Grafted In Together

  Psalm 37:23     The steps of a man are established by the  Lord ,      when he delights in his way; The very footprints of God’s children are ordered; they are both directed and established by the Author of Life.   And here is the best news: he not only delights in this journey with us, but He also desires to bless it!   What a promise to hold onto when rough waters arise. I can walk forward in confidence today because I know my Abba Father , and I know his heart.    He is trustworthy and FOR me in the waiting and uncertainty of tomorrow. He walks before me in this adoption journey and goes ahead of me in the unknown territory ahead. Jamie Grace sings a song titled: “ You Lead, I Follow ” and her upbeat words are edifying.  Her chorus repeats, " You lead , I’ll follow; Your hands hold my tomorrow.   So lead me on  …"   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esfjyr59qYo A friend recently shared that a de...

    Most days I find myself praying out loud, “ Lord, lead me to the mother and child you have for us.  Please connect us with the baby you desire us to raise. ”  This is my heart’s desire and my earnest cry.  And while it’s good and beautiful, it’s not everything the Lord desires for me in this waiting journey.   Today I was reminded to press in deeper to the One that holds our family in his hands and sees the rocky road ahead.  I was prompted to sit quietly in God’s presence and reflect on a simple passage full of promises:   Psalm 61:1-2   “Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.  From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the ROCK that is higher than I.”   This Psalm of David highlights assurance and shelter for those who trust in their Protector.   The result of abiding in the solid Rock is preservation and praise; unmoving peace for the anxious heart.   L ife grow...

  “ We sing JOY, we sing JOY, we sing JOY!  Hallelujah!”   This is Cloverton’s creative verse added to the classic Christmas song we all know: Joy to the World .   His bold voice inspires me to belt out beautiful praise to our Creator not just this time of year but all year long.   Why?   We have a Rescuer and Redeemer in Christ Jesus who came once as a humble babe in manger, and who we anticipate coming again for us soon.   The birth pangs of this earth are in full motion and there is need for a joyful melody to ring across our land. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fpSzC2zOLc   As a parent looking to adopt I can honestly say, “We sing JOY!” this Christmas season even in the patience and unknown. We see the gift of our son Trace and we rejoice in his health and life even if he is our only child on earth.  We rejoice in the fact our two beautiful daughters are safe and secure in heaven with Jesus while the world is crumbling.  We si...

Marcus and I have been blessed with a healthy son on earth and two beautiful girls in heaven. We long to parent another precious child and nurture him or her the way Mordecai did in the Old Testament book of Esther.  Come remember this courageous story with me! I open these pages  with my third grade class and each time I’m intrigued with the picture of adoption God highlights.   A heart for  children to be welcomed into a loving home is clearly displayed.   How do we know?  Cousin Mordecai  adopted  his relative, an orphan girl named Hadassah, also known as  Esther.  This beautiful name Esther means ‘star ’ it and foreshadows the radiance with which a young, God-fearing Jew will shine in a troubled palace and across the land of Susa.  When I picture Esther, I imagine her exuding light and brilliance into the room because of the beautiful work within her.   Cousin Mordecai had compassion on the child, welcomed her into his home...

Our Moses basket is ready and we wait with hope! The decision to release a child to adoptive parents is one that takes incredible fortitude and strength from above.  We continue to pray for birth parents and wait in FAITH for a little one handpicked by the Lord.    Look back with me at one of the earliest stories of open adoption … a true account from Exodus 2 in the Bible where we see a set of Hebrew parents from the house of Levi.  They gave birth to a son (later to be named Moses) during a time of difficult oppression – a season of bitter slavery in Egypt.  We first meet Amram, the birth father, and then Jochebed, the birth mother.  They were two parents who longed to see the Lord fulfill a good plan for their baby.  This mom had no doubt her son was “a fine child”, so “hid him for three months” against the Pharaoh’s evil decree (verse 2).  Jochebed knew her infant’s life was in significant danger, but trusted her Heavenly Father and wisely f...

Nativity shell sculpture by: Susan Markham     So of all the adoption stories that exist, perhaps the most spectacular one is the story of God’s own son, Jesus, coming to earth.   I rarely stop to consider the special family Jesus was grafted into – a family composed of a virgin mother and adopted dad.    Matthew 1:18 explains Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, so Joseph had no direct biological connection to his baby boy.     Mary was chosen by the Lord to carry the son of God and biologically tied to him.   Joseph was handpicked to partner with Mary in raising this little one as his own son.   Together they formed an open adoptive family with the Lord God as the true birth father. Joseph had been instructed to name the baby Yeshua (Jesus) meaning “the Lord saves” because he would save his people from their sins.   I love that Joseph had an encounter with the Lord and was moved to take action and obey immediately.   He recei...

    Photo by Kirsten Hunter Rose, 2021 Who would have guessed that a forgotten man like Mephibosheph would be invited in to dine at a king’s table?   And not just any king … I’m speaking of King David, the one appointed to rule over all of ancient Israel.     Mephibosheth’s story is a redemptive picture of adoption if you ask me.   It’s a hopeful story found in 2 Samuel Chapter 9 that is often overlooked.   Like all of us, Mephibosheph had a history.  He was connected to the royal family of King Saul.  He was the grandson of Saul and the son of Jonathan.  Yet he had suffered insurmountable loss as a child and grew up virtually alone.  What surprises me is that Mephibosheph was adopted by David not as a baby or young child, but closer to the age of an adolescent or young man.  Artists vary in their portrayal of him, but whether 14 or 34 years of age, Mephibosheph was living without his parents in a foster-type home ...