Yes, You Could!!

We had a great time at my aunt's 80th birthday party this past weekend and my younger 4 children got to meet lots of family for the first time!

Family Update: I know there are some people who read this blog who knew my children before I did and right now they must be thinking about how TALL they all are!! Seriously these kids have been growing at lightening speed!! They are growing tall and we are growing together!! We are working hard on our school work and still keeping a simple family schedule. We're not doing a ton of organized sports or activities. We're focused on relationships to each other and our friends. So when we're busy, it's busy being with loved ones both friend and family. We've been in the States for 14 months!! Our 4 sweeties are definitely bi-lingual!! They have not lost their Spanish and help each other (and the rest of us) with both languages. Eva, my youngest, is most often my Spanish teacher. Her patience with me is unending. Even when I am frustrated with my lack of knowledge of which form of a word to say, she is calm and keeps me on track! Fran is the king of "Spanish usage" and can explain all the different usages of each word! 

Often when I see people for the first time with my largish family, they tend to say: "I could NEVER do that." Usually the context is: "I could never have that many kids," or "I could never adopt 4 kids at once," or "I would not do that at MY age or stage of life" (as in an empty nester or someone close to an empty nest). 

And I am here to tell you: Yes you could!!! IF you were called by God...and when you are praying HIS heart (an caring for orphans is HIS HEART), why would he say "no?" Just like caring for widows and the poor and oppressed and sharing the gospel with all of these and building His Kingdom...

And with all the love in my heart let me speak some truth: MOST of us LIMIT ourselves by what we THINK we can do. Seriously, STOP IT!

"But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me." ~2 Corinthians 12:9

Another truth: There is NOTHING in me or my husband that gives us the ability to bring these 4 kids home and raise them but the POWER OF GOD!  Without HIM, we have nothing. WITH Him, the rest is "gravy". 

We did not have the abilities or the resources we needed AHEAD of time. Further, they did not magically appear the day the kids walked in the door. But God is developing those abilities in us. He is providing the resources day by day. He strengthens and matures us for the task as we continue to seek Him.

I believe we MOST glorify God when it is CLEAR to those around us that there is nothing in us to accomplish the task. Then, when we DO IT, it is also clear that it HAS to be GOD!! Then HE IS GLORIFIED!! Others are drawn to HIM and HIS KINGDOM as they WITNESS His work in US!! 

"Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful,not many of noble birth. Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one can boast in His presence.  But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord." ~1 Corinthians 1:26-30

So, I'm not gonna just smile anymore when someone says, "I could never do that!!" I am going to tell the truth, "Apart from Christ I can do nothing. With Christ, you can do it too!!" 

When you dream those ministry dreams, I hope you won't be limited by what you think YOU can do!!! I hope you think about what GOD can DO THROUGH YOU!!!

Doing what only GOD can do is aMAZING!!! Honestly, AMAZING! That step of faith feels like a CLIFF DIVE!! It's exhilarating...and exhausting...and awesome... It brings you to your knees, it makes you DESPERATE for God!! And on our knees is right where we need to be!