Questions and Excuses: Part II

The following verses from the Bible have convicted me over and over again.  These are things God commands me, as a follower of Christ, to do.  Am I really doing these things?  Or am I coming up with excuses to avoid doing these things? : 

In Luke 9:23 "The fact is we were called by Jesus to give up everything.  His call to come and take up the cross".  I ask myself "Am I really giving up everything?"


In Katie Davis' book I am perplexed, stunned and convicted as I read what I thought were my own thoughts.  I thought that how I felt was secluded to my own life.  Reading someone else's thoughts that are exactly the same as mine gives validation the Spirit of God is leading me and I need to follow.  Let me give you an example:  In chapter six she writes as she is beside a sick girl in Uganda "Why do I have so much?  And why have I always had so much?  And do they [people of the western world] even know that far, far away from the luxuries of the western world a little songbird of a girl is fighting for her life?  The roles could have easily been reversed."  Doug and I have wrestled with that exact question of why we have been given so much when others are given nothing...am I giving much to others?  Luke 12:48 "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." 

A bigger question is "Why does God allow this to happen to people?"  Here's one answer "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life" (John 9:3).     

So, as we end another joyous celebration of our Savior's birth and a new year begins, what excuses will I stop using so God can use me?  I am excited about how God will use me and my family.  I am also human, and I am scared once I say "yes".  But the sad part is, I think I'm scared because of what He will ask me to give up...which really isn't mine in the first place.

 "Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do.  God , who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, know what we know, and holds up responsible to act"  Proverbs 24:12.

Questions & Excuses: Part I

For those of you who know me, this might come as a surprise to you, but I have been reading lately.  Usually my definition of "reading" is looking at pictures or photos.  Two books have impacted my thoughts quite a bit.  The first is "The Forgotten God" by Francis Chan who is a pastor of a huge network of churches who has dedicated his life (along with his family's life) to people.  The second book is "Kisses From Katie" by Katie Davis who, as an 18 year old, moved to Uganda and "gave up"  all she had for the orphans there and gained 14 adopted children as well as caring for more than 200 others.  These two authors are fearless in their pursuit for God's will in their life.  As Francis Chan states "I think a lot of us need to forget about God's will for my life.  God cares more about our response to His Spirit's leading today, in this moment, than about what we intend to do next year."  Where is the Spirit leading me today?



 "Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do.  God , who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, know what we know, and holds up responsible to act"  Proverbs 24:12.

God's work has made us a family of 7!

How relieved and excited we are to now become Della's family, officially!  God has grown our family in a miraculous way!  We received word today we have legally become Della's parents.  Now we patiently wait to be united with her.  We are preparing her room and getting toys out of boxes for her age, and for some reason all my children (9,7,6, and 4 years) have reverted to toddler stage enjoying them all like they've never seen them before.  Josey says we need to fill Della's drawers with her clothes  :). 

As I look at the most recent update photos of Della (which I will post after she's in our arms), and see her hair growing and her face filling out it's very difficult to not be with her physically.  We have yet to see her smile.  I watch my other children growing and learning new things and I wonder "Is Della pulling herself up... how many teeth does she have....does she talk yet?"  We are very limited in what information we receive.  What keeps me going is to know that God knows all those things.  He knows her story, who her parents are.  He saw that exact glorious moment she was born.  He knows who her family will be for the rest of her life, what she will become. 

As my friend told me, God will do this in a way that gives Him all the glory.  This story, this journey points to Him.  There is no other explanation for how this adoption came about.  This could not have been attained by our own power or understanding. 

"Neither this [child] nor [her] parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in [her] life" (John 9:3).     

The truth about orphans

Our eyes have been opened to the truth about orphans and I'm obligated to share it:

Our daughter, Della, is a very small drop in the ocean of orphans in her country in Africa. 

"The truth is that there are children like this all over the world, sick, starving, unloved, and uncared for. 

The truth is that the 143 million orphaned children and the 11 million who starve to death or die from preventable diseases and the 8.5 million who work as child slaves, prostitutes, or under other horrific conditions and the 2.3 million who live with HIV add up to 164.8 million needy children.  And though at first glance that looks like a big number, 2.1 billion people on this earth proclaim to be Christians. 

The truth is that if only 8 percent of the Christians would care for one more child, there would not be any statistics left. 

This is the Truth.  I have the freedom to believe it.  The freedom, the opportunity to do something about it.  The truth is that [God] loves these children just as much as He loves me and now that I know, I am responsible."    Katie Davis (Kisses From Katie)

"Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God , who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, know what we know, and holds us responsible to act" Proverbs 24:12.