Adopted

"The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" - Romans 8:15

Enric Siva is a survivor of the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. He and his family lived on a farm there, but during the raiding of their home, Enric's father and some of his siblings were murdered. Just 6 years old at the time, Enric and his brother escaped into the jungle and lived there for 3 months, surviving on fruits and vegetables for food. Eventually, they could not find any more food to eat, but found a Red Cross camp where they discovered that their mother was alive.

Through an unfortunate turn of events however, their mother was also killed and Enric and his brother were left to survive on the streets, doing small odd jobs to survive. Enric's story is incredible, because even in his struggle he found Christ while living on the streets and began to attend a church there in his town.

A widow with 5 children of her own discovered Enric and asked him about his life. She took him under her wing and asked him to stay with her and her five children. It was here where Enric was provided shelter, food, and clothing, and did not have to live on the street any more. God did a healing work through the church from all of the trauma Enric had endured as a young child.

While he was living on the street, Enric discovered a love for music and was given a guitar to learn how to play. Miraculously, he won a national singing competition in Rwanda, much like American Idol in the U.S., which put him in the limelight. Today, Enric speaks and performs, advocating for marginalized children.

Although Enric's story is heart-wrenching, it is an amazing testimony to God's love in how He provided for Enric throughout his journey. Enric attributes his redemption story to Jesus Christ and hopes that others will discover spiritual adoption through our Heavenly Father.

You can find more about Enric Sifa on his website at http://enricsifa.com.

Our Perfect Father

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” -Matthew 7:11

I didn’t have the best relationship with my dad growing up. He seemed cold, aloof, and distant. When I asked for attention in my own little way, his lack of affirmation (he had a VERY introverted personality) seemed like pure rejection!  My parent’s relationship didn’t help much either - it was a constant war zone.

Although we had a lot of junk in our family when I was young, my dad and I have a MUCH better relationship now than we ever had before. We can talk openly and I really feel that he cares for me. As I see him getting older it saddens my heart that none of us live forever, on this earth at least.

Before my relationship with my dad was restored, I had a negative view of my heavenly Father too. I didn’t know God as my "Dad" - I knew Him as an indifferent God who didn’t care about me or the details of my life. I was so mad at Him because He allowed bad things to happen to me. He didn’t change my negative circumstances. So to me I thought it meant He didn’t care.

But when I sought out and experienced God personally, my perception of Him completely changed.

A lot of us don’t have what we desire out of life because we don't believe we deserve it. Our problem starts in our belief. What do we believe about God?  We will perceive God the way we perceived our dads growing up.  If we don’t believe the person we are asking has good intentions for us, why would we even want to ask Him for what we need or want?

Now my dad spoils me in any way he can, even though I am now 28. If my earthly dad does this, how much more does our Heavenly Father want to love, cherish, and ridiculously bless His kids?

Solve People's Problems, but Let Them Find the Answer

"I am the way, the truth and the life, no one can come to the Father except through Me." ~Jesus, John 14:6

When I was a little younger, I needed help with something. At the time, there was only one person who could help me - my dad. My mom thought at the time that since he had the means, he should be the one to solve my problem. It had been extremely hard for me to ask for help, so when I did, I had expected for him to say yes. Instead, I got a different response: He said, "no."
 
I was taken aback by his response. At my time of most dire need, how could my father, who obviously had the means, not be willing to help his only child? I was hurt, let down, isolated and felt so abandoned. I queried, "How could there be no one to help me? God, why is my life this way? Am I not worthy of someone's help, in my time of greatest need?" I cried and cried, and felt pretty pitiful.
 
But then, I realized I could not place my trust in a man, even if the man was my father. I had to place it in God. And He turned up in a greater way then I could have ever thought possible. He had solved my problem, in a much bigger way.
 
Later, dad and I were having dinner, and the topic emerged in conversation. He said, "I knew you would be hurt, but I also knew that if I solved your problem, you wouldn't have found the answer, and grown as a result?
 
That was huge. Much of the time, we expect others to solve our problems. Often, we are let down as a result. But if we realize that the source of all things is our Father in heaven, we can rest assured that our future rests in his hands, and when we place our trust in him and are obedient to His will, he is not going to let us fall.
 
Who or what is your source? Is it in a lifestyle, a boy or girl, a substance, or a mentality? Ask God to show you what is needed to resolve your problems. He has all the answers we will ever need.