WHY NOT?

I am honored to have Kim Young from Journey 2 Ethiopia to write an awesome blog about reasons for adoption.

Why Not?

In the book of James we are told that it is our responsibility to care for the widows and the orphans. It doesn’t say that some are to care for orphans it says that all are to care for them. We could all find a reason, excuse or exception if we allowed ourselves to. I thought we could delve into some of the reasons for not adopting an orphan.

The problem
The problem is that there are over 147 million orphans in the world. 147 million children who are lonely, hungry, thirsty, and have nothing, but the only thing they really want is a family to be part of. If only 6% of Christians adopted one child then there would no longer be any orphans. So if only 6% of Christians followed the command in James 1:27, then there would not be a need for the other 94% of Christians to adopt. Will you be one of the 6%?

The Reasons
It’s just not something my family is called to do...We are all called to care for the orphan, not some of us, not those of us with money, all of us. Now your family might have another calling to how to provide for the orphan (by supporting adopting families or perhaps foster care), but we are all called to care for them.

We don’t have the means to adopt...Do you have a family? Is there one or more of you who has the means to love another person? Well, then you have the means to adopt. In addition to foster care adoptions - which are free - there are grants, scholarships, no interest loans, tax credits, fundraising programs, and many other ways to come up with the funds for adoption fees. Do you think God would call you to it and then not provide the means? Is your family covered in luxuries? Perhaps you can cut them back to find money for an adoption.

I would rather have my children biologically...Well, I guess it is a good thing Christ extends his love and adoption into his family beyond the Jews and his biological family - or we would all be doomed and fatherless. Your child is your child, whether by bone and blood or by love and miracles. Every child born is a miracle whether God plants the baby in our womb or our heart. Beyond the physical - there are no differences. And go ahead and have biological children - but that shouldn’t stop you from making room for a child without a biological family to care for them.

It’s not the right time...Far be it from me to encourage you to move before God asks you to move. But is the timing a legitimate thing you are waiting on - or is it an excuse to not follow God’s command for us to all care for the orphan? If you are not sure of your answer to that question, you should figure it out, and pray for the right timing.

I have too much going on in my life right now...This goes along with the timing aspect. If you have too much going on in your life right now, you will probably always have too much going on in your life. Are those things that God has called you to, or things that you have busied yourself with to avoid God’s direction in your life? I invite you to rid yourself of the distraction of busyness. Focus on God and rescue His orphans.

My husband would not want to adopt a child...This is one of the most common cries of a woman whose heart is yearning for the orphan. Our husbands love us, and feel the weighty burden of providing for us - whether they are the primary earner or not. They are cautious with their passions and often need God to gonk on their head with a frying pan before they yield to God’s direction for the orphan. In most circumstances that I have seen - the husband comes around often as passionately if not more than the woman. If you want to adopt but your husband doesn’t - pray for him, talk to him, find out his concerns. I read a blog recently addressing this where the author encouraged those women to look within. Is your husband seeing you complain and gripe about your current circumstances and responsibilities? It reminds me of when I was younger and had to prove to my parents that I could handle what was on my plate before they would allow me to add to it. This wasn’t because they were punishing me, it was because they loved me and wanted to make sure I didn’t overwhelm myself. Perhaps in some cases, the husband is hesitant because you already complain about finances or how much work your current children are. If so, he loves you and is trying to protect you and your family. Focus instead on caring for your current responsibilities with joy and peace and praying for an opportunity and the resources to chase God.

My family will think I had lost my mind**Newsflash** - if your family is not Christian - they already do. And if they are Christian - then they probably will be some of your biggest encouragers. Lots of people will think you’re nuts for adopting, especially if you go international. This is not your concern. In fact it should be your goal.

So Why Not?
So - why not adopt? Why not find the country with the most orphans or need and adopt from there? Why not ask God where He would have you adopt from? If you can think of any other reasons not to then post them in the comments so we can talk them out. Feel free to leave us comments with any questions about how to get started.

CALLING ALL MEN - IT'S TIME FOR WAR

This post was written by Pastor Dwight, you can read the original and see the photos at http://onelifeonelegacy.blogspot.com/2010/10/calling-all-men-its-time-for-war.html. He's asking our husbands, all men, to step up to the plate and enter the battle with him.

You Go Dwight!! Rock On For The Orphan!!

Calling All Men - It's Time for War

I want to put a call out to men everywhere.

A call to respond! A call to step up! A call to action! A call to war! Where are we anyway? Where have we been? What have we been doing?

Why are we standing on the sidelines watching the game when we know that we are created to be fierce competitors?

Where have we been when it comes to the orphan? Take a look at most of the blogs, most of the non-profits, most of the strategies, most of those leading the battle on behalf of the orphan. You will discover woman after woman with a passion for these forgotten children.

This is a war for the health and soul of the orphan!

Yet where are the men? This the first war in the history of the world where the men are standing on the sidelines cheering… “you go girl… if that’s what you feel…. you go!”

We’ve become cheerleaders on the sidelines instead of warriors in the battle.

There are exceptions, of course, but for the vast majority of men – we have remained mostly behind the scenes.

But when my perspective changes, I change.

A woman, like Linny, has a mother’s heart that just will not quit. She will do whatever she can from a mother’s heart for these children. It’s just in her nature – the nurturer!

Now men, we aren’t by nature nurturers. We are protectors. We are warriors at heart. We protect those we love without hesitation. If it means laying down our lives we will do so without hesitation.

So here is the perspective change we need regarding the orphan. Men, the battle for the orphan is about providing protection from the enemy’s plans for their lives (starvation, abuse, no love, despair, hopelessness, and alone with no family) and introducing them to Jesus’ plan for their lives (food, clothed, protected, hope, nurtured, relationship with Christ, loved, and a forever family).

We need to be a “Father Warrior” for these children without moms, dads and families. We must become the voice, the protector, and the provider for these children.

Our battle cry must be: “Not On Our Watch!”

Will you pray with me?

Will you obey with me?

Will you be a warrior on the orphan’s behalf with me?

I am in this war for these children. Their lives are at stake, their souls hang in the balance. Men, let’s take off the gloves. The orphans around the world need our help, our protection, our sacrifice.

Ask God what that looks like for you. But in any event – get in the game – take off the cheerleading skirt – put down the pom poms.....and let’s go to battle for the orphans of the world.

You know God has put something of a fire in your heart for these kids. Let’s link up, let’s do battle, let’s go to war on their behalf!

We will win!

Semper Fi M

Will We Grieve For God's Children?

"God rescues the weak and the vulnerable THROUGH HIS BODY. Heroes are made because they are MOVED in their HEART. It's not the head knowledge, it's the life abandonment to the lives around us. Will we grieve for God's children who are hungry, unloved, and waiting for someone to rescue them?

Christianity is taking the behavior and nature of Jesus Christ and transplanting it into the heart of men and women on earth, so they behave not like this world, but like Heaven. They are different! "

by Meredith - cornishadoptionjourney.blogspot.com

Resting in the SON,
~s