A Kingsbury Collection
Page 103
What we found was sad indeed.
Generally, if a child was up for adoption, and if there weren’t already ten or twenty families waiting in line for a child, then our social worker would simply say, “That child can’t go to a family with young children in the home.” Or, “There are severe anger issues with that child, making him unsafe around other children.” Or, “That child has a considerable number of special needs.”
In the end, we nearly gave up.
Then God led us to a wonderful Christian orphanage in Haiti called Heart of God Ministries. We found our little boys on a photolisting on their Web site (www.hgm.org) and prayed for God to open the door for us to adopt them if it was His will. Let’s just say God has blessed us indeed, opening the door so wide it came off the hinges! Our three birth children are thrilled about the arrival of their new brothers and have talked about them for nine months as though they’re already here.
A few days ago, three-year-old Austin said, “Mommy, will you pick up E. J. and Sean and Joshua from their house?”
I said, “No, honey. They don’t have a house.”
He blinked. “Do they have a castle?”
I smiled at him and smoothed a finger over his cheek. “No, buddy. They don’t have anything. Not even a mommy and daddy.”
With that, baby tears filled his eyes, and this normally rough-and-tumble child said, “Can we be their mommy and daddy?”
Yes, I believe God has all our hearts ready. We anticipate a God-directed transition, safe travel, and a closer walk with Him because of the privilege of caring for these three in addition to our three birth children. Still, there are bound to be speed bumps along the way (for instance, they speak Creole and we don’t). Because of that, please pray for us. I’ll give you another update at the end of my next book. Until then, blessings to you and yours, humbly in Christ,
P.S. As always, I’d love to hear from you. Write me at my e-mail address: rtnbykk@aol.com
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Have you ever prayed for something or someone and felt as though God didn’t hear your prayers? How did it make you feel? How do you feel now?
2. Did it surprise you to learn that there really was a Jesus statue case? Why or why not? Where do you think our country stands today in terms of religious freedom issues?
3. How are you or your family and friends affected by restrictions on religious freedom in the United States?
4. To which character in the book can you most relate? Why?
5. Consider the main characters. How did they change over the course of the story? In what way is God trying to change or grow you at this stage in your life?
6. Read Joshua 5:13–6:20. What are the parallels between that story and the story in this book?
7. Jordan lost much as a young teen. What losses have you dealt with and how have you responded to them?
8. Have you ever been angry at God because of those losses? Have you ever walked away from God? If so, how are things now between you and God? Why are they that way?
9. Read Romans 8:28. God always has our situation under control. His control, not ours. Has there been a time in your life when all seemed lost, but God—in His timing—worked things out for your good? What was that like? How did you feel about God during that time?
10. Why did the letter from Jordan’s mother change his life? Has anyone ever written you a letter that changed your life? Describe that situation.
THE
FOREVER FAITHFUL SERIES
WAITING FOR MORNING—Book One
A drunk driver … a deadly accident … a dream destroyed. When Hannah Ryan loses her husband and oldest daughter to a drunk driver, she is consumed with hate and revenge. Ultimately, it is a kind prosecutor, a wise widow, and her husband’s dying words that bring her the peace that will set her free and let her live again.
ISBN 1-59052-020-3
A MOMENT OF WEAKNESS—Book Two
When childhood friends Jade and Tanner reunite as adults, they share their hearts, souls, and dreams of forever—until a fateful decision tears them apart. Now, nearly a decade later, Jade’s unfaithful husband wants to destroy her in a custody battle that is about to send shock waves across the United States. Only one man can help Jade in her darkest hour. And only one old woman knows the truth that can set them all free.
ISBN 1-57673-616-4
HALFWAY TO FOREVER—Book Three
Matt and Hannah … Jade and Tanner—after already surviving much, these couples now face the greatest struggles of their lives: Parental losses and life-threatening illness threaten to derail their faith and sideline their futures. Can Hannah survive the loss of an adopted daughter? Will Tanner come through decades of loneliness only to face losing Jade one final time?
ISBN 1-57673-899-X
ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Karen Kingsbury is an award-winning author and former reporter for the Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Daily News. She is also a recognized author with the Women of Faith Fiction Club. Kingsbury lives with her husband and six children in Washington.
KAREN KINGSBURY
AND PRISM COFOUNDER TONI VOGT
THE PRISM WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM
The PRISM® Weight Loss Program, founded in 1990, has helped more than 60,000 people transform their eating behaviors with a sensible, lifestyle-change approach. Now available in The Prism Weight Loss Program by bestselling author Karen Kingsbury and PRISM cofounder Toni Vogt, the book shows readers how to not just “tame the monster” of food addiction, but destroy it through simple eating strategies and biblical principles. It includes testimonials, descriptions of the authors’ personal struggles with food addiction, details of the program, and a fabulous recipe section that will help readers become the fit people God created them to be.
ISBN 1-57673-578-8 HD