I am thrilled beyond words that over 110 of you have committed to praying (and many fasting) for J and C and the adoption situation at large.
Recently (11/29/09) Dw and I team-preached on Adoption/Orphan Awareness. We shared our hearts and yes, adoption is something we are passionate about.
One of the things that I mentioned as I was speaking was that I felt God had spoken very clearly to me regarding adoption. I will italicize what He showed me:
He showed me that His hand of grace had been extended for many, many, many years to the body of Christ – waiting for the church to rise up on behalf of the orphan. Grievously, in previous generations, the orphan has been largely ignored. Pretending they didn’t exist. Even today there are thousands and thousands of pastors, leading churches, yet refusing to give attention to the plight of the orphan. Oh how God’s heart grieves!! (And yes, one day they will be held accountable!)
My generation has ignored the orphan. They have turned a deaf ear to their cry. They are busy. They have their lives planned. They don’t have time. Two children, preferably a boy and a girl – and whew! we’re done!! And yet the orphans cry. Around the world they cry. Who will hear them? Who will rise up and be their advocate?? Who will do something?
My generation (and previous generations primarily had deaf ears) so God moved to the next generation. Remember hearing how Steven and MaryBeth Chapman’s daughter, Emily, begged her parents to adopt?? There are countless other stories….tons….of kids hearing the cries of the orphan and begging their parents to adopt.
Yes, that was God stirring the next generation’s heart. And so, some of the next generation heard the cry. They prayed and influenced their parents hearts. And today, many, many, many are beginning to hear the cry and do something!!! Anything!!
But God’s prophetic word was clear. He is waiting for millions to rise up and do something. He is waiting and His hand of mercy will not be stayed forever. He will rise in judgment. He will rise on behalf of the orphan and judge us.
So what are we to do? We are to pray! We are to get on our knees and ask God to forgive our complacency. Our busyness. Our “we have things to do” attitude. We must ask Him to stay His hand of judgment. To extend His hand of grace while “we get this right”.
Many could say, “but I can’t adopt”. Okay, but EVERYONE can pray for the orphan. EVERYONE can give for orphan care or to help others who are adopting pay for their adoption. If everyone waited till they had “extra” money….yeah, well, that means it would never happen. God didn’t tell us to wait till we had some extra….He just said, “give”.
Sometimes I know people wonder: What exacctly should I pray on a day of Prayer?
Here’s how I started my prayer time today:
~~forgiveness for not caring for the orphan as I should
~~God to open doors internationally for the orphan
~~God to move on behalf of the government officials in Canada NOW!!
~~that the government officials would bow to the authority of the King of Kings & Lord of Lords
~~move on the hearts of God’s people around the world to begin to hear the cry of the orphan
~~move on government officials around the world)
~~set Kaysia and Ezekiel free
~~other families waiting – set their children free!
~~stay His hand of judgment until we get it right!
~~change selfish hearts to hearts of caring for the orphan
~~those longing to adopt that God would stir their unwilling spouse
~~and more stuff….
And whenever hunger pangs (which is all day for me!) are felt, I am reminded to pray these over and over….
And when my children are eating, I will slip into my bedroom and kneel beside my bed and pray some more….
I pray peace and strength over your family. I pray that GOD moves the hearts of the Canadian government to open their land to the orphan once again, and quickly. I pray that they not have second thoughts, but to act fast with conviction from the Holy Spirit. May GOD bless you guys and your family, and bring your little ones home safe and swiftly.
Linny,
From my soul, I thank you for loving James and Cheremi and the rest of the Canadians (us included)who are trying to get our children home from Uganda. We are standing together today.
Keltie
Isaiah 43:18-19 Forget what happened in the past, and do not dwell on events from long ago. I am going to do something new. It is already happening.
(This verse has been posted on my friend Kim's blog as she waits for God to answer her prayers and it really has spoken to me today)
I believe that God is truly moving on the hearts of so many towards adoption… it is beginning to happen…. but of course there are so many more who need to be touched by the Lord to move forward into what He is calling each person to do. This a new year and I we all wait with anticipation for the Lord to move in our hearts like we have not seen yet!!
I will be joining you in prayer and fasting also this week. I know that God is moving on our hearts to adopt again.
Thank you for being a faithful servant!
Thank you so much for all your encouragement through this site. My husband and I are just starting the process for adoption. There are times that everything looks so daunting- confusing- impossible… but we serve a God who does impossible things!
I was actually remembering words that God spoke over me once, referring to the arrival of my husband (I had committed myself to mission work and felt at times that a husband was an impossibility in the place that God had taken me.)
He said,
I'm the God of the impossible and what I want to do in you, is make this impossible dream come true.
And as I was reading your site, I felt God say those same words again in reference to bringing my children home…
Thank you Linn. Thank you for such an awesome post. Would you mind if I link it from my blog? So many I know would be encouraged by this.
Thank you. I also don't think it is a coincidence that I just finished my lunch – I can commit to fasting and prayer RIGHT NOW. I don't need to think about it, or wait until after dinner to begin (or whatever other excuse I may have). I can COMMIT RIGHT THIS MINUTE.
Thank you!
Linny,
I love your blog, your honesty and most importantly your open heart.
I will join you today in pray for the orphans today….
I have a special little niece adopted from China..and she certainly is GOD given…as are all children….TRULY gifts from the LORD…
..you have shown me so many ways I can help out an orphan…
and I thank you for that:)
Children through adoption or birth are gifts from GOD and our gift to him is the love we give them.
I currently have 5 gifts and I WANT to be open to receiving the LORD'S future blessings(if he so calls)…pray for clarity for me…
With much love..Annmarie
Psalms 46
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the water surge!
A river brings joy to the city of our God,the sacred home of the Most High. God himself lives in that city; it cannot be destroyed. God will protect it at the break of day. The nations are in an uproar, and kingdoms crumble! God thunders,and the earth melts!
The Lord Almighty is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.
Come and see the glorious works of the Lord: See how he brings destruction upon the world and causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear in two; he burns, the shields with fire.
Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honered by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.
The Lord Almighty is here and among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.
Oh Linny,
Somehow you just know how to put into words the things I feel. I just told someone this morning that I am praying and praying for our church to understand God's heart for the orphan.
It's happening in our church but it's happening with my generation. I have wondered and wondered why it is so much easier for people our age to understand and why people my parents age see adoption as a negative thing.
I don't know if I left a comment the other day or not but you know I'm praying and I am going to post on my blog linking to yours and I hope others do too.
I didn't write on your previous post that I would be praying today.. I am going to fast kinda but full fasts make me super sick during and for a couple days after…
Being a Canadian and feeling God calling me to adopt once I am married, it has been heartbreaking to hear what the government is doing and how it could cause heartache for me down the road..
Linny, my heart is with you. It has been placed on my heart for some time now to approach our pastors to start an orphan/foster care ministry. I have approached them, and they are excited. Now, I have work to do to get my thoughts in line to make a coherent presentation. I'm planning to watch your sermons for some ideas, too, and I'll probably be asking permission to share some of your words…you write so eloquently!
Thank you Linny for this post. We've already adopted and are in the age bracket now where we are too old, however we are putting our money into helping others adopt. We decided that we could go without in order to help others financially when it comes to adoption. We are also praying.
Nothing is impossible with God, nothing. I firmly believe through our fasting and prayer today, we are going to see God move mountains.
Oh that our hearts would grieve for the orphan on a daily basis. Hugs
I didn't comment but I am fasting & praying today! <3 Love you!
Praying!!!
Love your words Linny, Love your Heart!!!
My husband brought me this article this morning from an Oct., 2008 edition of "In Touch"…said he just felt like he was supposed to be looking for something & this is what he came across. The whole article is very much what you are addressing with Christians, but I will just share a couple of parts (The article is "Chase the Lion: The Risk of Taking No Risks by Mark Batterson).
The author states, "Let me make a prediction: your biggest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you did not chase. …. It seems to me that the modern church has become fixated mainly on sins of commission: Don't do this, don't do that, and you'll be okay. But here's the problem: You can do nothing wrong & still do nothing right. Holiness is more than the by-product of simply subtracting something negative from our lives; it involves maximizing our God-given potential to live like Jesus." He goes on to say, "This may not sound very academic, but I believe that one of the most under-appreciated dimensions of spiritual maturity is good old-fashioned guts. Gutsiness, which manifests in different ways, is a big part of following Christ. It's challenging the status quo. Daring to be different. Refusing to play things safe……"
So, after reading this, I guess my encouragement to James & Cheremi, as well as myself & every other Christian who finds themselves in an overwhelming predicament, is to keep chasing lions & not running from them. I'll leave you with this final line from the article: "Faithfulness is about actively making way for His kingdom & storming the gates of the Enemy."
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to be part of "storming the gates". ~Dardi
Linny,
Just wanted to let you know I hadn't specifically committed to fast on my previous comment, but I am fasting today as well as praying.
My heart leapt when I opened my bible just now asking for a verse to post for encouragement and I looked down to see my eyes go directly to Isiah 51:11
"The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."
When I saw that first sentence I felt immediately God was telling me this means the ransomed orphans will be returned to their families and homes! I know it says they will return to Zion but I do believe He led me to that sentence first for a reason!! 🙂
Thank you so much for your blog…what an encouragement! I'm praying with you. We have been waiting for over a year to bring our son home from Thailand when I read "other families waiting – set their children free!" I had to cry…that's us! We need our son to be set free. We'll pray with you as we have been praying for orphans for a very long time. I've watched too as you waited for your daughter and when you went to pick her up, what an encouragement. Thank you.
Blessings,
Tara
Praying and fasting today has been powerful! I appreciate your words to better specifically pray not to mention much more eloquent words than I chose!!!
Praying with you throughout the day!!!
WOW Linn, I always know where there is something I need to read on your blog….I feel a tug to go check!
I will continue to pray for your sweet friends and many others waiting. I will fast tomorrow and continue to pray all day. Many love, hugs and prayers going to this family and all others waiting for their children.
I too want to do something, I want to do whatever God has planned for my family but I can't ignore the tremendous emotions I feel when I read your blogs and others that I do want to journey down this path to find my children out there waiting for me. We have 5 children and I so want to adopt to make our family larger. AFter reading so much of your families journey's and Lynsays extraordinary efforts I so want to bring the Orphans home to families. We have donated, sent gifts, now I want by babies!!! So please add me to your list of prayers that Mountains will be MOVED and we will begin putting the pieces of our puzzle together. I believe God has led me to you and he will show me when and why in HIS time…Im just not very patient!!!
Thank you for all you do for so many…YOU ARE A WONDERFUL FAMILY.
Faye Verquer
I decided to start out the morning by reading what I was scheduled to read on my reading through the Bible. I was on Ezra 7. Well – in God's goodness – it was perfect. Ezra 7:6 – the king granted him ALL that he requested because the hand of the Lord his God was upon him." 7:9 "because the good hand of his God was upon him." 7:12 "perfect peace" 7:23 "whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done with zeal." Nehemiah 2:8 "and the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me."
I began to pray that the Lord would give James and Cheremi favor in the eyes of the Canadian government and that their case would end up on someone's desk that the Lord would move to action – and that the Lord would keep them in perfect peace. The Lord just spoke so clearly. I can't wait to see what He will do!
Linny,
You're speaking straight to my heart more clearly than you know. Thank you for praying and fasting. Thank you for encouraging others to pray as well. I'm praying with you!
Blessings,
Lisa
I prayed as I read your list Linny then laughed as I read…"and more stuff" 'cause I KNOW that GOD knows ALL that STUFF!!!!!!!
As I read this today, I was filled with chills – all over! As you know, I am in the midst of the adoption process in China. I am approved for minor special needs, but have been on hold due to surgery and financial needs. God has blessed me abundantly…so much more than I could imagine and I will be able to reactivate very soon. No…there will never be "enough money" or "the perfect time" but I trust in my Savior's provision for me. He showed me just tonight as I prepared an itemized budget list for my paperwork update, that the money is there…just have to keep it there instead of Wal-mart!
Please, friends…be praying that Emma and I will find each other on the shared waiting child list. pray that the Lord will be preparing me for whatever her needs may be!
God is faithful and He has brought me so far through this…and will continue!
I am sorry this is so long, but I have to share something that has brought me great comfort. You know that I desperately wanted to adopt Faith and was devastated when it did not work out…but this quote has brought me much peace:
"I showed you one to give you another. Trust Me.
You don't have time to grieve over this. If you do, you'll miss
the child I have for you. I promise in the end you will see and understand."
Jan Beazley – "The Strength of Mercy"
I know now that I was to be an intercessor for Faith until she finds her family and I will continue to do that…while I wait on Emma.
Blessings – Angie
Hi Linn,
I know you are quite busy these days with your little ones and all of the responsibilities you have – If you have an opportunity we (my husband and I) would be so grateful to get an email from you. We are faced with a difficult ethical decision regarding our children waiting in Haiti. I really look up to you and your husband and know that you would be able to offer a Godly perspective…
Thanks so much!
Kirsten
rubythread@gmail.com
Here is another example of another a young girl from the next generation whom God is using to bring home another sister from China…. wonderful story to read….
andthentherewereseven.blogspot.com
As I was praying today while driving down the road (with my eyes open), towards the end of my conversation I was asking God to open the hearts to the plight of the orphan, for him to place on people's hearts a desire to open their homes.
Three hours later I was at the doctor's office and I was talking with a women on staff there who is 26. I am not even sure how we got to it, but before I knew it we were talking about how we both want to adopt someday. Here were two 20-something girls, no where near ready to start their families and yet both have already been moved for the day they are ready.
Linny, I just opened an email from Gracious, the mommy at Redeemer House Orphanage near Kampala. She met with Pastor Peter of Gaba Community Church today to explain James and Cheremi's situation. (James and Cheremi visited Redeemer House with Justin and Shauna when they were all in Uganda.) Gracious was just about to leave for Sanyu to extend an invitation from Pastor Peter to James and all the other waiting parents at Sanyu to come to Gaba Community Church on Sunday, where they as a church (lots of people, 2 services) will pray about the situation. People everywhere are being mobilized to lift this situation up to God. I believe there is going to be a breakthrough, and God will receive the glory!
What an amazing and powerful day! I praise God for the resources He gives to us and freely extends to us when we seek Him!
What an amazing day teaching my children about fasting and prayer and communion. God's grace!
Thank you for the directed prayers. Those hunger pains seemed to go off all day…many, many thankful opportunities to beg the Lord for this situation! Thankful to have been a part of it!
hello! I just found your blog! We are just starting the adoption process of adopting our first child from uganda! Looking forward to getting to know all the families and people adopting and/or helping Uganda! Our blog is http://www.starkeyadoption.blogspot.com
This post touched my heart at just the right time. We have two daughters adopted from China's waiting child program. We are not able to adopt again right now but you have reminded me there are others waiting to bring their dear children home. Right after I read your post I got a post on my blog from someone I had never met before who happened across my blog. I of course visited their blog and saw that they are fund raising to bring home a little boy with severe CP from Taiwan, a little one who many would probably think had needs too great. You can tell the family is working their rears off to raise money but still I may have passed on by if not for your post. Things are certainly tight around our house but every little bit counts so we helped them with what we could. One more child home, even if it is not ours, is such a huge blessing. I saw a quote once (maybe it was even on your blog?) that said "Adopting one child won't change the world, but for that one child the world will change." So true so true!! I'd like to post the persons blog address if that is ok but like I said I don't know them personally. You can delete it if you would like though. It's: http://jeremiahspromisejohn1418.blogspot.com/
And thanks again for the great post!!
I will be fasting over this, thank you!!!
I have to say I've never found a Church in the UK that even talks about orphans (we only are expecting less than 100 international adoptions this year in a country of 66 million).