Adopted...

This morning I was privileged to attend an adoption of a young lady by

a family in my local congregation.

I 'fell apart' in the court room, thinking of how someone did that for me

one day nearly 40 years ago, giving me a new name and welcoming

me into their home.

And then I thought of how I have been privileged to receive

adoption not only once, but twice.

God does this for each of us who come to Him in Jesus' name

repenting and turning from our wicked ways.

He adopts us into His family and gives us a new name.

Lexi was concerned this morning that she won't know how to

spell her new name as she is only 6 and her new last name is

"BURKHOLDER", quite a bit longer than the name she is

used to spelling.

But I am sure her parents and siblings will show her how to

spell her new name and she will practice writing it on

her school papers over the years and she will

learn how to spell it with ease and appreciate it.

So it is in our walk with God.

We do not come knowing how to 

"spell our names" in his family and in the new life

that He gives us.

But His plan is that we will be discipled

(read the last half of the Great Commission

in Matthew 28:19) and that we will have

hearts that are new and desire to learn of Him.

I am thankful that my parents taught me how to live 

in the family they gave me.

I am also grateful for the disciplers who answered 

God's call to 'go' and be that in my life over the years.

I leave you with this encouragement:

Be part of God's family. 

It is the BEST family to be in.

AND please receive instruction

and learn of Him so that you

can go out into the fields white unto harvest

and be a reaper til He comes.

Love and blessings,

Marcia