Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Break my heart for what breaks yours

Wow, today my heart is stirred. For encouragement, I have been reading other people's blogs that have adopted or are also adopting. Every time I watch a video or read a story I end up moved, and some days, like today, I end up just balling like a big baby. I really really feel like God has given me His heart for adoption. In fact I know He has, because these kinds of passions and feelings just are not something that I would have acted on in my own strength. Ten years ago, before I was walking with Jesus, I wouldn't have even cared about kids in another country. My theory was like many others, "out of sight, out of mind." Sad but true. Now, my heart breaks because His heart is breaking for these children who are in need of families, who so desperately long to know the love of a mother or father. I cannot even imagine what that would be like to be completely and utterly alone in the world, having to grow up by yourself. Most not even getting the chance to grow up. According to statistics, 1 out of 10 kids in Ethiopia die before their 1st birthday. 1 out of 6 die before age 5. And there are still between 4.6 million - 6 million orphans in Ethiopia alone. I know that I can't save them all, but I can pray for, donate money, time, and love to them, and I can make a difference in at least 1 life. We can be the instrument God uses to completely change the future and fate of one of His children, and hopefully that will ripple on down and inspire others to do the same. I came upon this quote in a blog earlier and I thought it was so profound and right on in how I have been feeling: "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse the something I can do." Helen Keller.
What is your one thing that you will not refuse to do?
Whatever that passion is, it's there for a reason. Whether you are walking with God or not, He still speaks to you and loves you just as much as He does any other person. He puts passions in all our hearts.
This one for me and Aaron just came out of nowhere, but hit us like a ton of bricks, and I know our lives are forever changed. He has ruined our hearts for Him. I pray that He keeps doing it and I pray that He keeps giving us the faith to step out, no matter what. No matter if people disagree or don't understand or aren't excited with us. That's OK. It oftentimes hurts, but it's OK. I know we are being obedient, and I know God will bless this whole situation. NEVER in my life have I felt so moved by the spirit.
God is so real and powerful and LOVING and awesome! I hope He continues to change my heart on a daily basis. There is a worship song that I love, and some of you are familiar with, where one of the lines goes...."Fill my heart and make it clean, open up my eyes to the things unseen. Show me how to love like you have loved me. Break my heart for what breaks yours, everything I am for your Kingdom Come. As I walk from earth into eternity." That song for a really long time( about 2 years) was my prayer. Every time that part would come up, I would close my eyes tight, hold my hands up high, and sing it with a lifted head, as loud as I could so God would hear me. I feel like that prayer has been answered on some level. It has taken me a little while to realize that I am called to act on that broken heart.
Here is a verse I came upon also : Proverbs 24:12 "Don't excuse yourself by saying, "Look, we didn't know." For God understands all hearts, and He sees YOU. He who guards your soul knows you knew." Don't ignore the things that God lays on your heart. They are there because He put them there.

3 comments:

Hollie Jones said...

You are something else! I love when I see a new post from you. I always can take something to learn and live by from you.

The Bauman Family said...

Your note made me cry today, Stacy. Thanks for sharing your heart. It's mine too.
Patty

Cindi said...

What an inspirational post!