2016!!
As I look into the new year, I can't help but think of *one* major "resolution" or "goal" we have for our family. I posted about this just yesterday on Facebook, so I apologize if I repeat myself. :-)
So, without a doubt, as I think about this year, I can't help but feel numerous overwhelming emotions -- mostly being excitement.
Lord willing, by summer-to-fall, we'll be standing in a Chinese government office finalizing our Little Stump's adoption.
Lord willing, we will see his/her face for the first time within the next couple months. Oh what a day that will be! I. can't. even. We're putting this in God's hands and trust He will lead us to our child in His timing.
This year will be one of the most craziest-hardest-yet-greatest years of our life. I've been told time and time again this will not easy. In fact, it will be insanely hard. But I've also heard some of the hardest things in life are also some of the things most worth fighting for. My precious Savior has also shown me that our little one is worth DYING for. They. are. worth. dying. for. Whatever it takes, we will get to him/her; no matter how emotionally taxing, financially exhausting, physically depleting -- we will do what it takes to bring them home.
I posted this sort of thing just yesterday, and as I wrote the words "worth DYING for.." a flood of thoughts crossed my mind. Think about it:: Worth. Dying. For. Such an elementary thought for us Christians, isn't it? Of course you and I were worth dying for -- after-all, our dear Savior ultimately showed us that on a rugged cross 2,000 years ago. I mean, this is the basis of the Gospel. The very foundation. But have we truly internalized this? What do our actions show for it?
And so, here's my challenge for all of us this year...
Let's start with treating our spouses as if they're worth DYING for. Next, let's treat our children as if they're truly worth DYING for. (Easy enough so far..) After that, let's treat our extended family as if they're worth DYING for. Our friends? Treat them as if they're worth DYING for. Facebook friends that post annoying political posts? Worth dying for. Our bosses? Worth dying for. Co-workers? Treat them as if they're worth DYING for. Estranged friends we felt have wronged us? Worth dying for. Annoying telemarketer? The cashier at Target? Worth dying for. That orphan a world-away? Worth dying for. That tiny unborn baby? Worth dying for.
Imagine if we saw people as Jesus sees them? This doesn't mean ignoring important issues or being so soft as to not speak truth to people. This doesn't translate to injustice. Nor handouts that do more harm than good. It doesn't mean agreeing with opposing political views. Nor allowing people to make choices that harm themselves or others (that would be the opposite of true love). It means treating people as if they're intrinsically-immensely-valuable human beings that our dear Savior DIED for, and would have DIED for if they were the only person on earth. It means putting our money where our mouths are. It means giving more of ourselves for others. It means realizing that children outside our four walls are just as important as our own kids. It means speaking the truth, not for simply being "right," but doing so out of love, because if we don't do it in love as 1 Corinthians says, we are nothing. It means stepping out of our personal comfort zone to share the Gospel to a stranger that Christ DIED for. It means forgiving the unforgivable. It means better self-control in our marriages and parenting. It means complete faithfulness to our spouses (even when alone viewing a TV or computer screen). It means walking away from your kids when you're about to blow in order to cool off before you discipline. It means responding with tact to those who curse or who antagonize us. It means making room on our busy schedules for others. It means finally walking the walk and not just talking the talk. It means cutting back on your monthly expenses to give towards charity, child sponsorship, or other causes that show others are worth dying for. It means setting aside our selfish tendencies to live as comfortably as possible (after-all, our retirement is laid up in Heaven, not earth).
So my challenge to myself, and to you for this year, is to treat all those around us like they are worth dying for. Let's stop living as if we, alone, and our little special families are the only ones Jesus died for. There's a whole world outside our four little walls. And while that thought is crazy-overwhelming, making a difference in just *one* life is of tremendous worth -- because Jesus, after-all, would've died even just for that one. single. person.
As I look into the new year, I can't help but think of *one* major "resolution" or "goal" we have for our family. I posted about this just yesterday on Facebook, so I apologize if I repeat myself. :-)
So, without a doubt, as I think about this year, I can't help but feel numerous overwhelming emotions -- mostly being excitement.
Lord willing, by summer-to-fall, we'll be standing in a Chinese government office finalizing our Little Stump's adoption.
Lord willing, we will see his/her face for the first time within the next couple months. Oh what a day that will be! I. can't. even. We're putting this in God's hands and trust He will lead us to our child in His timing.
This year will be one of the most craziest-hardest-yet-greatest years of our life. I've been told time and time again this will not easy. In fact, it will be insanely hard. But I've also heard some of the hardest things in life are also some of the things most worth fighting for. My precious Savior has also shown me that our little one is worth DYING for. They. are. worth. dying. for. Whatever it takes, we will get to him/her; no matter how emotionally taxing, financially exhausting, physically depleting -- we will do what it takes to bring them home.
I posted this sort of thing just yesterday, and as I wrote the words "worth DYING for.." a flood of thoughts crossed my mind. Think about it:: Worth. Dying. For. Such an elementary thought for us Christians, isn't it? Of course you and I were worth dying for -- after-all, our dear Savior ultimately showed us that on a rugged cross 2,000 years ago. I mean, this is the basis of the Gospel. The very foundation. But have we truly internalized this? What do our actions show for it?
And so, here's my challenge for all of us this year...
Let's start with treating our spouses as if they're worth DYING for. Next, let's treat our children as if they're truly worth DYING for. (Easy enough so far..) After that, let's treat our extended family as if they're worth DYING for. Our friends? Treat them as if they're worth DYING for. Facebook friends that post annoying political posts? Worth dying for. Our bosses? Worth dying for. Co-workers? Treat them as if they're worth DYING for. Estranged friends we felt have wronged us? Worth dying for. Annoying telemarketer? The cashier at Target? Worth dying for. That orphan a world-away? Worth dying for. That tiny unborn baby? Worth dying for.
Imagine if we saw people as Jesus sees them? This doesn't mean ignoring important issues or being so soft as to not speak truth to people. This doesn't translate to injustice. Nor handouts that do more harm than good. It doesn't mean agreeing with opposing political views. Nor allowing people to make choices that harm themselves or others (that would be the opposite of true love). It means treating people as if they're intrinsically-immensely-valuable human beings that our dear Savior DIED for, and would have DIED for if they were the only person on earth. It means putting our money where our mouths are. It means giving more of ourselves for others. It means realizing that children outside our four walls are just as important as our own kids. It means speaking the truth, not for simply being "right," but doing so out of love, because if we don't do it in love as 1 Corinthians says, we are nothing. It means stepping out of our personal comfort zone to share the Gospel to a stranger that Christ DIED for. It means forgiving the unforgivable. It means better self-control in our marriages and parenting. It means complete faithfulness to our spouses (even when alone viewing a TV or computer screen). It means walking away from your kids when you're about to blow in order to cool off before you discipline. It means responding with tact to those who curse or who antagonize us. It means making room on our busy schedules for others. It means finally walking the walk and not just talking the talk. It means cutting back on your monthly expenses to give towards charity, child sponsorship, or other causes that show others are worth dying for. It means setting aside our selfish tendencies to live as comfortably as possible (after-all, our retirement is laid up in Heaven, not earth).
So my challenge to myself, and to you for this year, is to treat all those around us like they are worth dying for. Let's stop living as if we, alone, and our little special families are the only ones Jesus died for. There's a whole world outside our four little walls. And while that thought is crazy-overwhelming, making a difference in just *one* life is of tremendous worth -- because Jesus, after-all, would've died even just for that one. single. person.
"And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again."
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
"If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." John 4:20
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27
-We love because HE first loved us.-
