I wanted to share some verses that Emory and I believe have been the most influential verses of our married lives, these are the verses that have guided us in and through adoption, through chronic illness with Emmy and have just gotten us through the chaos of daily life.
Our life verse is: "Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act."
Proverbs 24:12
This verse has played an important role in our adoption journeys, and even in the starting of our business, Faithful Adoption Consultants (check out our website...here). We believe that this verse very much pertains to the orphan crisis. I believe that our eyes have been opened to the 163 million orphans worldwide, and we cannot pretend that we don't know. I believe God knows our hearts, he knows that we know, and is holding us responsible to act. That doesn't just go for Emory and I. That is for all christians. God has commanded us in my next favorite verse to care for the orphans. Check out
James 1:27.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Pretty plain and simple, huh? God commands us to care for the orphans. I believe that can look different for one family to the next. Sometimes that means bringing orphans into your home, sometimes that means financially supporting those who are called to bring orphans home, sometimes that means mission trips to love on the orphans and widows. Either way, it is a command to care for the orphans. What part are you playing?
Emory and I first began our adoption journey in 2006, with the adoption of our oldest child, Mina. Mina became the oldest, but was the 2nd in our family. Our biological son, Aidan, was almost 2 when we first met Mina. Adopting Mina opened our eyes to the orphan crisis, it opened our eyes to the needs of honest advocacy in adoption, and eventually led us to begin Faithful Adoption Consultants (FAC) in 2008.
Our next adoptions would be Michael and Carson through foster care. We began to feel led to foster as a ministry through our church. In October of 2008, we were given Michael and Carson. Michael was 3 years and Carson was 6 months at the time, they were suppose to be with us for 1-2 weeks TOPS. Over 2 years later, in December 2010, we adopted our sweet boys.
While fostering Michael and Carson, Emory and I were contacted through FAC about a baby girl needing a home through private adoption. She was 1 week old when we were first told about her, and 2 weeks later, we brought our Emmy home. Five short weeks later, Emory and I found out we were expecting another biological child. God grew our family from 1 child to 6 children in 6 short years. Isn't that incredible?
Emory and I have grown so much spiritually, emotionally and in our marriage throughout each addition. It is amazing to see God's goodness in each of our adoption stories. He is so faithful.
Here are a few of the other verses about adoption:
“We prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted what we asked of Him.” 1 Samuel 1:27
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I set you apart. “ Jeremiah 1:5-6
“He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord.” Psalm 113:9
“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” Matthew 18:5
“Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only...” James 1:22
"The King will reply 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40
In 2008, Emory and I started FAC. We felt the Lord calling us to be a light in a darkness for adoption. Many people have had horrific experiences in adoption, there are many untrustworthy people who prey on couples desperate for a child. Our desire was to be a source of hope and trust, a blessing to these adoptive families. We have been blown away by how the Lord has blessed us through this business and ministry. Some of our dearest friends have come through this ministry. We are thankful that He chose us for this mission.
God has also blessed us with a second company, that came through the adoption of Emmy. Emmy was born with Sickle Cell Anemia and we recently found out, Mitochondrial disease. These 2 diseases have rocked our world. Through these illnesses and frequent hospital stays, we realized the need to allow Emmy's personality to shine through even her sickest of days. We started a not-for-profit, Emmy's Got Style, you can check out that website...here. We started this not for profit to donate hospital gowns to chronically and terminally ill children. Our hospital gowns are fun, stylish and most important, functional. It is a way for these sweet children to have style and show off their personalities even when sick. We have been blessed by a HUGE response, and we now have many children wearing our sweet gowns.
Some of the verses that the Lord has used to minister to us through Emmy's chronic illness are these:
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
“Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine...to Him be the glory." Eph. 3:20
"Pray without ceasing...” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
God has been busy in the Lott home. We are so blessed. I can't imagine what our lives would look like if we had tried to plan it ourselves. God's plan has been so much greater, so much more fulfilling than anything Emory and I could have come up with on our own.
I can't wait to see what God continues to do in and through our family. I do believe there will be more children, whether that is biological or adopted remains to be seen, but I know He isn't through building this family. Somedays that thought terrifies me, others it excites me beyond belief. He is a good God, and I am so thankful for His perfect plan and His perfect timing.
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