Counting the Cost

Lately, I've been opening myself and my home up more and more. I am saying "yes" to God more. And that is an awesome thing. I love the thrill I get when I follow hard after God. I really love it.

However, I must admit that following hard after God does have a cost. It can mean less sleep, going against family member's wishes, being afraid, having less money, less free time.

It is so important be spending time with Jesus, letting him fill our soul, while preparing to do His work. Only then can we have the right motivations and our good works come are an outflow of His love, rather than things done in our own limited strength. When we spend time with Jesus, we will find the courage to endure those things we count as the cost of following Him. Only then will cost not feel so painful, but an opportunity to share in the suffering of Christ.

25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14: 25-27

An Ordinary Radical's Life

My Bible study group is reading a hugely challenging book by Francis Chan called "Crazy Love". I think all of us in the group are feeling challenged by the question "what does God require of us?". Should we all give away all of our possessions? Should all of us pick up and move to a third world country? Live on the streets and minister to street people? What?

The truth is that some of us are called to that kind of living. God may be calling us to that kind of life and we should start today. Others will be doing those things in 5 years or 10 years.

But for today, this very day, we need to ask God how we can love, serve and obey Him now. It is our actions, lived out daily, that transform us into the women that God intends us to be. Sometimes the most radical thing you can do is not move out of the country, but choose to love that difficult person in your life. Pray instead of watch tv. Give away that one thing you want to keep.

It is in these small actions that God will reveal the amazing plan He has for your life. Some days we are called to step out in faith and do a huge scary thing for God that requires all of our courage, but most days, it is the small acts of love that are our contribution to the kingdom God.

A Big, Big Love

Just the other day Sitota said to me, "Mommy, you are my best, best friend and I love you so so much, even bigger than God!". Wow. How completely theologically incorrect, but how completely sweet and wonderful to hear. And to think I would have missed this if we ignored God's call to adopt. To think that Sitota would have no mother to love and no mother to love her, if we didn't obey.

All Worked Up

Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed at all there is to do in the world.  My heart has been broken in a thousand different ways.  Lately I have been trying to find some focus- this verse from The Message helped me today.

"Take your everyday, ordinary life- your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking around life- and place it before God as an offering... readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it."                                                                                                                                                                                  Romans 12-1-2

You Can Do It, Too!

A friend shared with me recently that I seemed so confident throughout our adoption process. This comment really surprised me! There were many nights during our adoption process that I was scared, thought about giving up, felt completely overwhelmed and even regretted our decision to adopt.

But here is what kept me going... I was completely committed to obey God no matter what. It really didn't matter how scared I felt. Did I believe God was with me on this, or not? I fully believe God loves adoption and created adoption from the beginning of time. He certainly has a heart for the widow and orphan! I wanted to join God in this special work, this "visible gospel" as John Piper calls adoption.

Did God see our family as a perfect family who could handle an international adoption? Was this a task our family was uniquely suited for? Nope. This was one of those experiences in life that I found myself needing to rely on God's mercy, wisdom and strength to complete.

I share this because some of you might feel that adoption is somehow out of your league. It is not! If you have God, He is all you need. You just need to follow Him.