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Lessons from theHeart
Here we were, just living our lives- hoping to make a difference. All we really want is to know our loving, compassionate Lord more deeply and fully each day, to reflect His character, to spread His good news of salvation to everyonewhowill believe. Our two children are now teenagers, in their sophomore and senior years of high school, when God says, 'uh, excuseme,will you do me a favor?" What did God want? Well,He had some children that He wanted to find parents for- and He picked us! So, during the week of our 25th wedding anniversary, four children in need moved into our house (Happy Silver anniversary!). One thing led to another, and they are now fully adopted... Oliver children! Yep, that's right. We went from two kids to six kids overnight! We went from having two teenagers (only 2 1.2 years away from the empty nest...a quiet, clean house...going where we want to go when we want to go, etc.) to adding another 12 years of day-today parenting. Reality has come- next year we'll enroll our oldest in college and our youngest in kindergarten. On the surface, it looks crazy. In our house at most any moment- it can be very crazy! But who has ever told God no and not lived to regret that decision? Don't getmewrong,we don't regret accepting God's proposal. We're honored to think that God entrusts uswithHismost precious commodity- children. Besides, with what He did on the cross for us, andwith abiding Presence and help every day, we owe Him more than we'll ever be able to repay. Our dependence on Him has greatly increased...by necessity. ButHewill come through- He always does. Letme encourage you to regularly seek to be a blessing to someone else. Be generous, and make this world a better place. Proverbs 11:25 (NIV) says, "A generousmanwill prosper; hewho refreshes otherswill himself be refreshed." Brent Oliver is pastor at First Assembly of God in Delphi. | |||||
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