Building up arsenal for uncertain times

Lately I've felt surrounded by conversations in our families, on the news, and in my work lunch room that used to not be so normal – talk of prepping for a dooms day or for the day when our economy and government fail us because it feels much closer than it has in the past. It seems everyone is building up for themselves protection and living more in fear than what God originally intended. The supply and demand for guns is at a peak while the President is determined to push legislation through to control self-protection. There's a reality show of those who are preparing for these unknown times – complete with bunkers, communities of people of various skills, learning to live off the land, and make their own bullets. The anxiety can be contagious.

And each day as I go to work in prep for another day of battle I slip on my winter coat when Georgia decides to bring a gust of cold. In my warm pocket my fingers feel a bumpy circle the size of a dime and I'm reminded to pray. See, years ago, our biological son was into all things cowboy. Those memories are so precious as I picture him running around in his undies, cowboy hat or boots, and cap gun. One winter I found an unused ring of caps from his arsenal in my winter jacket pocket, and there since it has stayed serving as a constant reminder to pray over him and our foster son. I know they love doing all things 'boy'; and I love their fun and wild spirits. My husband and I also know as their parents the Lord has entrusted them to us and we must claim authority over their lives as their spiritual mentors and pray they acquire every spiritual weapon needed for life's battles.

God speaks to His own in many ways, sometimes in a strong gust and other times in a quiet place as you walk closely with Him. We usually want the obvious clear answers that knock us down, don't we? I know I walk more confidently in His direction when I get those type answers, but then we wouldn't have reason to get still and close to Him.

I was just reminded three times this week how God is ever-present, consistently by our side urging us to join Him. He may be fighting the spiritual battle for us or allowing us to be sifted like wheat in order to draw us near to Him – all from his complete picture window. While the Lord is working, we wait, endure, or celebrate from our mini-picture view not knowing what's on the other side.

I can't help but see the correlation God has been showing me this week that in every battle we have spiritual weapons which are greater than whatever we can prepare our storehouses with on this earth. You may or may not be familiar with some of them – prayer, truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, and the Spirit (See Armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18). However, I learned of a new spiritual weapon this week while reading, "Praying God's Word" by Beth Moore and also during church worship this week on this very same topic (Listen to "Battle to Believe" free podcast here). Think God is trying to teach me something? The weapon of peace – our offensive weapon against the kingdom of darkness. Sometimes I choose to cling to these spiritual weapons daily, but I'm a planner and it seems more natural in my humanness to slip in allowing the enemy to keep peace and other promises from the Lord from me as I attempt to prep for the unknown future from my limited perspective.

Let this settle into your soul:

"In the battles of life, your peace is actually a weapon. Indeed, your confidence declares that you are not falling for the lies of the devil. You see, the first step toward having spiritual authority over the adversary is having peace in spite of our circumstances. When Jesus confronted the devil, He did not confront Satan with His emotions or in fear. Knowing that the devil was a ilar, He simply refused to be influenced by any other voice than God's. His peace overwhelmed Satan. His authority then shattered the lie, which sent demons fleeing."
Francis Frangipane, The Three Battlegrounds quoted from the book by Beth Moore Praying God's Word

So, while we choose to prepare for this life's failings with physical storehouses, I choose to listen to God's constant nudging to choose His peace as my better weapon.

Overwhelming response for first Orphan Care gathering

So thrilled our fellow SHC families showed up on a recent Sunday evening. Not only did 40+ people and their children they mark their spot in a chair with a warm body, but we got to hear their hearts and passion that God has already been stirring in their lives for His vulnerable children.
We had younger couples, couples who had been married for longer seasons, single people, and staff all come together to begin a great community for this movement to make a difference. They heard testimonies from us, the Smiths, and a church staff person on how God brought us on this adoption journey.

One of the Smith's girls playing with the colorful prayer reminder clothespin dolls 20+ SHC families painted.

There are 14.7 million orphans worldwide. That means each clothespin doll Andy and Lea Smith, and us, Kelly and Steve Hopkins, are holding here represents 14,700 children who don't have parents who can care for them.

Steve setting up the technological side of things for our meeting. Yes, we even found him high on a ladder pulling wires to get the connections just right. I love my I.T. nerd.

Our dear friend Lea and her daughter detailing out the ministry's purpose and plans to put feet to it. 

We hope they left feeling encouraged, excited, and with eyes wide open for how God will continue to orchestrate things perfectly to bring them along His plans for living out James 1:27 in their lives.
And the food ... yes, Southern Baptists pride themselves on the incredible food we share when we get together.

We worked together to put a list of already generating ideas we can do in order to make a difference under one of our three focal areas.

Sugar Hill's Orphan Care ministry is about three small things for the one big thing – the orphan.
1 • We are having gatherings each month to emphasize Community in our church where families can get together and play at the park together, or lean on each other for support and encouragement while we each care for the orphan in our own ways.
2 • We will also help families by giving them Tools & Resources for those who may be on the journey to adopt or already parenting children from hard places
3 • And we will get our hands dirty by serving the needs of these children through various Missions projects 

God calls us all to care for the orphan and the widow. Does that mean it looks the same for everyone? No. What it does mean is we can all do something. You may be a single person, a high school student, an older couple who finally has that empty nest, or a family whose house is already full – but we can all make a difference for those children who need safe, loving families together.