19.4.10
18.4.10
The Spirit of Adoption
Luke 2: 51b says, “And his mother kept and closely and persistently guarded all these things in her heart.” This scripture is describing Mary as she considers, studies, mothers and knows her son, Jesus. I love this passage because it describes, I believe, how much we as mothers spend our time and mental energy. There is a holy place that stores the daily interactions, holy moments, and simple snapshots of life that are far too priceless to try and catch with a video camera and then replay, too splendid to describe with mere words in a journal, too indescribable to try and share with another, and too other -worldly holy to try and capture anywhere but in a celebrated heart of a mother sharing intimate thoughts of her child with Father God.
So I have been asking God about how to deeply implant in my children that they are loved, secure, accepted, adored, beloved, chosen by God. And Jak has been teaching me much. He recently asked Brent, “Where did you get me from?” and then has been telling us at random times that he is not Thai, he’s English. Or on another day stating emphatically that he’s not Thai, he’s Spanish! I try to imagine what it is like to be in his four-year-old mind processing living in a Caucasian family in the country of Thailand, worshiping the God that all those around you deny. Wondering what it is like to overhear all the conversations that go on around you as you pass through the marketplace and people openly question your identity. I try to tell him the “right” answers of his ethnicity, etc. but my simple answers have not satisfied his inborn curiosity.
Last week as he was looking questioningly into my eyes with that desire to know “who am I?” I began to feel God urging me to speak over him truly who he is. Now, we have been doing this since the day he became our son, but there was something different about this question on this particular day as he stood under the doorway of Kate’s room with his chocolate brown eyes searching for the Truth. I looked him directly in the eyes and informed him of his true identity. “You are a mighty man of God.” His mind and body seemed to soak the reality of this truth in differently than in times past. He cocked his little head back and his body seemed to relax while at the same time grow more confident. He told me yesterday, “Mom, ‘I am chosen,’” as Brent has been describing to him.
So another of those forever-branded-in-my-heart moments that I will guard until eternity knowing that God is doing more than I can ask or imagine in the lives of my children. Father God hears our groans as mothers and comes to us, each of us, as we live in the families he designs with such creativity. I am learning about my adoption as his daughter into the family of the living God and my only response is to cry out to him with arms outstretched, “Abba, Father!” “For the Spirit which you have now received is not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption (the spirit producing sonship) in the bliss of which we cry, ‘Abba, Father! Father!” Romans 8:15
The more I learn about my costly adoption as a daughter of Father God, my ongoing transformation into the likeness of His Son, my Kingdom inheritance, that adoption was not and is not “plan B” for Father God but His divine plan from creation, I am touched again by His unfathomable love. When I think about the fact that adoption is usually from pretty bad situations and how God crossed a HUGE cultural chasm to adopt me, I am humbled and eternally grateful. I am chosen!
So I have been asking God about how to deeply implant in my children that they are loved, secure, accepted, adored, beloved, chosen by God. And Jak has been teaching me much. He recently asked Brent, “Where did you get me from?” and then has been telling us at random times that he is not Thai, he’s English. Or on another day stating emphatically that he’s not Thai, he’s Spanish! I try to imagine what it is like to be in his four-year-old mind processing living in a Caucasian family in the country of Thailand, worshiping the God that all those around you deny. Wondering what it is like to overhear all the conversations that go on around you as you pass through the marketplace and people openly question your identity. I try to tell him the “right” answers of his ethnicity, etc. but my simple answers have not satisfied his inborn curiosity.
Last week as he was looking questioningly into my eyes with that desire to know “who am I?” I began to feel God urging me to speak over him truly who he is. Now, we have been doing this since the day he became our son, but there was something different about this question on this particular day as he stood under the doorway of Kate’s room with his chocolate brown eyes searching for the Truth. I looked him directly in the eyes and informed him of his true identity. “You are a mighty man of God.” His mind and body seemed to soak the reality of this truth in differently than in times past. He cocked his little head back and his body seemed to relax while at the same time grow more confident. He told me yesterday, “Mom, ‘I am chosen,’” as Brent has been describing to him.
So another of those forever-branded-in-my-heart moments that I will guard until eternity knowing that God is doing more than I can ask or imagine in the lives of my children. Father God hears our groans as mothers and comes to us, each of us, as we live in the families he designs with such creativity. I am learning about my adoption as his daughter into the family of the living God and my only response is to cry out to him with arms outstretched, “Abba, Father!” “For the Spirit which you have now received is not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption (the spirit producing sonship) in the bliss of which we cry, ‘Abba, Father! Father!” Romans 8:15
The more I learn about my costly adoption as a daughter of Father God, my ongoing transformation into the likeness of His Son, my Kingdom inheritance, that adoption was not and is not “plan B” for Father God but His divine plan from creation, I am touched again by His unfathomable love. When I think about the fact that adoption is usually from pretty bad situations and how God crossed a HUGE cultural chasm to adopt me, I am humbled and eternally grateful. I am chosen!
17.4.10
Why Do They Fight?
Many of you have seen the news about the Red Shirts (generally the poor and those from the provinces outside of Bangkok) fighting the yellow shirt soldiers (government ruling party) in Bangkok last week. We were there in Thailand's capital when the fighting was at its worst. Sounds scary, but Western tourist (that is the group we get put in of course, we don't have a shirt color...) are the least concern of these "freedom fighters." In fact, it seems that greater effort and concern was placed on welcoming us and serving us by the staff at our hotel during this last week when we were having a small conference in Bangkok with our sister team (Antioch Mission International) from Krabi, Southern Thailand.
Thais are well aware that the world is watching and thinking twice about visiting beautiful Thailand right now. Confounding to think about when you recognize that Thailand's chief source of income is tourism. So why fight when everyone knows that Red Shirts being shot by government backed soldiers in the capital will cause Americans and Europeans to go elsewhere?
The taxi drivers we spoke to, at least the calm ones without three red shirts on, noted that Thailand used to be know for its "brotherhood." The soldiers on TV were genuinely embarrassed to talk about the fact that Thais were fighting, and killing, Thais. Lots of head shaking and hands in the air in frustration.
Last night we were having dinner with a Thai family that we have been blessed with as friends. Leng, the father, made the problem very clear. He reminded me that there are many more people who do not side with the Yellows or the Reds. Yet these people feel helpless as they watch pride and desire for control tear apart Thai society. Unfortunately when the Yellows shut down the airport last year and forced the direction of government their way, the Red leaders responded by garnering support and shutting down busy business centers with demonstrations. These groups are large enough to create chaos, but never noble enough to guarantee peace. A prime opportunity to speak the reality that the peace He gives is not anything like the peace of this world. Thailand will find temporary peaceful solutions, but this prideful, ugly head will keep popping up (just as it did in the 70s, 80s, and so on). We are longing for the peace of Christ to come. A peace that will give hope a voice.
Thais are well aware that the world is watching and thinking twice about visiting beautiful Thailand right now. Confounding to think about when you recognize that Thailand's chief source of income is tourism. So why fight when everyone knows that Red Shirts being shot by government backed soldiers in the capital will cause Americans and Europeans to go elsewhere?
The taxi drivers we spoke to, at least the calm ones without three red shirts on, noted that Thailand used to be know for its "brotherhood." The soldiers on TV were genuinely embarrassed to talk about the fact that Thais were fighting, and killing, Thais. Lots of head shaking and hands in the air in frustration.
Last night we were having dinner with a Thai family that we have been blessed with as friends. Leng, the father, made the problem very clear. He reminded me that there are many more people who do not side with the Yellows or the Reds. Yet these people feel helpless as they watch pride and desire for control tear apart Thai society. Unfortunately when the Yellows shut down the airport last year and forced the direction of government their way, the Red leaders responded by garnering support and shutting down busy business centers with demonstrations. These groups are large enough to create chaos, but never noble enough to guarantee peace. A prime opportunity to speak the reality that the peace He gives is not anything like the peace of this world. Thailand will find temporary peaceful solutions, but this prideful, ugly head will keep popping up (just as it did in the 70s, 80s, and so on). We are longing for the peace of Christ to come. A peace that will give hope a voice.
4.4.10
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