Be strong....and courageous....

I stumbled across this video today. And cried. So many things touched my heart in it. Take a few minutes and watch it please. I know it looks like a cartoon and has the possibility of being cheesy. But watch it, it's worth it.....















Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.


Now, we will not walk up to an orphanage and "choose" a child.  That's not really how that works most of the time. There won't be a little big-eyed girl waiting by a window hoping she is pretty enough for us.

But, the symbolism of this video is correct.....

We, as privileged Americans (and yes, that means us...who are by NO means wealthy), have a choice. We have a choice to either help save an orphan from a love-less life,

 or choose to pretend they don't exist. 

When God spoke to us about adoption, as scary and intimidating as all that was (and still is), we could have said no. We had that choice. No one was forcing that upon us. There was all of a sudden this big, scary cliff and we could either choose to jump....or choose to turn around and head back to a safer place.

There are times now that I can't believe we chose to jump. My husband is not a jumper. He might make it down the cliff eventually, but he does so by scaling the rocks with ropes and harnesses and helmets. But, this time...he jumped. We jumped. And the funny thing about a cliff is (are you tired of this metaphor yet?) that there is no way to get back up. You make the decision to "jump" and your journey becomes God's and not yours.

So, I want to encourage you today that if God is speaking to your heart about adoption or foster care (which my sweet friend knows a lot about and can give you info if you are interested), even if it's just a whisper......please, don't ignore it.

Here is your cliff. You can choose to jump and rescue a precious life or you can choose to turn around and head back to your nice and comfy existence. I know it's scary. I say that in the midst of the scary. But, I also know that there is a reason God has softened your heart to that and what He wants from you is obedience. That's it. He will carry you through those scary moments. He will figure out the hard stuff. (I am telling myself this as much as you!!)

There are 147 million orphans in the world. One less doesn't seem like that big of a deal. But, I want you to do something. I want you to watch that video again and picture that sweet little big-eyed cartoon character as your daughter. Or your son. Does it break your heart more to picture your little one, who you adore and dote over.... all by themselves.....waiting?    Waiting for someone to love them?

Caring for orphans is a reflection of what God has done for you and me. He has rescued us from a pit and has adopted us as heirs in the Kingdom of God.

It is the heart of God that we care for the fatherless....the orphans.....

The helpless put their trust in you. You are the defender of orphans . . . . Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will listen to their cries and comfort them. 

Psalm 10:14, 17

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.

James 1:27

God's heart is also for you, dear friend. He will not leave you.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

Joshua 1:9 happened to be Sam's memory verse a couple of weeks ago from church. Memory verse for a 2 yr old, you say? Yeah, that's what I thought too. But, one day in the middle of HEB, he started quoting the first part of Joshua 1:9. He now says it all the time. It is just about the cutest thing ever and I love how he says/yells "be strong and dageous.........joshua.....joshua...9 9 9!!!!" But besides the cuteness factor, it also seems like God was trying to figure out a way to make me hear it over and over again. 

And maybe you too????

So, I know this was kind of a "soap box" post. But, I felt like God was telling me to write it. Even if it is just for one person out there considering adoption or foster care. I hope it was encouraging to you. 

Be strong and courageous!!!!!!! :)