National Adoption Awareness Month 2015

It seems they have a day or month to honor, remember or bring awareness to everything now days. There are so many, that I often don't even know about them all.  There is one, that I do know about and I always try to write about and that is National Adoption Awareness Month. (November) To read my past posts on it, you can read them here (My 2013 in depth post with resources) and  here (My 2014 post).

I write about it because it is dear to my heart and because so many people don't know about the huge number of children that need families or the many ways one can help these children.  So many children will never know the love of family and that is so sad and unnecessary in the world we live in today.  Many of them overseas live in orphanages and once they reach a certain age, the door closes to them forever, to ever be adopted.  The age is usually around age 14, sometimes much younger.  Its even harder for children with special needs to find a family. 

There is one fact from the Bible about this topic and that is, that we are all supposed to take care of the orphans. (Psalms 68: 5-6) (James 1:27) That does not mean that we are all called to adopt an orphan but we are all called to care for them on a personal level.  The truth is, that no matter what you are called to do to care for one, it will make a huge difference for that child.  Please take the time to sit and pray about what your roll is supposed to be in caring for the orphans of this world.  Prayer changes things in big ways.  You might be called to pray for an orphan, by having God lead you to an orphans photo on line, printing their picture out and putting it on your fridge.  Every time you see that child's picture, stop and say a prayer for their forever family to find them.  You might be called to donate towards the adoption of a child or to help fund someone elses adoption.  You might be called to minister to a family that you know locally, that has already adopted, by mentoring one of their children, babysitting, buying school supplies, bringing a meal once in a while or simply asking if they have a need.  All of these suggestions are being Christs hands and feet to an orphan, help in big ways and will mean the world to a child.

If you think about it, we were all orphans before God adopted us and made us new creatures in Christ Jesus.  It made all the world of difference for us and changed our lives forever, by the sacrifice that was made for us.  Yes, sacrifice.  Adoption and serving God is a sacrifice.  Giving our whole life back to Jesus because He gave His whole life for us.

If you read through the Bible, God did not call people to do logical things.  Most of them felt under qualified and hesitant.  Many questioned if this was really what He wanted them to do. Many were not treated well or made fun of, for doing what God called them to do.  Many of the things He called them to do were hard and changed their lives forever but they were in Gods will and were blessed for it.  Moses felt under qualified to lead the children of Israel to the promised land.  He could have lived a life of luxury in Egypt but he gave up his life for God and in the Bible, he is called a friend of God.  I want to be Gods friend.  I want to always be in His will and be doing His work because I love Him and am grateful that He provided a way for me to be saved.  He usually calls us to do things that we know we can't do, because then we know we did not do them in and of ourselves but through His hand and power.  All the glory to God!

If you are interested in praying for a child that needs a family, here are a few websites.

Children needing homes in America.  Search for children by state under the Meet The Children tab (AdoptUSKids).

Children with special needs needing homes in other countries.  You can also donate to their adoptions on this site, so someone might be able to adopt them because some of the expense has been paid already. Search under Waiting Children tab. (Reece;s Rainbow)

International children needing homes.  I am not affiliated with them in any way or have ever used them to adopt but they do have a photo listing if you make a password. 

If you are interested in helping those that are in process of adopting and are fund raising, here are a few families I know of, that are in the process of it all.

The Musser Family at The Blessing of Verity blog.  A precious family used by God to bless so many. 

Thomas and Kats adoption fundraising for Timothy here at Everlasting Momentum.   Serving the Lord thru adoption.

Linny Saunders at the blog called A Place Called Simplicity. Adoption of JonWesley. You can contact her here.

If you are interested in reading about families, that follow Gods leading by adopting, you can go to any of these blogs and pray for their precious families.  There are many more on the internet.

The Road Down Home

No Greater Joy Mom

Theres No Place Like Home 

May the Lord God in Heaven make His plans for your life clear to you.  May He lead and guide you to serve Him in all you do.  May He pour out His abundant blessings upon you as you live and grow in Him.

Joshua 24:15  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

Blessings,

susan