Total Fail Presentation

So I gave a little presentation to a foster and adopt small group tonight. The reception was quite less than enthusiastic. Most attendants either got up and left while I was talking or played on their phones. Sort of a let down. I put some good work into it and wanted to share it on here. Hopefully you will enjoy it instead!

Blessings my friends!

High Level

We are all headed toward one destination in Christ: union with God and being made perfect as Jesus is and we are heirs to the kingdom of God. And in this journey we need tenacity, we need grit and an unyielding determination. This is Philippians 3:12-17 in action in real daily life in us.

And why? Why do this? Simply because at the end is one thing: our heart’s desires fulfilled in Jesus.
Psalm 37:4,
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

In the larger story God is after something. Malachi 2:15 clears up why he puts people together in marriage,
Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring.

And to others he calls to something else, something beautiful and close to his heart, yet searing like a double edged sword at times, James 1:27,
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

We here have been called to a certain path, that of fostering and adoptive parenting. It’s incredible and beautiful and messy and painful, and it’s worth it.

How Do We Respond?

Since we’ve been called and thrown into this story of fostering and adopting, how do we respond to it?

First we commit to it. We commit to bringing our children to Christ for eternity. Which we all have. There is wisdom in this, Proverbs 16:3,

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Notice as Tim Keller brilliantly pointed out, it does not say pray and wait for God to tell you what to do and then he will establish your plans. No it says you commit your own plans to the Lord and he will establish them. God has entrusted his kids to us to love and help grow up in him. We are here to do just that and God will see them established.

But its hard! And we have to estimate the cost…it’s a big one.
Luke 14:28,

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?

We have the resources in Christ, we will pay deeply to do this, but it is the right thing to do. It is the desire of our hearts. And if we do it, they will follow Jesus when they grow up. They can and will be healed.

Proverbs 22:6,
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

When We Fail

When does this not happen? When we do not do TBRI parenting. When we lose our temper. When we struggle emotionally and feel off balance ourselves. Thankfully our God will accomplish his purpose regardless.

Proverbs 16:9,
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

God will direct our steps. No matter what to his purpose. We have to believe God’s purpose for these children is great!

Romans 8:28,
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God is working for our good, our children’s good and the good of the world through us fostering and adopting these sweet children.

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