"Why adoption?"

This past week we met with a pastor who asked us, "Why adoption?"  and today at church during commissioning of a team going to Africa...a different pastor asked "Why? Why Africa?"  It wasn't directed to us specifically but it made me really really think.  I can sit and say all day we are adopting a child to complete our family.  I can sit and talk about all the things that need to be done to make this happen.  And I can advertise each and every one of our fundraisers.  But none of those things actually tells "Why",  why we chose to head in the direction we are headed.  So during the commissioning prayer today I broke down in tears.  I'm not sure I ever explained why to the people we are asking to pray and to support us on this journey. 

We could give a whole list of reasons.  

1) we love kids

2) we want a large family

3) these are the kids that need the extra love

4) we want to make a difference in the life of a child

5)...  

The list could go on and on. 

But the one reason that has led us to this journey and to our "Why?" is the calling from God.  

I'm not real good with expressing myself through biblical verses so I will try my best. 

In Ephesians 1, Paul writes, "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.  Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.  God decided in advance to ADOPT US into HIS OWN FAMILY by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.  This is what he wanted to do and it gave him great pleasure.  SO we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.  He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins." 

Nick and I don't deserve salvation.  We are sinners!!  But because God chose to ADOPT us long before we were ever born we will get to experience eternal life and are righteous of God's grace. 

At one point in our lives God chose to create and knit Miranda in my womb as a gift to Nicholas and I.   As Ephesians also states, "Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan."  Miranda, and our 3 children following that too did not make it into this earthly world, are what we believe as gifts from God that we will get to enjoy in Heaven some day.  We truely feel God saying to us, My plan for you is to father the fatherless.  I need 'your' children here right now.  And you need to take care of my children there."   Over the past three years being convicted by this we learned that the word "fatherless" is used 41 times in the Bible, most frequently in the Old Testament.  Our hearts have turned to those less fortunate.  And currently our family's biggest hearts desire is to give back to God (our tithes) for his gifts to us as parents. 

Deuteronomy 14: 28-29 At the end of every third year, bring the entire tithe of that year's harvest and store it in the nearest town.  Give it to the Levites, who will receive no allotment of land among you, was well as to the foreigners living among you, the orphans and the widows in your towns, so they can eat and be satisfied.  Then the Lord will bless you in all your work." 

We break these verses down as our calling to care for those living in poverty or without families.  In this verse God tells His people to tithe every third year for those that are helpless, hungry or poor.  I feel He has chosen us to give the responsibilty to care for His children whom are less fortunate.  God has given us the ability to love children other than our own, He has given us the heart for the children of the world.  And we truly believe He asks us, CALLS US, to go beyond our regular giving and on this third year after He chose to take Miranda home to be with him,  to tithe everything we have to give to His children living in poverty! 
So if that makes any sense at all...that is our "WHY?"  "WHY ADOPTION?"  And "Why Us?"