Stepping Up to the Command

If you keep have been keeping up with the news around the world over the past week you have most likely not missed the tragic news of the Russian ban on American adoption.  Therefore the past few days have not been easy.
My alarm clock went off at 5 this morning, and I was hitting the road running by 5:30.  Immediately I started complaining because it was too early and too cold.  The wind was whipping, and I wanted nothing more than to curl back up and go to sleep.  But the LORD.  Around mile 2 the soundtrack from "Beauty and the Beast" started playing, and I considered changing it (this is what you have on your iPod when your sister is 8). I decided to keep it on and "jam" out to it.  Looking back I was thankful to have it because it changed my mood a little.  But bottom line...I am thankful for a little girl that came into my life and turned my running playlist around.
This is what I am asking for you to do, PRAY!  With the multiple news reports surrounding us concerning the adoption ban it would be easy to sit back and say, "well, this is sad."  But the problem with that is James 1:27 leaves no room for that.  I read this past week someone commentate on this one verse she said, "The Lord could have laid many different things on James' heart. He could have said: Pure religion is to be a pastor. or Pure religion is to be married to a pastor. or Pure religion is to be a school teacher. or Pure religion is to help save the whales. or Pure religion is to be a firefighter. or Pure religion is to be worship leader. But He didn't. He made it plan and simple, 'Pure religion is to care for the widows and orphans.'"
Call me crazy, obsessed, or passionate, but the command is there.  Now what will we do?
1. Ask the Lord to make it clear how you are specifically suppose to respond to this crisis.
2. Pray for the many families that are currently in the process of adopting a child from Russia.
3. Pray for the 700,000+ children that are longing for forever families.
4. Pray for government and leaders in Russia to have a change in heart and mind.
5. Finally, pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ to step up and answer the to the command (and that includes you and me!).  Pray that we will all see clearly the reason that we care for the widows and orphans.
As the New Year approaches, I am sadden by the fact that I am having to type this out, but I cannot think of a better way to start the New Year...stepping up to the command and clinging to what we are called to do.

Anna Lauren