Steven Curtis Chapman on Orphans

FRANKLIN, Tennessee (CNN) -- According to UNICEF, there are 143 million children in the world who have lost one or both parents.In America alone, there are half a million children in foster care, and approximately 120,000 of these children are waiting to be adopted. In many countries, children are too often orphaned or abandoned because of poverty, disabilities and disease; every 15 seconds, a child loses a parent because of AIDS. These are staggering facts that can seem overwhelming and discouraging, but I believe that God has a loving plan for each child, and that plan is you and me.Caring for these children is not the job of governments or institutions; instead, it is the job of families, people and communities. As Christians, our compassion is simply a response to the love that God has already shown us. Mother Teresa would constantly remind those who worked with her that the Bible clearly teaches that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Jesus. So in a very real sense, caring for orphans is a chance to meet the person of Jesus in "the guise of human suffering." This is an invitation from the heart of God to know him and to experience his love.Nine years ago, my wife and my eldest daughter, Emily, traveled to Haiti on a mission trip. Having been exposed to extreme poverty for the first time, Emily returned home with a determined passion to make a difference in the lives of at-risk children.Only 12 years old, Emily went on an all-out campaign to persuade us to adopt. She bought a book on international adoption with her Christmas money and would read it to us regularly. She began fervently praying and writing letters to Mary Beth and me, encouraging us to consider giving a waiting child a home. Emily knew God was leading us in the direction of adoption; however, Mary Beth and I were not yet convinced.My wife and I had always supported the idea of adoption, and as Christians, we understood the importance of loving and caring for others. But what I had not yet grasped was that adoption is a physical picture of what Jesus has done for me. I did nothing to deserve God's love; in fact, I was living as an orphan, without hope. Yet God chose to pursue a relationship with me, and through the death of his son Jesus, I was adopted into God's family.My wife and I began moving toward adoption with fear and trembling and asking all the questions people ask. I remember Mary Beth crying herself to sleep at night saying, "What are we doing? I can't do this." However, God kept reassuring us that this was the direction he was leading us. It was a huge journey of faith for us.In May of 2000, we found ourselves in a hotel room in China's Hunan province, welcoming the newest member of our family, Shaohannah Hope. From that moment, we began our journey into the world of adoption, orphan care and Shaohannah's Hope.We went on to adopt Stevey Joy and Maria. Recently, our youngest daughter, Maria, passed from life on this earth and is now safely in the arms of Jesus. We have been completely overwhelmed by the love and support of so many during this time of deep, deep sadness. Through all that we've experienced, one thing we still know is true: God's heart is for the orphan.In our travels to Latin America, Africa and Asia, we have visited many different orphanages. If you look past the surroundings and into the eyes of the children, they all have the same look. They seem to convey, "I don't think this is what I was made for. Where do I belong?"These children are crying out for the hope of a family, for the hope of community, for the hope of a permanent love. Our mission, and the mission of our adoption charity, Shaohannah's Hope, is to show hope to these children and to mobilize people, families and communities to be living examples of God's love for them.We started Shaohannah's Hope in order to connect willing families with waiting children, but the reality is that there are many orphans who cannot be adopted. Even though we may not be able to bring them into our homes, we still have the opportunity to show them the hope we have.If only 7 percent of the 2 billion Christians in the world would care for a single orphan in distress, there would effectively be no more orphans. If everybody would be willing to simply do something to care for one of these precious treasures, I think we would be amazed by just how much we could change the world.We can each do something, whether it is donating, adopting, fostering, mentoring, visiting orphans or supporting families that have taken in orphans. You can change the world for an orphan.

Stealing Another Post from Pastor Matti

He Knows What He is Doing
Whenever man tries to do the work of God he gets tired
and frustrated. God’s work is beyond man’s abilities.
His work of creation was unique.
Man cannot hang even one little star up in the firmament.
His work of salvation cannot be repeated.
Man cannot do it. He only can try to copy it.
Isn’t that obvious? The world is full of bad copies of
the work of God, all kinds of salvation packages with
man’s price tags in them.
In Luke 10 the disciples get to taste a little of the power of God.
They see people being healed, demons cast out and souls set free.
Most probably ordinary people admired them.
They became supermen overnight.
They were successful and happy.
Jesus saw this new experience deceiving them and decided to
teach them two important principles.
Don’t rejoice in that what you can do, but in that what God
has done and in how He has done it.
Look at the work of God.
It will last forever. All other copies will be disqualified one day.
We are not the Creator. We are the creation.
We are not the Savior. We are the saved.
Let’s put our shoulders back and believe in that what God is doing.
“This is the work of God that you believe in Him
whom He sent.” John 6:29

Today's the Big Day

Myriah Mae Botley will become Mrs. Timothy Andrew Sochurek sometime after 3:30 pm today. We just finished the flowers. I should say Myriah, Grace and Annie finished the flowers. I did a lot yesterday but haven't done any today. We are getting ready to get our nails done and then off to Northport for the big ceremony.

Congrats Rye and Tim!

Isaiah 57:1-2

Isaiah 57:1,2
The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.

I will Praise You in the Storm - Casting Crowns

I was sure by now
God you would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as You mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will life my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Nearing the End of the Marathon

My working marathon will end on Thursday. It's been so busy and nine days straight. Today started at 7:30 am with a few hours break and then working until 8:40 pm. Dave worked straight through without any break. Tons and tons of laundry. It's funny how tired the small business owners in Camden get this time of year. We all have to make hay while the sun shines or shall we say - while the tourists are here. We are so happy when they finally come, but this time of year the Maine winters actually become appealing.

I do have two days off this week. I will be helping my cousin get ready for her big day. I have been helping some already but I'll be helping her decorate tomorrow when I get out of work. Thursday we'll be doing some more of that and then Friday we'll be doing the flowers. I can't believe she's getting married. It's so surreal.

Last night my mom, grandmother, aunt, cousin, other cousin's girlfriend and I went to see Mama Mia. The movie was better than I expected but too soon to see something that involves any emotion. We all left the theater in a big bawlfest.