautful they are! Thank you for trusting that we had heard God's voice! THANK YOU! Thank you for not minding the incovience of us being gone for so long! Thank you to all the folks who are taking care of our various animals and our friend who is keeping a kid for 6 weeks! Thank you to our christian school who has been supportive of our crazy schedule! Thank you Grace Church for stepping up. Thank you Josh Conely for filling in, thank you to Jon's co-workers and volunteers at the prison for stepping up! Thank you that NO ONE ever has said a cross word to us about all that had to be taken care of while we are gone! Thank you to everyone who can't wait to see them safely home with us!!!!!
Thank you for giving....from the first person (my cousin) to the last person...you all gave to their ransom, thank you!!! Some folks we have never met and may never meet this side of heaven, have given to help us get our girls home. It's unreal to think of what God's people have done in the last 5 months for these girls and for us. We didn't have to beg, to fundraise, nothing.....we did our paperwork and you all did the rest....THANK YOU! We have been blessed over and over again and it is holy to us. You did not give for some foolish reason you gave because you beleive that two little lives needed to be saved!
My heart is just overwhelemed today thinking of all that has been done for our girls! We had a friend who painted and redid their closets and room, it's so beautiful and just waiting on them. A family gave us a brand new van... it's unreal!
Thank you for letting your hearts be touched, for caring, for loving & for having faith in us! We love you guys. This journey has been an example to Steve & Shad. We talked with them about how God provided EVERYTHING We needed and how He will always do that for them. The day we got the new van, I told the boys to always remember that day, even when they are old men. Remember how God provided for us, don't forget His goodness and never take it for granted! We shared with Shad how his adoption was just this awesome and how god provided everything we needed to go get him and I beleive it was a witness to his little heart of how God cared for him & how He cares for the girls.
You all that really know us, know we are not materistic and teach our kids not to be that way either...but god will provide our needs. He provided what was needed for this adoption, not so we could go on some exotic vacation or buy a bunch of jewelery...that's not how we roll. We have our jewles and that's our kids!!!
But God has shown HImself once again to be our provider! He used His people to do it!
Thank you all again, we love you!!!!!!!!!
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