As I cry I find myself not questioning God. Romans 8:28 says "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose."
I am not mad. I am deeply saddened. Drugs are stealing lives. Crimes are stealing lives. Heavy on my heart is the question "What can we do?" More importantly "What can I do?" Pointing fingers and hate does not change anything. I know love is the answer. It's so very hard to love those that have hurt us. My heart keeps focusing on the orphans. I looked up statistics. "There are an estimated 153,000,000 orphans worldwide. Some of these orphans have lost one parent, some both, and some are "virtual" orphans that have been turned out onto the streets by their families, but all are vulnerable and in need of help. Without assistance these orphans continue in the cycle of poverty, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, prostitution and slavery that haunts developing countries." We expect the world to change. To become a better place. How is this possible when we are neglecting our children? What is going to become of the 153,000,000? They are going to grow up but what type of lives will they lead without having stability, guidance, safety, and love? Every night as I put my twin boys to bed I pray. Every night I am overcome with emotion that there are millions of children that are hungry, neglected, abused. No child deserves that and it is our responsibility to step up for our children and for the next generation.
I feel it is God's plan for my husband and I to either become foster parents and/or adopt. I have begun praying daily for His will to be done in our lives. I pray for us to become more of Him and less ourselves. I pray for our child and his/her mother. It's a scary thing I'm not going to lie. However, it's more scary that I choose not to follow God. It terrifies me to not provide a home for a child because I fear "inconvenience" or "finances." I understand we are all not called for this path. This is in no way to make anyone feel guilty. I am truly wanting to reach out to anyone who is considering fostering or adopting. You are not alone and together we can provide support to one another.
As I'm writing this the song "Oceans" by Hillsong United started to play. What powerful lyrics:
"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Where ever you would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wonder
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior."
I had a vivid dream a year ago. I had lived a long life and I was on my death bed. The angels were calling me home. I knew I was going to heaven but my response was "I'm not ready. I didn't do everything I wanted to." I'm slowly learning this life isn't "my" life and it's not about what "I" want to do. This life was given to me by God. I am his servant. "I" can't do it on my own but only through and by His GRACE. I fail without Him. God challenges us to live bigger than ourselves. He gives us more than we can handle so when we look at our stories everyone will see we didn't do it on our own. There's no way we could. I want my life to be one that you can't look at my story and not see God.
I have not lived a perfect life. I've walked in dark times ashamed. I came to Jesus but for a long time let my past hinder me from being Free when God had already paid the price for my sins and forgiven me. We can't wait till we feel everything is "perfect." It's all in God's timing. We should rest assured in His Promises.
2 Peter 1:1-4
As believers, we are spiritually wealthy because of the exceedingly great promises we have in Jesus, our Savior. Below are some of the wonderful guarantees we have been given in Scripture.
1. Our reconciliation to God through the death of Christ
“While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” —Romans 5:6-10
2. The daily forgiveness of our sins
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” —1 John 1:9
3. The Father’s continued presence wherever we go
“The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” —Deuteronomy 31:8
4. A constant Helper through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.” —John 14:16
5. The Lord’s strength in whatever difficulty we face
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41:10
6. God’s provision for our daily needs
“Do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” —Matthew 6:25-32
7. An answer to our prayers
“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” —1 John 5:14-15
8. The Lord’s supply of blessing
“The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” —Psalm 84:11
9. The Father’s daily help with our burdens.
“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation.” —Psalm 68:19
10. God’s comfort in our distress
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” —2 Corinthians 1:3-4
11. A way of escape when we are tempted
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13
12. Wisdom for every challenge
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”—James 1:5
13. Rest for our weary souls
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” —Matthew 11:28-29
14. Peace regardless of the troubles we face
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:6-7
15. Fruitfulness as we grow older
“The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” —Psalm 92:12-15
16. The desires of our hearts
“Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” —Psalm 37:4
17. Help in times of trouble
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. ” —Psalm 46:1-3
18. Guidance along the pathway of life
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” —Psalm 32:8
19. Healing for our diseases and wounds
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.” —Psalm 103:1-3
20. The absolute guarantee of God’s love
“I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 8:38-39
21. Eternal security
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” —John 10:27-30
22. Heaven as our eternal home
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” —John 14:1-3
With everything going on around us we have to meditate on God's word to know the truth He has for our lives.
Whatever the spirit is calling you to do take a leap of faith.
God Bless!
