The Blind Side

A Child's Worth

The Lord has been talking with me and leading me through a concept. This may be basic and elementary for most of you. But I will share it anyway.

Think through a hypothetical situation with me: There is a child in the foster care system who is expected to become adoptable (parental rights will be severed) in the "near" future. Will we take this child?

As I thought through all the questions that would need to be answered, I felt God drop a question right into the middle that stopped all my swirling thoughts. Is the child worth it?

I had to physically stop what I was doing and just roll that question around in my head for a minute. I realized all the other questions that has been buzzing through were all very selfish questions~ how much would our life be inconvenienced? How many court visits would be required? How many times would we have to deal with visits? Would we have to deal with emotional upheavals that would probably come with each visit? How much would we have to "undo" or "re-teach" with this child? Again, I felt this very urgent question, "AM I WORTH IT???"

Now I understand that every family has to answer the question for each adoption question, "Can we realistically take on this situation?" But let's face it. Most of the time, the issues come down to the question, "Is this child worth the sacrifice, etc.?"

Then, I could hear His lesson for taking me through this hypothetical excercise. Every child in every adoption situation needs to hear loud and clear, "YOU ARE WORTH IT." No matter what they have been told and what has been demonstrated to them in the past, they need to hear from their adoptive family that every bit of the adoption journey to them has been well worth it because they are special and loved by God. THEY HAVE VALUE AND ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR. They can never hear grumbling or complaining about costs, time expended, or inconveniences. They will notice any sigh or bad attitude regarding what it is taking from me to fight for them. And that will communicate the world to them. How much "worth" are you willing to assign a child that is looking for a family to love them unconditionally?

Amazing Video

20 years since the Berlin Wall Fall

The Wall: A Generation Later from Jim Southard on Vimeo.

Dear Friends,
As many of you know, today marks 20 years since the Berlin Wall began to be dismantled. Certainly every major international news outlet will commemorate this moment in history. However, you and I know that what happened was orchestrated by God, Himself, in response to years of worldwide prayer.

As you look back, let me suggest a video our team produced in the Spring:

http://www.vimeo.com/6950001

"The Wall: A Generation Later" is a glimpse of some of the things God was doing in our campus ministry before, during and after the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. Feel free to disseminate this link to whomever you would like to think about Eastern Europe and Russia.

We are grateful for God’s wonderful plan which has opened doors for ministry we didn’t think possible 20 years ago! Let’s keep believing Him for great things.

Warmly,
Grant & Deb Olson
Media(dot)Comm
Serving Movements with Media, Communication, & Technology
Campus Crusade for Christ - Eastern Europe & Russia
Vonage: (812) 333-3010
Mobile: +36-30-680-8167
Skype: grantaolson

Orphan Sunday Wake Up Call

Good morning, All,

As an update, there have been several situations since the last post where we have been notified of women looking to find homes for their unborn babies. We have not been selected for any of them.

Yesterday was Orphan Sunday. At first, I felt angry because I was thinking, "God! We are a family trying to adopt and care for the orphans, and You haven't brought/allowed any into our home!"

Our pastor has been going through the book of Ephesians. Orphan Sunday landed on the day when we arrived at Ephesians 6:17-20: Take the helmet of Salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Pastor Daniel spoke on the absolute necessity for prayer in a Christian's life- passionate prayers. Not the "As I lay me down to sleep..." prayers. He also talked about the spiritual warfare we are engaged in. You can hear his sermon here: http://www.bethanycommunitychurch.org/resources/
I highly recommend taking a few minutes to listen. It was a powerful sermon.

As I sat there listening (and enjoying a friend's precious newborn baby), God started asking me questions. "Charisa, when was the last time you prayed passionately for yourself? When was the last time you came to me like the precious widow pleading for your child?" On it went as I had to honestly admit that my answers were falling far short. He led me to see that in my frustration, I had taken an attitude that basically said, "I'm done being emotionally invested in this. I give up on this being a "team endeavor." You are obviously going to do whatever your plan is, regardless of my desires. So, I'll be off doing my own thing over here and whenever you decide to actually engage in bringing us a child, you know where to find me."

Horrible. Yes, God is sovereign. Yes, He knows what is best and my desires probably fall far short of what He has in mind. Does that give me a pass to disconnect? No. And He showed me that I was becoming an angry person on my own apart from Him. "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." So, I am ending this to go spend some more time in prayer. Will you join me?

Orphan Sunday

In honor of orphan Sunday, please view the following video:

Disappointment

There was a mother induced this past Wednesday who had expressed interest in finding a family for her child. We were told we were the only family that stepped forward. To make a long story short, we knew the odds of sharing in this blessing was very low, but I was hoping. It is now Sunday, the required 72 hour wait has been and gone, and there was no call. Your will, Lord. I ask for Your will for our family. And I pray a special blessing on that precious life. Please be with that mother. Amen.