Imagine being on a date with your fiance. The night is going well. You have enjoyed a wonderful dinner. The evenings discussion focused on wedding and honeymoon planes. Out of nowhere your future wife tells you she is pregnant. You know that the baby is not yours since there has been no physical contact between you. Imagine the hurt and anger that would consume you. Imagine how much worse it would get when she gently explains that it will be ok. She is still a virgin and the baby within her is from God..."yeah right", you would say. After a few more choice words come through your head. You leave in disgust.
Our human nature would say forget this girl she is not faithful or worth the trouble. Matthew 1:19 tells us that Joseph did not want to make a scene or a public example of her (i.e. have her stoned). So he set out to break the engagement quietly.
What character this man had. The angel of the Lord does not appear to him until the next verse. Joseph in his humanity, in his anger, and in his hurt loved her enough to break with her in a way that was honorable.
Once the angel did appear to him, he was more than willing to take her and marry her. What love and devotion Joseph had for Mary. What a perfect picture of how God loves us. In spite of all he thought and felt he was willing to become the earthly father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Joseph became His adoptive father. What an honorable man. Some put to much emphasis on Christ's parents. Others do not put enough. As you celebrate the birth of Christ this season, thank God that there was a willing and honorable man to marry the pregnant Mary and become the father of our Lord.
Our Family
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Giving Thanks
Thanksgiving is such a wonderful day. We gather with friends and family to celebrate God's blessing over the past year. We celebrate our love for each other and our love for Him. God's grace and mercy is so great we could never thank Him enough. God knows hoe insufficient our thanks would be, what He requires is nothing less than our heart. He desires for us to trust Him always, worship Him with all our energy, follow His commands, He wants to know us and be known by us.
As we set around the dinner table today, let us reflect on His goodness. In so doing may we also reflect on those around the world that do not have. Today, somewhere in the Philippine Islands a little child is eating a meager meal of rice longing to be a part of a family. Though we do not know this child yet, I am thankful to God for providing for your needs until we reach you. I am thankful that God is providing for us as we move through the adoption process. I am thankful for a church family that will love you. I am thankful for a heritage of Christian faith that will be passed on to you. I am thankful that very soon you will be our son or daughter.
Love,
Daddy
As we set around the dinner table today, let us reflect on His goodness. In so doing may we also reflect on those around the world that do not have. Today, somewhere in the Philippine Islands a little child is eating a meager meal of rice longing to be a part of a family. Though we do not know this child yet, I am thankful to God for providing for your needs until we reach you. I am thankful that God is providing for us as we move through the adoption process. I am thankful for a church family that will love you. I am thankful for a heritage of Christian faith that will be passed on to you. I am thankful that very soon you will be our son or daughter.
Love,
Daddy
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
God's Perfect Gift
Christmas will be here soon. It is before Thanksgiving, but we already have our tree up. Your brother was sick last week. On the fifth day of his illness, he asked if we could put up the tree. I gave in. I really don't mind. Christmas comes and goes too fast.
As I was thinking about you today, I was thinking about the fact that Jesus came to earth in the form of a baby. An innocent, helpless, and vulnerable child. It never ceases to amaze me that God chose this form. He could have come in the form of a majestic King on His white steed. He could have come as God Himself, with all His power and glory. He could have come as a mighty warrior with sword drawn. He came as none of those, but came in the form of a percious gift. The most perfect gift, a child.
All children are a gift from God. You will be one of the greatest gifts that we ever receive. I know it is not likely, but I wish God would send you, our perfect gift, to us by next Christmas.
Love,
Daddy
As I was thinking about you today, I was thinking about the fact that Jesus came to earth in the form of a baby. An innocent, helpless, and vulnerable child. It never ceases to amaze me that God chose this form. He could have come in the form of a majestic King on His white steed. He could have come as God Himself, with all His power and glory. He could have come as a mighty warrior with sword drawn. He came as none of those, but came in the form of a percious gift. The most perfect gift, a child.
All children are a gift from God. You will be one of the greatest gifts that we ever receive. I know it is not likely, but I wish God would send you, our perfect gift, to us by next Christmas.
Love,
Daddy
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
National Orphan Sunday
Last Sunday, November 7, was Nationl Orphan Sunday. Below are my sermon notes from the that morning. Please take a moment to read. Who knows, mabye God will speak to your heart about adoption. May God richly bless you as you read. Just a note, I do not type my sermons in complete sentences.
I. Introduction:
Imagine being two years old. Your mother takes you for a walk through the local market. Once in the crowds you turn and your mother is gone. She has left you forever. You do not know where you will go. You are not old enough to take care of your own basic needs. Imagine the fear that would grip your tiny heart. This is the story of a real child living in an island nation in the south pacific. Mission 1:27 exists because of him and 143,000,000 like him all over our world. Mission 1:27 is an orphan care and adoption ministry. Our purpose is to live James 1:27, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress” NLT. Why do we do it? Because God so loved the world. Here in America we have so much to be thankful for, things that we often take for granted. These things that seem so basic to us are the very things that orphans around the world long for. We have been richly blessed. What would happen if we shared that blessing with these hurting children? During this Thanksgiving season, let me encourage you to be thankful for all that you have and be mindful of a child that does not.
II. We have a family.
In many areas of the world, orphanages are filled to capacity with infants that need changed and older kids that share a room with 30 others. There is no privacy. Though they desire a home to call their own, what they really need and want is a forever family. 15 million children in the world have lost both parents. 143 million have no permanent family. Here in the US there are 500,000 children in foster care. Do not take your family for granted; rather be as Paul in 1 Thess. 3:9, “How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence.” Be thankful for those loved ones in your life. What if you could share that love with a hurting child?
III. We have plenty of food.
Very soon we will sit down at a table with friends and family and eat all of the wonderful Thanksgiving food. The smell and wonder of the season will fill our hearts with thanks to God for His provision and blessing. Across the world a child will have less to eat on that same day than we throw away from our plates. Food and clean water is a basic necessity, but one that millions do not have. Many children adopted from around the world will come to the US severely malnourished. Malnourishment leads to many developmental problems. Why? Because they lack basic nutrition. 1Timothy 4:3-4 tells us, “They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. 4 Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.” The point Paul is making is simply this, be thankful for what God has given you. What if you could share your food with a hungry child?
IV. We have possessions.
When we finally make the trip to the Philippines, it is likely that our new son or daughter will own the close that they are wearing and that is it. We have shoes for everyday of the week and more toys than our kids can keep up with. So many children around the world will go this Christmas without a single toy or present. Phil. 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” This is a very hard verse for us to live up to. We all tend to worry about our needs. What if we strove to be thankful for what we have and were willing to share with a child that has nothing?
V. We have faith in Christ.
By far the most important thing in our lives is our relationship with Christ. It is something that we should continually be thankful for. Hebrews 12:28 “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.” Millions of orphans around the world have never heard the name of Jesus. They have never heard that Jesus loves them. If we do not tell them, who will? If we do not tell them now, when? What if we loved these children enough to rearrange our lives so that they have the opportunity to hear?
VI. Conclusion
Those who have the most are often the least thankful. We lose sight of the fact that all that we posses is God’s and really has little to do with us. 2 Thess. tells us to be thankful in everything. What if we allowed that thankfulness to lead to action? You may be sitting here today asking, what can I do? Some can go, other can give, others can pray, still others can bring a child into their home. In the end if all of us do what we can, God’s work will be accomplished. I know not all can take the step to adopt, but you can love and support those who do. This Thanksgiving be truly thankful for what God has done in you and blessed you with and think of the little one on the other side of the world that has nothing. Remember that God loved the world enough that He gave His Son, with God’s help we can love the world enough to share His love.
I ended with the video below.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2809712/Videos/For%20God%20So%20Loved%20-%20OS.mp4
I. Introduction:
Imagine being two years old. Your mother takes you for a walk through the local market. Once in the crowds you turn and your mother is gone. She has left you forever. You do not know where you will go. You are not old enough to take care of your own basic needs. Imagine the fear that would grip your tiny heart. This is the story of a real child living in an island nation in the south pacific. Mission 1:27 exists because of him and 143,000,000 like him all over our world. Mission 1:27 is an orphan care and adoption ministry. Our purpose is to live James 1:27, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress” NLT. Why do we do it? Because God so loved the world. Here in America we have so much to be thankful for, things that we often take for granted. These things that seem so basic to us are the very things that orphans around the world long for. We have been richly blessed. What would happen if we shared that blessing with these hurting children? During this Thanksgiving season, let me encourage you to be thankful for all that you have and be mindful of a child that does not.
II. We have a family.
In many areas of the world, orphanages are filled to capacity with infants that need changed and older kids that share a room with 30 others. There is no privacy. Though they desire a home to call their own, what they really need and want is a forever family. 15 million children in the world have lost both parents. 143 million have no permanent family. Here in the US there are 500,000 children in foster care. Do not take your family for granted; rather be as Paul in 1 Thess. 3:9, “How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence.” Be thankful for those loved ones in your life. What if you could share that love with a hurting child?
III. We have plenty of food.
Very soon we will sit down at a table with friends and family and eat all of the wonderful Thanksgiving food. The smell and wonder of the season will fill our hearts with thanks to God for His provision and blessing. Across the world a child will have less to eat on that same day than we throw away from our plates. Food and clean water is a basic necessity, but one that millions do not have. Many children adopted from around the world will come to the US severely malnourished. Malnourishment leads to many developmental problems. Why? Because they lack basic nutrition. 1Timothy 4:3-4 tells us, “They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. 4 Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.” The point Paul is making is simply this, be thankful for what God has given you. What if you could share your food with a hungry child?
IV. We have possessions.
When we finally make the trip to the Philippines, it is likely that our new son or daughter will own the close that they are wearing and that is it. We have shoes for everyday of the week and more toys than our kids can keep up with. So many children around the world will go this Christmas without a single toy or present. Phil. 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” This is a very hard verse for us to live up to. We all tend to worry about our needs. What if we strove to be thankful for what we have and were willing to share with a child that has nothing?
V. We have faith in Christ.
By far the most important thing in our lives is our relationship with Christ. It is something that we should continually be thankful for. Hebrews 12:28 “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.” Millions of orphans around the world have never heard the name of Jesus. They have never heard that Jesus loves them. If we do not tell them, who will? If we do not tell them now, when? What if we loved these children enough to rearrange our lives so that they have the opportunity to hear?
VI. Conclusion
Those who have the most are often the least thankful. We lose sight of the fact that all that we posses is God’s and really has little to do with us. 2 Thess. tells us to be thankful in everything. What if we allowed that thankfulness to lead to action? You may be sitting here today asking, what can I do? Some can go, other can give, others can pray, still others can bring a child into their home. In the end if all of us do what we can, God’s work will be accomplished. I know not all can take the step to adopt, but you can love and support those who do. This Thanksgiving be truly thankful for what God has done in you and blessed you with and think of the little one on the other side of the world that has nothing. Remember that God loved the world enough that He gave His Son, with God’s help we can love the world enough to share His love.
I ended with the video below.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2809712/Videos/For%20God%20So%20Loved%20-%20OS.mp4
Thursday, November 4, 2010
A Waiting Child
The waiting process is very long for the Philippines. It can be as much as 3 years for a healthy child. It is our desire for God to lead us to the right child, especially if you are a waiting child. He knows the issues that we can handle within our family. He knows when the time is right. A waiting child may have sever issues or may have very little or nothing wrong with them. These kids need forever families too. Please pray with us that God will lead us to the right child at the right time. This can also cut our waiting time down to a year or less. Whatever God wants for us and you, our new child, is what we want.
We pray for you daily and are thankful for all our friends and family that do too.
Love,
Daddy
We pray for you daily and are thankful for all our friends and family that do too.
Love,
Daddy
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