So, here's my heart...

 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. 
-James 1:27

After recently reading a post on bringlove.in entitled I needed a reminder today, then reading the quote below in Levi Benkert's book No Greater Love, the Holy Spirit started dealing with me about writing this entry. May the Holy Spirit speak to you whatever He wills as you read it.

"...as I held the babies and watched them play, I also knew I could never go back to America and pretend that I hadn't seen their faces. Something broke inside me. Something changed deep down as I wandered around that tiny, dirty compound in the deep south Ethiopia, holding those precious children, and allowing thoughts of their futures and destinies to take over." 

Did you know that there are over 147 million orphans in this world we live in? That there are six million children in need of a family in Ethiopia alone? These aren't just numbers on a page. They represent people...lives. I've seen many of their faces. The sweet faces of little boys barefoot and begging for food will forever be burned into my mind. The beautiful faces of baby girls, not much older (if any older) than our seven year old daughter Avery, now care givers with their baby brother or sister in a sling on their backs while they are digging  through trash to try to find food for them both.

So, here's my heart:

  I am not in any way saying that everyone on the planet is called to adopt. I have no idea what His plan is for your life, and would never presume that it should mirror mine. There are people who carry out James 1:27 by being the hands and feet of Jesus through: foster care,  serving in orphanages, home bound programs, gathering supplies for orphanages, sponsorship programs like Compassion, Adoption Ministry 1:27, or World vision, nursing home ministry, and many other avenues. There are also people who feel led to sow into the adoptions of families, that they know or may have never even met, financially (THANK YOU Jesus for those that used their resources to help us bring our girls home!).

What is your part to play? In what ways does He want to use you to carry this out? This is a command we find in scripture so we can be sure that He is calling us all to DO SOMETHING.

This is not a post to make anyone feel guilt or shame. That is not the intent of my heart.  If you feel guilt or shame it is not from me, and it sure isn't of God. He is NOT an accuser, He is a gentleman. So don't let the enemy beat you down.

That being said, the conviction of the Holy Spirit is very real, and I have a question for you. Have you asked the Lord if it's His will for your family to adopt? I mean to get still, and quiet, and really seek His heart on the matter as it pertains to you personally. I can assure you that He will impress it on your heart in a way that you cannot miss! If you feel His leading to adopt, but your spouse is not on the same page please DO NOT beg them to comply, or try to guilt them into it. Be honest about what you're feeling , then commit to pray for His will to be revealed to them. Just ask Nick about this (please ask Nick about this) if you have any doubts.

Also, we would be happy to pray with you, and for you, and answer any questions about the process if you are seriously considering it. We are so very thankful for families like the Lemanskis, Nystrands, and the Soutters that were willing to talk with us, pray for us, and answer our questions (from the other side of the United States regardless of the fact that we were complete strangers:).  So feel free to email us at wearethetins@gmail.com .


Lastly, do not spend time thinking about all the reasons you could not adopt. Open your heart to the possibility ,and trust that if it's His will He will make it happen. He is MORE than able! That is not a statement, it's our testimony. He is MORE than able.

Our sweet angels July 4th :)