Adam and I are going to adopt one day soon. God has been doing a great work in both our hearts and we feel called as a family to bring another McManus kiddo in the mix. (And how awesome that this time I'm not gong to spend 9 months puking) I'm still learning about adoption and what it will look like for our family. But I know that God has a perfect plan and I'm ready to trust Him through this next journey. I'm halfway through this book and so far it's not what I expected. I was really ready for a book that would make me want to drop it, sell everything we can, and buy a baseball team of kids. It's not like that at all!! It's full of theology that has made me really think more about how I see Jesus and my relationship as a child of God. I'd also like to say that I'm proud of the author for stating many times that not every family is called to adopt and why, I didn't want to read a book that makes people feel guilty to adopt because of the wrong reasons. Check out some of these quotes and hold on...."Adoption would become a priority in our churches if our churches themselves saw our brotherhood and sisterhood in the church itself rather than in our fleshly identities. For some Christians-maybe for you- it's hard to imagine how an African-American could love a white Ukrainian baby, how a Haitian teenager could call Swedish parents "Mom" and "Dad". Of course that's hard to imagine, when so many of our churches can't even get over differences as trivial as musical style." pg 39
"When we were still orphans, Christ became a substitute orphan for us. Though he was a son, he took on the humiliation of a slave and the horror of death (Phil. 2:6-8). Jesus walked to that far country with us, even to the depths of the hog pen that we'd made our home, and hung on a tree abandoned by his Father in our place." pg 45
"If the Spirit is drawing you toward adopting, think of the opportunity you'll have to share the gospel with your already-here children. Think of how you'll be able to involve them in the process....They'll see before their eyes the kind of welcoming gospel you pray they-and their children and grandchildren-will embrace." pg 108
This is book a fun read! Jen Hatmaker is a mother of 3, pastor wife, and an "Austin" lady with a great sense of humor. I have been really really really wanting to get into journaling and making my private Bible time more than a quick read and off I go. So I'm looking forward to learning a new discipline and I pray that it is one that I fall in love with!! Some quotes to get you thinking...."God never intended for His Word to be tidy, hands off package with crisp edges and a wealth of mysteries that we set aside until Sunday morning. Unlike me, He's hollering at us, "Get in there! Turn My Word upside down and inside out. It's all for you,". pg 16
"For many of us, the problem with personal Bible study is rooted in fear. Trying something we have no skill at is intimidating and overwhelming-like the day I brought my first-born home and realized I was supposed to be a parent. What? Who thought I could do this? Does anyone know for sure that I qualify to manage another human? And why won't this baby stop crying?" pg 28
"God has always been orderly, and we are called to mirror His image. The Lord doesn't want our search for truth to be a shot in the dark. The study of scripture should be intentional. My pantry? Random. The socks I pair up because I don't want leftovers? Random. Bible study? Deliberate." pg 28
"We need to think about Bible study as a conversation. To fully understand it, we must respond to it. That's where the real exchange begins. God in infinitely willing to explain it to us, but are we ready to engage? After all, it can be complicated, and we need a Navigator who is smarter that we are. I want to mention something else, though it pains mw to do so. The books we buy at the Christian bookstore that are written by magnificent authors do not count as Bible study." pg 35
1 comment:
just catching up on your posts after being gone a week . . . enjoyed them:-)
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