Jesus In Disguise

 Today's pictures are brought to you by........Family Movie Night that we have every Friday night.  We usually set up this cute little table (from IKEA) for the twins.  We eat popcorn and snacks and watch a fun movie :).  It is a great tradition and the kids really look forward to this! 

***Later in the post there will be pictures from our "date night" with the twins!  We took them to the mall to play in the little kids area and then got a cookie for Joanna and blue slushy which we all shared.  As you will see- Michael happens to really really really love blue slushy!!!  We had fun and it's been a while since we have done the date nights with each of our kids. 

 So there is a new song that has been on the radio- Jesus In Disguise by Brandon Heath  Here is a link!  The kids cheer when we play it for family worship time!  It got me thinking a lot about the lyrics and how many times we see Jesus in Disguise......

 My mind started thinking about National Adoption Month- THIS MONTH!  How my heart is burdened for the 163 million children that don't have hope......they have been left behind.  Some may live in an orphanage, some live on the street, some live in a dump, some live with people who hurt them, some are in indescribable situations.  Places you would never go.  Places I would never go - EVER!!!! 

 You know one of the things we were a little hesitant with bringing Michael into our family is that he and Joanna were the same age.  How would Joanna act with him.  Would she reject him?  Would they get along?  Would she be upset that he took "her spot"?  We as adoptive families ask these questions.  I think to be honest biological children have the same issues in that someone new may become the baby. 

Time and time again we have been shown very distinctly that God indeed placed Michael here and Joanna has loved him so very much.  She adores him!  It is hard to describe unless you just see it for yourself.

 Then the title of the song keep going through my mind.  These beautiful children in need of homes........

 They need love.......

 They need a cheerleader.........

 They need someone to talk to..........

 They need someone to say FOREVER.........

 They need someone to explore life with........

 They need time...........

 They need..................

 YOU!!!!!! 

 They NEED JESUS IN DISGUISE!!!!!!!   

 They need to see the Jesus In Disguise in those families that STEP FORWARD! 

 The family says- you know....it could be hard.  It could get pretty crazy! 

 It might cost me money, time, energy.......

 It might cost my sanity at times....(ok let's be real I was NOT sane before people, so no real loss for me ;). 

 BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WILL FIND????

 The same thing I know our family has found..........

 It isn't a magic rainbow with a pot of gold at the end (cause money is just money and it all belongs to God).....

 It isn't what we thought...that is for sure......

 IT IS OUR OWN JESUS IN DISGUISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 The simple joys of time spent with JESUS!!!! 

 The simple joys of saying....you know a new ________ might be nice, but who could resist a cookie and slushy with my twins? 

 I think too often we dismiss that the children that need us most.  They are JESUS!  They are his heart!  They were created by HIM!  They are indeed - HIM!

 What if we could do simple acts of kindness with your family and see the JOY on Jesus' face?

 Would it look like this?  Because I can assure you Michael was THRILLED over the slushy.  To him it was awesome! 

 I think adoption is like that!  It doesn't have to be fancy.  Our home - IS NOT FANCY! 

 Our daily lives to most, look crazy! 

 BUT THE JOY!!!!  They JOY OF THE LORD IS HERE!!! 

I pray you know that JOY from your Heavenly Father today!!!! 

IS HE CALLING YOU TO A CHILD THAT NEEDS YOU? 
IS THERE A WAY YOU COULD STEP OUT AND BE JESUS TO ANOTHER CHILD OR TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO NEEDS YOU?
IS THERE A WAY TO SUPPORT THOSE AROUND YOU TO ADOPT?
IS THERE A WAY TO LOOK INTO THESE EYES AND SAY.....sorry......my life is too busy, I can't afford it, it may be too much, I don't think I can handle it, what if???, just don't think I can, I like my routine the way it is, I don't have enough room............
What can we say to JESUS?  

The following passage has a verse I love- John 14:18......but have you ever taken the time to study and read the surrounding verses?  Yep.....pretty appropriate huh?

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be^[c] in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
²² Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
²⁸ “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. ²⁹ I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. ³⁰ I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, ³¹ but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.