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Sunday, October 12, 2008

a plea

I've written this blog about 18 times.

I keep rewriting it and rewriting it because I don't want to sound pushy or like I know what is best for everyone in the whole world.

So I'll just write in plain facts and I'll encourage you to pray about it.

We forget a lot of times what it is we are doing here at New Beginnings and why it is important. On Saturday night we went to the Adoption Ministry Banquet and I was astounded at the way God revived my heart for our cause.

Some statistics:
- there are 143 million orphans worldwide
- there are 2 billion people who profess to be believers
- if 7 percent of the believers in this world adopted one child, there would be no orphans

My sister used to say, "orphans and widows are where it's at."
The speaker at the banquet said, "we have to get behind the issues that God has always been behind".
James 1:27 says, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

For us - we've always had an open door policy about babies and God is teaching us more and more daily that while children are a blessing, he longs for us to be intentional about family and when to build it. So a year or so ago, I may have gone to the banquet and said, "we have to adopt NOW" but I know it's not that season for us. And it might not be that season for you, either. I think the key is to really ask the Lord what role we are suppose to play in the lives of orphans and widows. Are we supposed to take one in, ready ourselves for that task, donate to those who are helping them, commit to pray for organizations that are taking care of them?

The stories were astounding that we heard on Saturday night. Some that I've gotten to see unfold myself - some that I couldn't even believe. Women, worldwide, leaving babies on doorsteps, drowning their babies because they couldn't care for them. It was really insane and it just reminded me - orphans and widows really are where it's at.

9 comments:

jasonbradley said...

A-MEN.

Annie said...

Thanks Jess. This is a good reminder to pray at the very least.

christy said...

You don't sound pushy Jessi. Just honest and loving. your blog is so inspiring.

unveiled said...

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES (whew i am out of breath). hey, push away. don't worry about pushing. we're all LAZY and self absorbed when it comes to listening to the God of all comfort who comforts those in distress, like the orphans. so push away. YES!!

kellybollman said...

thanks Jess. Truth should be pushy, or at least sharper than a two-edged sword. Thanks for highlighting it. Keep on. I don't want to forget.

Leigh said...

I was about to leave this big huge long comment because you know my feelings on adoptions. But I will just say this, I love you and I love your heart.

Amy said...

What saddens me most is that the majority of these children are teenagers who have been in this "system" for most of their lives or in bad homes. Lots of people want babies and these teenages in need of so much love are forgotten. I'm too young and unexperienced to take in a teenager but one day I'd really like to.

Kara said...

Amen. I can't wait to adopt.

Candice of 'The Beautiful Mess' said...

daniel and i will adopt. for sure. probably a few years from now...but it's always been my desire!