Letter from Amari’s mom:
Being a “Christian” is NOT following a list of do’s and dont’s.
It is NOT a set of laws that you must uphold to avoid God’s wrath.
It is NOT going to church on Sunday (or any other type of odd religious practice you are probably inclined to think).
No.
The Bible actually speaks out against this. It says that attempting to follow a set of rules to make yourself righteous will bring you nothing but death - since you are truly unable to follow all the rules perfectly in your own strength (2 Cor 3:6).
Being a “Christian” is illustrated beautifully in this: adoption.
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I, Abigail Heidrich, was lost - sinful, selfish, prideful, depressed, hopeless, helpless and guilty. My whole being was full of darkness. I was so stuck in cycles of brokenness and sin (some of which weren’t even brought upon me by myself). There was absolutely no way out. Nothing I could do would ever remove me from my situation.
It took an intercessor.
My intercessor.
My Jesus.
He showed me what love was: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 5:8.
Did you catch that?
I did not save myself.
Jesus - the very imagine of the invisible God (Col 1:15) - stepped in and saved me.
“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering... he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isa 53:4a-5‬)
Jesus paid the penalty for my cycles of brokenness and sin; for the darkness that clouded my heart.
He purchased my freedom by his own blood and made me clean.
He told me I was his. He gave me his name. He adopted me into his family. He made me his ambassador.
He chose me to be blameless before him.
In love he predestined me for adoption as his daughter.
Nothing can separate me from his love.
His tender mercies and loving kindness are what broke through my hard, dark heart.
I cannot help but to love him. I cannot help but to have t[his] heart for others.
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Being a Christian is being loved, chosen, cleansed, redeemed, freed, empowered and so much more.
The Father beckons you.
Come.
Leave legalism behind.
You cannot rescue yourself through rule keeping.
Jesus is the only one who saves.
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What a blessing to participate in this representation of God’s love - his adopting us into his family.
Amari is totally lovable.
She is strong, smart, courageous, forgiving, sensitive, caring, kind, and so much more.
Truly God has made ME more lovely through HER!
People say, “She’s so lucky to have you”.
Haha! No!
We are the one’s who are “lucky” to have her. We are blessed by her every single day that she has been and will be with us.
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I’m so so so thankful God made me your mommy, beautiful girl.
All glory to God who chose us both to be adopted into his family.
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Thank you Daniela Stanton for this beautiful video.
Thank you Steffany Gretzinger for this beautiful music.
**this music is not our own**