Today, Ash Wednesday, is the first day of Lent is the forty days leading up to Easter.

It is a time where Christians prepare themselves through fasting and prayer as Jesus fasted before he was crucified, buried, and resurrected. It is a time to think about the work God is doing in your life. It is a time to reflect on the lives we live.

There are over 145 million orphans in the world. Over 2 million more are orphaned each year because of HIV/AIDS.

You read those numbers and you can’t help but be taken back.  And that’s where it usually ends. Sure you may even think that there’s something you can do about it, but what have you done?

Think about this. Each of those 145 million orphans have a name. They have a face. They have a story. They are real children. Perhaps it’s those very statistics that shock us also de-humanize these orphans. They get lost in the numbers.

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The measure of a great teacher isn’t what he knows; it’s what his students know.

- John C. Maxwell

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I’ve noticed something about my own faith. I’ve noticed that I’ve found faith where there was tension. I found faith in the unanswered questions. I found faith in the face of conflict. I found faith when things didn’t go my way. I found faith in the uncertain future. I found faith struggling with God.  I found faith in the tensions of life.

Then why in the world does it feel like the pursuit of a Christian is to live without conflict? Why are so many prayers filled with fixing something? Why are all the Christian books out there about how to get your life in order? Why is the good Christian life portrayed like to the one who has everything together?

It’s been good to have faith and I’ve found it in the tensions of life. Then in the tension I will remain.

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Ok, does this have any spiritual value…maybe…probably not…it’s just fun to watch.

It’s the freedom that we have in this country that I’m thankful for. That freedom that I enjoy demands my respect for those who fought to make it possible. It’s freedom that all faiths must fight to keep in this country. For what is faith without freedom to choose?

My utmost respect and gratitude go out to the veterans that fought for freedom.

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We are nearly done with our home study portion of the adoption process and it feels like we’ve been in the process for a very long time! There’s been lots of paperwork and talking with people to say the least. There’s lots of “white space” too. There’s plenty of time to wait for things to happen such as paperwork processing and appointments, but the best thing about the wait is that I’ve had the opportunity to really learn about adoption in a deeper way. I’ve been reading tons of material on everything from the theology of adoption to how Muslims are working in orphan care and adoption. To say the least, my perspective has certainly broadened and really do see adoption in a different way than I had seen it at the beginning of my adoption journey. So, for the remaining course of our journey, I will be sharing with you the things I’ve learned about the doctrine of adoption, the history, and about the worldview on adoption. Most of all, I hope that you will truly come to understand what it is to be adopted by God.

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Church should be _______________.

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Girls: I want you to WANT to do the dishes.

Guys: I want you to want to DO the dishes.

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Devotion From: Hebrews 2:5-18

Thanks, God, for that reiteration that Jesus has authority over “all things” (Hebrews 2:8), but what does it mean that “we have not yet seen all things put under their authority?” It sounds to me that things are complete, but yet they aren’t. But You point out that  Jesus is the perfect leader — a perfect leader (Hebrews 2:10) made through suffering. Ok, I see where this is going. It’s in my suffering, for Christ’s sake, I am made fit to be apart of bringing things into completion!?!?

God, there’s too much here for my heart to understand. It’s kinda frustrating actually. How come I can’t fully comprehend what it is to be a brother to Christ (Hebrews 2:11-12)? Why is it difficult to feel a part of Your family regardless of the knowledge that You reveal to me? It is amazing that Jesus became like me, in flesh and blood (Hebrews 2:17). It’s amazing that He is before God on my behalf. It’s amazing that I don’t know how much I get of this…

Father God, I read these words and not fully understand them. I read these words desiring to comprehend them in my heart. Would You move this knowledge I have into understanding in my heart. It’s a simple thing to understand in my head, but I confess I don’t fully understand in my heart. As You promise that he is able to help me when I am being tested (Hebrews 2:18), would you help me now. I have heard everything that is religious that is the right answers to what I am going through, but I feel that my heart has not heard what it needs to hear. Amen.

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