Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Some Updates!

Hello everyone! We just wanted to update you on some information! WE ARE EXTENDING THE T-SHIRT SALES TO NOVEMBER 27TH!!! We will be cashing checks shortly after the closing day, which is November 27th. We wanted to let you know that so you could plan ahead! Also, if you plan on writing a check, you can write it out to Josh & Marissa Svaleson. One more thing....you do not have to pay taxes on the shirts!! woohoo!!!

Also, God's story of adoption was covered by FOX news, and will be on THIS FRIDAY (November 18th) at 9:00 p.m.! God is good!

On a totally different note, God deposited $3,000.00 in our adoption account at the Village on November 7th through an anonymous person! This takes care of our HOMESTUDY! Which is the amount of money we were trying to raise for our "next step" in adoption!

God is good all the time, and provides for HIS children! Thank you all for you support, and THANK YOU GOD for providing for our every need, on your timing! :) We love you!

Love,
the Svaleson's

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Clothe Yourself With Compassion...

In John 15, Jesus beautifully explains to his disciples about the love he has and what life in him looks like. In verse 12 he says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” That’s a BIG statement. And it gets even BIGGER. Verse 13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

And so, Christ laid down his life for us, to demonstrate his own love (Romans 5:8) He demonstrated it through 1. Purchasing us to be brothers and sisters. We have been adopted by the blood of Jesus Christ. And so in Christ’s love, he has compassion. He feels for us, and he acts for us. 2. Jesus also demonstrates his love by simply helping others out, especially in times of need. For instance: he heals the sick, and feeds the hungry.
In light of the command to love one another as Christ has loved us, we are demonstrating the love of Christ by bringing a child(ren) into our family as Christ has brought us into His. It is important to note that God adopted us, because he loved us. In the same way, we have already developed a love for the children that God will be bringing into our family, though we have no idea who they are.  And so in that love, we are “laying down our life” , in a sense, in order to bring these children home.

So as we love because of, through, for, and with the love of Christ and have compassion, we are asking others to love as Christ has loved. We are asking for compassion upon children w/o homes, as well as the families that are giving these children their homes. And so “Clothe Yourself With Compassion” has been set up for you to do just that, to “lay down your life” just a little bit, with the love of Christ.

“Clothe Yourself With Compassion” is an opportunity to buy t-shirts that raise awareness and shine the light of the gospel. The t-shirts are designed to show God’s heart for orphans and widows, as well as His chosen people. Being that they share God’s heart, it is in fact the gospel message being portrayed. In addition to raising awareness, the love of the gospel is being displayed by helping us with bringing the child home; to bring them into our family, and to display the love of God-which is the gospel being lived out. We will be taking orders until November 21st, so that we can get the shirts before Christmas! If there is enough interest after the closing date, we will eventually submit another order. If you have any questions, please feel free to let us know at svalesonadoption@gmail.com

So, if you would like to demonstrate the love of Christ in this way (this is obviously not the only way to love as Christ has loved), please click on the following link  t-shirt order form to download an order form.
The real point in what Jesus is talking about is for us to love with our entire being as he has loved, and with his love. Whether it’s partaking in this particular opportunity, or not, all we really want to see happen is for God’s name to be lifted high, so that His love is demonstrated and proclaimed by His people.

We want to give a BIIIIIIIIG thank you to Kayla Goebel who designed the t-shirts, made the order forms, and helped pull this whole thing together! God has blessed you with an amazing gift, and you are investing it well in God’s kingdom, just as he desires! So…. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In, for, through and with Christ’s love,

Josh and Marissa Svaleson