Together In The JourneySample

Forever Family “As for me, I had learned in my life that bloodlines and DNA had nothing to do with family and everything to do with love. I grew up in a blended family, and I understood what it meant to be unconditionally loved by someone without being blood related. My family never saw and observed titles like stepfather, stepdaughter, or half-sister. We were just family. In addition, Scott and I understood, through the love we had received from our Heavenly Father, that unconditional love had nothing to do with bloodlines. We had both experienced a spiritual adoption in which we recognized Jesus Christ came and died upon a cross so we could become a part of the family of God.” (Chapter 3) I have read the Bible and listened to Bible teachings most of my life. I even came to faith by memorizing the verse John 3:16. One day, after memorizing that particular Scripture, it suddenly hit me that God really did love me so much that He sent His son for me so that I could have everlasting life. But what really drew me in was that I could have a relationship with not only God the Savior, but also God the Father, and He would never ever leave me. You see, my parents divorced when I was young, and my life felt completely turned upside down. As a very young girl, I felt hopeless and alone. I was devastated, and I worried that nothing would ever feel, or be, the same again with my family. Yet, a few months later I discovered a different kind of love…a love that is unchanging, everlasting, faithful, and unconditional. Through His Word, the Lord drew me into His family: a family that would last for all eternity, a “Forever Family” as we call it in the adoption world. And indeed, He has fulfilled His promises in never leaving me alone, even when I have failed Him. He is my Father. He longs to do the same with all people, of all nations, of all ethnic groups. He longs to set “the lonely in families.” But ultimately, I realize He longs for people to be a part of His family. So take comfort, friend, in the fact that God loves you, and He loves your child/children so much that He is already working on drawing them close and placing them in the just right Forever Family. Pray now and thank God for adopting you into His "Forever Family." Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind others who have yet to accept His invitation of adoption and commit to praying for them daily.