The Lord's Heart. . .

So, I have something to confess. John and I have a strong heart for the orphans of the world. When Benjamin was born the Lord spoke something very clear and very powerful to me: "There are babies in the world who don't have mommies and daddies. You are a mommy and he is a daddy. Make the connection." I know that doesn't sound very god-like, but I realize today that it was the beginning impartation from his heart for the heart of the abandoned. Since then much has happened, but one of the most important things has been a newly established connection with an orphanage in Shell, Ecuador. Patti Sue Arnold runs the place and is now up to 56 kids! Wow, is that an intense day. In her newsletter that we got last month, she introduced us to newborn twins that had been brought to her. The family could no longer keep them, so they brought them to the orphanage. Through several weeks and more events, we felt like the Lord was growing our hearts in love for these two. SO, we really decided to start the process. After a few calls and a lot more praying, we heard that these two had gone back home and another family member had come into the home to offer extra help and support. Despite the fact the my heart had become connected somehow, I am beginning to understand the way the Lord works. He wants us to grow in love for all those abandoned, that when the timing is exactly right we will be completely ready to obey. No questions asked, no deliberations, just ready. Until that day I continue to pray over these particular children, that the Lord would grow them in health and heart, that they would know Him from a young age and speak His truth to a lost world.
Romans 9 talks about the inheritance as sons that is due the Hebrew people because God has chosen them, and he continues to explain how we are grafted into that nation, how we become adopted sons of the Father. Oh that we would get a taste of the Spirit of Adoption, that we would better understand what it means to be a son of God-

"Theirs is the adoption as sons" Romans 9:4

"Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." Romans 8:23

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will" Ephesians 1:4-5