Help Me Give Back -- by Christine Lindsay

November is Adoption Awareness Month. 

Adoption. A word that touches one in three people, a word that conjures different emotions in those people touched by it. 

A word that might represent the greatest hope…the greatest question…the greatest sacrifice. 

Most of all, it’s a word that represents God’s immense love for his people. 

Adoption has certainly placed me in all of the above states of emotion. These days though, that word gives me one of my greatest joys, but it was a long, long, long time coming.

I wrote a non-fiction memoir FindingSarah Finding Me to reach out to:

·        Those touched by adoption

·        Those considering the scary prospect of adoption reunion

·        Those girls/women who find themselves in an unplanned pregnancy.

Because my own Adoption Story is so precious to me I could never accept

My birth-daugther Sarah on one of her
medical mission trips with Global Aid Network

payment for it. 100% of royalties from this book will be donated to Global Aid Network Women's and Children's Initiative. This is not a one-time thing, but for the entire lifetime of the book.

How could I take money for the gift that God gave me through the relinquishment of my baby? The gift of understanding how much He loved me.

Isaiah 49:15,16 Can a woman forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you. See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. 

I'm planning a huge Thunderclap blitz to tell people about this book and to raise money for my birth-daughter's mission. I'd love your help through my Thunderclap message, to raise funds to help needy women and children, the mission that braided my birth-daugher's heart with mine. If so, please go to this Thunderclap link http://thndr.me/lXBkPR so that you can help me share my message on November 18.

All I want to do is Give Back to the God who helped me through my deepest heartache to my deepest joy by discovering my true identity in Christ as I searched for my birth-daughter. Because sometimes it is only through giving up our hearts that we learn to trust the Lord.

I’m hoping that as this book gets shared, that this braided story that gives glimpses into the lives of other families in the adoption triad, that readers will see the beauty of our broken families, broken hearts, and broken lives.

A brief explanation about Thunderclap:

Thunderclap is a platform on social media, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) that allows people to pledge to a one-time concentrated message going out all at once, (My date November 18 at 12 pm EST), on YOUR Facebook or Twitter or Tumbler. Think of it as a massive flash mob to promote my message. This pledge is scam free and completely safe in putting out this one-time message. 

Thank you for considering pledging to helping me with this desire: To encourage hurting people, and to give back in some small way.

If you would like to read the Forward and Chapter One of Finding Sarah Finding Me Click HERE.  

If you would like to read more about Christine and this mission that means so much to here, go to her website 

In the giving.

This is taken from a fund raising devotional 'The Neurotic Rooster.' I wrote it in the form of soliloquys between me and the Lord. These arose out of three short term mission study trips to Africa.

in a Zambian village

To us they seemed small, almost insignificant items. Weight restrictions on aeroplanes limited what we could carry. This, in turn, affected the type of gifts we could take to our hosts and folk in the village. We had a deflated soccer ball, teaching material, a couple of books and a banner made by the Churches of Christ, Green Hills Retirement Village, Maitland in NSW. They also contributed some soft toys they had knitted.

            We saw the boys playing soccer with their home made rag ball. When presented with their own real one the children were beside themselves with excitement. The banner was given at a home Bible Study meeting in a suburb of an East African city. The pastor requested we offer it to a seriously sick woman as a mark of love and support of God's people in Australia. She received it as a representative of her local church. The banner read, ‘Greetings from Australia’ and was decorated with Australian motifs. The joy that radiated from this woman because of the thoughtfulness of unknown people across the seas affected all who were present. Resources are so limited to village schools and village pastors. Our simple gifts of pencils, books and charts encouraged headmaster and teachers alike that Australians would even bother to think about such things. For me the highlight was giving a Bible and Commentary to the pastor. They virtually doubled his ‘library.’

            Once again we had tasted the wonderful truth of what Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This is especially true when done in the Name of Jesus.

            You set the pattern Lord. You have given in a myriad of ways across the centuries to your creation that had nothing to merit such grace. But I guess that’s what grace is, meeting the needs of the needy. You do this even though many don’t even acknowledge your existence let alone your giving. I cannot throw stones at them, for I was one of their number. How grateful I am that somehow or other you opened my eyes to your gift to this world of yourself as Christmas, then Calvary demonstrate. Now I read in Ephesians 1:3 what else you want to do, and have done. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”  Oh, for eyes to perceive. O for a heart to believe. O for humility to receive.

            The Apostle Paul, a forthright proclaimer of your grace became emotional in writing to the Corinthians about your generosity. In 2 Corinthians 9:5 he wrote, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” But he doesn't define it. This allows us to make a personal inventory from which to utter the same words. However a person understand it, that gift is always and ever linked in and with Jesus Christ and Calvary. There sin was dealt with and Eternal life offered. (Romans 6:23) Hallelujah!

Mary and Ray Hawkins

            The Psalmist’s words would sum up my heartfelt but inadequate response to your Gift and gifts. Please receive it I pray,...”How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. I will fulfil my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people.” Psalm 116:12-14.

Final Word.

To receive is a pleasure. To give is an honour.

Ray Hawkins author 31 Day themed Devotionals.
http://rayhawkinsauthor.blogspot.com.au

Giving is Powerful - M. Laycock

Marcia Lee Laycock lives in Central Alberta Canada with her pastor husband, two golden retreivers and a six-toed cat. Her devotionals have been endorsed by Mark Buchanan and Phil Callaway. Her novel, One Smooth Stone won her the Best New Canadian Christian Author Award in 2006. The sequel will be released soon. Visit her at http://www.vinemarc.com/

Giving is powerful. I read a blog a while ago that illustrates that truth extremely well. It’s a story about a man who had a story to tell and needed an illustrator. He contacted a well known artist and told him his idea. The man did a few drawings to show what the characters could look like. The writer was astonished and asked how he could be so generous with his time and talent. The man’s response was telling. He listed a number of ‘giving opportunities’ that had come his way – times when he used his talent to help others with no thought of remuneration or compensation. In each instance it had led to other opportunities that helped grow his career and his life experience. It was obvious in the tone of that response that it was the man himself who had been blessed.

We all have to eat, pay bills, “make a living.” But we all have to give to others – give of our time and talents and person. I learned this lesson many years ago but sometimes I forget. Sometimes I grumble when the fee paid for a speaking engagement doesn’t even cover the cost of gas or when I wonder if I will ever see a royalty check from my novel. Sometimes I groan when a novel I think is poorly written hits the #1 spot on the New York Times Best Sellers list.

But then I give something away – some time, some money, some thing, even some writing – and it does something to me. Suddenly I feel a little lighter. That book on the NYT bestseller’s list doesn’t bother me so much. I smile more.

There’s something about giving that strengthens us, gives us that extra measure of grace we might need in a tense moment, provides the compassion needed to show someone that there is love in the world. It’s in giving that we are tied to one another. It’s in giving that we learn what being human really means.

There’s a popular commercial on TV these days that shows various circumstances and then quotes the cost. Cost of taxi to the airport, $50.00; cost of flight to Italy, $1500.00 ; cost of camera to record the event, 450.00; cost of the look on my best friend’s face, priceless. That’s a wise commercial. It plays on the idea that we all know the best things in life, the most important things, cannot be measured by money. They’re measured by what we give without reservation, just to benefit someone else.

Jesus knew this better than anyone. He spoke of it to tax collectors and thieves, men who were motivated by greed. He explained it to men more concerned about ‘making it’ on earth than expanding God’s kingdom. He changed their hearts and when they obeyed, they reaped the blessings. Look at Peter, for instance. He was one whose main concern was fishing to make enough to live. Until Jesus said, “follow me.” Then he became a man who healed a lame man with the words, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you” (Acts 3:6).

What I have I give you. All of us have time, talents, gifts that we can share with the world. May we all remember the Lord’s words – “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35b).