April 9, 2013 we stood in front of a judge in a small courtroom in Ethiopia. After answering some very simple questions (that my nerves were WAY too racked up for!) the judge declared our sweet Elliana Genet ours forever.
It is definitely a day worth remembering and celebrating!! We decided to celebrate "Gotcha Day" on the day she actually came home and we 'got' her. Because though we got her through adoption in April, she was not here with us forever until July 4.
So today is still very special because it is her adoption day. The day she lost her orphan status in the eyes of the judge. Of course to us, she had lost that long before--but on April 9, it was declared official.
A look back to one year ago:
We passed!!!!
And here we are today:
We took everyone out to Coldstone for ice cream after dinner. Elliana was very excited:)
As we reflect back on that court room and the declaration of a judge, it is a perfect time to reflect on my own adoption.
There was a moment in time when I was justified and redeemed. The plan was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but there was a moment in time when I went from sinner to saint. From lost to found. From orphan to a child of the One True King.
Like Elliana, I too was an orphan until God removed the scales from my eyes and called me to Himself. And because of that moment, on judgement day, God The Judge will declare me innocent and free from all my sin that is deserving of hell and condemnation forever. Jesus Christ lived a perfect and sinless life in my place because I could never be good enough to satisfy God's wrath. So instead of me being punished for my sin, Jesus Christ lived in obedience and in the will of His Father all the way to the cross. He had the punishment poured upon Him. Adoption is very costly--for us it cost thousands of dollars. But for Christ, it cost His life. I will never be fatherless and apart from God again. For I know there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. And now I can cry out "Abba, Father!" just as Elliana has a daddy she will always have to cry out to. And it is my prayer that just as I, through my adoption have become a new creation, that Elliana would become a new creation in Christ. A new life for her in America with a forever family is not good enough. She isn't any better off with us unless she has Christ.
Have you been adopted? Will God say in the courtroom that you are innocent and Jesus was punished for your sin? Are you a new creation in Christ Jesus today? I pray you would take time to reflect and consider this today.
Romans 3:10-12 "As it is written, 'There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one."
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
Romans 8:1 "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?"
2 Corinthians 5:21 "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have
passed away; behold, new things have come."
It is definitely a day worth remembering and celebrating!! We decided to celebrate "Gotcha Day" on the day she actually came home and we 'got' her. Because though we got her through adoption in April, she was not here with us forever until July 4.
So today is still very special because it is her adoption day. The day she lost her orphan status in the eyes of the judge. Of course to us, she had lost that long before--but on April 9, it was declared official.
A look back to one year ago:
We gave her this to snuggle with in Ethiopia, and she sleeps with it every night at home.
Getting ready to go to court:
To Kaldi's to celebrate!!
And why not get a side of fries and French toast too?
And here we are today:
We took everyone out to Coldstone for ice cream after dinner. Elliana was very excited:)
As we reflect back on that court room and the declaration of a judge, it is a perfect time to reflect on my own adoption.
There was a moment in time when I was justified and redeemed. The plan was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but there was a moment in time when I went from sinner to saint. From lost to found. From orphan to a child of the One True King.
Like Elliana, I too was an orphan until God removed the scales from my eyes and called me to Himself. And because of that moment, on judgement day, God The Judge will declare me innocent and free from all my sin that is deserving of hell and condemnation forever. Jesus Christ lived a perfect and sinless life in my place because I could never be good enough to satisfy God's wrath. So instead of me being punished for my sin, Jesus Christ lived in obedience and in the will of His Father all the way to the cross. He had the punishment poured upon Him. Adoption is very costly--for us it cost thousands of dollars. But for Christ, it cost His life. I will never be fatherless and apart from God again. For I know there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. And now I can cry out "Abba, Father!" just as Elliana has a daddy she will always have to cry out to. And it is my prayer that just as I, through my adoption have become a new creation, that Elliana would become a new creation in Christ. A new life for her in America with a forever family is not good enough. She isn't any better off with us unless she has Christ.
Have you been adopted? Will God say in the courtroom that you are innocent and Jesus was punished for your sin? Are you a new creation in Christ Jesus today? I pray you would take time to reflect and consider this today.
Romans 3:10-12 "As it is written, 'There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one."
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
Romans 8:1 "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?"
2 Corinthians 5:21 "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have
passed away; behold, new things have come."
A beautiful post filled with reminders of God's goodness and love for His children!
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