'The Nations Prove'

My mind always starts racing and going through thoughts in the morning.  I'm a morning person. This morning for some reason it went to the last verse of 'Joy to the World':

'He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love'

I've sung this verse hundreds of times but never really gave much thought to what I'm singing.  I started meditating on the part where it says that He 'makes the nations prove...'  In other words, it's my job and your job to prove or show to the world the 'glories of His righteousness' and the 'wonders of His love.'

When you step out to adopt, you get asked the 'why' question a lot.  'Why are you adopting?'  As Christians, the onlooking world should be asking all of us that constantly.  Why did you show kindness to that person?  Why did you help me?  Why did you forgive me?  Why did you give me another chance when I've blown it so many times?

Jesus said in John 13:34 "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other."  This is why Christians step out to adopt.  This is why Christians show forgiveness.  This is why Christians give grace to others.  This is why Christians turn the other cheek.  This is why Christians love the hard to love.  When we begin to think of the radical forgiveness, grace and love that has been poured out for us, how can we live any other way?

So may we prove and show the world the 'glories of His righteousness' and the 'wonders of His love' today!

We are getting closer and closer to bringing our little guy home.  We are currently waiting on our Article 5 paperwork.  The Article 5 is the collection of immigration papers, documents, and letters that we will need to complete Samuel's adoption once we are in China.  Right now the Article 5 is in Guangzhou at the Consulate being reviewed to make sure it's all in order.  It will be ready for pickup on December 29th when it will then be mailed off to the CCCWA (Chinese Child Welfare) in Beijing.  The next step after our Article 5 is in Beijing is receiving our official Travel Approval letter (TA) inviting us to come to China to adopt Samuel.  The average time between the Article 5 pickup and receiving the Travel Approval letter has been about 1-2 weeks which would put us possibly receiving our Travel Approval in mid-January.

'When we love the least of these'

I love this song by Audio Adrenaline - 'Kings and Queens'

"Little hands, shoeless feet
Lonely eyes looking back at me
Will we leave behind the innocent too brief
On their own, on the run
When their lives have only begun
These could be our daughters and our sons
And just like a drum I can hear their hearts beating
I know my God won't let them be defeated
Every child has a dream to belong and be loved

(Chorus)
Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in Your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free
Shout Your name in victory
When we love, when we love the least of these
When we love the least of these

Break our hearts once again
Help us to remember when
We were only children hoping for a friend
Won't you look around
These are the lives that the world has forgotten
Waiting for doors of our hearts and our homes to open

Chorus

If not us, who will be like Jesus
To the least of these
If not us tell me who will be like Jesus
Like Jesus to the least of these"

 

Now is our opportunity, church, to break generational curses of poverty, abuse and hopelessness.  Now is our chance to do something.  Now is our chance to love a child.  Maybe it's a monthly child sponsorship, maybe it's being a mentor to a foster family or being a respite provider (giving a foster family a break), maybe it's adoption, maybe it's supporting a Christian orphanage.  We can all do something....We can all impact one life.  Afterall, every life does matter to God.

 

in Christ,

 

Brian

Back on Track

I've never been one to try and tell people to wait for God to write something in the sky or to do a sign or wonder for them to know how to make a decision.  Most of the time we press on in daily obedience to His revealed Word in the Bible.

For us there is no doubt that He has revealed His heart concerning the orphan throughout Scripture.  Yet sometimes through the process, I've found it's easy to doubt if WE are really ready to do this.  Lately I've looked at my own shortcomings and inabilities and weaknesses and I start to doubt.  I often feel like Peter starting to look at the waves more than looking at Jesus.

Walking by faith is a struggle because the moment you take your eyes off of God's resources and start to look at yours, well, panic can quickly set in and discouragement as well.

Today I was home picking up and doing some cleaning, and I ran across a copy of the 'Book of Common Prayer' that belonged to my grandfather.  I just simply open the 1,001 pg book and the first thing my eyes see is the words 'For an adoption.'  I instantly lose it (which is not like a normal thing for me).  As I start reading this prayer I also notice that playing in the background is the song 'Forever God is Faithful' which causes me to continue to lose it.

I read through the prayer and it was for a family who had their new brother or sister and were presenting them before the church.  One of the parts of the ceremony was 'As God made us his children by adoption and grace, may you receive (Name) as your own son (daughter).'  It was like a laser guided missile of hope straight into my heart reminding me that 'God is with us' and He is 'For an adoption'.  It was also amazing to visualize that moment when we will have this new child to present before our church.

So we will continue to press on and know that God is for adoption!

Brian

Honduras Mission Trip

What a blessing!  Whitney and I are wrapping up a mission trip together in Honduras.  It's been a great week where we've gotten to play with, love on and hold a lot of amazing little kids here.  Each child we would meet helped us visualize that moment when we get to take a little one home with us to their new forever family.  It's been very eye-opening and heart-breaking to be very close and personal to these children and see where they live and get to observe their little lives. 
One little girl named Marjorie really bonded with Whitney.  On our last day in the village we had the chance to walk with her over to her house where she lived by the river.  The poorest of the village live by the river in shanty's that are susceptible to being destroyed by floods.  We had a chance to give her a few toys and some money and got to meet her Mom who was very skinny and probaly very mal-nourished herself.
One other really neat experience was meeting a lady at the Mall where we were buying some kid's toys one day.  We some how got on the topic of adoption and she just kept going on and on about how much she appreciated what we were doing.  At one point her eyes were filled with tears as she told us how tough life is for here, especially for these children.  On a long and frustrated adoption road it encouraged us to keep on keeping on and that the labor is worth it. 
Anyway, what a blessing to be here this week!
in Christ,
Brian

Below is a video produced by Hope for Orphans, a ministry of Family Life, that celebrates the way that churches are beginning to creatively and passionately answer the call to care for the orphan.  What a powerful witness to the world as God's people step out to put their faith in action to those who the world has left behind.  For so long the onlooking world has described Christians as 'hypocritical' because they see people acknowledge Jesus with their lips and denying Him with their lifestyles.  Yet so many in the church now are being known for their love in action.  So thank you for all who have supported us this past year and done so much for others as well.  God bless and Happy New Year!

in Christ,

Brian and Whitney

Thank you God

Whitney and I were taking a moment to catch our breath the other night and reflect (which is really good to do sometimes).  As we were thinking about the adoption journey we were amazed about God's faithfulness to us.  Back in October we were definitely at one of those 'test your faith' points as we had exhausted our funds to pay the first wave of adoption expenses.  We are now in December and realized that God has already brought in a little over $21,000.00 towards our goal of $34,000.00 to fully complete the adoption (Just $13,000 more to go to get it done, yay!).  If you would have told me we would already be here at this point, I'm not sure I would have believed you.

So we now have the money to pay the next wave of expenses and will have some time to trust God for the rest over this next year.  God is so faithful and His timing has been perfect to provide exactly what we needed when we needed it.  My trust in God has gone from academic to a more practical level over this journey.  Let me tell you that when you step out to follow God and do the things that are in His heart....He will be faithful.  He knows our situation and He will supply your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.

Whitney and I are realizing that at this point we can now focus again on finishing all of our paper work we need to get done to complete the Dossier.  Please pray for discipline and diligence for us to get all of that done (I need help in that area).  Thanks as always for your prayers and support.

in Christ,

Brian