Iain M. Duguid: Daniel (Reformed Expository Commentary)
Iain Duguid writes eminently readable commentaries that overflow with profound observations. This edition is no different. As an Old Testament scholar, Duguid presents the Scriptures in an authoritative, yet accessible style. Each chapter can be read alone in narrative style or as a Bible study aid.
Joshua Harris: Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is): Sexual Purity in a Lust-Saturated World
Everyone struggles with sinful sexual temptation. Everyone. So what can you do about it? Josh Harris candidly explains how to untangle God's good gift of sex from the issues of lust and sexual sin. A great book for both men and women!
Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, Janelle Bradshaw: Shopping for Time: How to Do It All and NOT Be Overwhelmed
This is a short book with a lot of wisdom. At under 100 pages, it won't take a lot of time to read. But the eternal perspective on time management that it contains will be well worth the investment.
Dave Harvey: When Sinners Say "I Do": Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage
Dave brings a humorous and light touch to a heavy subject, creating a winsome and appealing approach to an important topic. Dave spends the first four chapters addressing the doctrine of sin and why we need to have a healthy suspicion of our own hearts and motives before seeking to address the hearts and motives of others. But some of the greatest "gold" is found in chapters five and six, when Dave addresses mercy and forgiveness. Recommended for everyone--you don't need to be married to learn from this book how to live redemptively in close relationships.
John Ensor: Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart
A basic, user-friendly guide on the weighty matters of romance and the roles of men and women. Highly readable, concise guidance on how men and women can find lasting romance and enduring friendships.
Timothy S. Lane and Paul D. Tripp: How People Change
This book helps Christians understand the roots of problems that are bearing bad fruit in their lives. Then it shows how the gospel can exchange bad roots for good roots--and good fruit. A gracious and encouraging book for anyone weary of trying to change through sheer willpower alone.
Tim Lane and Paul Tripp: Relationships: A Mess Worth Making
I love this title! The mess is because of our sin and self-centered drives. The worth comes from what God is doing among our relationships. There are so many excellent insights in this book--I recommend it for everyone. Though we tend to think romance when we hear the word "relationship," this book addresses a far broader scope with graciousness and biblical truth.
Gary & Betsy Ricucci: Love That Lasts: When Grace Meets Marriage
This is the second edition of a book I first read as a new believer. It was the first book I ever read on marriage and its gracious and encouraging approach made an indelible mark. This revised edition is even meatier and more winsome than the first. Highly recommended for singles and marrieds alike.
C. H. Spurgeon: The Triumph of Faith in a Believer's Life
This collection of Spurgeon's writings spans faith's sure foundations to what mature faith looks like. It is both inspiring and practical, and will revive the flickering embers of faith in any reader's soul.
Henry T. Blackaby, Richard Blackaby: Hearing God's Voice
This book expands on many of the principles found in Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby's highly successful book from the mid-'90s. It reminds us that we are here to serve God's purposes and not vice versa, so our prayers should be conformed the same way. The authors help us to discern the voice of God, to identify ways He speaks, and to respond to revelations of His will. An ideal book for those who are seeking God for direction and guidance.
C.J. Mahaney: Living the Cross-Centered Life
It seems that there are many ideas that compete for the attention of single adults. In the end, what we will be commended for has nothing to do with having a 'successful' dating life, a great career, the ability to travel widely, or to own a lot of expensive possessions. It has to do with hearing, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.' This little book keeps us all focused on the One who is our mediator. An outstanding resource for any Christian who feels caught in the "performance trap."
John Piper: God Is the Gospel: Meditations on God's Love As the Gift of Himself
This compact book argues eloquently that the good news of the Gospel is all the things we normally assume--salvation, justification, propitiation, new heavens and new earth, etc. But the heart of the Gospel is not found in the gifts of God but in God Himself. The good news of the gospel is the enjoyment of the glory of God in Christ. Recommended especially for long-time Christians who may need to be refreshed in the wonder of the Gospel.
John MacArthur: NASB MacArthur Study Bible
This is the revised edition of Dr. MacArthur's study notes and commentary within the NASB translation. This Bible includes additional supplements on topics such as how we got the Bible, how to study the Bible, and the progress of revelation. An excellent personal study Bible!
Paul David Tripp: Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens
Do you think rebellion is automatic in the teen years? It shouldn't be. Paul Tripp's book challenges our assumptions and shows parents how to make the teen years a season of opportunity, instead.
Mark Dever: The Message of the New Testament: Promises Kept
What a priceless Bible study tool this is! Though Mark is a superb scholar, his evangelist's heart is clearly evident in his accessible writing style. This book is packed with outstanding teaching but it is written in a winsome manner that is free of dense theological terms. The goal of this book is to present an overview of each book of the New Testament so that we can understand how it fits in with the rest of the Bible.
John MacArthur: Twelve Extraordinary Women
The women MacArthur chose as subjects for this book are: Eve, Sarah, Rahab, Ruth, Hannah, Mary, Anna, The Samaritan Woman, Martha and Mary, Mary Magdalene and Lydia. Each chapter goes into the cultural and theological background of these women and then shows how God worked through ordinary women to make their faith and fruit extraordinary. Highly recommended!
Nancy Leigh DeMoss, editor: Biblical Womanhood in the Home (Foundations for the Family Series)
This book collects chapters from several leading women writers and teachers to address a wide array of topics concerning biblical womanhood. I'm partial to Carolyn Mahaney's two chapters on femininity and beauty, but I also highly recommend Nancy Leigh DeMoss's two chapters on the portraits of a wise and foolish woman.
Tedd Tripp: Shepherding A Child's Heart
Every adult should read this book, but it's a Must for parents. As you'll soon read in this valuable book, parenting is not about behavior modification--it's about reaching the heart of children so they understand their motives, their sinfulness, and ultimately their need for a Savior.
Sinclair Ferguson: Discovering God's Will
The counsel contained in this slim volume is timeless. Nine chapters comprise the book: God's Ultimate Purpose, Guidelines for Guidance, Guarding the Heart, A Christian Lifestyle, Principles of Conduct, Consider Your Calling, Marriage?, Wait for the Lord, and He Leads Me. The last four chapters are priceless, but they need to be read on the foundation of the teaching in the earlier chapters.
C.J. Mahaney: Humility: True Greatness
This small book packs a wallop. C.J. starts by showing us why God opposes the proud and is drawn to the humble. Then he illustrates how to cultivate humility in many practical ways. From chapters on The Promise of Humility and The Perils of Pride, to Identifying Evidences of Grace and Responding Humbly to Trials, this is a book of seasoned wisdom.
Randy Newman: Questioning Evangelism
This book helps us understand how to ask questions of unbelievers to expose their assumptions about God and get to the heart of their questions--rather than getting sidetracked in our conversations. I'm still reading this book, so I'll add more commentary when I'm finished. But the fact that my pastor recommended it was all I needed to buy it!
Randy Alcorn: Money, Possessions & Eternity
Here is a comprehensive study of what the Scriptures teach about earning, spending, saving, and investing money. Randy is a gracious writer with a personal testimony of living what he has written. It's a big book, but well worth the investment to purchase and read it.
Randy Alcorn: Safely Home
This is a fictional account of a Christian persecuted for his faith in China, but Randy Alcorn has done his homework. You'll learn a lot about the reality of Christianity in China through reading Safely Home. But you won't be able to read it flippantly. Well-crafted, well-developed, and moving--I highly recommend it.
Wayne Grudem: Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth
While Mary Kassian's book (below) is a great sociological examination of the impact of second-wave feminism on our culture, Wayne Grudem's book is a detailed look at the claims of evangelical feminists against the teaching of Scripture. An excellent theological resource, written in a thorough yet humble manner. This is a life's work from Dr. Grudem and well worth having in your own personal library.
Mary Kassian: The Feminist Mistake
This book is subtitled "The Radical Impact of Feminism on Church and Culture." It's an in-depth, academic overview of the impact of what's been called second-wave feminism, spanning 1960s to 1990 or so. As a former feminist, it was eye-opening to read an historical account about the era in which I grew up. Kassian is a thorough writer, and her writing and research underscores one essential point: When you start by disregarding one aspect of the Bible's teaching, it's a short ride down a slippery slope to discarding Christianity altogether. A sobering read.
Arthur Bennett, editor: The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions
I once read that the public prayers of Christians today are anemic and repetitive. That charge may be true. If so, this book could be a remedy. It is a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions, organized by theme. This is one of my favorite tools in my personal devotions. I enjoy reading these prayers aloud, for their vocabulary and grammar force me to slowly savor their meaning. I am not praying aloud these days with the Puritan "thee" and "thou," but I do remember their concepts and try to incorporate their ideas into my prayers. As one writer here stated, "We ask great things of a great God." That's as true today as it was 400 years ago.
John Piper: When I Don’t Desire God: How To Fight For Joy
Joy doesn't just happen. It's a fight for most Christians. And this book is an excellent guide for both why and how. An excellent resource for Christians who have grown weary and/or rusty in their personal devotions.
R. C. Sproul, editor: The Reformation Study Bible
This is the English Standard Version Bible with study notes from contributors such as Wayne Grudem, Sinclair Ferguson, Bruce Waltke, Graeme Goldsworthy, and James Boice. It's the version I currently use for personal study.
Jonathan Edwards: Charity and Its Fruits
Charity is the old-fashioned word for love. This book is a collection of sermons from Jonathan Edwards from the mid-1700s. It's not a fast read, but it's worth the work to plumb the concept of Christian love as understood in another era by a formidable theologian.
Gary Thomas: Sacred Marriage
Gary asks the book's central question in its subtitle: What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy? In this book, Gary looks at marriage as a spiritual discipline, examining how marriage is one way God conforms us to the image of Christ. Many of my newly married friends have found this book to be quite helpful.
Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Whitacre: Girl Talk
This book, written by a mother-daughter duo, is for both mothers and daughters to go through together. It's subtitled "Mother-Daughter Conversations on Biblical Womanhood." I've given many copies away to mothers. But I've also heard of single fathers going through the book with their daughters. No matter how it's done, the point of the book is to disciple pre-teen and teen girls about biblical womanhood. It's an outstanding and winsomely-written book.
Lies Women Believe: Nancy Leigh DeMoss
The subtitle is, "And the Truth that sets them free," which is really the focus of this succinct yet wide-ranging book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Tackling lies we can believe about God, ourselves, sin, priorities, marriage, children, emotions, and circumstances, there is plenty here to challenge our current thinking and replace it with truth from God's Word.
Noel Piper: Faithful Women and their Extraordinary God
This book profiles five women who lived courageous, fruitful lives from the 1700s on. Four of the five were single women, a fact that was not lost on me. A book that will provoke you to examine your own life. Highly recommended!
Elizabeth George: Loving God with All Your Mind
By going through Philippians 4:8, Elizabeth George teaches us how to think thoughts about God and others that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and excellent. An excellent book for women who wrestle with sinful judgments of others (suspicion, insecurity, and critical attitudes).
Edward T. Welch: Depression: A Stubborn Darkness
Everyone wrestles with depression at various times and in varying degrees, and this book is an outstanding resource for defeating it. Ed Welch writes with such compassion and clarity, yet with firm conviction in the sufficiency of God's Word. Each chapter tackles different manifestations of depression and assigns helpful "homework" assignments for overcoming depression. The book closes with advice to friends and family members of those who suffer from more severe depression.
John Piper: Don't Waste Your Life
It seems that John Piper writes books faster than I can read them. This is one of his more accessible books and it makes a strong argument for living wisely in light of eternity.
Joni Eareckson Tada, Steven Estes: When God Weeps
This powerful book explores the issue of suffering. Joni writes elegantly of her personal trials as a quadriplegic, and Steve Estes adds a pastoral voice and perspective about God's character. Includes one of the most powerful chapters about the crucifixion that I've ever read. It will take your breath away--if you can still read it through your tears.
Jerry Bridges: Trusting God
In the end, the Christian life boils down to one simple element: trusting God. In this classic book, Jerry Bridges writes clearly and pointedly about what we must do to grow in our relationship with God and to trust Him unreservedly.
Edward T. Welch: When People Are Big and God Is Small
There's a lot of talk these days about peer pressure and co-dependency. The Bible calls it "fear of man," which includes both being afraid of people and craving their approval. EVERYONE is affected by this sin tendency, and in this book Ed Welch wipes aside the murk and provides a shining view of God's grace. One of the most significant books in my life. A Must Read for singles!
Ken Sande: The Peacemaker
When conflict arises in your life, do you ever see it as an opportunity to glorify God? You will after you read this book. Ken Sande provides clear, biblically-based thinking on conflict resolution.
Charles Spurgeon, Roy H. Clarke: Beside Still Waters
This daily devotional features a collection of C.H. Spurgeon's writings on suffering, faith, and perseverance in trials. My copy is exceedingly highlighted. Recommended for every Christian, but especially for those whose faith is flagging due to trials or disappointments.
Joshua Harris: Boy Meets Girl
This is my favorite Josh Harris book. I highly recommend chapter ten, "When Your Past Comes Knocking," for those wrestling with past sexual sin. Josh candidly explores how to experience God's forgiveness, both to receive yourself and to extend to others.
Matthew Henry: The Quest for Meekness and Quietness of Spirit (Puritan Writings)
It's good to read authors from different centuries, just to shake out the 21st-century ideas and tap into some timeless wisdom. Though this book requires some concentration to read, there is nothing else like it for learning to subdue your passions and cultivate contentment.
Paul Tripp: War of Words
You know the old saying--women use WAY more words in any given day than men do. That's why this is a Must Read for every woman. The subtitle says it all: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles.
Paul Tripp: Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands
Have you ever found yourself at a loss to try to help or counsel someone else? Have you been too critical? Too impatient? Too disinterested? This book shows people in need of change how to help people who need change. It's a roadmap for grace when sinners counsel other sinners.
Paul Tripp: Lost in the Middle
The subtitle is "Midlife and the Grace of God." An outstanding book! Don't let the "midlife" label turn you away. It will give you a Godward perspective whether you are tempted by a "quarter-life" crisis, "thirtysomething" crisis, or a full-blown "buy the Corvette and get a face lift" midlife crisis. A "crisis" is really just God showing us we've been putting our hopes into something other than Him. Paul Tripp challenges us to examine the harvest from our lives and not give up hope for planting a newer, more fruitful one in the future.
Joshua Harris: Stop Dating the Church
You may be experiencing a "lack of commitment" in many areas of your life, but there's one area for Christians that shouldn't be affected: commitment to the church. Not convinced? Read this book.
John Piper, Justin Taylor: Sex and the Supremacy of Christ
This book is a compilation of messages given at the 2005 Desiring God National Conference. In our sex-saturated society, this book is important for singles to read--not only because there are specific chapters included for single men and women--but because throughout the book God's glory is promoted and His original purpose for sex is celebrated without shame.
C.J. Mahaney: Sex, Romance and the Glory of God
This is a Must Read for married men and those about to get married. I would even recommend it for single men who have converted as adults and who need to find a biblically-oriented guide to what God really intended in the gift of sex.
Carolyn Mahaney: Feminine Appeal
Many single women have asked me what books they should be reading in order to prepare for marriage--or even to better understand marriage in order to relate to their married friends. This is one of the Must Reads. Based on the principles found in Titus 2, Carolyn Mahaney addresses the virtues that all godly women (married and single) should emulate.
Carolyn McCulley: Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye?
Of course I have to plug my own book. But remember, the title is a question, not a statement! The subtitle is the heart of the book: Trusting God with a Hope Deferred. A book for single women of all ages who want to understand what biblical femininity looks like for an umarried woman.
What a wonderful idea. I will be praying that you and the other two women will be matched according to God's will. May His hand be upon the matching process and the mentoring of the individuals He places in your life.
Posted by: Ginnie | July 18, 2007 at 09:03 AM
Sounds like a wonderful ministry! In addition to parenting our biological children, we are also foster parents. We will be completing the adoption of our 2 little foster boys within the next few months. Due to our family dynamics at this time, we cannot foster older children. However, there is a great need for Godly guidance for these abused and neglected children. So glad that you are taking this on! Hopefully others will follow!
Posted by: Laura in KY | July 18, 2007 at 11:07 AM
Congratulations on becoming a foster mentor. The aging out of foster children from the foster care system is a real concern, and you are to be commended for your willingness to make yourself available to help. Best Wishes to you as you begin your journey. If you can be a good friend and advisor to this young adult, not in a condescending or patronizing way, but in a kind, encouraging way, you will be doing a marvelous work for the Lord. Foster children are often shuffled from one home to another. They have no grounding. For such a young adult to have someone like you in his/her life, it could be a major turning point for them. To have someone who will faithfully commit to them and help them get started in life, especially someone with a Christian worldview, could make all the difference in the world. It could be the one single thing that causes them to be a success in life, rather than another statistic, someone who started out in the foster care system, and ended up in jail. To have someone show them the love of Christ at this vulnerable point in life is a great thing, and may God bless you richly for this.
I myself was formerly a CASA, a Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children. A CASA is an unpaid volunteer charged with representing the child's best interest in court. I had the priviledge to have been able to help place a child in an adoptive home. That day in court when the Judge pronounced "my child" adopted into his former foster parent's home was an extremely fulfilling one for me. However, it was nowhere near as fulfilling as the day my own daughter was born. Not even close.
I must say that I do not agree with those who say that the married middle class is "shooting up on the American dream" leaving the poor, widows, and orphans behind in the dust. I most vehemently disagree. My husband and I are supporting seven sponsored children, while on my salary as a single woman, I was only able to support one. I say these things not to brag, but only to defend myself and millions of other married Christian people. One of my sponsored children lives in Rwanda. I had been saving money for two years in order to build her a house, instead of the mud and grass hovel she was living in. As you can imagine, it is quite a large donation for a middle class person to make. I did not have nearly enough. Last fall, for our fifth wedding anniversary, my husband, seeing how important it was to me, offered to come up with the difference as part of his anniversary gift to me. The fact that we were able to help build a new home for her means so much more to me than some diamond jewelry or trinket ever could. Again, I am not bragging or trying to set myself up as some perfect person, because I most certainly am not. But I am tired of reading these accusations about the married middle class---very rarely does anyone ever come to their defense. With the rise of internet donations, the American middle class has been able to intervene and be of help to millions of needy people all over the world in a way that is unprecedented in human history.
I was single for 37 years, and my daughter was born when I was 40. I tried everything under the sun to "be content" with the single life. I went back to school, got a teaching certificate, and did my student teaching in the inner city. I studied music therapy and worked with the elderly and developmentally disabled. I volunteered with the homeless. I traveled to Romania to volunteer to help orphans who had been abandoned by their parents. All this time I'm desperately praying to God to either let me be married, or take my desires for a husband away. We are talking about years that this went on. Finally, I got up off my rear end and joined a Christian singles service. I was married in 10 months. My husband and I are NOT perfect people, we are sinners in need of God's grace and forgiveness just like everyone else. But the idea that "good works" can make up for the lack of a husband and your own children--for most women, this will not be the case. Again, Best Wishes to you on what will certainly be a rewarding endeavor for you. May God bless you. Sincerely, Lisa Brown.
Posted by: Lisa Brown | July 18, 2007 at 03:11 PM
2 1/2 years ago we adopted twins that were 2 1/2 years old. They were abused and neglected so severely that all they could say was "momma" and "more" as they hoarded food and called even my husband and other children "momma". They were so confused and completely out of control. You see, they had just been in 6 different foster homes in 6 months and their bio mom's rights were justifiably stripped from CPS.
It has not been an easy road... and neither will this ministry road that the Lord has put in your path. As hard as it has been, it has been so worth it. The twins have come a long way and to God be all the glory for that. I praise God that He has prepared your heart for such a ministry and will do my best to remember you in my prayers.
Posted by: lisa | July 18, 2007 at 05:58 PM
Wonderful post! Thanks for this call and reminder.
We have many testimonies of adoption/foster care in our church, but one stands out in my heart ...
One of the directors at Peacemaker Ministries was seated next to a teenage girl on a cross-country flight and they began visiting. It turns out that she was a Christian teenager who had lived pretty much her entire life in foster care/group homes.
Only knowing her first name and that she was headed to some group home in [name of state], he and his wife could not get her out of their hearts, minds, and prayers.
So they sought her out.
Months & forms & approval processes later, they adopted her.
Their adult children welcomed her as their sister and her parents walked her around their home and said, "This is your home now. This is your room. These are your books, furniture, dishes ... see? Everything we have, it is yours now."
Our church family embraced her the exact same way ... and of course? SHE has ministered to US far more than any of us could ever dream of ministering to her.
Grace abounds!
Thanks again for the call and reminder, Carolyn.
Love in Christ,
Tara B.
Posted by: Tara Barthel | July 19, 2007 at 04:30 PM
One reason so many children are in foster care is that they are not legally adoptable. While in many ways, Mr. Bradley's point is well taken, his numbers are superficial. Many states in the US have a legal bias to keeping children with their biological parents. This means that it is very difficult to terminate parental rights, even in extreme situations. Such children are not able to be adopted. Many languish in the foster care system -- not because no one will adopt them -- but because the legal system will not allow them to be adopted.
All that said, many Christians could be more hospitable to the orphans among us. As a single in my late 20s, I have thought of foster care or adoption myself should I get to the point where I am sufficiently financially stable to do so. Children should have both a mother and father, but one committed parent and a loving church family can be much better than no parents or an abusive family environment. If I were to get married, I would want to partner with someone who has a heart for family expansion through adoption and foster care, as well as for other ways of living evangelism.
Posted by: em | July 20, 2007 at 02:22 PM
Thank you for your example and encouragement.
I've really enjoyed reading the (Steven Curtis) Chapman family's story over the years - of how God worked in Steven and his wife Mary Beth to bring them to adopt 3 times now. Their adoption grant ministry is also fantastic - http://members.shaohannahshope.org.
Posted by: k nation | July 21, 2007 at 06:25 AM
Congratulations in getting thru the preliminiary stuff and being ready to go. I am cheering you on from far away.
I watched a program once on 5 foster kids in Ottawa aged between 16-18 (it was a while ago so the details are a bit fuzzy) and there were these kids who had been shuffled from home to home and one of the things that stood out was the desire of these kids for a hug. Just one hug - thats all i remember her wanting. And to myself i thought : a teenager wanting a hug, i thought that that contact was out of place for them but it truly was a hug she wanted.
After watching that program I was further confirmed to persue the adoption of the foster boy I have been getting on a relief basis for the last almost 2 years. I had him initially in the unit I worked, then he was fostered by a family of my congregation until she became ill with a brain tumour and then I started to do relief when he moved to another Christian home. My greatest fear was that I would be bringing him up solo, no hubby to support me and no Dad for him to grow up with. But the love I feel for him is so strong but more than that I know that God is with us everyday. If I begin the day in His presence I know that every day will be to his glory.
I also admire that you can reach out to the 16-18 age group - to be honest they scare me. But I am truly grateful for those who can reach out to these kids and provide a goodfearing example and encouragement.
May God be with you every day thru all the good and hard days.
Joyce
Posted by: Joyce | July 21, 2007 at 08:31 AM
I enjoyed reading this. I am trying to set up my church to come alongside a juvy jail here to mentor the kidlets that get out looking for a church in our area. Pls pray for this as it is in process. Thx!
Posted by: Mellissa Hastings | July 23, 2007 at 07:04 PM
I totally agree with this ministry. I myself work at an agency in which we do foster care and adoptive home studies and then supervise the placement of the children. I work primarily with cases that are coming from another state, to the state I live in. meaning, the children are wards in another state and coming for one reason or another to be placed in Arizona. Anyway, all that to say, I'm totally in agreement with the whole question as to why we even have foster care system if there are more Christians in American than children in foster care. I think there are two reasons for that. 1) A lot of people don't realize how inexpensive it can be if you go through CPS/DES and 2)The Christians in America are not living as true Biblical Christians. Foster Care and Adoption have such a special place in my heart so it was wonderful to see something being exhorted on this world wide web calling Christians to read their Bibles and actually follow it! Praise God for this post!!!!!
Posted by: Kim Baird | July 25, 2007 at 03:23 PM
I have an interesting take on foster care. I'm in midlife now, but during my childhood I was in foster care and under the care of Child Protective Services many times. Both my natural parents were abusive alcoholics. Often when taken from my parents, I went to a facility or off to a family very quickly.
Twice I was placed in a Christian home where there was active discussion of Christianity and reading of Bible stories. Most of my young life I didn't know what to do or expect as my upbringing didn't prepare me for life in the least. I did know that I felt more at peace and more safe in the Christian homes. It made me want to be a Christian, and I made a commitment at age 11.
I'll never forget the families I stayed with that showed me the way to where I am now. It must have been a little frightening for some of them to take in a kid with cuts and bruises. Once I was placed with a family after having my nose surgically rebuilt after my father lost control. Looking back, I know it took courage and a real show of love for those families to take me in. I still think of them as relatives all these years later.
Opening your home to someone you can help can be life-changing. Showing a child what being a Christian means is truly giving them a lifeline in a world that seems hopeless. Lots of us who found ourselves in foster homes had really given up on life before age ten. The message of hope in Jesus Christ wasn't simply a help, it was the only thing that kept a lot of us hanging on by our fingernails during the tough times.
I know this comes from the opposite perspective of foster care; from the inside looking out, from someone who lived the experience, but I thought it might be helpful.
Posted by: Danny | July 26, 2007 at 03:41 PM
We completed our state's MAPP classes and a private homestudy. Afterward, we found out we were expecting (a biological child). In the end, they told us we weren't eligible because of this, even though it'd seem that several happy, well-adjusted children would be proof of our competence. We accept this as the Lord's leading, though, and look forward to doing this in other season of life.
Posted by: Amy Scott | August 12, 2007 at 03:29 PM