Do you still have some last minutes gifts you need to purchase? Consider giving a gift that will help give a child a family! We are currently selling fair trade coffee and t-shirts to raise funds for our next adoption. You can click on the links to the right and you will be brought to our store front pages for coffee or t-shirts. Merry Christmas!

The Taylor family Christmas letter will be posted on Saturday!!!

I loved reading this post from Together for Adoption this morning. . .

What Orphans Need

When Christians are unsure of their Father’s delight in them, real Christian joy is absent and passionate Christian living is lacking. It is almost impossible (if not entirely impossible) to mobilize Christians who doubt that they are objects of God’s affection to care for orphans over the long haul, or at least to mobilize Christians who will serve orphans with unflappable confidence and joy.

When Jesus was about to go public with the mission of God, his Father declared over him, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). As Scripture makes clear, Jesus had been sent to fulfill the Father’s mission to redeem humanity and renew creation—which includes, by the way, the removal of the word “orphan” from the human vocabulary. The Gospel writers tell us that God’s Son went forward with the mission of his Father in the strength and knowledge of his Father’s delight (Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22).

Dr. C.F.W. Walther, a pastor who lived in the 1800’s, wrote: “Every Christian may apply to himself the declaration of God: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” As God’s children, not only do we have the privilege of participating in His mission to redeem and renew creation, we also do so in the strength and knowledge of our Father’s delight.

What orphans need are churches that are full of people who wake up each morning hearing these amazing words declared over them. “You are my beloved child, in whom I am well pleased. Yes, you were once without hope and without God in this world, but I have brought you near, embraced you, by the blood of Jesus. Live in my love as you move out in mission.”

If you are a Christian, God declares these amazing words over you. He doesn’t speak them over you because you have earned them. You could never do enough to earn these words of love. God speaks these words over you because of who Jesus is for you.

As I’ve already mentioned, when God the Father spoke these words over His Son (Matthew 3:17), it was the day that Jesus launched his public messianic ministry. As our Messiah, Jesus was the faithful Son who always did the will of his Father. Never once did he disobey or disappoint Him. All of his living, from his birth in the manger to his death on the cross, was perfect in thought, word, deed, and motive. His missional life was perfectly lived, and he lived it as our Messiah. This means, among many other things, that the words that were spoken over him on that wonderful day are also spoken over us today.

Living as Christians in mission—in other words, being the church—involves learning to live each day knowing that God the Father delights in us even as He delights in Jesus. Those who learn to live in the reality of God’s loving pleasure will find that circumstances no longer control them. They find that they are able to deal with the difficulties of a missional life with confidence and humility. To be adopted by God is to enter into a family relationship where all of God’s children are treated even as He treats His Beloved Son. If we are confident that we are being loved by God like this, we will not only desire to love others like we are loved, we will also be empowered to do so.

Imagine the impact that churches would have upon the global orphan crisis if they were filled with people who moved forward in mission in the strength and knowledge of their Father’s delight. Just imagine.

What orphans need are communities of missional Christians (churches) who live in the joy of their Father’s delight.

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My favorite highlights:

“ Live in my love as you move out in mission.”  I like how Dan Cruver moves us to not just “live in the love” ourselves but allow this transforming love of God and delight to “move out in mission!”  This is what orphans need.  They need the church that not only “lives in the love” in their comfy multi-million dollar churches, but as Christ transforms them allow that tranformation to extend in missional living.

“To be adopted by God is to enter into a family relationship where all of God’s children are treated even as He treats His Beloved Son. If we are confident that we are being loved by God like this, we will not only desire to love others like we are loved, we will also be empowered to do so.”  The empowerment that comes when we recognizes the love and delight of God in his children (us as true believers) allows us to live in a sacrificial way with GREAT JOY as we realize that even the forgotten orphan and widow are partakers in God’s delight  and love and that as our brothers and sisters we need not push them out of sight and out of mind, but embrace them whole-heartedly!

Are you the type of Christian the orphan needs?

Today I missed him.  Worship was phenomenal with prophecy and a spontaneous song.  The preaching of the word convicted me of an area of sin and gave me hope for change.  I was reminded of God’s faithfulness as the service closed with the baptism of 6 believers.  And then walking out to my car, children in tow, I missed Jesus.  Jesus visited our church and not only did I miss him, I was embarrassed of him and dismissed him.

As I was walking to the car a lady approached me in the parking lot of our church (which happens to be in one of the top 5 wealthiest counties in the USA) she had written on a piece of paper – Mother of 7 children, need money for rent.  Please help.  God Bless you.  She didn’t speak much English.  As soon as I saw her sign I got uncomfortable, I hastened my step and mumbled, no I’m sorry I can’t help you as I pulled my daughter behind me.  My daughter wanted to know what was happening and I mumbled “she wanted us to give her money.”  I felt a twinge of regret and a thought of hey maybe you should go back there and see if you can help her, but my schedule and plans didn’t have time for that.

Matthew 25:44-45  Then they also will answer, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?  Then he will answer them, saying, “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”

How far I fall short!!!  My heart is grieved.  I weep for the orphan, I attempt to ease my conscience by bringing a delivery of groceries to a local food pantry and yet miss Jesus right in front of me.  I’m thankful for the conviction of my sin and can’t help but wonder, “How many people met Jesus at my church today?  And how many people (like me) turned him away?  Did that lady find any of the help she was looking for?  In a church of all places?”  I can only pray that someone else showed her the love of Christ in a very real and tangible way, and repent of my pride and arrogance and seek to change and honor God by caring for the least of these.   Oh God forgive me and change my heart!

This video is well worth the minute it takes to watch.

Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

We have some really exciting news to share. . . We are preparing to adopt again!  While we must wait until January (1 year home with our kiddos) to officially begin again with our agency we are starting to fund raise now.  We have an excellent opportunity for you to get some Christmas shopping done while helping us raise some of the money we need to cover our adoption expenses.  We have partnered with Just Love Coffee to sell bags of coffee.  For EVERY bag we sell they will send us $5!!!  You can sign up on our site for a once or twice a month shipment, or just purchase one bag.  They also have travel mugs and t-shirts to purchase.  Our coffee website is

http://justlovecoffee.com/taylorfamilyadoption

Please feel free to pass our link around to everyone you know!  And we’ll be sure to keep you updated as things progress with round two in the Taylor Family Adoption Journey!  God Bless!

What a blessing!  Our family was featured on the reflections blog over at Lifesong for Orphans today.  You can visit the site here: http://lifesong.squarespace.com/

  Lifesong is an incredible ministry which provides matching grants to families in the process of adopting.  It was Lifesong’s generous grant and the donations of those that matched it that provided for close to $10,000.00 we needed to bring our children home. 

If you are burdened for the orphans in our world today, this is an incredible, honest, ministry that provides funds for families to jump the hurdles of finances on their way to adoption.  If you’re unable to personally adopt I’d encourage you to answer God’s call to care for the orphans by donating to this wonderful ministry or helping a family you know of that is in the process of adoption. 

Thank you Lifesong!

Sorry you have to click on the link because I can’t get the video to upload here. 

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/3T4JObgVp7151qla

While there is much to share and numerous funny anedotes to tell of our families recent activities, I needed to post this today: (Found this at www.adoptsc.com)

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There are 130,000 children in the U.S. foster care system eligible and waiting to be adopted (an additional 470,000 in need of temporary foster homes). Children are removed from their families due to neglect and/or physical, sexual or emotional abuse. Slightly more than half of children who go into foster care return to their birth families. When bio-parents are provided with help and they are still unable to parent safely and their children remain in foster care, the state terminates the parents’ rights. The children then become available for adoption. They wait an average of nearly 4 years to be adopted, with – one out of every five, waiting  just over 5 years.

Thus, many children languish for years in the foster care system frequently relocated, not belonging to anyone – feeling unloved, isolated, unwanted, undeserving – afraid to reach out to anyone, to trust, to believe in or to plan a future. 

Each year, 38,000 of these children “age out” of the system when they reach their eighteenth birthday.  Without financial or emotional support from anyone, many of these young adults struggle to belong and gain a place in society, to become productive citizens of our communities.

Of all youth aging out of the foster care system, national statistics indicate:

• 56% are unemployed and face poverty within two to four years,
• They represent 70% of all homeless youth,
• They constitute 88% of incarcerated youth and young adults,
• 40% receive welfare within two to four years,
• 40% do not graduate from high school, and
• 60% of the teenage girls will have a baby within two years.

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Do you know there are an estimated 3o0,000 Protestant churches in America?  If 1/3 of all churches raised up just ONE family to adopt a child out of the foster care system it would clear out those currently available.  And can you imagine the difference that would make in those statistics????

I know that one reason our family initially rejected the idea of foster adoptions was the idea that “these kids have too many problems” and “our parenting would be so limited and controlled by social workers.” 

I’m beginning to ask myself the questions, ” so whose “problem” is it? (are we using this word to replace “child”)    And am I really saying that “I think it would be better for these children to languish in foster care, because I don’t like someone else telling me how to parent.”  and finally “Do I not believe the gospel is powerful enough to overcome the trauma that these children have experienced?”

That last question has hit home the hardest recently.  If I honestly believe that Jesus’ death on the cross can make a sinner whole then why wouldn’t I apply that to the life of a child traumatized by sin. 

Fikadu has almost daily pointed us to Christ by saying, ” God is powerful.  He can do it!”  Whenever something comes up whether its his school work, or he sees me visibly frustrated he’ll say this and usually add in, “God is kind, He’ll help you/me.”  This simple reminder and the words of a Matt Redman song have been rolling around in my head.  Here are the words:

Your blood speaks a better word

 Than all the empty claims

 I’ve heard upon this earth

 Speaks righteousness for me

 And stands in my defense

 Jesus it’s Your blood

What can wash away our sins

What can make us whole again

Nothing but the blood

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

What can wash us pure as snow

Welcomed as the friends of God

Nothing but Your blood

Nothing but Your blood King Jesus

Your cross testifies in grace

Tells of the Father’s heart

To make a way for us

Now boldly we approach

Not earthly confidence

It’s only by Your blood

What can wash away our sins

What can make us whole again

Nothing but the blood

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

What can wash us pure as snow

Welcomed as the friends of God

Nothing but Your blood

Nothing but Your blood King Jesus

We had such a great time at play group this morning, and its fun to watch F and T actually playing and using English with other kiddos.  Here’s Fikadu with his new buddy Isaiah wearing matching backwards Baseball caps!  Watch out world!