Saturday, July 3, 2010

What's stopping you?

Sometimes we get it all wrong and don't even realize it.

Sometimes we waste a whole lot of time trying to do the right thing- when the right thing is right in front of our eyes- and we miss it.

Many times we shuffle into church on Sundays. We sit in our pew and recite the words that had been neatly typed on the bulletin. We nod our heads at the appropriate times and sing the words to the hymn without really letting them touch our hearts. We frequently check our watches, anxious to get to lunch where we drop more there than we did into the offering. When the sermon is over we shake hands, greet those around us, load up our bibles, carry them home, and not bring them out until the next Sunday.

Then, we go on with our lives as if nothing had changed in our time with the Lord- because it really hadn't.

While singing Christian music is a good thing, while wearing a cross around your neck and boldly on your t-shirt is nice, while being involved in church related projects is wonderful and while having a WWJD sticker on the back of your vehicle might make people stop and think- those things amount to nothing- if we stop there.

So often we are guilty of going through the Christian motions. So often we know the words to scripture, we can retell the stories of the bible- but we don't truly let the cross change us.

"I can't stand your religious meetings. I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making.I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music. When was the last time you sang to me? Do you know what I want? I want justice—oceans of it. I want fairness—rivers of it. That's what I want. That's all I want. " Amos 5:21-24

Today there are 147 million orphans waiting.



Waiting to be loved.


Waiting to be cherished.


Waiting to belong.


Waiting to matter


to us...


as much as they do to God.

We are His hands and feet. We are His plan to help the oppressed and afflicted.


There is no plan B.


We are it...


and I dare say, with 147 million of them- we are failing in a miserable way.

So what is stopping you?

...Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve. Proverbs 24:12

Want to learn more about God's heart for the orphan? Reserve your spot at the T4A conference on October 2nd and 3rd at http://www.togetherforadoption.org/

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26 comments:

Tiffany said...

Powerful, powerful stuff. Thanks for blogging boldly. I have pored over your blog that past two days and have been so encouraged to keep going in our own journey.

Unknown said...

Amen, Amy!!

Have you picked up David Platt's Radical yet?

Know that you'll enjoy it!

Christie

Intentional Living Homestead said...

Cannot believe these words written...wow, incredible. Posting myself the cry's, and now this. What is God SPEAKING to this heart and soul of mine? The clouds how they hang full of answers that seem not to burst forth. Wait. How can one wait?

Truly beautiful words.Bless you for sharing.

Stephanie said...

Amen! Thank you for this.

Marissa said...

Love it!

Anonymous said...

I think we need to move. We LOVE the place we are leasing now and have been here for 8+ years. However, the septic man told the property owners that the septic system cannot accomodate more people living in the house. I have offered to pay to have it cleaned out once a year...if that doesn't fly, we can't adopt anymore children and still live here.

I hate to think of moving...don't know where we could afford to go that would be big enough for our crew but can't stand the thought of being told we might have to say "no" to an orphan either.

Christina
preparedforrain.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I think we need to move. We LOVE the place we are leasing now and have been here for 8+ years. However, the septic man told the property owners that the septic system cannot accomodate more people living in the house. I have offered to pay to have it cleaned out once a year...if that doesn't fly, we can't adopt anymore children and still live here.

I hate to think of moving...don't know where we could afford to go that would be big enough for our crew but can't stand the thought of being told we might have to say "no" to an orphan either.

Christina
preparedforrain.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

LOVE IT! AMEN!

Love you - HUGS!

Happy 4th of July!

Every single one is WORTH IT!

xoxo Jill

trustandobey said...

I agree with you! Well said! I could go on and on about this topic because I get so frustrated with the Body of Christ in this arena. I just think that so many Christians are afraid of the cost of adopting, and I don't just mean financially. I do understand but I cannot excuse it. I wish the Church would live and go forward with reckless abandon when it comes to caring for orphans and widows. Too many are happy to just pray about them. Prayer is an amazing thing but if we were ALL to take that route, we would still have 147million well-prayed over ORPHANS. One hundred and forty seven million of us need to bring at least one HOME. BTW, the blessing so overshadows the cost AND God is glorified. It is a win-win!!!
Lisa

Tonya Brown said...
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Tonya Brown said...
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Tonya Brown said...

Go ahead and keep speaking the truth, girl! It hurts, but then when we repent and obey the Lord's comands his truth sets us free. God is just so good!! I wish I could be at the T4A conference this year, but I will be in Africa loving on a few hundred of the 147million that I will GLADLY claim for Christ as my own :)

Tonya Brown said...

Blogger is killing me with the posting of comments to your blog lately- I have been trying without success! I will succeed at telling you that I have read this post over and over over again. I have posted it to my fb and wish I could get on a loud speaking in church parking lots and [lovingly] say these words that you have written so perfectly. I want to add, as I drive through said church parking lots, that when you truly give your life to Christ and allow Him to change your heart and break you open; when you allow Him to ordain each step you take..... life is so wonderful and so full, and so much better than any dream we could dream or achieve for ourselves.

I am thankful for your words today. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being bold and sharing the truth!

Holly said...

Here here!
This go round we are fundraising with a purpose...to UNorphan a precious treasure in China!
I hate it if I'm being honest. I hate fundraising...but God is using it all to grow me.
It's not about ME...it's about HER.
Thanks for the words of truth...they are LIFE.
love,
Holly

Amy said...

Hey Tonya- I don't know what's up with blogger either- I got your posts and now it says I removed a comment but I haven't removed any comments from anybody. STRANGE. LOL Anyway- thanks my friend. So excited you are going to Africa. I want to go with you!!!! Go love on those precious children- I will be praying for you!

Adeye said...

FABULOUS post, friend.

Oh how I wish I could come to the conference.

LOVE your words---extremely powerful.

Angel said...

Hey girl!!! WHOA!! This was SO GOOD I was forced to steal it and post it on my blog... well... in my own words. Knew you wouldn't mind cause you are rockin awesome like that. Love you so much friend. Life would be emptier without you in it. HUGS for you! Angel

Stacy said...

I wish I could write like you!
You say everything I think and can't get it out.
Awesome.
Thank you so much.
Stacy

Debbie Doughty said...

The Lord has been speaking to my heart along similar lines, Amy. My husband and I are too old to adopt again so he must have other plans for us. I also believe that too often we seek to know his will for our lives without being all that concerned for his will for today, yet today is all we have! So I am seeking to live for him one day at a time and watch his plan for the rest of my life unfold one day at a time.

I recommend Radical, by David Platt, too. But if you only have time for one book I recommend, The Hole In Our Gospel, by Richard Stearns. (Your post could have been written by him!) He is the president of World Vision. I loved learning how God is using him there ~ despite his initial reluctance (that's an understatement) to accept the position. It gives me hope that God can use little ol'me in BIG ways too.

Kendra said...

I truly thought adoption was an unreachable goal for our family--everything always has way too much to do with money. So I thought that either my husband would never give in to the idea or it wouldn't be possible due to fiances. Well, I'm happy to announce that we are in the process of bringing the most precious little girl home from Ethiopia in the next several months and we couldn't be happier. Faith has lead us through this journey--God has truly blessed our hearts, and minds, and souls....and peace has overwhelmed us. It truly IS possible--when God closes a door, He always opens a window. :0)

Kendra

Kristin Ferguson said...

I noticed someone else mentioned the book "Radical" that I'm also reading. It goes along with some of what you wrote here in this excellent post! We just got back from our first adoption (Ukraine--little sweetie pie with Down syndrome) and I know God is moving in our hearts to do this again. Thanks for encouraging and exhorting the Body of Christ through posts like this one.


Your new family photo is gorgeous! What an amazing family!!!

Kristin

Rebekah said...

I agree with Stacy's quote above. You have just said everything that I think, but can't get out as eloquently as you did in this post. AMEN!!!

Rebekah said...

BTW, you have an absolutely beautiful family! Praise the LORD!

Gretchen said...

I am standing up and applauding for the vessel that God allows you to be....

and

Today, at 8:04 am I said, I DO KNOW and I DO HEAR and I DO SEE and I WILL DO SOMETHING!!!!

Please stop by my blog and meet, as of this morning, my new SON! IAN is an orphan in Russia with Down Syndrome. He is a bi-racial child in Russia, so as the adoption coordinator put it so plainly - he will not be adopted - not without me.

God, what a blessing has been bestowed upon me. Your work, your love, your spirit...it all will help to keep this single mommy with a 3 year old with Autism and a new 3 year old with DS on the way - going.

Thank you SO SO much for letting him work through you, for them.

mpmi said...

Thanks for sharing your family with us. I am always looking for sites like this to join as I am always looking for people who make a difference.

"Are These Kids All Yours?" said...

VERY WELL SAID! :) AMEN!