Another Christmas has come and gone. What a wonderful celebration of Christ's birth. Surrounded by family and friends the holiday is a time of thankfulness for what blessing God has given to us and to think of those who do without. Christ's gift reminds us that children are at the crux of God's great plan for humanity. No other group is more sweet, loving, innocent, and hopeful. No other group is more fragile and easily harmed.
Tonight our son prayed a simple prayer from the purity of his 6 year old heart. "Lord, help us to adopt a kid soon." He has no concept of time or space, money or process. He simply knows that His God can the power to answer his precious prayer.
As Jesus taught his disciples, we must become like little children. What if we prayed and believed as Micah Pat does. What if we simply said what we desired and expected our God to do it. No worry about the details Lord, they are in Your hands.
So in the inspiring words of your brother, "Lord, help us to adopt a kid soon.
Love Daddy
Our Family
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The Simplicity of Christmas
Before I write my blog for the day, I want to give a quick update on our process. We had our first homestudy interview last night. All went well. We should be able ro complete this by the New Year. It is very exciting to have this process started. As we move toward the in home interview, we need to raise and additional $1,000. Please pray with us. God has provided all that we have needed so far. I know He will contniue to do so.
Please enjoy reading!
For so many Christmas is a time of stress. Having to find the right gift for every person on your list, trying to get the house decorated, cleaned for company, meals made, and all the other details we feel have to be done. Tonight I want us to take a step back and focus on the simplicity of Christmas. God did not intend for us to get so stressed out that we lose sight of His greatest and most simple message. That message rang out as shepherds ran to a stable and kings bowed at a manger. The message still rings true today. God loves you. The simple act of a baby’s birth told of us God’s great love.
Luke 2:6-7 “And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”
It was a simple star that led simple people to a simple stable in a simple town to find the simplicity of God’s love in the form of a simple child. Think of all the things God has ever done for you, all the things He has given you. Of all of this the simplest thing that He has given is Himself. We try to make everything that God does some complex act with multiple meanings. Let us not lose focus this Christmas that love is the crux of all the complexity in the scripture and in our spiritual lives. Love is a simple emotion. We easily feel it toward a hundred things every day. Love is not complex, relationships and learning to deal with this most powerful emotion confuses us into thinking that love is somehow a high reality that we can never attain. Why did God send His son in the form of a baby? Because He loves you.
Why did that baby teach us all that we needed to know? Because He loves you. Why did Jesus go to the cross? Because He loves you.
John 3:16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
Christmas emphasizes God’s love toward us and it should also emphasize our love toward others. You want to know how to love? Jesus tells us in Luke 22:25-26 ‘Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ 26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant”. Serve someone as an act of love. Go out of your way to do something for someone you would not normally so. As you come to a new realization of God’s love for you this season, show that love to others as well. Have you accepted God’s love? There is no better time than today!
Please enjoy reading!
For so many Christmas is a time of stress. Having to find the right gift for every person on your list, trying to get the house decorated, cleaned for company, meals made, and all the other details we feel have to be done. Tonight I want us to take a step back and focus on the simplicity of Christmas. God did not intend for us to get so stressed out that we lose sight of His greatest and most simple message. That message rang out as shepherds ran to a stable and kings bowed at a manger. The message still rings true today. God loves you. The simple act of a baby’s birth told of us God’s great love.
Luke 2:6-7 “And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”
It was a simple star that led simple people to a simple stable in a simple town to find the simplicity of God’s love in the form of a simple child. Think of all the things God has ever done for you, all the things He has given you. Of all of this the simplest thing that He has given is Himself. We try to make everything that God does some complex act with multiple meanings. Let us not lose focus this Christmas that love is the crux of all the complexity in the scripture and in our spiritual lives. Love is a simple emotion. We easily feel it toward a hundred things every day. Love is not complex, relationships and learning to deal with this most powerful emotion confuses us into thinking that love is somehow a high reality that we can never attain. Why did God send His son in the form of a baby? Because He loves you.
Why did that baby teach us all that we needed to know? Because He loves you. Why did Jesus go to the cross? Because He loves you.
John 3:16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
Christmas emphasizes God’s love toward us and it should also emphasize our love toward others. You want to know how to love? Jesus tells us in Luke 22:25-26 ‘Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ 26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant”. Serve someone as an act of love. Go out of your way to do something for someone you would not normally so. As you come to a new realization of God’s love for you this season, show that love to others as well. Have you accepted God’s love? There is no better time than today!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Mary
December 1, 2010
Have you ever felt that God was calling you to do something, but you did not feel up to the task? Most of us go through this. It is a common response to God. When God calls us we are very quick to remind Him how we are unable to do what He wants us to do. It’s kind of odd how often we feel the need to remind the creator of the universe about our weakness. Mary stands as our example in surrendering to God’s will. Can you imagine how she must have felt when the angel proclaimed to her that she would be the mother of the Savior? No pressure there on a teenage girl about to be married.
• Luke 1:26-38 “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you![a]” 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel[b] forever; his Kingdom will never end!” 34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.[c]” 38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
There are three things that we can learn from Mary. First, we must trust God that He knows what is best for you. We say we trust God, but most often we only trust Him on our terms. He calls us to speak to someone in a store, or encourage someone we do not know. We say, “Oh there must be someone better at this than me”. Too often we do not have an appropriate understanding of our worth and potential in Christ. I know full well that God has given me the ability to sing, I also know full well that if it were not for the grace of God I could not play piano. I understand my ability and my inability, in the end I have to trust God every service to accomplish through me what He wants.
Second, we must have faith that what God has said will happen, will be accomplished through us. It would have done the world no good if Mary had trusted that God knows best but not believed it would really happen. You may be sitting here tonight knowing that God has called you, but you really don’t believe it can happen. Our adoption is sort of like this. I know and I trust God that He has called us to adopt, but do I really have faith to believe He will provide all that we need to accomplish it. In all honesty I can stand before you tonight and say that I do. Mary had to trust in what God was calling her to do and have faith that it would come about.
Last, we must surrender to God’s will. This is what Mary did. Look at verse 38 again, “Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” In these simple words Mary surrenders to God’s will. Why is it so hard for us to do the same? All we need to do is tell God, here I am do with me as you please and may your will be accomplished through my life. What does God want from you? He wants you to surrender to Him. All that you are and all that you have are His. He simply wants to know that you will do as He has asked you. Are you willing to surrender to Him?
Have you ever felt that God was calling you to do something, but you did not feel up to the task? Most of us go through this. It is a common response to God. When God calls us we are very quick to remind Him how we are unable to do what He wants us to do. It’s kind of odd how often we feel the need to remind the creator of the universe about our weakness. Mary stands as our example in surrendering to God’s will. Can you imagine how she must have felt when the angel proclaimed to her that she would be the mother of the Savior? No pressure there on a teenage girl about to be married.
• Luke 1:26-38 “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you![a]” 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel[b] forever; his Kingdom will never end!” 34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.[c]” 38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
There are three things that we can learn from Mary. First, we must trust God that He knows what is best for you. We say we trust God, but most often we only trust Him on our terms. He calls us to speak to someone in a store, or encourage someone we do not know. We say, “Oh there must be someone better at this than me”. Too often we do not have an appropriate understanding of our worth and potential in Christ. I know full well that God has given me the ability to sing, I also know full well that if it were not for the grace of God I could not play piano. I understand my ability and my inability, in the end I have to trust God every service to accomplish through me what He wants.
Second, we must have faith that what God has said will happen, will be accomplished through us. It would have done the world no good if Mary had trusted that God knows best but not believed it would really happen. You may be sitting here tonight knowing that God has called you, but you really don’t believe it can happen. Our adoption is sort of like this. I know and I trust God that He has called us to adopt, but do I really have faith to believe He will provide all that we need to accomplish it. In all honesty I can stand before you tonight and say that I do. Mary had to trust in what God was calling her to do and have faith that it would come about.
Last, we must surrender to God’s will. This is what Mary did. Look at verse 38 again, “Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” In these simple words Mary surrenders to God’s will. Why is it so hard for us to do the same? All we need to do is tell God, here I am do with me as you please and may your will be accomplished through my life. What does God want from you? He wants you to surrender to Him. All that you are and all that you have are His. He simply wants to know that you will do as He has asked you. Are you willing to surrender to Him?
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Jospeh
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 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.
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
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