Give Hope

The Christmas season is fast approaching. Soon department and toy stores will be full of busy shoppers with lists in hand ready to purchase special gifts for loved ones and friends, and place them neatly wrapped beneath a well decorated Christmas tree. This year will you add hope to the top of your list of gifts to give, and consider how you can give the gift of hope to those who are desperately in need?

You can give hope to thirsty communities in Africa by coming alongside Wake Up Stand Up and The Water Project and helping to fund 25 wells by the 25th of December. Your partnership will provide 15,000 people with clean, safe water- Your gift will not only change lives it will save lives! To learn more, or to make a donation click HERE

Another way to give hope is though supporting adoption. There are millions of children who will be spending this Christmas alone. There are many families who have answered the call to adopt, and they are now praying and and trusting the Lord to supply all of their needs as they wait to bring their children home. You can be a part of their journey by  making a donation that will give encouragement, provide hope, and aid in ushering two precious children home into the arms of love forever.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

It's a Gotcha Day in Romania!

My heart is full of joy and praise at the goodness of God and the miracle of adoption. Today in Romania, after a very long 2 ½ year journey, the Howerton’s largely welcomed George ‘Joey’ Joseph and Gina Grace into their family forever! Never again will these children know the pain of abandonment. Never again will they yearn for love!

Praise God that He is a father to the fatherless… He sets the lonely in families! (Psalm 68:5-6)

As I rejoice with the Howerton’s on this historic day in their family’s history, I also give thanks that God has extended the free gift of adoption to all who will receive it in faith- believing in the death and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Galatians 4:4-5

What comfort and peace are found in knowing that once we accept His gift we will never be separated from Him! He will never turn His back on us, or look the other way. His love will remain steadfast no matter how far we may stray. There will never be a place that you and I can go where He is not already there. Never will the burdens of our lives become too heavy for Him to bear. His guiding hand will lead us safely along life’s path right to the door of eternity- where we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!

There are no orphans of God!

 

There are millions more children waiting for love, and there are many families who have opened their hearts to adoption. Many are waiting on the Lord to provide the resources necessary to bring their children home. You and I have an opportunity to come alongside these children and families with our prayers and financial support. If you would like to have a hand in redeeming two more children, and ushering them into the arms of love forever click here to chip in.

Amazed by His Grace,

Melissa

PS. Here is video of the very happy Howerton children during the "Joey and Gina Party"

 If you would like, you can read the details of their exciting day here. ( This will give you a very good picture of what life is like  in Romania.)

Baron, Joyce, and Children, I am so happy for you! My thoughts and prayers are with you often. I am praying that we will meet again on your side of the ocean. God Bless You!

Showing the Father's Love

There is nothing more heartbreaking to me than the look of emptiness in eyes of an orphan child. It is a look that I have seen countless times as I have followed God to embrace the hearts of orphan children in Romania. It is a haunting look that is forever grafted into my memory. No matter how I try, I cannot escape it, and I am thankful!

Why? Because it is that look of emptiness, longing, and pain that keeps me on my knees before the Father pleading on behalf of orphans the world over. I cannot begin comprehend the pain of complete abandonment that leads to that far off look in a child’s eyes. When I realize that this pain is the central theme that runs though the life stories of more than 147 million children around the world, I cannot help but be moved.

With everything in me I wish I could rescue each of these children, and partner with God to erase the pain of abandonment from their lives forever. While there is no way for any one of us to personally provide for the needs of all of these children, God is inviting us to join His heart, and play a part in caring for orphans. Not everyone is called to adopt, but we are all called to do something to defend the cause of the fatherless.

Today in Liberia, there are two children with that far off look of longing in their eyes. God sees them, and has called them by name. God has chosen a family for them, and He is inviting us to be a part of their redemption story. Will you join me in being a small part of the miracle that will bring D and J home into the arms of love forever?.

Will you please pray for their health, and protection on their journey home? Will you pray for the dear family who is patiently waiting on the Lord to finish the good work that He began over 2 years, to bring their children home? Will you allow the Lord to lead you toward making a donation that will help to finalize their adoption? Your gift of love today will change their lives forever! They need our help. Will you answer the call?
To learn more about this story, and make a donation click here.

Only by God’s Grace,


Melissa