We're Still Here...But We've Been Busy

Dear beloved readers, I beg your forgiveness for my lack of postings! Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate these unfamiliar waters that we now find ourselves in. To quickly bring you up to speed on the status of rebuilding: Because the investigation into the fire continues, we are not allowed to disturb the site. Thus, our dear builder is on hold. At this point, we are considering moving the site of the new house 50 feet forward so that the builder can get started on the new house even while the investigation continues at the old site. Meanwhile, we are now staying at the bigger missionary house. What a blessing to be able to spread out in a 5BR, 2.5 BA house again!!! We are still bringing things over from next door, but hope to have that process completed by the end of the week. Last week, we had the privilege and opportunity to speak at a local church on the topic of orphan care/foster care and adoption from a Christian perspective. What a blessed time we had with a body of believers that truly gets it!!! Here is the message that Jesus gave us to share that morning. May it be a blessing to you! "THE MINISTRY OF CHRISTIAN FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION: PARENTING KIDS FROM HARD PLACES" Ten Lessons Learned by the Arni Family 1) THE CHRISTIAN'S INVOLVEMENT IN ORPHAN CARE IS NOT OPTIONAL. James 1:27 says, " 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." EVERYONE can be involved in some way. 2) PARENTING KIDS FROM HARD PLACES IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME AS PARENTING CHILDREN BORN TO YOU. You will need to be willing to expand your knowledge base and add to your skill set. II Peter 1:5 - 9 "For this reason, make every effort to add to you faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control; and to self control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 3) PRAYER IS ESSENTIAL. James 5:16b, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Phil. 4:6 & 7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." 4) A GOOD SUPPORT SYSTEM WILL ENABLE YOU TO PERSEVERE IN THE TOUGH TIMES. Gal. 6:2, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Let people help you; don't rob them of the opportunity to come alongside and serve. 5) LEARN ALL YOU CAN ABOUT SPIRITUAL WARFARE. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Eph. 6 :12 6) REDEMPTION IS COSTLY, HARD WORK. I Cor. 6:19b & 20a, "...You are not your own; you were bought at a price..." That great price meant the Cross for Jesus. As we daily lay down our lives for these little ones, there is a cost involved. 7) DO NOT TAKE ACTING OUT BEHAVIOR PERSONALLY. You just happen to be the nearest target. :-) James 1:19b, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,..." Listen for the message coming from the child's hurting heart. 8) YOU WILL BE THIS CHILD'S STRONGEST ADVOCATE. Matt. 7:7 & 8 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease (and the services)! 9) THIS CHILD OR CHILDREN, FIRST AND FOREMOST, BELONGS TO JESUS. We must always remember that He loves them so much more than we ever could and that He has a perfect plan even when we don't understand. "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a furture." Jeremiah 29:11 10) JESUS IS IN THE BUSINESS OF RESTORATION AND ALLOWS US TO PARTICIPATE WITH HIM. "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me; because the Lord has annointed me to to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor." CONCLUSION: Did you know when you entered into this sacred ministry of foster care and adoption that you would become these things through Him???? Listen to this list again... 1) Good News preacher 2) binder up of the brokenhearted 3) freedom proclaimer to those imprisoned and in darkness 4) proclaimer of the Lord's favor 5) proclaimer of God's vengeance 6) comforter of those in mourning 7) provider for the grieving 8) bestower of crowns of beauty for ashes 9) bestowers of gladness for mourning 10) bestowers of garments of praise for a spirit of despair What is the result of participating with Jesus in the lives of hurting children in this way??? "They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor." We challenge you to join Him where He is already working...get involved in some way in this wonderful work of foster care, adoption and orphan care!!! By His grace, Chris