What God Is Saying To The Church?

I see them.  Across the isle.  At church. Three now. Their little one.  The mom in a flowered shirt.

And I count their faithfulness, as “one”.

There.  The best friend of our past twelve-year-old foster daughter, I run into.  We talk.  I learn.  About my heart-daughter whose now with another family.

Lawyers.  Older.  Adopting.  That’s “two”.

I give praise for this family!

I go to pick them up from Sunday School.  Our adopted daughter and her biological little brother.  We are watching for the weekend.

Heart-son we brought home from NICU.  And loved on, for his first two years.

The family he now has, has eight.  Adopting five.  Being faithful to the call of God, all the while, trusting Him to provide.  God always coming through.  That’s “three”.

Sunday School teacher tells me how this little one is such a blessing.  Always raising his hand.  Always answers the same thing with his chubby cheeks, his dimple drawing people too him continually,

“Because God is our King.” 

Even if His answer doesn’t make sense.  He always answers the same way….”Because God is our King.”

Hhmm.  This message resonates.  From a four-year-old.  No, four and a half year old.

It starts me asking…

“Who have I been listening lately?  The world, or the heart of God, through the mouths of babes continually speaking?”  

Smiles creep from ear to ear.  To think of where this little one almost went.  And how God jumped in and intervened.

Yes, blessing “three”, for sure!

Later, that same day, we go to a birthday party.  She walks in.  The little girl, with blonde curly tails.  It wasn’t long ago, we were worried about her. Her mom had taken her.

The reality?  Addiction distorts even the most capable people.  Making them do, things they are not proud of.

And I see Great-Grandparents lovingly holding, this little one.  And how, even at seventy.  Family steps in.  Willingly.  Taking care of those needing.  That’s “four”.

Then, I get home.  Same day.  A friend messages me.  “Thank you for adopting from foster-care in America.”  That’s “five”.

She sends the message to many others, also calling children from foster, their sons and daughters.  Like God called us and welcomes us willingly into His family!

Her story.  A remarkable work of redemption.  One in her family tree.  But, also, this blessed friend’s heart, turned around, adopting also.  Her heart is so big.  So full.  So abundantly a blessing, to so many.  “Six”.

And I read a link sent to me.  Family, after family.  Adopting.  One after the other.  “Seven”.  “Eight”.  “Nine”. “Ten”…..

There are stories after stories of how adopting isn’t easy.  But it was the Spirit that took precedence over the flesh.

And I think about the prayer with a friend.  Just hours before all this started happening….

“God, give us confirmation.  Lord, show us the way.  Lord, what would you have for us.  We want to clearly follow your ways.”

And I bow my head, at the truth how….

Sometimes I have not always seen….Foster parenting as God’s work.

Sometimes I have got drawn into the lie, that we must live for “self”.  That we must balance carefully the world view, along with this awesome calling that strips us from all glory, power, wealth….

But, that is not true.

So, I humble myself.  Closing my eyes to see God’s work as useful, sacred, eternal work.  Laying down, the pride of my faulty thinking….

That I should do…greater things….better things….things much more worthy of worldly respect.

And in writing, I start remembering….

Being a little girl.  Lining up dolls in cribs all over my room.  And calling it, an orphanage.

I remember….

Telling my mom, “Our house is so big, we have a lot of room.  Why don’t you become foster parents?”

But, our God-planted dream can never be transferred, given, imposed on someone not hearing that call upon their lives.

And I realize….

This 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10…..  And more lessons, all within a few hours….is God speaking.

Yes, He speaks.  Sometimes, in one way.  Sometime,s in another.

It’s not whether He whispers…..but whether we will hear him….that is the answer.

So I sit here.  Concluding this writing.  To wrap myself in the holiness of the moment.

Praying, “God, give us ears to hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the church!”

We want to be faithful.  Useful.  Christians.  Not sucked into the lie that says….

It’s all about me.