Logan Posted October 17, 2014 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 22 Topic Count: 32 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 1,849 Content Per Day: 0.47 Reputation: 2,013 Days Won: 24 Joined: 07/08/2013 Status: Offline Birthday: 10/15/1996 Share Posted October 17, 2014 A friend asked me something the other day that really made me think. He said, "Do you think being adopted has had an effect on the way you see God, as opposed to someone who wasn't?" When he asked me that, my first thought was, "No, it's nothing special. God's the same to everyone." However, the more I think about that, the more I realize it isn't true. Some people put God in a box; they believe that He can't possibly solve their problems. Some people are still trying to "win" Him over by their good deeds, though they have been believers for years. Many people see someone altogether different, although we're all looking at the same God. I realize that I will never, ever understand God, because His ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9) With that being said, one thing I have learned about God is that He truly loves all of His children. "How deep the Father's love for us How vast,beyond all measure." That He should give His ONLY son To make a wretch His treasure" How true that song is. He loves us SO much, that it simply cannot be measured. He only had one begotten Son. He gave him up, sacrificed a part of Himself, to make all of us wretched, hopeless people His treasure. That sure does sound like adoption to me. Giving up parts of yourself to treasure a child that wasn't yours from the beginning. Another characteristic of God reflected by adoption: unconditional love. If you've been adopted, and you didn't receive unconditional love from that, my heart hurts for you. I did receive that, and it truly is amazing. I pushed my parents away time and again, and I know I hurt them deeply with my rejection. But don't we do that to God every day? And He never gives up. Thank God they didn't give up on me. Consider this: Do you think that a child, or anyone for that matter, can comprehend a God that gives unconditional love, that will never give up no matter how many times we push Him away, that will NEVER abandon us, if they've never been shown it? I don't. My adoption HAS changed the way I see God. You see, when someone has been abandoned, they have all these doubts and insecurities. Being adopted didn't magically fix this. My understanding of what that truly means, with my parents and with God, did. No magic. Just the understanding that I was chosen, even though I felt that there must be something wrong with me. My parents chose me. God chose me, although I am dirty, shameful, and inadequate. I revel in that! How amazing it is to know that I don't have to do it all, because I can't! But He loves me anyway. He chose me as His son, and He will always take care of me. I know my parents can't always take care of me, but I know they will never stop trying. I understand that God picked me up out of my insecurities, He didn't let go, and He changed my life. "...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." -Luke 12:48 If you have much, love on some kids. Adopt them, or foster them. It won't be easy, actually it'll be really hard. But it's amazing being loved by a parent who didn't HAVE to love you. God calls us all to do just that. 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." Thank you, Dad and Mom, for loving me unconditionally even though I put you guys through it over and over. I will never be able to express how thankful I am, or how loved I feel. 1 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chapmic Posted October 17, 2014 Group: Junior Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 0 Topics Per Day: 0 Content Count: 84 Content Per Day: 0.02 Reputation: 13 Days Won: 0 Joined: 09/19/2014 Status: Offline Share Posted October 17, 2014 Awesome post! God bless! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willa Posted October 17, 2014 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 68 Topic Count: 186 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 14,244 Content Per Day: 3.33 Reputation: 16,658 Days Won: 30 Joined: 08/14/2012 Status: Offline Share Posted October 17, 2014 Thank you for your testamony, Logan. When our son adopted I wrote to our grand daughter, explaining how God has adopted all of us who receive Him. She has been running from God and rebelling ever since. We still pray for her and love on her, even though she has made her life very tough and dangerous for herself. We also pray that her younger siblings will have their eyes opened by this and choose the narrow road, resisting sinful life styles. My hubby was also adopted. He has struggled with the rejection and abuse by parents and foster parents, and he never wanted to adopt because of his experience. It made me all the more determined not to leave him. More recently he was so impressed by the lives and homes of my cousins who have given their lives adopting and taking in foster children, as did their parents. It is now a large extended family that is down to earth and real, transparent, and having Godly love for each other that binds them in peace and acceptance. They can even complain about each other while their mutual love is overwhelmingly evident. Our other son is a big brother to a teen aged foster child. There are many ways to reach out to others who have endured emotionly cripling experiences. Just being a good friend can help immeasurably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncn Posted October 17, 2014 Group: Graduated to Heaven Followers: 6 Topic Count: 406 Topics Per Day: 0.09 Content Count: 5,248 Content Per Day: 1.13 Reputation: 1,337 Days Won: 67 Joined: 08/07/2011 Status: Offline Share Posted October 17, 2014 A friend asked me something the other day that really made me think. He said, "Do you think being adopted has had an effect on the way you see God, as opposed to someone who wasn't?" When he asked me that, my first thought was, "No, it's nothing special. God's the same to everyone." However, the more I think about that, the more I realize it isn't true. Some people put God in a box; they believe that He can't possibly solve their problems. Some people are still trying to "win" Him over by their good deeds, though they have been believers for years. Many people see someone altogether different, although we're all looking at the same God. I realize that I will never, ever understand God, because His ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9) With that being said, one thing I have learned about God is that He truly loves all of His children. "How deep the Father's love for us How vast,beyond all measure." That He should give His ONLY son To make a wretch His treasure" How true that song is. He loves us SO much, that it simply cannot be measured. He only had one begotten Son. He gave him up, sacrificed a part of Himself, to make all of us wretched, hopeless people His treasure. That sure does sound like adoption to me. Giving up parts of yourself to treasure a child that wasn't yours from the beginning. Another characteristic of God reflected by adoption: unconditional love. If you've been adopted, and you didn't receive unconditional love from that, my heart hurts for you. I did receive that, and it truly is amazing. I pushed my parents away time and again, and I know I hurt them deeply with my rejection. But don't we do that to God every day? And He never gives up. Thank God they didn't give up on me. Consider this: Do you think that a child, or anyone for that matter, can comprehend a God that gives unconditional love, that will never give up no matter how many times we push Him away, that will NEVER abandon us, if they've never been shown it? I don't. My adoption HAS changed the way I see God. You see, when someone has been abandoned, they have all these doubts and insecurities. Being adopted didn't magically fix this. My understanding of what that truly means, with my parents and with God, did. No magic. Just the understanding that I was chosen, even though I felt that there must be something wrong with me. My parents chose me. God chose me, although I am dirty, shameful, and inadequate. I revel in that! How amazing it is to know that I don't have to do it all, because I can't! But He loves me anyway. He chose me as His son, and He will always take care of me. I know my parents can't always take care of me, but I know they will never stop trying. I understand that God picked me up out of my insecurities, He didn't let go, and He changed my life. "...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." -Luke 12:48 If you have much, love on some kids. Adopt them, or foster them. It won't be easy, actually it'll be really hard. But it's amazing being loved by a parent who didn't HAVE to love you. God calls us all to do just that. 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." Thank you, Dad and Mom, for loving me unconditionally even though I put you guys through it over and over. I will never be able to express how thankful I am, or how loved I feel. I think this post will make your mum and dad very proud of you. So much love and thought that you have put into it. God has truly Blessed your family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fez Posted October 17, 2014 Group: Royal Member Followers: 3 Topic Count: 683 Topics Per Day: 0.12 Content Count: 11,128 Content Per Day: 2.00 Reputation: 1,352 Days Won: 54 Joined: 02/03/2009 Status: Offline Birthday: 12/07/1952 Share Posted October 17, 2014 This is an amazing post Logan. Save it! It will be something you preach to many one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hippie333 Posted October 18, 2014 Group: Royal Member Followers: 15 Topic Count: 114 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 1,236 Content Per Day: 0.29 Reputation: 673 Days Won: 1 Joined: 10/24/2012 Status: Offline Birthday: 12/18/1970 Share Posted October 18, 2014 Awesome testimony bradda! - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue gem Posted October 18, 2014 Group: Junior Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 18 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 195 Content Per Day: 0.06 Reputation: 41 Days Won: 0 Joined: 08/31/2014 Status: Offline Share Posted October 18, 2014 Hi Logan, I was brought up in Foster care (fostered by an Aunt) I have put a very brief testimony on my profile page. Over the years God has shown my several verses about being adopted into his family, and how he puts people in families and is a child to the fatherless etc. There are also a number of verses in the bible where God specifically gives instructions on how to treat the fatherless and widows and I believe God is only too aware of the unique difficulties which children can encounter when it is not possible for them to live with their own parents; and that he has a special place in his heart for them. He showed me very early on about his overwhelming amazing love. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwikphilly Posted October 18, 2014 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 96 Topic Count: 307 Topics Per Day: 0.08 Content Count: 18,136 Content Per Day: 4.63 Reputation: 27,817 Days Won: 327 Joined: 08/03/2013 Status: Offline Share Posted October 18, 2014 Blessings Logan Hm,How very blessed your parents are to have a wonderful son ,loving you is very easy Logan,,,,,,,,God Bless you always With much love,,,,,,,Kwik "M" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Littlelambseativy Posted October 18, 2014 Group: Royal Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 230 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 4,941 Content Per Day: 0.95 Reputation: 2,003 Days Won: 14 Joined: 02/08/2010 Status: Offline Share Posted October 18, 2014 What a great comparison of our Adotion into God's family " while we were yet sinners". Thanks Logan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patticats Posted October 18, 2014 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 65 Topic Count: 575 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 3,690 Content Per Day: 0.67 Reputation: 2,360 Days Won: 9 Joined: 02/18/2009 Status: Offline Share Posted October 18, 2014 Glory to God! I see His work in your life!! You're a blessing Logan!! Keep sharing the Love of God always!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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