Uninterrupted Connection

Twice I was going to post here yesterday.  No connection.  I went through the diagnosis to find the problem.  I suddenly connected again, but by then I lost my muse or was sidelined by some other project that didn't require a computer.  This morning I went through the same thing.  I still don't know if the problem is on my end or the service provider's end, but it seems to be going fine now.

This causes me to reflect upon the amazing connection God gives us.  He is always here for us no matter what.  He does not depend on anything or anyone else to keep His connection going, because He has all things in His Almighty hands. 

Jesus laid down His life to give us a lifeline to God.  No interruptions.  No busy signals.  No matter how heavy the storms that destroy everything in their wake, our connection to God will never, never fail.  Amazing grace!

The connection on God's side is always open 24/7.  It is from our side that the lines get disconnected.  We can be so unsteady, so untrusting, but God remains faithful and unswerving.

Thank You, Jesus, for giving us an uninterrupted, open lifeline of communication!  We may not always get the answers we want or when we want, but thank You for always being available 24/7!

My Interpreter

It has been over 26 years ago, but I still think of one of my first-graders as "my little interpreter."  Jeffrey was fluent in both English and Dutch, and he was a God-send when it came to reaching my Dutch immigrants.

I was teaching in Canada in a very Dutch community.  I tried to learn Dutch, but except for a few phrases, I didn't get very far.  Teaching English to new Dutch students held priority.  Because of this, the principal would often place the Dutch students in my class since the other first-grade teacher was also a Dutch immigrant and would too easily give in to speaking in Dutch to these new immigrants.

Petite, blond-haired Janita was shy and sensitive when she came to my class.  I tried the best I could to make her feel loved and welcomed, but one day when I was telling the Bible story, she began to cry.  I felt in my heart that she was overwhelmed with the fact that she could not understand me.  I could feel she longed to know what I was talking about, but how could I comfort her other than giving her a hug?

I asked my other students if anyone would be able to help me, and Jeffrey quickly volunteered.  I told Jeffrey bit by bit what I wanted to tell Janita, and I was deeply touched by how he also relayed my compassion.  Jeffrey leaned down to Janita at her desk and rattled off in Dutch that it would be very hard to learn English, but we would help her all we can, and she would soon understand what we were saying. 

Janita wiped the tears from her cheeks with her hands, and her smile of trust beamed a ray of peace to my heart.  By the end of the year, Janita blossomed not only as a speaker of English but as a sweet, bubbly gal.

I will always carry a photo in my memory of little Jeffrey and how adequately he interpreted not only my words but also my feelings, and it causes me to think of another Interpreter Who interprets our feelings with perfection and infinite power.

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We don't always know how to pray or what to pray for, but He intercedes for us to the Father with groanings that words cannot even express.  (Romans 8:26) Even when we are wordless and can only sigh, He knows exactly how to relay that to the Father Who hears. 

Reader, remember that no matter what, God knows our heart and hears every little sigh and groan.  Are we convinced in our hearts of this each day?

Love Does Not Come Through DNA

Why is it that so often weight is placed on more love coming through blood relations than in adoption, whether legally or informally? 

Love does not come from DNA.  Love comes from a much deeper source.  Yes, love comes through blood, but certainly not ours.  Jesus sacrificed His blood for us because He loves us so much.  His blood is the eternal spring out of which love flows.  Without it there would be no love at all in this world.

There are couples who show more genuine love towards their adopted children than couples who abuse and neglect the children who have their own DNA or blood.  Each child, whether by birth or adoption or through marriage, is a miracle from God Himself and is worthy of our love.  If our hearts are filled with the blood of Jesus, we will love our children.

I have heard of adoptive parents, myself included, who have been approached with - Too bad you never had any children of your own.  It always cut me to the core of my heart.  Unless I instinctively drew within myself like a wounded puppy, I would answer, "I do have children of my own, five of them!"

When I married a widower with five children, God richly blessed me with children of my own.  I was fearful that if something happened to my husband, the law would take them away from me, so I legally adopted them.  But even if I hadn't adopted them and had remained a "step-parent," my love would run deep for my children, contrary to the stereotype found in the story of Cinderella.

A parent not loving their child comes through the parent's sin, not whether the parent is a "blood-parent," an adoptive parent, or a step-parent.

You see, love for a child does not come through DNA.  It comes through the blessed blood of Jesus!  And I know God has given me a mother's and grandmother's love so deep that I would gladly relieve my children and grandchildren of all their hurts by taking them onto myself and I would count it an honor to die for them.

Reader, how about you?  Will you share your story?