I Am Blessed

The Lord has blessed me so incredibly, beyond what I could ever have imagined.  I have an incredible husband, who loves the Lord, me and our children

and our six wonderful kids

Daniel

Elaina

Nicholas

Naomi

Jeremiah

Deanna

and praying that the Lord would give us more to love and raise for His Glory.

Michelle

Do Something!!!!

I struggle to find the right words.  I need to plead for the case of the fatherless, for the case of the 160,000,000 orphans around the world and specifically for over 200 that are in desperate need of rescuing.  Children who have been neglected and starved in a European orphanage.   I cannot find the words to tell you of how my heart is breaking for these kids, and how I struggle knowing we can't do much about it.  We give, we pray, but we can't go and rescue a child.  In this post I told you why we can't, (at least for now) but what is your reason?  Or for some, should I say excuse?!!  Could it be I'm not sure I could love another child?  or have you ever told yourself this - I just don't have the time or space or money or ..... you fill in the blank.

Sure some have genuine reasons why we can't adopt, but I don't think I'm understating the fact that many who can, make excuses not to.  

I know it's hard to take in someone you don't know and be prepared to commit to loving them for a lifetime.  I know it's hard to take on the financial responsibility for another person, including their medical costs.  But are these reasons or just excuses for not trusting God?  All too often in the Western culture, we rely on our own strengths and abilities NOT GOD'S!!!   Doesn't God promise to provide for our needs (Matt 6)?  Doesn't He command us to take care of the orphan (James 1)?


My heart is especially burdened today after reading the blog of a friend who is adopting a child from Bulgaria who is 14 years old and weighs only 14lb - yes, you read that right 14 pounds!!!!

This child, along with over 200 others are being starved and neglected and we sit here comfortable, complaining we can't do anything because we don't have anything to spare or even enough for what we want!!!   Really??

'Enough' is a very subjective word.  For one it will mean a nice house, two or three cars, vacations, 6 month emergency fund, retirement account etc, yet for another it may mean living paycheck to paycheck!  But seriously, even living paycheck to paycheck - what could you sacrifice for a child that is being starved?  

We live on an income that is considered below poverty level in America, and trust the Lord to make ends meet each month, but do we have extra?  My immediate answer would be no, there isn't any left at the end of the month, BUT do we really need to buy chocolate chips to put in the muffins? Do I need a birthday present from my husband?  Do I really need to rent movies for the family?  Do I really need _______________ what is in the blank for you?  Seriously do we need to drink soda when children in Bulgaria are being starved - wouldn't water be sufficient for us?  Do we need another pair of shoes when we have several in our closet already when children lie without blankets?   Do we need an emergency fund when children are dying of starvation - THAT is what I call an emergency!

If nothing else it comes down to this - we are so like the rich young ruler (yes most in the Western world are rich - including Gary and I) who thought he was doing everything right until Christ told him to sell all he had and give to the poor and follow Him (Matt 19:21).  That young man went away sorrowful because he had great possessions.  Aren't we the same?   When someone tells us to sell all we have aren't we sad and try to make excuses, such as I really don't have that much?  BUT, WAIT - look what we are missing if we don't obey Christ.  Jesus told the man that if he sold his stuff and gave to the poor THEN, he would have treasure in heaven!!! Not only can we help meet the needs of these starving children but there is also a reward for us in doing so.

The golden rule - Matthew 7:13 "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets"  

Would we have wanted others to leave us alone in a crib 24/7 everyday of the year?  Would we want to have our diaper changed just once a day and left to lie in our own waste?  Would we want to be starved and abandoned or would we have wanted someone to rescue us and love us?  Please let us love our neighbor as ourselves, lets rescue these children (and many others like them around the world) or at least give to someone else who needs help to rescue them.  None of us would want to be treated that way so why are we doing nothing to rescue those that are?

We need to repent.  Ask the Lord to soften our hearts toward the suffering and show us how we can make a difference in their lives.  Is it to give?  - then give sacrificially.  Is it to adopt? - then trust the Lord to provide for your needs as you step out in faith to help the least of these.  I know $25,000+ is a lot of money, but I have seen time and time again how our God who owns the whole universe is able to provide.  Hey, what about the money that is sitting in your retirement account? What better use is there than to rescue a child with it?  So, you worry about how you will provide for your old age - don't!! Store up treasures in heaven not on earth where rust or moths (or a weak economy) will destroy (Matt 6).  Trust the Lord for your future, He is faithful :).

DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU.

Michelle