Huh

Today I’m linking you to another friend of mine, Jen. Her and her husband, Jason, have adopted one little guy and are in the process of adopting three more kids. You can go to her blog, Jason and Jen’s Journey, to read all about them.

The link today from her blog is to a magazine article of another family (go to pages 56, 57) and that’s what I’d really like you to read.

The author of the article mentions two times the picture of walking off the cliff. Huh. I’ve been using that word picture this past year in relation to hosting Rosebud students. In fact, I used it just earlier this week in a conversation with, coincidentally, Jen’s sister, Kate! It’s the idea of taking the faith you say you have and doing what Jesus calls you to do. (And it doesn’t always mean adopting, foster care, hosting, etc. It actually means A LOT of things.) In this world, it looks upside down. It doesn’t fit. It’s uncomfortable for those who don’t get it. It’s not of this world. And to get to that point, it feels like your jumping off a cliff.

When you’re ready. Really, really ready. When you’ve been convinced in your heart that this is what God says to do and you are at the point of obedience, there is still the matter of your feet having to leave the edge. Look, don’t look- it doesn’t matter. You’ve got to jump.

Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 

Gee, Mindy, sounds fun. What do I get out of it? woo. hoo.

Well, nothing, if you approach it like that! You won’t even leave the edge.

No one jumps with just one part of their body.

But… if you go all out over the edge, maybe with a whoop of a wild banshee, a ‘yee-haw’ holler, a shout or even a scared cry and you pee your pants a little, it’ll be okay.

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.” Luke 18:29-30

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Matthew 16: 24-26

Huh.

If you’re thinking of that cliff’s edge and need some encouragement, give me a holler. I’d love to help you jump!