Wait Listed!

January 27, 2011
    We received word today that we are officially on the waiting list! We are so excited that the Dossier is complete and is on its way to Ethiopia as we type.  Although it has taken a lot longer than we anticipated, we are trusting in God's perfect timing.  What a blessing to be this far in the process! 
    So what now?  As for now, we wait for a referral for a child. Though there are many children in desperate need of loving homes, we may wait as long as a year or more. 

"And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we are saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." Romans 8:23-25

Christians, (I use this description of believers in Christ cautiously. Followers of Christ were first called "Christians" in Antioch and were given this title because of their Christ like nature. Could the same be said of "Christians" today?) Christians wait eagerly for Christ's return, or we should rather. We, along with all creation look forward to Christ's return. Don't believe me? Don't you long for a world free from things like cancer? Who doesn't want to be rid of things like that. Don't we long for retirement? Whether we realize it or not, we naturally long for heaven, and for Christ's return, even if on the surface we say we are longing for other things.  He has already legally adopted us by his blood on the cross. Now we are on the waiting list for our final adoption, when our father will come and take us home. A life free from suffering here on earth. As Betsy and I wait for our referral and we approach verses like this, we are reminded of how little this adoption is about us. Adoption is yet again a perfect picture of what God has done for us. God has called us to this process for one reason. His praise, glory and adoration. He wants people to see how much he loves them and longs for them to commit their lives to following him. He wants them to know that they have been adopted, if only they will set aside their desires and short term pleasures, and fully surrender to the lordship of Christ, they would eternally be rewarded with salvation from hell and life everlasting in heaven. You should consider accepting God's willingness to adopt you into his family.

Sure, God has called us to adopt for many other reasons as well. We asked him to grow us in our faith, to give us wisdom, to pour out his Spirit on us. He is daily answering those prayers and using this process as a means and a catalyst of doing so. Praise be to God! He has given us a heart for those in dire physical need of food and shelter. He is making us to be "Christlike", through his word and through the Spirit of God which he continues to pour on us. Though he has done these things, he continues to make it starkly clear that as humans our greatest need is Jesus, not temporary freedom from hunger or pain, but eternal freedom in Christ!

Join with us as we pray for our son/daughter and their birthparents/guardians. Pray that they would come to know the eternal freedom and salvation in Christ that we speak of.