Money for the adoption.  It seems like so much.  When people ask me about the costs, they look at me and I can read their minds, "Why would you spend that kind of money for a kid?"  I can see those thoughts racing through their minds.  I quickly respond with, "It is actually one of the cheapest countries you can adopt from."  Not that that makes any difference.  Sometimes I get overwelmed when I sit and think about all that has to be raised and saved.  But I try not to think about that too much.  You see, Russell and I were given a vision from God.  A vision for this adoption.  A vision for a particular adoption....one from Liberia.  It is hard to explain to my little ones that we aren't buying their brothers.  My little ones don't quite understand the term court fees and expenses.  It is all just a jumble of words.  Words that mean bought for a price.

I was reading 1 Peter this morning during my "quiet" time.  (I have to hide in my closet for that)  It really got me thinking about how I was purchased when God adopted me.  "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as sliver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect," (1 Peter 1:18-19).  The Son of God was given for my adoption!  He shed His blood for me; for my eternal soul.  Me.  Someone so unworthy and undeserving.  My Jesus gave up His whole life, the world that He loved, for me.  How did I ever rank?  But God saw something inside of me, something worth giving His only Son for.  Is that not the most amazing love you could ever think of?

1 Peter 1 goes on to say, "[L]ove one another deeply, from the heart.  For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God," (22-23).  I looked up the word imperishable in the Webster 1828 dictionary.  Imperishable means "enduring permanently; indestructible; not subject to decay."  So through God and His word I will endure permanently.  The seed that He planted in my heart will grow and flourish if I feed it the water of my living Jesus!  I am a new person through Christ.  One that continues to enlarge my internal being, one who grows in the beautiful splendor of my King. 

Don't get me wrong, there are times in my life that my growth is not as rapid and beautiful.  There are times when I hit a drought and turn away the living water of Jesus.  Those can be some of my darkest hours.  But then God nudges me and says, "Wake up!!  I'm giving you a second chance!"  I hear that calling and I know that I must obey.  I must obey because I know what it feels like to have Jesus' living water flowing through me.  Once you taste it, you want more.  I want my cup to be overflowing so that I can share it with others.  Now that brings me joy!

Have you thought about how God bought you?  In your quiet time today I encourage you to think about the imperishable seed that God has planted in you.  That seed was planted for a price....the price of God's only Son!  Let His living water flow through you and cleanse your heart getting all the way down to the deepest of wounds.  Imagine yourself on a mountain side with God's grace and mercy flowing down upon you.  Hands raised to the heavens with every breath shouting to our Lord, "How Great is my God!!"  He has offered us a love so great and only waits for us to take it!  Don't turn away this gift, for you were bought for a price!

Yes, our boys are being purchased for a price that includes court fees, travel fees, doctor fees, etc.  Fees that amount to a finalized paper that gives them a new name, a new forever family and a new country to call home.  It is also about sacrifice on our parts.  The willingness to take what God has blessed us with and give it back so that our boys can grow up in a home that knows God and grow up with our church family so that they too can share God's love with them.  My hopes would be that one day my boys will understand that their heavenly Father gave so much more for them.  I love my boys so much.  I would pay any amount to save the life of any of my children in my home now.  Why would I not pay any amount for the children that God has birthed in my heart?  They are our gift from God.