 *November is National Adoption Month and was launched by the US Department of Health and Human Services / Children's Bureau "with the goal to increase national awareness of the need for permanent families for children and youth in the U.S. foster care system." If you're like I am, you probably know quite a few families who have adopted -- or maybe you are one! Many have gone overseas, whereas as others adopt domestically or foster in order to adopt. The road to adoption can be a bit bumpy for most folks and may be filled with ditches, detours, and dead ends. Thank goodness, we have God on our sides in this endeavor!  It's no wonder that James placed such high esteem upon those who adopt, categorizing this act of LOOKING AFTER: to visit, to care for, provide for, look upon in order to help or benefit as religion that is PURE: clean, blameless, free from corrupt desire and FAULTLESS: not defiled, unsoiled (BLB).
I've always loved this verse because it offers clear actions to take or a roadmap on how to exercise our faith in practical ways. It's also one of the OTHERISMS in the Bible, you know, a verse that keeps our eyes on the condition and plight of others and encourages us to serve. And James felt it necessary to add the last part of this verse admonishing us to make every effort to live a spiritually and physically unblemished life as a true testimony to our religion. In either case, whether we look after orphans and widows or keep ourselves pure, patience must arise in our hearts and be the mindset of the day, the week, the month, and even the year or years! We need to demonstrate patience during the process of maturing in our faith and advancing the Kingdom through our actions. This month on the CHOOSE 2 THINK PODCAST, you'll hear from a few guests who have walked through this journey of adoption. Be sure to tune in and share with friends who have adopted or are waiting to adopt. Share the Good News today. *Adoption Research, 2013 Comments are closed.
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