Glorious Day

it was glorious for more reasons than being my first warm day this year...

our church welcomed two new members in Christ into our fold. i guess i can crow about this one! i am a Godmother. i have always wanted a Godchild. it is not an honorary title to me, it is a serious position in a child's life. we are commanded to baptize and teach. if my Godchild isn't attending church, i will call his/her parents to ask why not? and if i feel the need to, i will bring that child myself, even if it means driving to their college and taking them. EVEN if it is a 1000 miles away. it is a blessing and privilege to be asked. it carries weighty responsibility. i am up for the job! my faith is strong...so is my will!

introducing our first Godchild...

please join us in praying for his soul and blessings throughout his life... and for the other sweet child too!

LORD GOD, MOST HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFTS OF BAPTISM. WE PRAISE YOU FOR YOUR PLANS TO UNITE OUR SOULS IN HEAVEN WITH YOU THROUGH JESUS'S AMAZING SACRIFICE. WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER STEPHEN AND VIOLET THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. KEEP THEM CLOSE TO YOU, PROTECT, GUIDE, AND STRENGTHEN THEM IN THEIR FAITH DAILY. MAKE THEM NEW IN YOU AS OFTEN AS THE NIGHT BECOMES DAY. HELP US TO TEACH THEM THROUGH YOUR WORD. FORTIFY THEIR FAMILIES TO INSTRUCT AND RAISE THEM IN YOUR TEACHINGS. PLEASE GIVE THEM LONG LIVES FULL OF BLESSING AND PROVISION. WE BOLDLY ASK THIS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.

and the day was doubly blessed to welcome violet into our Body of Christ too.

i had forgotten to bring tissues up to the font and fought back tears of joy and thanksgiving the entire time. although i was not the only one...i will behave and not mention who else was having trouble keeping the overwhelming gratitude and love under wraps.

 

 seven children adopted from China in the last three years. one missing. one on the way.

 adopted children and siblings. four families missing from picture.

 our family

please know that our community isn't born of "keeping up with the jones's" but one of catching the fire of the Holy Spirit. The one that magnifies and has us put into practice: James 1:27  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.

our community is a place of race-blindness, of dying to ourselves to serve the Lord and those He loves, of serving Him in every way He has instructed us. these are the fruits of those labors. i am so grateful to be chosen to be one of these.