Thursday, July 19, 2012

Feeling small...

Today I was feeling small.  Some days are like that.  I let my eyes linger on the "concern of the day" and, suddenly, it became so... BIG.  Thankfully, I serve a BIG God.  He knows my heart.  He knows my every need.  He knows me better than I know myself.  And just when I was feeling so small He sent my 7 year old grandson with news of a change jar.  He had started it off with all the change he had.  Why?  Because "we need to get those kids home!"  So, right now, I will choose to keep my attention focused on God.  I will choose to keep my ear tuned to His voice.

Whether you turn to the right, or to the left, 
your ears will hear a voice behind you saying
"This is the way, walk in it."
Isaiah 30:21


Now, I have some BIG news!  We would like to introduce...


Elaina Maelle (honoring 3 precious women in our lives)

and 


Ethan James (just because we like it!)

We'd also like to announce our first BIG fundraiser!  We are going to "Bunco our Blessings out of Bulgaria" on July 31st!  For information on this evening of fun, food, fellowship and PRIZES you can go here.  Check it out!  There's even a way to participate (and have a chance to win!) if you can't actually be at the event :)



 







Saturday, July 7, 2012

Called....

So, here I am... blogging our adoption.  That's right, WE are adopting.  Us!  Fifty-somethings, with 5 children at home and 2 out on their own, children ranging in age from 3 to 30.  What are they thinking!?  Did that thought at least cross your mind?  I have to admit, it was the first question that popped into my mind when God whispered the information in my ear.  "Are you kidding?  Really, God?"  But over and over, through sermons and prayers and scriptures, through blog posts and conversations, He said, "Yes, this is what I'm calling you to do."

Until we started on this path of international adoption I never realized just how often (at least 41 times!) the Bible calls us to take care of widows and orphans in their distress and to stand up for the needy and the oppressed.    That really struck me- it's not a matter of waiting for God's call.  He's already called.  Our job is to ask "Where?"

Now, adoption is nothing new to us.  We have adopted once internationally and 5 times domestically.  But, when my eyes were opened to the daily lives of special needs orphans around the world they were opened wide!   Children as young as 4, transferred to adult mental institutions, because of their developmental disabilities.  Children, grown to adults, and still crammed into cribs, their limbs twisted and frozen over time.  143,000,000 orphans around the world.  I was called to pray.  I became a Prayer Warrior through Reece's Rainbow  for 3 of those orphans.  I have committed to pray daily until they each have a family.  As I prayed for them God broke my heart for others.  In that brokenness, He began to whisper...

Dan and I talked and I found out that God was working on his heart also.  We were led to one tiny 9 year old girl, living in what some call "the bad place", an orphanage in Eastern Europe.   God kept up that whispering and we have also committed to one of her roommates, a little boy, aged 11.

I will try to keep you up to date on our journey.  Currently, we are in the Home Study phase.  We would love your prayers- that paperwork would be expedited and that everything will roll smoothly along.   International adoption is a long process.  We are anticipating 7-10 months before the children will be home.  It is also expensive.   We began the process with about half the funds needed, knowing that we would have several months of saving and fundraising time.   You can  follow us along the way at http://reecesrainbow.org/?s=robbins   Right now, we are on "New Commitments" but you will be able to see us move from there to "Already Home"!

This first post is entitled "Called..."  God's word calls those who believe to do something. What does that look like in your life?

"Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee."