How will you give hope to orphans this Christmas?

I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  (Mark 11:23-24) 

I can't believe it was 7 Christmases ago that God came to us with His plan to adopt a "little blond angel" from Ukraine with Down syndrome that needed a home. We are humbly blessed that she is home now safe and sound. But what about the ones we left behind? Who will welcome them into their home?

I'm so thankful Show Hope was there in the beginning and gave us a gracious grant to help bring her home. Not only that, they gave us the HOPE we needed to believe we could do it. Through their example and generosity we knew God would provide, and He did! 

If God is tugging at your heart to adopt, He will provide for you too! Just listen to your heart for the way...

Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. (John 14:6) 

Without the love of a family, orphans will die without HOPE. I know because I have a special needs child that lived her first 7 months in and out of the hospital. I saw all the babies crying and no one was there. For that reason, I never left Hannah's side. I know she would have died without me. She was that sick and no one knew her like her mother. She was a fighter. I'm thankful for that. I'm glad she lived. She is the reason we adopted "little blond angel" AKA Lera. Lera made it 5 years without us. She was very strong and made it. But without us now, her life would look a lot different than it does now. Orphans with special needs that don't get adopted are sentenced to life in an institution. Not a pretty place. I saw where Lera could have gone with my own eyes. Walls lined up with beds; rows and rows of children crying, rocking, or too weak to cry and move. How could I ever forget what I saw? But my eyes have also seen the redemption of our child. I will be eternally grateful for what God can do if only we believe. Believe in the life of a child this Christmas. Many more are waiting! 

Via Show Hope: 

"How will you give hope to orphans this Christmas?"

For inspiration, visit our "Gifts of Hope" catalog for a number of different ways togive hope.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. (1John 4:7) 

God moved mountains to bring our little girls together. SEE what love has come to us!

Our little girls love to dance...

This was their "First Christmas Together 2009" - Hannah and Lera dancing, all ready to go see Santa! ;) 

...and they love to sing!

 

This is them today..."December 2014!" I love that they ran in our room and turned the radio up all loud and were dancing/singing/inspiring me with this song before they left for school that day (photo first seen on Instagram @debanorsworthy). May you be inspired too! - 

Jason Castro - Only A Mountain (Official Music Video)  http://youtu.be/1OWLs1G3q1o 

Wow Moments

Does it ever hit you? You know, times when you think, WOW! Those "Wow Moments" are such an encouragement when they come. And you know it is GOD getting your attention! 

One of those moments came to me when my husband, Jim was driving us to the APGFCU Arena in Bel Air, Maryland, Friday night, to be at "Joy: The Christmas Tour" to see Steven Curtis Chapman!!!! Earlier in the week, I saw a post on Facebook where Show Hope was looking for volunteers to help them out and the concert would be free! Of course I jumped on it and got all the details...who wouldn't want to go?! Then asked my husband to see if he could get away from work, early, and he did! On that night, as happy as I was to be on our way, it hit me that it was the 7th anniversary of a "little blond angel" coming to us by email. On December 5, 2007, an email was sent out by my now dear friend, Theresa Mitchell and traveled all over the U.S. from one Down syndrome support group to the next, until it landed in our email box, and I opened it, the next day, on December 6, 2007...

Then today, I got this email...the EXACT same email Jim and I got from Joni Eareckson Tada on December 7, 2007! It is the same Joni and Friends Daily Devotional God used 7 years ago to confirm a "little blond angel" from Ukraine was meant to be ours! Please read more about it in my book; Chasing A Dream Where The Sunflowers Grow. (http://bookstore.westbowpress.com/Products/SKU-000463730/Chasing-a-Dream-Where-the-Sunflowers-Grow.aspx) 

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Joni and Friends Daily Devotional   December 7, 2014

Dear Debbie,

Bold Love

"Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.' So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly."          Luke 19:1-6

 

Why is it that Jesus singled out the little man in the sycamore tree, no one knows. But what is clear is this: The Lord stepped boldly into Zacchaeus' life. Out of the entire crowd, Jesus called him by name. He told Zacchaeus to scurry down from his perch. And the Lord not only invited Himself to his home, He hardly gave the little man time to think twice about it.

 

Some would say that Jesus was a bit bold to presume upon Zacchaeus. Telling a host he must open his home to you? Bold, yes. But it was the boldness of love. Jesus ensured that His command would be well received, for He inclined the heart of Zacchaeus to welcome Him.

 

The love of God is daring and courageous. But wait. When you consider that it's the Lord of the universe who steps up to the door of your heart and knocks for entrance, only a fool would refuse Him entry. Like Zacchaeus, Jesus invites Himself into your life, bringing His own joy and welcome. And just as He did with Zacchaeus, He tells you not to hesitate.

 

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)

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I can learn something from Zacchaeus, Lord. I can throw open the door of my heart to You and say, "Welcome!" 

Blessings,

 

Joni and Friends 

(www.joniandfriends.org)

My sweet husband, Jim being a volunteer for Show Hope, Friday night, December 5, 2014, Bel Air, Maryland. 

I was so humbled and filled w/joy to be a part of the orphan care movement...God bless many more orphans! 

Joy: The Christmas Tour 2014 - Steven Curtis Chapman - "All I Really Want" (For Christmas)...is a family! <3 

http://youtu.be/m6W_tZlXwbc 

"Pure and lasting worship in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans..."  (James 1:27a)

"Help give lasting love and life-giving care to an orphan with special needs." (www.showhope.org)