Wonderful Day

Wow, what a lovely day. Adoption Sunday today. Four of us gave our testimonies...it was a neat service. Actually "neat" doesn't cover it, but in my post nap state I can't come up with a better word! And our friends twin girls that were brought into their family by adoption were baptized as well. How about "cool" for a word? LOL!

Here's my testimony. I did add a little "off the cuff," or hopefully Spirit inspired. Thanks to all who participated in the service of worship today!

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First, let me introduce you to my family. In this picture we have my husband, Brandy, and our 4 kids at home…Shianne, Sierra, Tye and Jaden. Shianne, Sierra and Tye we had the old fashioned way…Jaden we brought home from China 19 months ago.

Many of you know that we are on another adoption journey. Our plane tickets are set. We’re headed to E on April 3rd to bring home our other 3 children. Svanna F. is about 7 years old, Gabriel A. is around 4, and Summer F. is around 3 years old. Aren’t they just the best?!

I struggled with what God would have me say today about adoption. About our adoption journey.

What does adoption look like to God?

Well, it’s not about me.

Adoption is God’s story. God’s design. God’s plan.

Jesus was adopted. We’re all adopted.

Matthew One has touched my heart and encouraged me through times of doubt and fear. If I had to pick a favorite chapter in the Bible, Matthew one would be it. Please turn with me to Matthew one in your Bibles.

Strange chapter to pick for a favorite, isn’t it? “A record of genealogy.” Usually not that exciting.

If you scan over all the names, you’ll note that it’s the genealogy of Christ.

Let’s skip to verse 16…

“and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.”

This is the genealogy of Jesus….…through Joseph.

Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, who was no blood relation to Jesus.

Yet God the Father chose to start the book of Matthew, the whole New Testament really, with the genealogy of Christ to Joseph. In fact, the rest of the chapter goes on to explain how the birth of Jesus Christ came about…and shows that Joseph was not Jesus’ biological father. This chapter tells me that Jesus was still Joseph’s son. So much so that Joseph’s ancestors were also Jesus’ ancestors.

Adoption is God’s design for an imperfect world. His own Son was adopted. WE are all adopted into God’s family through Christ.

If I ever had any doubts about our family’s calling to adopt, the doubt ends here, in the first chapter of Matthew. Adoption is God’s design.

Even though has been scary at times. The unknown usually is. Even though adoption has been hard at times. Even though it’s reasonable to expect we have some tough adjustments ahead for our family. Adoption is God’s design.

Even though from a human perspective adoption can seem unwise. In our case, having 7 children under the age of 10 may seem unwise. But adoption is God’s design.

It’s estimated that there are 143 million orphans in the world. ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY THREE MILLION children without parents. Without a family. Without someone to love and protect them, give them a sense of security and belonging…even to tuck them in at night. Can you imagine your children without you? Without parents at all? If you don’t have children…can you imagine yourself as a child without parents?

Adoption is God’s design. Is God calling you?

God does not call everyone to be a foster parent or an adoptive parent. That is certainly true. But the Bible calls every believer to help orphans in some way shape or form. In this, the richest country in the world, more than one-third of Americans have seriously considered adopting, but no more than 2 percent have followed through. If God’s calling YOU……listen. His plan is always best. Even if it seems scary or humanly unwise.

In less than 3 weeks Brandy and I will leave the United States and travel to E to pick up our three children. OUR three children. Children God has entrusted to us. Children He has blessed us with.

I leave you with a challenge…how is God calling you? You may not be big enough for His calling, but that’s ok…because the One who calls you is big enough for all of us.