Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Orphan Sunday Recap

Finally!
Orphan Sunday!
Beginning of Revival!

It worked out that revival began on Orphan Sunday. 
God worked it out that revival began on Orphan Sunday.
It was a wonderful day!  We had a full house and although we only had a few minutes to share, everything about it was wonderful.
What did I say? 
I don't know! 
If anyone was there, please tell me! 
I always get up there and act like a blubbering idiot!
Renea and I had made a video and our plan was to speak for a few minutes and then have them play the video.  Well they started the video as we were making our way to the front, so we just sat on the front pew while it played.  This video shared some personal moments of our adoption. 
We shared Jia's referral photo ( I call it my 'love at first sight' picture), a clip of her still living in the orphanage and the actual first moment we saw her!
We sat there, both of us sobbing, sniffing with contrite hearts.  And we still had to get up in front of everyone and speak! 
It's so hard to put into words what adoption does to you.  It changes you.
You are never the same after that.  You can't go where we've gone, see what we've seen, experience in your heart what we've experienced and ever be the same again. 
You come out on the other end of an adoption changed.  Crushed. 
I shared this verse:
Don’t excuse yourself by saying,
“Look, we didn’t know.”
For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.
He who guards your soul knows you knew.
He will repay all people as their actions deserve.
Proverbs 24:12

As it turns out, our Sunday School lesson and morning sermon were all about service.  And to me, Joint Heirs Adoption Ministry is my service.
God has shown me His heart for the Orphan. 
I have read His Word.
I know what it says about caring for the least of these.
I believe it.
I can no longer say "Look, I didn't know."
I do know.
He knows I know.
And I can't shut up about it.

It's sort of like sharing the Gospel message, if it causes just one sinner to repent, it was all worth it.
Well, if all my blabbering about adoption causes just one more child to find a home, then it was all worth it!

I felt convicted to share the most personal moments of our adoption with our church family because they all see Jia as she is now.  She is a wild woman at church.  She loves to go to church!  She says "everybody loves me!"  She knows it and she's right!
They see this vivacious, onery little girl running up the isle for childrens message, shaking hands, hitting her brother... etc.  But they hadn't seen the lonely, stoic, sad little girl in the orphanage with an expressionless face, waiting for a family to come for her. 
We see the images on TV and I don't think we believe that they're real.  Until we've seen it with our own eyes, we think they're made up or that they're embellished.  When if fact, they're toned down.  They don't show you the really bad stuff. 
Something very important to Renea and I is to be real.  To be honest.  The truth doesn't need to be embellished.  We aren't out to tell sad stories and pull on people's heart strings.  We're out to share the TRUTH and convict them with God's word:

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this:
 to visit orphans and widows in their trouble,
and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
James 1:27

'Nuff said!

Next post will be about the childrens message we shared.  The worship leader said it's a good day in church with the children's message convicts you!

Renea designed our very own JHAM Orphan Sunday shirts and everyone was so excited to wear them!  Even our Pastor and his wife had one on!

Trying to hold it together and still get across some important points.


JHAM with Sassy Pants


Jory sneaked his new camera into church and I guess I"m kinda glad he did or we wouldn't have these pictures to remember the day! 
He wanted to wear his shirt so bad!  It was all I could do to keep it off of him until Sunday so it would be clean!  I love you Jory!


Jia giving us her 'Grandma smile'!


My beautiful daughter.  I can't believe I"m so blessed to call her mine and see her smiling face everyday!

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Friday, November 5, 2010

Notice Something New???

Okay, look to the right of my blog.... now look to the left.

See 'em??

2 ways to support orphans this November... or anytime!

On the right is the order form to order your JHAM shirts... designed by Renea, inspired by Joy!
On the left is the link to Adoption Bug.  You can order a shirt from there and we get a portion of the sales from there as well!

All profits will go toward Orphan relief in some form or another.  We will donate to a larger cause, or we would LOVE to donate to a family who is ready to step out and adopt a child of their own!

What are you waiting for?  November is National Adoption Month and a great time to show support for the fatherless.  However, orphans are orphans all year round.  Anytime is a GREAT time to show your support! 

And don't EVEN make me remind you of how many days there are until Christmas.  Oh no.  We're not going there at all.  But any of these shirts would make a great gift!

Need Your Help...

I'm working on a video for National Adoption Month to show during our presentation at Church.  I'm using Matthew West - One Less. 
I would love to have some other adoptive kiddo's in this as well.  If you're willing to share a couple of before/after photo's and of couse that precious 'gotcha moment' picture, please contact me to send me your photo's.
You can rest assured that they will only be used for the video.
Thanks everyone!
Joy

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Worship in Guangzhou

I was looking for something else and ran across this video
from our time in China.
We attended Church on Shamian Island
and I was amazed at the feeling I had there.
I thought it would be strange, uncomfortable.
But instead, it was amazing.
Goosebump giving.
Everyone was worshipping together.
The One True God.
Awesome.


At the time, I was a bit overwhelmed to really let it sink in.
But watching this video now and reading the words
we sang that day....

My hearts desire is to be holy,
set apart for You Lord.
I choose to be holy,
set apart for You my Master,
READY TO DO YOUR WILL.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

November....

November is National Adoption Month

With 147 Million Orphans in the world,
what is your response?


Will you Pray?? 
That is certainly doable.
When you lay your head down on your comfy pillow,
snuggle in your nice soft bed under those plush warm blankets...
after reading your children a bed time story
and lovingly tucking them in at night...
Will you pray??
For those that have spent the day the exact same way
they've spent every day before.
For those that have barely enough to eat and go to bed hungry.
For those that lay on the dirt under the bed of their parents because that's the safest place to be?
For those laying on a piece of plywood because that's easiest to clean?
For the ones who have cried or rocked themselves to sleep?


Can you give?
Can you take some of the money you spend at Starbucks...
or McDonalds? 
Can you give up buying that new shirt?
Do we really need a minimum of 12 pairs of shoes?
Not sure where to give?
Contact me.
There are tons of ways to support orphans.
I can give you a dozen charities to give to...
that work in any country you want to support.


OR WILL YOU BE ONE TO GO?????

Who! Hoo!

Will you say YES??!! 

Will you choose to follow God's example and adopt a child of your own?

Will you choose a changing the life of a child over...

a bigger house?  that new car??  your dream vacation???

Will you chose radical over the American Dream?

I can assure you, you won't ever be sorry!



Joint Heirs Adoption Ministry is selling T-shirts for
National Adoption Month.

Decide what you will do and order your T today!

Shirts are $20

All profits go to support orphans.

Contact me and put NAM shirt in the subject line.




Tuesday, November 2, 2010