All I Really Want For Christmas

Christmas is truly an adoption story.Jesus Christ, the Son of God, leaving His heavenly home with all it's eternal riches and coming down into this lowly world. He was adopted into an earthly family by Mary and Joseph so that we could be adopted into His heavenly/forever family and be able to cry out "Abba,Father".

Two times in the Bible's New Testament the word "orphan" is used. When Jesus was teaching and preparing His disciples for His departure, He reassured them "I will not leave you comfortless/orphans". He would send them The Comforter, the Holy Spirit to live and abide in them. Jesus' brother James would later use the same word in referring to the fatherless/orphan"Pure and undefiled religion is to visit orphans and widows in their distress...".

In our world today there are many orphans, both spiritual and physical. There are many without family, both spiritual and physical. There are many who have never experienced the miracle of adoption, spiritual or physical. There are many waiting for us, as God's children, as His family, to welcome and invite them in.

Christmas, it is truly "The Adoption Story". Tell the story, share the story, live it out and welcome others in.Experience the miracle.


YouTube - All I Really Want For Christmas Music Video

i am not...

i am not without guidance,
i am not without comfort,
i am not without a guardian,
i am not without help,
i am not alone,
i am not an orphan,
i am a child of God,
i am an heir of God,
He is my Abba, Father,
He has given me His Spirit,
i am a temple of the Holy Spirit,
Jesus is my brother, my friend,
I'm so glad that i'm a part of the family of God!

Adopted

I am not an orphan for I have received the Spirit of adoption and God is my forever Father. Thank You Jesus for making this possible.

Orphan Sunday | November 8. 2009

Orphan Sunday November 8. 2009

Day One

Sometimes gifts come at unexpected times and wrapped in unusual ways. We are used to the usual occassions for receiving gifts, such as, on our birthday or at Christmas. However, sometimes , on rare occasion we are caught off guard by a special delivery. At first we may not welcome it for the packaging is not very appealing. Sometimes it takes time to recognize/realize its true value. This gift is precious, priceless, especially and uniquely designed for the recipient. The gift is to be highly cherished and unselfishly shared. It is a gift entrusted to us for the benefit of others and the glory of God.
The text went out early on Monday morning, September 21, the last day of Summer, to family and friends. “I need your prayer support. I’ve had a lingering physical problem for a few months now, about mid-June, that the current treatment is not resolving. Will be going to a specialist today at 11am for a procedure to help aid in the healing process. Been through a lot in my life, and I know God is with me and in control but honestly, I’m still a bit nervous. Please pray for me. Thanks.”

Wait No More

I recently checked out data on the numbers of children in the United States in foster care who are available for adoption....over 127,000 and the number of churches, over 300,000. In all but one state (Nevada) the number of churches outnumbers (many by far) the number of children. The call is clear to reach out to them, in fact ,James 1:27 comes on the heels of verses speaking to be "doers of the word'. So, what are we "doing"? For a long time i've had a heart for orphans, it's time i "did" something! How about you? I encourage you to get informed, check out the foster care program in your state, have your eyes opened to the need and then pray what God would have you do, individually and as a church. This is the churches responsibility, not the governments. We can put an end to the need for foster care altogether if we'll all step up. Need more info, inspiration, encouragement? Then check out this video, share it with others, spread the word,respond,drop me a line, i've got much more info to share. Thanks!

http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=9cff723783d6508ed08b

My Adoption Story

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Today, November 15, is a special day for me, the date of my adoption into the family God. The year was 1981; I had just turned seventeen the month before, on the seventeenth, and was nearly half way through my senior year in high school. Earlier that Spring I had been invited to Wick Road Baptist Church by a young lady I liked. At that time I was going off and on to Allen Park Church of the Nazarene where I had grown up attending. I was amazed the first Sunday I went to Wick Road that there were about one hundred youth in Sunday school; they were in the middle of a promotion. Had never experienced that before as we never had much over a handful at Allen Park. I was surprised, too, at the number of people I knew, went to high school with, and how enjoyable/fun it was at Wick, but the gospel message was also solid, clear, and hitting home with me. By Fall I was attending pretty regular and each time when the invitation was offered to receive Jesus Christ and God’s gift of salvation I felt/sensed an urging that I needed to do something, to respond, to find some relief from the inner turmoil. I would find myself gripping the pew, sensing a spiritual struggle within, just trying to make it through one more time. This Sunday was just the same, I can’t remember the message but the battle within was on full force. However, something different happened, a friend of mine put his hand on my shoulder and quietly asked if I needed/wanted to go forward, I had so many times before, and as I said yes I released my grip on the pew and stepped out in the aisle toward the alter. He got the attention of a man who knelt in prayer with me. I can’t remember the exact prayer he or I prayed but I know I asked for and received forgiveness, asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior, received His gift of salvation and eternal life. I didn’t fully understand or comprehend what happened, still don’t, but I do know this, that it was like a tremendous weight/burden had been lifted, I felt light, free, and a peace surpassing understanding. So, on this day I celebrate my spiritual birthday, the day I was, in Jesus’ words, born again. The day I was the whosoever of John 3:16, a verse I had learned/memorized as a little boy, that believed and received the greatest, most gracious gift, from God, of eternal life. On this day I remember and give thanks for the Spirit of adoption, the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of promise, the Holy Spirit, living and abiding in me, leading and guiding, comforting and counseling, teacher and helper, constant companion. Thankful that I am not a spiritual orphan but have an Abba Father always with me, always listening, always caring/providing for me, always everything I need all the time. Thankful, glad that I’m a part of the family of God, an everlasting family in which I share an inheritance and am a joint heir with and because of Jesus, my Brother, my Friend, forever. Today I remember and say thank You Abba, thank You Jesus. Your grace still amazes me. Early this morning, in the stillness and quiet You remind me that you are I AM and that I am Yours. Early this morning taking me on a journey back to before the foundation of the world and there revealing to me the miraculous, eternal depths of this miracle of adoption and encouraging me to share and make others aware that they too can take part in and experience the miracle.

Adoption Awareness

The month of November is "Adoption Awareness Month". Throughout this month I will be writing, sharing about the miracle of adoption. Drawing attention to the great need, opportunity, responsibility to minister to the fatherless and orphan.

We have been given the Spirit of adoption by which we cry out "Abba, Father!"