Bill and Cindy Finley presented a marriage seminar in the Ukraine last spring. The result may have been transformed Ukrainian marriages, but I think Bill and Cindy experienced the greatest change. The short version is that they fell in love with Katya and have been working towards legally adopting her ever since. The whole story is remarkable and wonderful! One interesting detail is the fact that they already have six biological children.
The Finleys have partnered with LifeSong for Orphans, a non-profit Christian ministry dedicated to help meet the needs of orphan children around the world. As a non-profit, LifeSong can receive donations on behalf of Katya and the Finleys and provide their supporters with a tax deduction. Contributed funds go towards the adoption fees that will exceed $25,000, an impossible amount for a family of eight living on a small church’s pastor’s salary.
Sometimes we don’t even realize when we encourage others. Lily and Silas won the NCAA pool at Paul’s office. The pool administrator joked that they should start calling it the Koning Kids’ College Fund. Two or three years ago, Silas finished second after Lily had made a stellar showing along the way. They chose to give 10% of their 2009 winnings towards the expenses of the Finleys adopting Katya. I wrote Cindy so she would know that the majority of my check was actually from Lily and Silas, not me and Paul. Little did I know how much that information would encourage her. Visit her blog for her shout out to Lily and Silas!
My point is not to teach your children to gamble, and God will bless them, so they can bless others. I simply hope to persuade you to encourage others today. You never know who may need a little cheer, hope, or faith. You never know how a kind word, smile, or crazy story will remind others of God’s love and faithfulness. Who needs your encouragement today? To whom can you send a quick e-mail with a few words of comfort? Can you easily double the dinner you’re cooking tonight for supper? If so, who would be blessed by a meal? Little or big, it matters not. You have great power to bless others. How will you use your newly realized super power? ~ cck
If you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.
~ Acts 13:15
Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
~ Hebrews 3:13
