God Loves a Cheerful Giver - Part 4

"Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to."

- Deuteronomy 15:10

God Loves a Cheerful Giver - Part 3

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
-- Proverbs 3:27

God Loves a Cheerful Giver (part 2):

 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

- 2 Corinthians 9:7

God Loves a Cheerful Giver (part 1):

"Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver."

--American King James Version

On Giving - Part 1

2 Corinthians 9:7 

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Considering Adoption? [long post]:

Hi everyone,

So, in the past few years I have been part of the adoption community there have been several things that weighed on my heart. One of those things is this: sometimes I feel like people are to specific about what they want in a child; not wanting to disrupt birth order or the child must be a girl, or the child must be a boy, or the child must be a toddler or younger, or maybe the child must be from China, or Russia or Ethiopia -- these are the things we want in a child, instead of letting the child be what God sees.

Now I understand that some families must set parameters; there was a family last summer whom had to turn down a special little girl because she was very 'needy' and they already had seven or so other kids, many of them with special needs. All that considered, from what I understand - the little girl needed more than they could give without it being detrimental to herself or their other children if they pursued her adoption. So, I understand it is sometimes what is in best interest of the child and everyone involved. But I want you to think about that for a moment; when you close doors to adopting one child or another -- who is it in the best interest of?

And then read the following:

"This post may not be for you.

I do not know everyone this post is written for.

I do know that this post is not written for everyone who will read it.

Who is it written for?

Maybe it is only for one person?

I don’t know.

And don’t need to know.

I do know…

“I was mute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
My heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:”

This post is only for those of you who have deliberately closed the door marked “Adoption of a Child with Special Needs.” Whether at the first glimpse of this door, or after some research about what may lie through the doorway, you have closed that door.

But nobody is fighting over the “imperfect children.” Why is that?

Did you know the politically incorrect reality that in our attorney’s sixteen years of facilitating adoptions of children with special needs, God has so far sent her only Christian families? Families who treasure these little “imperfect” children as pearls of great price?

These families have rejected the value systems that push “imperfect” children out of the inner sanctum of personal life, the value systems that free people up to continue their valiant fight for the idols of personal peace and affluence.>

So.

Are you one who has closed that door?

Please, write down your list of reasons why you have decided not to take the next step. All the reasons. All the obstacles.

I ask only that you leave the word “calling” off your list, since that word can obscure a multitude of disobediences.

Then pick out a child from the Reece’s Rainbow website. May I suggest “Steven?”

Don’t let that bouncy seat fool you; he was put in there for the photo. He was placed directly back into his crib afterward.

You will find him unattended, in his bed.

Now kneel down in front of Steven’s crib, one hand holding your list, your other hand reaching in to his.

Look into his eyes, and please…

…tell him the truth.

“I could be doing something to help you, but I am choosing not to.

I don’t know whether God has closed the door, but I am closing the door.

Your life is not worth as much to me as [everything on my list].

I don’t believe that God has the power to help us overcome [everything I consider an obstacle] that stands between our family and you.”

Did you keep looking at his eyes while you spoke?

Oh.

You just thought you were looking at him.

You were mistaken.

You were looking into the eyes of the King.

“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’”

Please, kneel back down, look into the King’s eyes, and tell Him the truth."

I did not write what is in purple above. I re-posted it from this blog. The author found a way to say something that I have had a hard time saying for a very long time because I don't want to offend anyone. That's not the point of this blog.

The author is adopting a nine year old girl, who weighs somewhere around 10 or 11 pounds, I think, whom was left in a crib and suffered neglect simply because she had a special need.

Again, from my own heart now, this post may not be for all of you. I cannot and will not pretend to know the what you face and I respect that. But weigh your reasons. I will fully admit here and now; I was once one of those people -- once the only child I would have ever considered adopting would have been one from China. I couldn't see anything else. And then I found out that dream would never be realised because I did not nor would I ever meet the requirements to adopt from China, which I personally feel goes a bit overboard in what they believe a good parent to be is -- but that is a different post. So, when I learned I couldn't adopt from China I struggled to let that go. I thought of Russia after seeing videos of how the kids were starving and eating fish heads there -- and that dream to adopt from Russia or Ukraine or somewhere in E.E. settled into my heart after learning about the plight of people with special needs. Though I was still restrictive in whom I'd adopt; I decided I could not adopt a child positive with HIV -- that was where I drew the next line.

Almost immediately after making that decision I noticed a little girl before I noticed her HIV status. So I swallowed hard, and said ok, and did some reading and am happy to say that I found HIV something I could work with too. The next time I went to her page she was no longer available. But without knowing it she helped to change me again and to me the message is clear. I will leave the door open too, to special needs. And have faith that with God we will not be given what we cannot handle.

This has been a long post and for that I am sorry. I guess I am trying to say in all these words: have an open mind, and an open heart, to whatever it is God wants you to do; or whomever it is he may lead you to. And so I will sum up with what may be one of my favorite bible quotations:

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it's due when it is within the power of your hand to do so." -- Proverbs 3:27

Take care everyone,
--Debrah

THIS IS WHY:

Yes, I shouted that. THIS IS THE ANSER FOR PEOPLE WHOM ASK ME WHY NOT ADOPT KIDS IN OUR OWN COUNTRY. This is the body of a 3 year old girl whom is -- by what can only be described as a blessed Miracle -- still alive. Three years old, weighing only 11 lbs.

Her parents just adopted her from an eastern Europe country. They found this the first time they undressed their little precious daughter and the moment their plane touched down in America on March 17 they rushed this child to the hospital where it was found that her little body was already shutting down, no longer receptive of any food and she continued to loose weight. A tube had to be placed directly into her intestine to prevent stomach reflux. This little girl - Carrington - is lighting a fire across the net and in the hearts of people all over the world. I understand kids in the USA need homes and by far I am not out to deny them in fact I encourage it and may adopt from foster care myself one day. I understand that international adoption is not for everyone. But please -- do not lash out at those whom it is for and ask them why not adopt from their own country. Their hearts have been broken for a child on the other side of the world. My heart is breaking for her - and this little boy too:



This little boy is -Kirill- with the mommy and daddy whom have battled so long and hard to go across the seas to adopt him also from an eastern European orphanage. When they presented their case to the judge she told them no - that they could not adopt him because she felt that kid with Down Syndrome was better off in a mental institution.

Maybe maybe someone should slap that picture of Carringon's little body down in front of the judge and ask her flat out if she thinks that is what is better for him, because, that all I see in this -- that her choice will allow this to happen again. If she argues its just one case -- no, its not. Kids DIE of malnutrition and neglect in these institutions and orphanages over there ALL THE TIME. All the time. This is just ONE precious case that has the chance to be brought to light.

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it's due when it is within the power of your hand to do so." -- Proverbs 3:27

Someone needs to remind that judge of that Proverb too. If she is doing so she has no right to let her personal feelings on this matter interfere or I don't feel she should be allowed to have the position she has.

Please understand I write what I write because I am on FIRE about this. I do not mean any disrespect for the families involved. [The children's names are linked to support blogs if you click on them.] I hold them in my prayers and I hope you do too. Also please think of going to get one of these kids if you can, or donate to them if you can. They need you. The are all precious little Kirill's and Carringon's...

Nick Vijicic

I need to post this. I don't know why. Maybe for myself maybe for others. Loud and clear there is more than just one message in this. This is living proof of God's glory on Earth. So often I ask these same questions in this video. Oddly, it confirmed all I already felt and knew -- but sometimes we need to hear and see it again.

Thank you Nick Vujicic for being so awesome and inspiring and giving in sharing your absolute love of God.

Acts 18:9-10 :

"Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people."

The Christmas Post:

This is an entry I've had in my head for many months, just trying to figure out how to write it. Last year, I posted 'yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus,' and it wasn't enough. I might think unfortunately that it even upset some people. So maybe something else this year?


Some people see only Santa Claus at Christmas. Some don't. Did you know that Santa Claus was indeed a real person - not a myth or a lie - he was St. Nicholas. Did you know that St. Nicholas was adopted by his uncle after his parents died? Did you know he used his parents inheritance to help the poor? Did you know that beyond Christmas he is known as the Patron Saint of Children and that Patron Saints are said to have lived a life as a worthy example of how to faithfully follow Jesus Christ?

Did you know he loved God?

At Christmastime, growing up in my family, there was always a Santa Claus. And at the same time, from when we were the smallest of children, my mom and dad instilled in us the holy value of what Christmas really was all about - the birth of our savior Jesus Christ - we knew that, without a doubt. We would have [and still have] the nativity scene, every year we would perform Christmas play of the 3 Kings and the Shepherds coming to visit the baby Jesus. Every year, I got to be the angel - to the point of having the verse memorized in my head:

"Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger."

This, my family, my friends, is what Christmas is about. We grew up lovingly and knowing it with our whole hearts. And Santa Claus? Well, my mother never even had to sit down and give us the 'he isn't real' talk. Because as we grew we came to know what Santa Claus -St. Nicholas- embodied- the spirit of giving, the spirit of Christmas - to be carried all through the year; for the Glory of God.

For that reason I still believe.

There will always be a Santa Claus in my/our home. Everyone has their own Christmas Traditions and beliefs, and cherish and love them and that is wonderful. I just thought I'd take a moment to share our own. From my house to yours, peace, love and joy this Holiday Season.

Merry Christmas.

--Debrah and Family

Proverbs 3:27

"Do not withhold any good thing from those who deserve it when it is in your power to help them."

Corinthians 13:4-8:

"Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perservers. Love never fails."

Matthew 17:20

...I know I keep repeating it but there is power in faith and in prayer...

"And Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief: for truly I say to you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you."

Matthew 17:20

Acts 17:26

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live…

Proverbs 3:27:

"Do not withhold any good thing from those who deserve it when it is in your power to help them"