Loving the God way

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up- 

Galatians 6:9

We often discuss that we know that without a shadow of doubt we will love the child(ren) who will come into our home through adoption. This is a fact. We have a special place in our heart for the child(ren) who will one day call us "Mom" and "Dad".

Then, the thought struck me... it's the same way with the relationship between God and me. He created me. He knew me before I was even in my mother's womb. He loved me, before I knew him. That's how we are as we journey the road of adoption/foster care. We already have the love for a child in our hearts. We know that no matter what we will love that child unconditionally, to the fullest.

God is that way. Even, before we accept Him as our Savior and Lord He LOVED us. And now, as followers of Christ, we can never love Him as much as He loves us. That's the beauty of being adopted by Christ into God's forever family, and us adopting a child as part of our forever family. Love. Unconditional. Predetermined. Love.

Please do not mistake me as a theologian (ha!), or someone who just said it all the "correct way". That's not what I meant to take away from this post. Through this journey, it becomes even more clear to me just how much God loved us that He chose to adopt us. He didn't have to give His only Son in place for us, but He did. God's love is the ultimate example of adoption. 

~ Becka

The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable- James 3:17

A funny truth a friend (who's on the same journey) sent me a few days ago... 

Praying for Adoption

Although Lance and I have not finalized an adoption at this point in our journey, we have been through various steps. As I ask people to pray for us, I often wonder if it would be helpful if they knew what to pray for in general. So, here is a list (of sorts) of what to pray for when a friend or family member is going through the adoption process-based on our current experiences.

The child-

* Pray for their health (mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional)

* Pray the court system will take into account their needs

* Pray for the lawyers who are involved in the decision making process

* Pray for the workers (if the child is in foster care) as they also make decisions for the child

The biological family (natural family)- 

* Pray for the biological mother and/or father who is either giving up their rights or having them terminated (TPR)

* Pray for other biological family members who have a significant part of the child's life (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.)

* Pray the biological family will seek what is best for the child

The adopting family-

* Pray for the adopting mother and father who are opening their hearts and homes to someone they have never met

* Pray for the other family members of the adopting mother and father as they open their family to a new member

* Pray for the adopting mother and father as they are completing the home study process (this can be nerve racking, as they are laying all their personal information out there for someone to sift through)



Overall, pray that both families will continue to seek God's will for the child throughout the entire process. Remember adoption doesn't happen over night, and sometimes there are "speed-bumps" and "yield signs" throughout the process. Pray the families will persevere through it all. 

Just a few thoughts...


Becka

Some verses I have bookmarked on adoption,

 please feel free to share if you have some to add to the list!

James 1:27

Psalm 68:5-6

Matthew 18:5

Exodus 2:10

Esther 2:7

Ephesians 1:5

Psalm 27:10

Jeremiah 1:5

Psalm 113:9

1 Sam 2:1

Exodus 13:17-18

John 14:18