Lorie Newman

More Bad News...

Today, this is the message I got via email from an adoption agency--

There was an announcement yesterday that the Liberian government has suspended all intercountry adoptions except for special needs situations until new rules and regulations can be put into place. The announcement went on to say the future of intercountry adoption from Liberia is unclear, and this affects even in process cases.

This morning I was emailing a friend about this situation and I thought I'd share my words to him with you as well.  They pretty much sum up my thoughts on this crisis in Liberia......

 Please pray with me that the Father to the Fatherless will Arise on behalf of the children there.  I will praise Him in this storm! 

God has a larger plan here and my greatest fear is that we will never get these children we have been matched with.  If so, I will still praise Him.  We have given thousands of dollars to the orphanage to "pay the ransom" for these two children and set them free from their oppression and abandonment.... if we never get to adopt them and we never see a dime of that money again, I will still praise Him. 

If we have to "go without" because I gave everything to try to save two orphaned children, that sacrifice can never match what my Savior gave for me.  I will praise Him no matter the outcome of this....

I'll keep this blog posted as I hear further updates from Liberia.

The Church Needs the Orphan

Over the past few days I've been following the updates from a HopeChest trip in Swaziland.  The team left for Swaziland several days ago and they are giving daily updates about the desperate children they are encountering in that dying nation.  The pictures break my heart... especially in light of this past Friday's celebration of Grace's homecoming from Haiti.  I still can't believe it's been five years.

I look at those pitiful pictures of an emaciated baby who was abandoned.... I can hardly believe it's my Grace.  So many people see those old pictures and say, Oh how lucky she is to have you all as a family.  The opposite is really the truth.  We needed Grace- perhaps more than she needed us.

That's the strange thing about orphans that I don't think most Christians, or churches, understand.  Yes, the orphan needs the church-- no doubt.  But, the church needs the orphan.  With our high-tech worship services and our multi-million dollar worship centers, the church needs to   remember where they came from... we were all orphaned once. 

The church needs the orphan... perhaps more than the orphan needs the church.  Think about it....

The PMS Diner-- I Can Relate!!

Today's posting is for my Sistas.... Love this cartoon!  I can SO relate. 

     

MLK Day- It's More Than Just a Day Off of Work

The Civil Rights Movement has always been an era of history that has fascinated me.  On the eve of the inauguration of the first black president, I don't think we should take this MLK holiday lightly.  It's really not just another day off from work.  It's a celebration of just how far this nation has come in its fight for justice and equality for all men.

I watched Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous, "I Have a Dream" speech with my two black children looking over my shoulder this morning.  MLK's words in that speech always bring me to tears, but with my two children of color hearing those words for the first time, I was a tearful-mess by the time the 17 minute speech was over. 

I also found MLK's very last speech on YouTube this morning.  It is only 1 1/2 minutes long and it is one of the most powerful and prophetic speeches of modern times.  Enjoy... and today, don't just go about your day as if it is just another day off.... it's an incredible day that celebrates freedom, justice, and equality.

Our Latest Adoption News- The Good and the Not So Good

OK friends, I have news about our adoption.  What do you want first- the good or the bad?  We'll start with the bad...

We received official word last week that the Liberian government has placed a temporary hold on all adoptions from WACSN.  WACSN is the orphanage where our little ones are living.  Noah is at the children's home with the older children (he is almost 3), and Hawa is at the nursery of the orphanage (she turned 2 in the fall.)  I don't know anything about this hold, but pray with me that it will be lifted very soon.   

Now for the good news...  And it is VERY good!!!!!

Hawa has a big sister at WACSN.  Her name is Rebecca and she is 4 years old.  Since we were matched with Hawa a few weeks ago, I prayed fervently that someone would adopt Rebecca. Since we are only approved to adopt two children, we could not take her.  I mentioned Rebecca to some friends of ours from church-- Carl and Jill.  Carl is one of the pastors at our church and Jill is the sweet friend I have been praying with about an orphan ministry at our church.  They have decided to adopt Rebecca!!!! 

I am beyond thrilled!  God is so good to let these two orphaned sisters grow up near each other!  Isn't He amazing in the mysterious ways He works in our lives?!

Now, we just need to get these sweet babies home to NC!!

New Article on Wrecked for the Ordinary

Check out the new article I wrote on Wrecked for the Ordinary. There are several really good articles there this week. 

The Mom Song

My friend, Donna, sent me this video several days ago and I'm still laughing at it!  It's everything a mom says in 24 hours packed into 3 1/2 minutes!  I'm dedicating it to all you moms out there!!

Would You Save a Soul for $10?

Have you ever been to a Billy Graham Crusade or seen one on TV?  I'm always amazed at how the Spirit of God moves in the hearts of thousands of people when the gospel is presented and praises are sent up from those packed stadiums full of people.  Thousands of people have given their lives to Christ at those amazing Crusades.

What if a similar Crusade were done in a nation racked by extreme poverty, disease, and AIDS?  What could a Crusade of three days displaying how BIG God is through the gospel presentation, praises, and testimonies of changed lives, do to a nation literally dying without the hope of Christ?  Do you believe it could change a nation?  I do.  And I don't have to dream about it.  It's a reality.  And it's planned for the nation of Liberia on March 27, 28, and 29th. 

I can't even express to you how my heart bleeds for the people of Africa.  That amazing continent draws me in like a spiritual magnet.  I am so excited to know that this three day Crusade will take place in a huge soccer arena in Liberia in a few short weeks. As I imagine the souls that will be saved during those three days and the revival that will shoot forth from this Crusade, I pray that my adopted children's birth parents will be somewhere in those stands.  I pray for their salvation... 

Although everyone is invited to this Crusade, of course, most of us can't fly to Liberia and be a part of it.  BUT, would you give $10 to pay for a seat so that a Liberian can attend?  If you knew that $10 could save a soul across the world, would you do it?  How amazing it will be to get to Heaven and have someone say, "I'm here because you bought a ticket so I could hear the gospel." 

A special account has been set up with eBay so that you can buy tickets online.  Click here for that link.  If you donate tickets would you email me or make a comment to this posting to let me know?  I want to pray personally for the Liberian who will "sit in your seat."  Although I don't know who they are, God does.

The Crusade is called How Big is God?  And it is a reality because of the God-sized dreams of several people who love the people of Liberia and long to see their salvation.  One such person is Maria Luyken, the founder of the Children's Home where our son Daniel is from and also where our two newest Liberian children are being adopted from.

You can read all about the Crusade at this special website that's been created just for the upcoming event. 

   

Worthy is the Lamb Who Was Slain

I just adore the music of Kari Jobe.  She is so talented, not just in her beautiful voice, but in her ability to lead the Body of Christ into the presence of God.

This powerful video leaves my soul panting for more of Jesus every time I watch it!  Enjoy...