Abundance

When we decided to host Irina, I didn't think much about how people would respond. Let me just say, the outpouring of prayer, love, support and generosity has been ABUNDANT.  People are already blessing us by gathering clothes and sending care packages. A special 8 year old friend wants to get Irina a stuffed animal and help with clothes! It makes me a bit choked up. Isn't that a picture of how He loves us??? Actually, His love for us is even greater because He knows all our thoughts and the condition of our hearts (all the good and bad) and yet He still pours out His abundant love on us. I need to sit on this truth today... this rainy day with the impending storm and stir crazy boys. The circumstances haven't really brought out the best in us and yet God's love for us never fails.

Oh sweet Irina... I hope you know how much people are already welcoming you and praying for you. The boys talk about you non-stop. We pray for you and can't wait to meet you and enjoy our three weeks together. 

Here is a quote from an email I received that was so encouraging.
"I'll pray now for the grace of the Lord to cover all of this and for you guys to know the joys and the blessings of following him--even and especially on that day or two when you wonder why you did it! Thanks again for how you're walking with the Lord into this opportunity to love this little girl who needs to know a Father who will never leave or abandon her."

Orphan Sunday

Have you ever heard of Orphan Sunday? Did you know that it is coming up on November 4th?

"On Orphan Sunday, Christians stand for the orphan. We are a people called to defend the fatherless…to care for the child that has no family…to visit orphans in their distress. On November 4th, 2012, thousands of events echo across America and around the globe, all sharing a single goal: that God’s great love for the orphan will find echo in our lives as well." (http://orphansunday.org/about/)

It is estimated there are between 143 million and 210 million orphans worldwide (recent UNICEF report.) The UNICEF orphan numbers DON’T include abandonment (millions of children) as well as sold and/or trafficked children. The current population of the United States is just a little over 300 million… to give you an idea of the enormity of the numbers… (http://www.orphanhopeintl.org/facts-statistics/)

Will you consider praying for the orphan? Check out this website with a google doc to sign up and pray. CLICK HERE   Prayer is powerful!

Will you consider attending an Orphan Sunday event near you? If you are local, please join us to be encouraged and challenged. Did you know that there are other ways to participate in orphan care besides adoption and foster care? Come find out how. Everyone is welcome!

Broken

“Foster care will break your heart.” Jim Carey, Department of Social Services.

On Wednesday evening, I joined the other folks in our Missional Community Group (MCG) to hear from Mr. Carey about foster care in our area. As I sat there listening to real stories, my heart felt broken. I had moments of sadness and joy.

To be honest, life is full. Most/all of my brain power goes to being a wife and mom. I struggle often and know that it is God who gives me strength and energy to make it through some crazy days with my three young boys.  Over the past couple years, I’ve been so thankful to renew a closer friendship with my Savior. I enjoy talking with Him, but the focus of my prayer life is often my family, my circumstances and praying for my friends. Did you hear all those “my’s”? yikes!

So what does this have to do with foster care? I have been so stretched to think outside of my personal zone this year as I participate in our MCG. It’s not all about me?!?! As I absorbed all the information on Wednesday night I had a variety of emotions. I felt so sad for all these children, who by no fault of their own, are forced to deal with terrible situations. TERRIBLE! It made me mad, angry, and confused. Then, I felt hope and joy as I heard success stories of children who flourished in the love and care from their foster families. 

I also heard loud and clear that fostering children is not an easy path. It sounds lame, but I don’t feel God has equipped us to be a foster family. But, how can one walk away from this information and awareness and slip back into regular life and ignore it? Ignore that there are children out there who are hurting? Ignore that there are children out there who are not even having basic needs met? How many times do we hear a great message and sit there nodding our heads, taking notes, agreeing excitedly and then walk away and resume life just like it used to be before?

For now, the only thing I know to do is to pray. To pray with a new understanding of the hurt and brokenness. To pray with a slightly deeper understanding of how privileged my own kids are to be fed, clothed, protected and loved.  To pray that I won’t forget and slip into my own self-centered world. Dear Jesus, give me eyes to see.

Will you join me in praying?