A Prayer for My Children

My daughter bit me yesterday. She had climbed onto the kitchen chair and as I was moving her, she screamed and bit my shoulder out of anger towards not getting her way.

This episode reminded me once again how desperately my 16 month old babies need Jesus to save them one day. Sin is rooted so deep in all of us as a result of Adam's sin and it even shows its ugly face in the lives of babes. Each day that I get up, I am aware that I am entering a battlefield - a war in the spiritual realm over the souls of my children. If I neglect to teach and discipline out of laziness or apathy, my children will bear the consequences of my decisions.

"God, 

Give me both the grace and wisdom to discipline and teach my children well. May I never discipline out of anger or frustration, but only out of love and obedience to Your Word. Protect the souls of my little ones from the enemy. May I be a faithful steward in shepherding their little hearts. And please, please save both Abel and Belle as soon as your sovereign will allows. 
In Jesus' name, Amen."

Interview, Seminar, and Spiritual Warfare

Our 2nd interview also went well on Tuesday. We were each interviewed separately for an hour each. The seminar yesterday was wonderful! We were only 1 of 2 embryo adoption couples there out of 20+ couples in NC. We were able to learn more about other kinds of adoption - both domestic and international. We thoroughly enjoyed learning and meeting other couples and seeing their passion for the way God has called them to build their families. I cried during videos and was just overwhelmed with the thought that God would ask us to be a part of rescuing little ones who need a Christian family. Last October was our first month that we began to TTC - and God knew that exactly a year later, we'd be in the heart of our adoption process. We didn't know - But, He did. As we aggressively tried to build a family our way - He was smiling knowing that He had a better plan in store for our family! God also knew back in 2006, when I first read about embryo adoption on Baptist Press and thought it sounded wonderful that He would call us to pursue it in 2009. The amazing thing about it was that I told Aaron "Maybe we can pursue this after we have biological children." God chose to have us struggle with infertility though, knowing that the NEDC only accepts couples who have been declared infertile by a doctor. Oh how I love God's sweet sovereignty!!!

We also were blessed to listen to a panel of parents who had adopted and birthmothers who had chosen to give their baby a life they couldn't. These birthmothers are truly heroic! They are faced with a decision that I could not even imagine and yet they are unselfish enough to choose what is best for their children! My respect for Bethany Christian Services continues to grow - They really love Jesus and I'm so thankful that we chose them to conduct our home assessment for the NEDC. They love and counsel these birthmothers while pointing them to the Cross of Christ - such a ministry!

This journey also presents difficult aspects as well - spiritual warfare. Aaron and I definitely feel a very real fight against demonic oppression. Satan hates babies - He loves abortion, embryonic stem cell research, babies who grow up in orphanges overseas never hearing the Gospel, children who are abused...He loathes Christians who have a heart for adoption. I won't go into detail, but if you are a also a believer, please pray for spiritual protection during this adoption process for us.

For the sake of the Gospel,
Jennifer :)