Wait No More

Have you ever considered adoption? Maybe not seriously...but, just the idea or the talk of it peeks your interest?

What about foster parenting? Have you ever been passionately opposed to it because, well, you could never do it, but you think it's a wonderful ministry?

Maybe you're in the midst of adoption or foster parenting.

Maybe your desire is to do it...one day...but you're just waiting on "the right time".

If any of these sound like you, and frankly, even if they don't, I strongly recommend the book by Kelly & John Rosati called Wait No More. This book is an honest writing of this family's adoption journey as they welcomed four children into their family through the foster care system.

You'll witness how God called them. "There was no way we could see what we were seeing-precious faces, voices, and lives of real kids in desperate  need-and go back to our comfortable life unchanged."

You'll discover how they nearly gave up. "We told the Lord "We don't want to, but we will"...We had lots of questions for God, and for a while, we were rather adamant that we'd never-I mean never ever-be foster parents again."

You'll discover how God not only gave them a passion for a people, but changed them in other ways...like their pride. "As I think of those early days, I just shake my head at our arrogance and thank God for His patience."

You'll see God how God gave them not only a heart for these children, but a heart for their birth parents. Hear how they forgave, prayed for, and even encouraged these birth parents to do better.

You'll hear how God's church, through family, friends, and their individual church family gave them the emotional and practical help they needed during this time.

You'll learn how they failed and triumphed as they followed God's call on their lives. "We fought hard to trust God."

And, while you'll be given the hard truths to this call, you'll see God throughout the pages. "Our social worker said with a shaky voice full of emotion, "your prayers have been answered."

Then, you'll be convicted to respond. "The church really needs to do something. We can't just claim to be followers of Jesus and do nothing!"

You'll realize Focus on the Family's passion on adoption and their Wait No More adoption initiative.

"If every Christian family in the United States would simply commit to pray and ask God if He wants to use them to bless a child without a family, well, we'd change the world. If we can get the church to think about adoption not in terms of the desires of adults but in terms of the needs of children, I think we'd see on a much grander scale how God sets the lonely in families."

See, maybe you're being called. Maybe not. "Although not everyone is called to adopt, everyone is called to do something on behalf of orphans. And one critically important thing we need the church to do is support the adoptive families in their congregations."

Will you pick up this book?

Will you pray about what God's leading you to do with this information...with this call...with these people?

And now, for the gifts God's given me this week...
a date night on the couch after the littles have gone to bed
lots of cheesy goodness in the making
family sitting around a table
remembering His strength is enough for this time
watching "the" game with the hubs...until half-time
shopping with a friend and a sister, all in one
no line at check out...store after store
enjoying coffee & bible reading this morning with one of my best friends, my mom
rocking and praying over children
their excitement over bubble bath
smiles behind Santa Clause beards of bubbles