Transparency

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.)

Ephesians 5:8-9

So, I've heard a few times that if I keep telling it like it is, then no one will want to adopt older kids anymore.

I have to tell you that this idea expresses a complete misunderstanding of what adoption in all about.  

When families adopt, (as God does), we don't set out to take the path of least resistance.

My friend Emily always says, "Adoption is NOT for sissies!"--- is that t-shirt ready yet, Em? 

We don't adopt to do a good deed and help those poor kids out.  We don't spend all our savings, our college funds, sell everything we can and invite all of our friends to join in-- because we are looking for the easiest child to raise, who will cause us the least inconvenience.  

We adopt because there are 147 million orphans in the world who are crying out night and day for a family-- a savior-- and life.  We adopt because we know that whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

We adopt because our God commands us to care for the orphans and widows.  We adopt because to whom much has been given, much, much will be demanded.  

I'm amazed and thankful every day that God entrusted us with our children.  It is a privilege to experience His heart through their suffering and redemption.  There can be no other way.  Adoption IS the gospel.  

And I'm sharing it all because if we are children, then we are heirs--- of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings----in order that we may also share in His glory.

He is in the business glorifying Himself--- of going to the desert and bringing His children back Himself.  He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for us.  Thank you so much to everyone who prayed for our lost little lamb.  He has come back from Egypt--- and here's how---  

After not speaking to me for a while-- unless he had to.-- He came to me one morning and said he wanted to talk to me.  I was so happy.  So, after ESL summer school we had a talk and he told me about his dreams.

He said that he had not prayed in 5 days--- that they were sad, bad days.  I would go to him and pray for him, but apparently he wasn't praying with me.

Anyway, he said Jesus came to him in a dream and told him, "Go and talk to your mother, she loves you."  He told Jesus, no, he didn't want to. He said Jesus said it again and he ignored him.  

The next night, he had the same dream again--- he said he was so scared because it was exactly same dream and Jesus said the same thing.  "Go and talk to your mother, she loves you."  He said he was so scared of God.  

--in the fear of God way--

He said Jesus told him, "Look behind you," and he did and saw Ethiopia.  Then Jesus said, "You have no family there, your family is here."  

He also said Jesus told him to keep reading his Bible and that it was not written by man, but by Him.

He wanted me to read out loud all the scripture Jesus led him, to--- Matthew 7, John 16 and 1 Peter 2:9.  So awesome-- 

God means what He says y'all.  

We've had visits in our house from Jesus, angels and demons.  It's all real.  It's all happening all the time.  We get way to preoccupied with ourselves and our stuff in this culture to see it--- that doesn't mean it's not happening.  

God says it is.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priest-hood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.

1 Peter 2:9