Yesterday was kind of a preparing for today’s thoughts. Something heavy on my heart.

I was sharing yesterday some of the reasons I am certain that adoption is so complicated. Your comments were right on the money! Many, many, many of you have encountered incredible opposition…but the faithfulness of God has triumphed and you have seen God’s hand rescue the circumstances that have come against bringing your babies home.

No doubt this blog community has significant power when united. No doubt the Lord knows this and knits hearts together over a computer screen. He is just so faithful. I have heard from many how they have felt so alone in their own community but the blog community draws like-minded folks together and makes the world a much smaller place.

Amazing.

Only God.

That’s how it’s been for me. Face it. Our city is a small one. There are not hundreds of 51 and 55 year olds adopting toddlers! ha. Don’t even think there is one, although I could be wrong!

But you guys have been our encouragers and comrades! You have prayed us through more than one tricky spot in life. I remember when I was in Africa, how Dw was glued to the computer waiting for the comments to come in that many of you were up in the night praying for us on the other side of the world. How sweet to know that!

Well there is a couple that are in a very discouraging place. The husband, James, went to Africa with Dw on the 2009 trip. He found a little girl that he knew he was supposed to bring home. He started the process while there with Dw and the rest of the team. When he returned home to Canada his wife, Cheremi, said, “James, I just think that God has someone else there as well that we are supposed to bring home.”

James contacted the orphanage {same one that we found our Elijah and Elizabeth} and the director said, “There is a boy also needing a home. I will let you take him at the same time as the little girl.”

Well a year ago James and Cheremi headed to Africa to complete the process and court requirements and bring Ezekiel and Kaysia home. But there was a sudden shut down in Canada and all the details get too complicated, suffice it to say, they were denied bringing them home.

Cheremi ended up going back to take care of their three other children in Canada and James stayed on in Africa. They had been told it would be soon and he could bring the kids home with him. Five and a half long months passed with James there in Africa and Cheremi home with the 3 others. And nothing significant happened.

Finally James had to return to Canada. But Ezekiel and Kaysia were not allowed to return with them.

A few weeks ago this precious family drove from Canada down to our home in Colorado and spent 5 days with us. We had a blast. They are the real deal. They are passionate about the Lord, each other and the orphan.

We laughed together, we prayed together and we loved on each other. It was wonderful. We had so much fun we even asked them to stay another day!!

They headed back home to Canada after their visit with us and prepared to go to Africa, because they were told that everything would be ready and they could complete the process and come home with their two treasures.

But it didn’t go like that. Court was closed. The judge didn’t show up. Etc.
James and Cheremi have been fighting a long battle. It is complicated.

Two nights ago I got up in the night to use the restroom and found a text sent from them in Africa. They were discouraged beyond discouraged {understandably so!}. They have been put off and put off. Friday was finally supposed to be the court date and the judge didn’t show up. They were told that the judge had a sick friend in a neighboring village so he wasn’t going to come in.

I seldom ask for prayer friends, but their situation is critical. The enemy’s attacks have been long and relentless. We skyped with them Friday morning {in Colorado} and Cheremi couldn’t even talk. She just sobbed and sobbed. James has to return to Canada on Monday. Cheremi will be left in Africa with no end in sight. It’s ridiculous!! Dw and I both cried as we talked and prayed with them.

I told them that if it was okay with them I would post about their situation and ask people to pray with us. I am even going to be so bold to ask you guys to fast as well.

The enemy, no doubt, wants James and Cheremi to give up. To throw in the towel.

But we, the adoption community, will not allow that to happen. We will hold up the arms of James and Cheremi {just like Aaron and Hur held up Moses arms during the intense battle}and say, “Back off! These kids are no longer yours! Relinquish your grip!! Let my people go!!”

Now, as I have been praying about all this, I know that many of you are having similar roadblocks in your adoption process. Sickness. Governments. Job loss. Financial difficulties. Red tape. Papers lost. Papers needing to be signed, but not the right people where they should be. Bureaucratic stupidity. Deadlines looming.

So I was thinkin’….

What if we had a time of prayer and fasting not just for James and Cheremi, but for others as well? If you’ve never fasted, let me tell you…this is the fast to jump in with! Do it for the orphan. Please, please, please get out of your comfort zone!!

Let’s gather together and ask Almighty God to move heaven and earth to free the orphans. Let’s join together and say, “Enough{!} – to the enemy of our souls.”

Can I be real honest friends at the risk of losing everyone of you? Typically, when I ask people to pray, some will say they will. When I ask people to fast, even fewer commit to that.

Friends. This is where the rubber hits the road. This is where we put our money where our mouth is. Do you want to see God working in your life? Do you want to be used by Him? Well there is nothing more joyful to the Lord then when we battle for the orphan.

God’s heart is for the orphan. He loves them with an immeasurable love and I can’t help but think that there aren’t many prayers that Almighty God considers sweeter than the ones prayed on behalf of the orphan.

He is their advocate. He is their defender. He is their protector. He loves when we come alongside and say, “I want to be their advocate – just like you are! I want to be their defender – just like you are! I want to be their protector – just like you are!” He loves it!! Absolutely loves it!!

So I’m posting a mcklinky for this:

Do you have a prayer need for your adoption? Have things gone crazy while in the midst of your adoption? Has the enemy reared his ugly head against your family as you try to bring home an orphan? Are there obstacles you had not dreamed of?

This is the time to do a blog post and link it below. Your post will be asking bloggy friends, literally around the world, to pray on behalf of your family and your little one{s} you are trying to get home.

Here’s the rules:

1. You must be in the midst of an adoption or starting the process.
2. You must write a post explaining the prayer need.
3. You must mention this Crazy Love Prayer Challenge in the post.
4. You cannot link an old post, it must be fresh.
5. You must link with a permalink, which is explained in this post. If you don’t link with a permalink, I will be forced to delete it and I really, really don’t want to have to do that.

So here’s the challenge:

Will you pray with me for the orphans trying to get home?

Will you fast with me as well?

Please join me and all the others on

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

I commit to read every, single one of the prayer links and pray and fast for the needs. I am asking you to do that also.

Now some could say, “But there are a bunch of links to read.”

And all I gotta say is: ” uh-huh?”

When we are praying {and fasting} for the orphan we are right in the center of God’s will. Boldly, let me just say: Nothing you are doing could be more important.

Nothing Linny?

Nope.

Nothing.

If you can not pray {and fast} on Wednesday,
then please do it another day.

And if you are linking a post, your post doesn’t have to be long. Short will do. Just fresh and clearly explained works great.

And literally, people around the world will be praying!!

We will see break through.

We will see God move.

Ya’ know why?

Cause He is the

Miracle-working,

Mountain-moving,

Awe-inspiring,

Gasp-giving God….and

He absolutely LOVES when the body comes together on behalf of

the ORPHAN…

Will you pray with me?

Will you even fast?

Let’s do it together!!

And really, nothing will encourage those posting needs more, then to see the comments of those joining in…nothing. Promise.

xo
PS…I will do a picture mcklinky so you can place a picture of the treasure{s} you are trying to bring home…the pictures will spur others on to good works – no doubt!

This mcklinky will close on Wednesday the 8th, so you have a couple of days to link up…