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RileyDad
Sagacious Scribe
Joined: 30 Jul 2003
Posts: 204
Location: The Sovreign, yet occupied, state of Mississippi
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 Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:17 pm Post subject: Looking at Children God's way |
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This is a little long and not nearly as exciting as the political/ culture war discussion we participate in on some of the other threads. But, if you don't take the time to read the whole thing, please read the article mentioned near the bottom on "Rude Adoption Questions And the Gospel". It will be a glorious reminder to any blood-bought child of the King
Back in the Spring ( April) I did some related writing on the topic of "unwanted children". We were caring for three "foster children" from a pretty rough home at the time ( not part of the god-state sponsored "foster program", just helping some relatives). The situation these kids were in/ went back to was pretty pitiful, and sadly common.
Now, we are in the early stages of seeking to adopt one or more children. We have always sought to open our arms to whatever children the Lord chose to bless us with. He has granted conception to eleven that we are aware of. Nine of these we have been prividged to raise to His glory.
After significant medical issues with the last several, my wife will not be able to have any more, so we are prayerfully hoping that God will continue to fill our quiver via other methods. Which brings me to the point of this post.
This process has reminded me of a conversation I had with a close friend in front of an abortion mill in Southaven, Mississippi 15 years ago. He said he didn't believe that God would change the culture's views on abortion until Christians changed their views on children.
This stuck with me and I have generally applied it to the quiver-limiting, anti-child mentality that even the staunchest Calvinistic and/or pro-life Christians have towards children.
http://www.lesriley.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49
| Quote: | After this conversation, I started doing a little experiment that I soon after discontinued because it was too discouraging. If you are active in pro-life work, you can try it now & probably get the same ( or worse) results.
If you talk to abortion bound Mothers at an American child-killing "clinc" on a Satuday, then go to an average, Conservative "Bible-believing". Evangelical church on Sunday and ask some of the parents ( including the pastor) there why they are limiting the size of their families and you will get frighteningly similar responses .
"I can't afford it" . . . "I want be able to do more for my other children" . . . "I'm not ready for a baby" . . . I, I , I . . . me, me, me . . . stuff, stuff, stuff . . .
This is generally true regardless of denominational or doctrinal bent . The so-called Calvininsts know that God is Sovreign in Salvation -- but often act as if He's not as Sovreign in the womb; preachers that preach faith & trusting in "God's promises" don't extend & apply this to the family; Charismatics & Penecostals search for "gifts" but don't want too many of the Lord's "rewards" ( the "fruit of the womb") . . . etc
This is not to say that there are never legitimate reasons for Christians to stop having children . . .
I know of three families who have been forced to stop having children for siginficant, life threatening situations. There are, I'm sure plenty of different reasons for not having children.
However, this should be the exception. We should look on smaller families in our churches as an oddity, not the other way around.
And I should make sure I include a warning against a sort of "how many children do you have?" legalism used to self-righteously judge our brothers and sisters
( We know a family that has two godly grown daughters -- and seven or eight miscarriages since; on the outside, people see a "normal" family, but God, who "looks at the heart" sees a family trusting Him faithfully ).
BUT, I think my friend was right -- " God will never change the culture's view about abortion until the church changes it's view of children"
We should re-double our efforts to tear down the Planned Parenthood worldview in our churches & Christian families.
May God grant us wisdom; His children discernment; Christian parents the abundant life that comes from dying to self and trusting God for our family size; and may He grant our age a great revival and reformation !
Malachi 4:6; Luke 1:17 |
I now also see that this also applies to the desperate need of orphans & the fatherless in our day & time. What an affront when it is just as likely that you will see Hollywood nutcases and other bleeding heart liberals adopting children as you do born again Christians. ( again, we might be willing to die for Christ, but we don't want to give up our stuff).
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However, in praying & studying about this issue, something even more covicting -- and glorious -- has come up . On the Carolina Hope Adoption site/ blog -- http://www.carolinahopeadoption.org/ --
they are " interviewing several theologians about the doctrine of spiritual adoption and its implications for earthly adoption. " They are doing this in the hope that " that the practice of earthly adoption will be significantly enriched as we grow in our understanding of what it means to be adopted by God"
The way I found this site is that a young, godly missionary couple from our church to Ethiopia are interviewed here ( Amber & Anthony Mathenia, about halfway down the page).
The first time she read this site, my wife, Christy, printed off an article called "The Brotherhood of Sons What Some Rude Questions About Adoption Taught Me About the Gospel of Christ " (linked below)
I have read this out loud to our family & a number of friends a three of times now & have ended up in tears every time . I would strongly encourage all my brothers & sisters in Christ to read this as a reminder of what it means for born sinners/ rebels/ strangers to be able to cry "Abba"
http://touchstonemag.com/archives/ar...id=20-04-026-f
What a glorious blessing to be adopted by our Father !
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Any way. Something to ponder.
I believe it is foundational to Restoring the Foundations & advancing the Kingdom & reputation of Christ.
Leslie Riley
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Les Riley
Sinner saved by Grace - Husband to Christy - Dad to Emily(21 ); Trey(18 ); Ellen (17 ); Jacob (15 ); Hannah (13 ); Ben (12 ); Sarah (10 ); Abby Grace ( with the Saviour); Annie Lou (6 ); Mercy (3 ); Josiah (9mos) & hoping for many more |
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RileyDad
Sagacious Scribe
Joined: 30 Jul 2003
Posts: 204
Location: The Sovreign, yet occupied, state of Mississippi
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| Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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Just as a small update/ prayer request. ( not directly related to adoption)
We had a relative ( the same one who's kids we had last year & who's wife has now abandoned him & the children) who has been having some significant "issues" ( aka self love & sin nature). Anyway we will be keeping his 2 year old daughter ( a real sweetheart) for a "few weeks" -- which could turn into months. He is going off to work in another state and try to "straighten his life up".
I got opportunity to talk with him for a while about Christ last night.
Please pray for this Dad, his daughter, and us.
It is truly amazing how our allwise, Sovreign King provides us glorious opportunities to serve Him and advance His Great Name when He opens our hearts and eyes to needs .
May His people be His volunteers in the day of His power and the Lamb receive His reward !
www.lesriley.net
_________________
Les Riley
Sinner saved by Grace - Husband to Christy - Dad to Emily(21 ); Trey(18 ); Ellen (17 ); Jacob (15 ); Hannah (13 ); Ben (12 ); Sarah (10 ); Abby Grace ( with the Saviour); Annie Lou (6 ); Mercy (3 ); Josiah (9mos) & hoping for many more |
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Watchman
High Falootin' Blabbermouth
Joined: 24 Jul 2003
Posts: 6855
Location: Covenant Farm, Red House, Virginia
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| Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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We'll be praying for this, Les.
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"When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer |
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RileyDad
Sagacious Scribe
Joined: 30 Jul 2003
Posts: 204
Location: The Sovreign, yet occupied, state of Mississippi
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| Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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Update/ Prayer Needs :
After blessing us with eleven pregnancies and allowing us the privilidge of having nine children to raise for His glory, God has closed Christy's womb. It is truly amazing that she was able to have as many as she was. Christy had some significant health problems as a child & was told as a teenager that she'd never be able to have children -- so eleven pregnancies & nine living children is quite a kindness from our God.
We would appreciate your prayers & any help you can offfer as we begin the process of adopting our next child.
We -- after years of talking about this and months of more serious prayer and discussion -- began the process back in December of making ourselves availble to adopt children.
And, now things have begun to progress more quickly. Our first homestudy is next Thurs. ( Jan. 17). We are having our homestudy done through a private, Christian adoption agency in Tupelo -- so intrusive Statists will not be invading our home. We are getting the same "case worker" who three of our friends have used. She is a believer & was very friendly to their views.
We will be adopting through Life Choices -- a Christian Crisis Pregnancy Center in Memphis that has their own in-house adoption service for children who are saved from the abortionist knife or suction.
This process will be expensive & in many ways the most difficult thing we've done as a family. However, we are convinced that it is God's will for us at this time.
But, first I would like to ask for prayer/ advice/ any other help anyone wants to offer :
1) Please pray that the Lord will give us wisdom & grant us favor with those doing the homestudy. And likewise that he would protect us (Spiritually & physically). We have been out of the "mainstream" and to a degree out of the system for a while. It is possible that this could turn out badly, but we have a great peace & no worry about things ( perhaps that is foolishness). greater is he that is in you (us), than he that is in the world. - I John 4:4.
2) Please pray that the process will proceed quickly and with few snags. We had planned on this being about a year out and were preparing as we could. But, someone from Life Choices called Christy yesterday & said that we needed to "hurry up" because the need was great. I don't know the particulars at this time, but in November, there were seven mothers who decided against abortion & put their babies up for adoption and only one home prepared. This is fairly consistent. There are, by conservative estimates, 500,000 orphans in the US alone. There are millions of professed pro-life Christians. Yet, most of these orphans go unadopted. Many of the ones that are adopted are taken by god-haters. May God raise up a generation with a heart for the fatherless !
3) Please pray thay the Lord would prepare us for the child that He may bring us and protect/ prepare our child for us. We are in no way ready for this. However, we were not "ready" for any of our other nine. And we have certainly not been "ready" for all the other opporunities He has provided for us through the years to do the work of His Kingdom.
But the zeal of the Lord will perform this.
4) Please pray that the Lord would grant us wisdom in dealing with opposition. One thing we have been warned about by friends who have
been down this path is that we will get support from where we least expect it and opposition from where we least expect it. Pray that we would honour Christ with our response.
5) Finally, please pray that the Lord would provide the means -- financially & otherwise. We have nothing (even if we have much). He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. May He alone gain more glory, and honour, and dominion and a greater Name & reputation !
Thanks,
LR
_________________
Les Riley
Sinner saved by Grace - Husband to Christy - Dad to Emily(21 ); Trey(18 ); Ellen (17 ); Jacob (15 ); Hannah (13 ); Ben (12 ); Sarah (10 ); Abby Grace ( with the Saviour); Annie Lou (6 ); Mercy (3 ); Josiah (9mos) & hoping for many more |
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Justice then mercy
Copious Chronicler
Joined: 30 Jul 2003
Posts: 2561
Location: Rockford, IL
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| Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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| RileyDad wrote: | | There are, by conservative estimates, 500,000 orphans in the US alone. There are millions of professed pro-life Christians. Yet, most of these orphans go unadopted. Many of the ones that are adopted are taken by god-haters. May God raise up a generation with a heart for the fatherless ! |
Les, first of all, we will pray for you in this request. Secondly though, I would like to ask how out of town placements would be viewed. We have been interested in adopting abortion "saves" as well. We live in IL and are absolutely open to it.
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www.BeatMS.com
Fiona Horien's story and how she did what the medical community says is impossible - Beat Multiple Sclerosis |
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RileyDad
Sagacious Scribe
Joined: 30 Jul 2003
Posts: 204
Location: The Sovreign, yet occupied, state of Mississippi
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| Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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We are out of state (about 150 miles from the CPC). They will work with any pro-life Christians who want to adopt.
All applicants have to sign a pro-life statement & a doctrinal statement. Beyond this I think the only restrictions for out-of-state (they are in Tennessee) adoptions are :
1) Life Choices has their own in house adoption agency & placement service. If you are out of state, they cannot do your home study. If your state does not have a good, Christian adoption agency you may have to go through a governement agency or other non-christian private adoption service ( both of which would be distasteful & objectionable at best)
2) Life Choices charges a nominal fee for the home study. If you are out of state they wave this fee ( or more technically, credit you for the fee you paid to a third party agency)
3) If you are in TN you can specify what race/ gender/ physical imperfections you are willing to take and they will put you on a list. If you are out of state, you have to be willing to accept a black, mixed, and/or "handicapped" baby.
If you're interested, send me a PM or e-mail & I'll get you the contact info.
LR
_________________
Les Riley
Sinner saved by Grace - Husband to Christy - Dad to Emily(21 ); Trey(18 ); Ellen (17 ); Jacob (15 ); Hannah (13 ); Ben (12 ); Sarah (10 ); Abby Grace ( with the Saviour); Annie Lou (6 ); Mercy (3 ); Josiah (9mos) & hoping for many more |
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