Waiting to Adopt

Are you waiting to adopt a child domestically or internationally?

Kids excitedly wait for their birthday.  Tweens anticipate High School and High Schoolers can't wait until graduation!  College age kids look forward to careers and marriage.  Married couples can't wait to have children.  Parents can't wait for peace and quiet!  It never ends.... we wait.  We get.  Then, we wait on something else.

However, if you are an adoptive family - you know waiting to adopt a child is a TOTALLY different wait than ANYTHING you have ever experienced.

And, I'm sure that you would agree, that it is a feeling not many can relate to.  It seriously feels like part of your heart is missing.  That's the only words I know to use.  Waiting to adopt a child causes you to feel like you are CONSTANTLY missing out on something.  We struggled with fertility issues early in our marriage - I cried often and my heart hurt.  I would see other women who were expecting and I would "miss" not being pregnant - even though I had never been pregnant!  While waiting to adopt, we "miss" a child that we may have never even seen.

 

The adoption process takes "waiting: and "missing" to an entirely new level.  My sister-in-law, Jeannie, is pictured here with her son Sheldon.  She has left him in Haiti and is now waiting.....

This picture says what waiting to adopt feels like.

It is heart wrenching knowing your child is in another country waiting for a family.  It is heart wrenching knowing that in your domestic adoption the birth mother still has a few more days to change her mind.  Waiting to adopt brings lots of tears.  Lots of questions.  And, far to often few answers as to when the waiting will end.

You are probably waiting on something too.  Maybe it's not adoption.  But, whatever it is, I'm sure your heart hurts also. A good friend encouraged me this week with this verse found in Isaiah 40:31, "but those who hope in the Lord they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

While waiting to adopt --- or whatever it is that you are waiting on, why not blog your journey?  Share the ups and downs with others who might be EXACTLY where you are at during your process.  And, if you are going to blog, why not GET PAID while you are doing it?!? I know, first hand, how COSTLY adoption can be. CLICK HERE NOW to find out more.

If you have questions about fundraising for your adoption/blogging email me

Life's Purpose, It's A Beautiful Thing

Yep.  That’s me.  Age 15.  Weighing 100 lbs at best with 20 lbs of that weight being Aqua Net hairspray.  It’s important that your bangs look just right while ministering to others ;-)

Looking at this photo I’m reminded of my life’s purpose and how God planned for me to have a multicultural family.

Red, yellow, black and white they are precious in His sight…(you know the rest) …Jesus loves the little children of the world.  ALL the children.  And it's FOR the children that I'm sharing my life's purpose with you today.

As a little girl, I was always drawn to baby dolls with dark skin. Unfortunately, in East Tennessee during the 70’s, my desire for a brown baby doll was considered VERY odd.  However, one Christmas, my dream came true!!  Little did I know that this doll with gorgeous brown skin, dark eyes, and perfect yellow outfit with matching bonnet would (I believe) officially begin my journey and life’s purpose.  She was the most beautiful doll I had ever seen!  I get chills just recalling this brief childhood story.  I loved that doll as if she were my own child!  In my mind, at age 8, I had become a mother and I had a multicultural family.

I can trace God’s hand for my life’spurpose all the way back to my childhood.  He planted in me a love for all nations and a desire to have a multicultural family

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Thank you God for moving in the lives of children! I’m so thankful that my parents took seriously my request and  made the decision to buy me that baby doll.

It was God’s moving, once again, in the life of children that confirmed to my husband and I the decision to adopt and become a multicultural family.  It seems that since our 3 children could speak they have ALL THREE prayed, “And dear God, please let us adopt.”  At age 8 our middle child would grab someone’s phone and then text my husband saying, “Dad, this is Cassidy.  Can’t we save just one?”

I Timothy 4:12
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Wow!  What a verse.  Yes, God speaks to and thru children.  When I was 8 years old, God was opening the door to my life’s purpose by giving me the desire for a baby doll!  Sounds crazy, huh?  Yet, how cool is our God – that when my very own daughter was 8 years old she had a STRONG desire for us to adopt a child from Africa and become a multicultural family.

I like to think that the details of my life’s purpose started around age 8 when I asked for that baby doll.  At age 9, I became a believer in Jesus Christ. At age 14 is when God started to deepen the passion in my heart to care for those in need.  While on a mission trip as a teen - I became so attached to the children I played with for 5 days in the projects of New Orleans, that I cried the entire 12 hour drive back home.  My eyes were swollen and my heart was forever broken.

I’m confident that this is a blog will be about many different things by the time it’s all said and done!

However, I hope to share my LIFE’SPURPOSE: having a heart for children in poverty, orphans, adoption, (maybe a few fundraising tips in case you are adopting! LOL), being a multicultural family and of course stories of how being a believer in Jesus Christ has forever changed my life.

  

I once heard a widow from Kenya say, “It is never crowded at the foot of the cross. God always has room for one more.”  Remembering that truth, as a multicultural family, our family has made the choice that we have Room 4 ONE Moore.
What is you life’s purpose? I would love to read your comments below.

Adopted By Christ,

Ginger Moore

Weeping for His people

“Esther again pleaded with the King, falling at his feet and weeping, she begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews…..’For how can I bear to see disaster fall upon my people…?’”

Esther 8:3 & 6

“….falling at his feet and weeping….” I can recall the last time that I wept, can you? For me it was not only yesterday, but also today! It has been an overwhelming 2 weeks. Not a typical schedule by any means. I thought that after an AMAZING church event on Friday evening (thank you Marion ladies!!) I would come home and life would return to “normal”. All day Saturday I was emotionally out of sorts. I had a strong feeling in my spirit about a phone call that I new I needed to make and it wasn’t going to be easy. I made that phone call on Sunday. It went as well as a “difficult” phone call could, I guess…. – and soon after that, learned Josh Pfister, a 23 yr old cheerleader at my daughter’s gym was killed in a car accident over the weekend. Sunday evening our gym was to participate in a kick off for Long Hollow Baptist’s Youth Crusade. The cheerleaders did their thing on stage at the church--- many struggling during the routine to keep it together. Then, when the speaker was close to the end of his message he started telling the story of a teenager at one of his crusades who accepted Jesus and then just two hours later – was killed in a car accident. As salt was being poured in a fresh wound – the doors of the sanctuary that led out in to the lobby where being thrown open by many crushed and devastated young people. I saw a young, beautiful girl standing in the lobby in our team colors of purple and orange – I had no idea who she was, but my mother’s heart pressed me to go and just give her a hug. Not only had I lost one friend while about her age --- I had lost two. She held on to me and we both cried – no, not cried. Wept.

Today, I didn’t cry --- I wept again. Before you start thinking I need to be committed – allow me to explain. If you’ve kept up with my story you are aware that I brought I family here from Africa to have surgery for their daughter. Once the family arrived in Nashville I discovered the mother had a sister living in Chicago on a Student Visa. With a little planning – the two sisters saw each other yesterday for the first time in 11 years. Crying, no – weeping, yes.

Grace is being held by her aunt, Marie for the first time.

 On Friday night as I spoke – I used the verse mentioned above and asked the ladies in the audience, “When was the last time that you wept over a group of people? When was the last time that you wept over the evil in this world?”. As with EVERY message I share, God is speaking to me and teaching me something new while I am teaching other people. My two “people groups” to weep for young people and the people of Africa. I’ve known that for some time – but this weekend was a CLEAR reminder of how I need to stay committed to them. I need to beg my Father to put an end to the evil. The evil influences that have a strong hold on our young people. The evil of poverty and war that grip the people of Africa. I know who I’m weeping for. As of this weekend – I think I’m all out of tears for these two groups. I’ve renewed my prayer direction by praying specifically for them. For in the words of Esther, “How can I bear to see disaster fall upon His people?”

Helping Darlene Grace

For today's post - I'm just posting a link to another blog.  The blog says it all so no need for me to re-word something perfectly done. 

The blog is by Dirk Helmling.  He is founder of 29.11 Ministries. Dirk left for Liberia just a few day after I returned home from Liberia. Dirk was the "man" behind my trip speaking trip to Africa. On Dirk's blog he shows more pictures of Darlene Grace's medical problems.

This is a picture of me and little Grace from my June trip. She needs our help. Please pray that God will connect us with the right people to save her life.

http://www.dirkydirk.blogspot.com/

Shoulder to Shoulder

“Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.”

Zephaniah 3:9

I always get tickled at my ministry partner, Leigh, and say to her – “God gives you verses in the most obscure books of the Bible.” Seriously, when was the last time someone in your small group opened up prayer with a verse from Zephaniah!! This was Leigh’s prayer for our ministry team months ago AND God woke me up early this morning with His words from Zephaniah on my brain.

I just returned home from a mission trip in Liberia, West Africa. I’ve ALWAYS wanted to go to Africa. I’ve ALWAYS had a heart for the “least of these”. I’ve NEVER had any clue as to how God would pull all of that together.

But in perfect God fashion, He used a long line of coincidences to form His plan. Oh how I love to look backwards!! I love to look backwards and see the tiny puzzle pieces of life – pieces that alone did not make any sense, but when connected in the right way and in the right time create a beautiful masterpiece.

In a Beth Moore study recently, I heard her say that in our personal and even in our corporate/professional ministry – we need to have some “along with’s”. She was saying that God effectively uses people together in fulfilling their destiny. We don’t do ministry alone. I loved that!!

I can’t say that I have a gazillion friends with a desire to go to Africa. Nor, do I have a gazillion friends with a heart for the least of these. God has given us unique callings, gifts, passions and circumstances. At times – it would be easy to say that I was alone. But looking back, God has been giving me “along with’s”.

When we are in a crisis (negative) – that piece alone doesn’t make any sense. When we are given a specific passion (positive) – that piece alone doesn’t make any sense. It’s easy to be angry when faced with a crisis or frustrated when given a passion for something and you don’t have a clue as to what to do with it!!!

No matter what you are going through this minute – as a believer, you can look back one day and see God’s fingerprints all over it. You will have names of people (maybe people you’ve not met yet) that will be your “along with’s”. People God set aside to work with you shoulder to shoulder during your crisis or in your ministry. Trust that: 1) He sees the big picture 2) Your life’s puzzle pieces will eventually connect and 3) He will receive glory as you share your testimony of what He has done.

Hosting A Banquet?

Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Luke 14:12-14

At church Sunday I was 100% convinced that Bro. Ken has been reading my ministry notes for speaking!  Every few minutes my heart was saying "AMEN!",  followed by my brain saying "that's what I've been saying all along!  Jeez - are you people EVER going to get it?". 

That was then followed up quickly by God reminding me - "Honey, you just think you got it!"

Bro. Ken actually focused on another scripture found in Matthew 16:24-28; "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."  The bottom line of the message is that these are easy words to say - hard words to live out.

He went on to talk about 'Casusal Christians'.  In my speaking messages I talk about a club called 'Comfy Christianity'.  In this club (which I have been a member) we say things like - 1) "I'll pray for you" and 2) "I'm here if you need me" and the very famous Southern 3) "Bless your heart!"

Which is all code for: 1) As soon as I walk away from you I'm going to forget your prayer request.  Truth is I'm super busy and I have a ton of my own requests!  2) Please don't need me, please don't need me - I have no idea how to work you into my schedule.  3) I hate that things are bad for you right now.  I don't mean to rub it in, but I'm just great and the Lord is blessing me left & right!

Everyone of you reading this (especially females) know EXACTLY what I'm talking about.

Two years ago during our UpWards basketball and cheer leading program – promoted to the community, we had around 400 children playing in our gym. Less than 100 of those were “our” church kids. I coached a cheer leading squad and out of my 14 girls, only 3 of those had a church home (and none of them were members of my church). All of my girls came from very poor and very rough backgrounds. One night I noticed on of my girls, her mother was very distressed. As I approached her I saw that her blue jeans were torn from her pocket nearly down to the bottom of her pants leg. She was trying to hide her tears and her torn jeans with her daughter’s jacket. When I asked her how she was doing that night --- I had no idea what I was getting myself into. She shared with me about the domestic assault that had happened moments earlier that lead to her torn jeans, she told me about the drug addictions that lead to her car being reposed, and the affair between her best friend and her husband (before the assault she had accidentally ran across a sex text).

I did not want to know all that. I went to church that night to teach a few cheers and maybe distribute a few hugs to some young girls with a questionable home life. I did not want to invest in this person and her life that was so different from mine..  I had a choice to make at that moment - to take up my cross and deny myself OR to say, “I’ll pray for you. I’m here if you need me. And, bless your heart.” 

As I mentioned, I went to church that night to teach a few cheers – but God intended for me to host a banquet.

Seeing desperation in the eyes of “the poor” who lived in my own backyard was a wake up call for me.  A life devoted to Christ also has a public and transforming relationship with the world. It’s hands on. It’s dirty. It’s heart breaking and I can guarantee that you will not be comfortable. So, have you hosted a banquet?  For me - it's been awhile.  On Sunday, thanks to Bro. Ken - I was reminded of that.  Will you be on the look out for opportunities to host along with me?

Are you weird too?

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Galatians 1:10

Please tell me that I’m not alone in this! Do you have a particular person in your life that always catches you at a weird time? For example when you have food on your face, toilet paper on your shoe or a stain on the back of your shorts from sitting in something at the ballpark --- all while your roots are weeks past a touch up!! This SAME person never seems to see you when you are in your best light. You know without a doubt they think you are the weirdest person in the world!

I have girls 10 & 8 who have some friends, another set of sisters ages 10 &8. When we moved into our subdivision a few years ago I just knew this was a match made in heaven. However, it seems that their mother is always hearing this sentence from my girls: “My parents don’t let us __________ (fill in the blank). Without a doubt she thinks we are the weirdest people in the world! I’m confident she feels that she never catches us in our best light ----- or does she?

Over the last year my girls have filled in the blank with the following: play with Bratz dolls, watch Bratz movies, have shorts that short, show our bellies, say that word (butt), say that other word (shut-up),watch Twilight, watch shows on Nickelodeon after supper, buy Teeny Bopper magazines, hang up posters of pop stars, have a TV in our room, wear fish net gloves because mom says it’s trashy, wear shirts that say I’m a princess or diva or boy crazy or I love vampires, buy clothes at Abercrombie, watch scary movies, play witch, dress like a dead bride, go to the movies with a boy, have a boyfriend, get kid drinks that look like that because they look like grown up drinks…… and trust me, the list goes on and on and on!

In a way, it’s become sort of a joke between Russ and me. When the girls come home from an afternoon of play time - the first thing we ask is, “Well, what could you not do this time?”

What’s funny is that I don’t think of myself as a strict parent (until they come home –ha). And, the girls don’t mind NOT doing any of the things that I’ve mentioned. I have been very proud of how they sincerely don’t want to ___________ (fill in the blank w/any of the above). Well, I take that back – out of everything so far the only thing that caused a fuss was the fish net gloves. Go figure???

When I say “We don’t _________” then explain it’s because: Abercrombie has inappropriate pictures in their store/ads, shorts this length are not modest, we need to keep our minds on things above so we don’t have TV’s in our bedrooms or purchase teen magazines, etc…. And, I follow it with – “Now, your friends might do/have X, Y & Z but that’s not what God wants for our family” the girls have been very cool with it all.

If God’s cool with that, my girls are cool with that --- why do I feel so weird? I’ve recently realized the reason. This family, from what I can see (and we are too look for fruit aren’t we?) are not believers in Christ. What better strategy for Satan than to say to this family: “Look how weird those people are! You don’t want to be like that do you? How silly is that to not let your kids ___________” (fill in the blank). And He says to me: “You really are weird. Don’t you know your silly “stands” are doing more harm than good. Seriously, what’s the big deal.”

It’s a struggle to authentically live Galatians 1:10. The root of my problem is I want to “please” this mother. I want her to like me, like my children, like our choices so that – in my mind – she will like God.

I’m reminded that God’s Word says this again in 1 Thes. 2:4 “…We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.” As well as the entire book of 1 John! Be a light, be set apart, don’t be exactly like the world and so on. As difficult as it is – I’m resolved to continue in making what the world feels are silly stands. Any one standing with me? Are people seeing you in your best light?