the birth of a star in our hearts?

Anyone who's read much here will know that I'm a grateful reader of Ann Voskamp.  Her post yesterday is just too good to leave unmentioned here.  Just too good, too beautiful, too full of eternity and forever glory...

If you feel at all stirred by the excerpt below- and I hope we all are- please read the whole magnificent thing over at Ann's blog.  

"They say that 77% of practicing Christians believe Christians have a responsibility to adopt, but only 5% of Christians have adopted — and I get why it’s tempting to think you shouldn’t adopt and someone else should and I get the choking fears and I get the questions that won’t stop haunting and I get that supporting adoption doesn’t mean that we’re all called to adopt because caring for orphans looks different for each of us, but it has to look like something —  and I never stop getting over how Jesus left the 99 for the 1 and the whole focus of our Father is fighting for orphans, making them sons and daughters.

God searched for you, found you, fought for you, signed the papers with His blood and He adopted you and brought you Home –and the only way any of us get into the family of God is through the most painful adoption.

If real belief cares for the orphans — can one be a believer and not be caring for at least one orphan in some small way? 

Adoption is all of the broken’s story.

We’re all sort of a different kind of the same kind of broken. "

breathe deeply

Until recently, I've appreciated far too little the connection and unity God created in us:  body, soul and spirit entwined.  This infant new year has presented me with several ideas that I hope to gather into a whole (which I'll try to do here) to help myself recognize the whole package for what it is:  an extraordinary gift.

I've thought before about our bodies being the temple of the Holy Spirit and, generally, how we want to be healthy to serve and honor the Lord.  But it is a new perspective for me to consider actually employing my body- movements and breathing (and senses, though I've pondered this before)- to deepen my attention to and awareness of the Lord's presence and promises to me.  

A simple pilates routine has become a great help to get me going in the mornings lately... so grateful for no impact, slow movements to stretch and strengthen me.  And since hearing from one fitnessy friend this weekend, I'm committed to paying more attention to breathing through my morning time.   Breathe deeply and control my body to move as slow as that internal pacekeeper.   Ann Voskamp's post came to mind too... (funny, I read this years ago and then she reposted it exactly today)  how the Hebrew name for God, YHWH, basically sounds like a breath.

(Side note:  I feel no loyalty or obligation to use the traditional names for the postrues and movements that are commonly used in yoga or pilates.  I'm renaming them:  'the down dog' becomes 'humble yourself', the 'sun salutation' could be 'lift up your eyes', etc.)

Soaking these early moments and exercises in Scripture highlights the sin I need to confess, the fears I need to release, the idolatry I need to turn from....  Exhale.  And Scripture guides me too to see the truth, the peace, the reality of His Presence that I want to receive as gift.... Inhale.    I'm not interested in a new-age spirituality of rootless "peace" and aimless "hope".  Every moment and movement is to be anchored in the Way, in the Word.  Every breath, every prayer is "from Him and through Him and to Him".

Haven't I wished a thousand times that I could lessen some physical effects (hormones, tiredness, the slugishness from grey pollution or a dull winter day) on my spiritual appetite?  Oh for fullness of the Spirit, the character of Christ in me, as I walk through my daily duties!  Oh how I need more fans to stoke the weary flickering flame of my heart!  Why not use my body in my pursuit of intimate abiding in the Vine?   Why not do all that I can to stimulate physical impulses to sharpen me towards my Chief End?

And too...  Breathing and praying as defense, a means to combat the attacks of panic and anxiety.  This dear friend of mine just shared her sweet story of this.

John Jefferson Davis has written an intriguing guidebook for Christians hungering for more than just an academic faith,  and he very much involves the body in his pursuit of communion with God through meditating on Scripture.  These selections below are from the first half of his book, which is more about "communion" than about employing the body towards that goal.... but this foundational stuff is just so good, I must share!

"In modern settings where church ministry is often conceived of in largely institutional and administrative terms (programs, committees and ministerial functions), theology ceases to be a "holy wisdom" and a disposition of the soul, and it becomes systematic theology, a set of courses in a seminary curriculum  specialized, technical knowledge for the minster that may or may not have deep connections with the minister's own spiritual formation.  For over seven hundred years it would seem, theology and "spirituality" have been going their separate ways, with academic theologians paying scant attention to the life of the soul, and those concerned with the life of the soul and personal devotion finding little sustenance from academic theology.  This present essay is a modest attempt to bring these two critical elements in the life of the church closer together, so that robust biblical theology nurtures spiritual practice, and spiritual practices are informed by a sound an robust theology." (p 29)

Davis points to the "remarkable fact in the New Testament, that because the Spirit has been poured out,  and because the age to come has dawned, believers no longer just go to a temple, but themselves have become a temple where God feels personally at home and lives in intimate contact with his people." (39)

And then he moves to the theme of adoption, for which he quotes J.I. Packer:  "Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption."  Davis continues,  "The forensic language of the courtroom, of being pardoned by the judge, is perfected and completed with the familial language of the home:  the forgiving judge in the courtroom adopts us as his own and welcomes us joyfully to a happy home (Luke 15:20-25, the Father's welcome to the prodigal son.)"

He continues:  "Both the images of temple and adoption, then, point to a new intimacy and closeness to God inaugurated by the advent of the Spirit.  We can approach God - and mediate on the Scriptures - not as those who are distant from God, but as those who are closer to God than Moses was in the tabernacle.  We are now not only servants of God, but as our dear Abba-Father's beloved sons and daughters we are really close to God, spiritually and emotionally, and can share the embrace of the Son in the very bosom of the Father."  (p 40-41)

These early chapters are arousing my appetite for this kind of intimate communion with God through meditating on his Word.  The juicy practicals are still ahead for me (the second half of the book) and I'm ready for these "cooking lessons";  I'm longingly anticipating the feast of His presence in His word.

In her poem "Breath," Luci Shaw writes:

When, in the cavern darkness, the child
first opened his mouth (even before
his eyes widdened to see the supple world
his lungs had breathed into being),
could he have known that breathing
trumps seeing?

(p 38, What the Light was Like) 

I don't know if breathing truly trumps seeing (though her poetry is mighty).  But I do know that a scripturally rooted prayer cycle of Release (confession, surrender) and Receive (His promises, His presence) must be purifying for the lungs and for the soul.

And I know this, and I want it:  "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."




(I hope to share more soon as I finish this sweet book!)

Praise be to the God who saves!

On the speed train heading home liquid joy keeps slowly spilling over.  I’m so amazed, absolutely awestruck at the grace of God this day...

Just last week we confirmed that these dear friends had their “Gotcha Day” set and that I would get to be there to help with their littlest guy, precious Luke, and take pics of the welcome.  After more than two years (right, Ks?) of dreaming and waiting and praying for an adoption to go through for their family, they would finally bring home their new boy.  I’m stunned that I got to be there...with these friends and another friend family we love.  Only a Sovereign Father could arrange for friends to meet, to welcome their new sons in the same city on the same day.  

The S Family adopted their sweet boy David seven months ago.  Just before his adoption was complete, they learned about David’s foster brother, a little boy just ten months older than him, who would comfort David when he was sad or afraid; a little boy with only one eye.  These two were a tight pair but then David was adopted.  Jeff & Rebecca certainly wouldn’t have guessed it earlier, but the Father had it planned from the beginning that they would bring home that foster brother too... Isaac and David would become forever brothers and would get a little brother and big sister along with a mom and dad who love them crazy much and crazy fun with the unspeakable love of God.

This Morning.  This joy hasn’t stopped pouring down my face and I’m afraid I’ll be a mess over this for days....

It really couldn’t have been sweeter.   There were seven families at the Civil Affairs office all waiting to meet their kids and the children slowly trickled in in taxis from orphanages around the province.   There were lots of anxious parents: crying moms, eager videoing dads.  (How very happy I was to take a few cameras for those dads to get in the videos with their new kids.)  

Isaac arrived and was chased around with cookies and a lollipop by new siblings and happy parents.  He’s a spunky one for sure and theres a bit of sibling angst to be praying for with that sweet tightly-knit crew (21 months between their four from oldest and youngest).  

And then all of the sudden, there was John Paul.  He spent the first 45 minutes or so in his daddy’s arms.  There was lots of paper signing, some cracker crunching, and picture viewing (pics of his two big sisters and one big brother who are waiting at home to shower him with love.)  

And then mama couldn’t wait any longer.... with just a few seconds of sorrow for the loss of that papa hold, John Paul began his first long mama snuggle.

John Paul is a handsome, sturdy-built 19 month old with a cleft lip (that’s been repaired) and cleft palette.  In all the stir in that room and on the bus ride back to the hotel, I don’t think he made a single peep.   But when I got back bringing lunch for our crew, this little guy was playing and communicating and soon, eating like a hungry, silly, little sweetheart.  

I admit.  I’m absolutely in love with John Paul!  Struck through with love and joy over this sweet boy.  I was hoping to stare at pictures of him all the way back to my town, but my camera battery just gave out.  So...  I’m writing my joy.

Oh such joy!  

Welcome John Paul!  Welcome Isaac!  

Congratulations dear friends!

Praise! Endless Praise to the God who loves orphans  

Praise be to the Father of the Fatherless, Defender of the Needy, Helper of the Weak, Savior of all who trust in Him

You have done marvelous things yet again in our lives! ... in these precious little lives

Praise be to our Great God!

More tears hit my lap and I raise my hands, fearless of the business travelers around me, emboldened by the majesty and splendor of the love of our God.  And tonight already I'm home in central China for late dinner with my love and my little loves, for kisses all around, and yet more joy in the retelling of all this...

Money is Dirt : Giving Radically

Eric Metaxas tells the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer traveling with his students on a short trip and then- to their surprise- buying their return train tickets for them.  One of the students protested modestly, offering to repay the teacher for his ticket.  Bonhoeffer told him simply, "Money is dirt."

Who says that? 

Only a man who lives gloriously freed from the snare,  a man who doesn't love it.  (And that's a crucial mark for a man of God because if down deep he’s (or... I’m) really clammering for the stuff.... if the stuff of the world is really my heart's aim, well then, it’s been said plainly enough:  I'm an enemy of God.)

But really, dirt?  Money is Dirt?   Of course it's about that precious where we live all well fed, air conditioned, pampered, and fashionable.  And I love Dietrich Bonhoeffer and I light up with joy at these words of his.  But this freeing truth isn’t all, always true.  The problem is that most of the world needs that dirt for food and water and a roof and education and medical attention just to live.  

Once again sweet Ann has posted some outstanding exhortation on giving and living radically.  Here are the points that speak the clearest, loudest to me... (my notes in parentheses) 

1. Pray.

This is doing something — the first thing.

Prayer isn’t a substitute for action — prayer is the source of action. Pick a country to pray for, a person, a people group — make it a habit of your day to wear compassion and justice and prayer.

2. Make it your goal to tithe 10% (And what a joy to get to give 20%, 30%, even more of our income as He enables?!)  

The Average American? Gives 3.2% of their income. And if every committed Christian in America tithed 10% from whatever their income is — we’d give $85 billion dollars a year. And the United Nations states the world only needs $30 billion dollars a year to end world hunger.

3. Give Wisely (I’ve adjusted some of the links from Ann’s original post)

When giving, Tim Keller says, the most effective way to make to give, to support is:

Straight Relief = immediate aid  (put food on a plate of a hungry child, give medical care, give water to a neighborhood whose been death beaten simply by dirty water) 

Societal Development= micro enterprise loans, educational and  infrastructure development.

Soul Reform = evangelism and discipleship. 

“There is no better way for Christians to lay a foundation for evangelism than doing justice,” write Keller. “On paper we may ask, ‘Should Christians do evangelism or social justice?’ But in real life, these things go together,” offers Keller.

I can't help but add one more point too....  4.  Buy Less (much less).   Such joy and freedom to not have to hunt for stuff, pour money out on it, maintain it, clean it, organize it, store it, repair it, resell it....   So few things are actually needful in the first place!   It has been such a glad, freeing gift for me to not have any place to go shopping in the town we live in.  I have so much time without wasting it there and more money to give.  Yes, I hope to be something of a Proverbs 31 woman who provides well for my family's needs, but... needs.  We don't need every pretty thing.   Buying less makes rare buys (wants) all the more special and gratefully enjoyed.  We've found this little tip to be all around gladness.  

Let's give, friends!  Invest in eternal joy!

We've got a great group of links that we love, organizations that we delight to give to or groups that our friends work with or have commended to us.   I can't post the list of links here but I can email it to you if you're interested or you can find it on my first pinboard.    Please take a look.... such beautiful org.s to give to!  Such joy to be had in giving to His glory!

There are several groups that are quite sensitive to mention but this is one group we can shout out.  

Abba Fund   is just one of many agencies that give grants to families to help cover the costs of adopting a new baby into their family.  We recently had the joy of meeting this family as they came to our town to bring their new baby girl into their family.  I don't know if they received grants, and if they did- I don't know which ones, but they did say that the cost of their adoption was largely supplemented with donations.

What an Awesome Joy to see....  No more orphanage for you, Mattie Grace.  You have a hope and future.  You are forever loved and you will grow up knowing it, hearing it, seeing it... the Gospel of Jesus.  We are so sooo glad for you, darling girl!

And ohhhh.... for the millions more orphans waiting.  What is the heart of God for them but that his people love and care for these little ones!?  Oh move us to action for Your name, Jesus, and for these little ones!