Sorry, I don't know how to post this other than having you click on the link but this is worth watching....
Give Thanks Always
3 years ago
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Excitement
Tonight after dinner we told our children about their new brother. I had taped an envelope to the bottom of each persons chair with a puzzle piece inside. We told them that Daddy and Mommy had been praying and seeking God about a specific decision and that we had a family announcement.
The first piece of the puzzle came from Andrew's envelope, the 2nd from Joshua's, the 3rd from Hannah's, the 4th from Sarah's, the 5th from mine, and the 6th and final piece was from Greg's and it completed the picture of our precious son. Everyone was excited! At first, Andrew could not speak but said he felt something in his heart. Joshua was very happy to find out his new brother would be close in age to him. Hannah thought maybe we should get her an older sister. Sarah just wanted to keep putting the puzzle together over and over. The boys wanted to know how soon we would be leaving to bring him home. Unfortunately, just like pregnancy adoption is a process, our best guess is that we may travel in Feb/March of 2009. After hearing this the boys wished we had not told them until travel was a bit closer.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Peace
On Mother's Day, I sat down to read more scripture. I felt led to read I Peter. Again, I was strengthened as I read chapter 3:13-18 chapter 4:7-13 &17-19 "Serving and Suffering for God's Glory". In James, I also found 1:22-25, and 27"Be Doers-not Hearers Only"&"visit orphans and widows in their trouble". Finally, in Hebrews chapter 11:6 (impossible to please God without faith)and 12:1-3(the race of faith) the deal was sealed. We would pursue the adoption we had been praying about. We will step out in faith again. We know this will be an incredible journey, we know God is with us and he will open or close doors as we follow in obedience. Finally, PEACE to proceed!
SEEKING
I continued to seek. I had peace sometimes and sometimes not so much. I needed complete peace! I was desperate as I knew we needed to commit or let him go, VERY SOON. I grabbed my Bible again. I read Romans and Galatians. Again, verses spoke to me as my spirit was strengthened. Romans 4:13-25 "The promise Granted through Faith" and specifically verse 17-I have made you a father of many nations.....God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did, and verse 20-He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. In Galatians chapter 4 verses 5-7 jumped out too. "To redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the ADOPTION as SONS. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, Abba Father! Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Seems the message was about becoming fathers and sons, adoption, and all while having faith.
Next, I was helping our other son with his Bible reading. It is just one verse a day. The verse just happened to be James 4:17 Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Next, we attended a Saturday evening prayer meeting. Our pastor's wife prayed that people would have a willingness to respond in faith, to touch the nations, to not miss opportunity God was making available to love others. She asked for circumstances to be arranged to minister to others and that this opportunity would be hard to miss. Hmmm........the next morning as we attended church we sang a beautiful new song about "hope for the hopeless" and our worship pastor prayed "God you love EACH child, each person, each nation". Our pastor went on to preach from Mark about the woman with the issue of blood, the blind man, and of course another LAME man. The lame man in this situation needed the help of others. He was helpless, hopeless, powerless to do anything for himself. His friends had to have faith that when they lowered him through the roof to be near Jesus that Jesus would help him. They were serious enough to remove all obstacles. I realize that these confirmations may seem just like coincidence or that I'm stretching things. However, when you are diligently seeking He is faithful. Matthew 7:7-12 "Keep asking, seeking, knocking"
On Monday morning another verse spoke to me. It was from a card I have titled "Discovering the Will of God-steps to making good decisions" it has many scriptures written on it. It said "let these words be your weapons as you fight" Nehemiah 4:14 Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your SONS and your daughters, your wives and your homes.
I contacted the agency asking if we could possibly have any more time to make our decision. I was told China was on Spring Holiday for the week. We attended a special Global Strategy Conference at our church. The message on Wednesday night was from Genesis 15 about Abraham struggling with his faith after receiving promises from God. The main point was -allow God to pull you out of your limited perspective to His supernatural perspective. Don't sit around doubting! Pastor also said "People will say you are out of your mind that you are ruining your life." Your job is to first believe. If you don't God will raise up a remnant from another place. There it was again the word remnant!
Greg attended the Thursday night meeting. The message was on THE REMNANT. He brought a book home to me titled "The Remnant". I scanned the whole book before going to bed. Chapter 8 was titled Commandment 8: Faith. I found confirmation again as two scriptures I had previously received spoke to me again. The first was Romans 4:20"He did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God" and Nehemiah 4:14 Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.
We all attended the Friday evening service with great expectation. The message was James 4:17! Basically, if you know what to do and you don't do it = sin. If you ask, God will show you the truth and then you can decide if you want to obey or not. Good intentions do not equal obedience. There is power in the doing, it requires action. If you believe God is calling you but you are afraid-DO IT AFRAID. If you tend to God's business he will tend to yours.
Still I wavered. I did not question if we were to adopt again or if it would be a son or if it would be a "lame" son. I wavered if the timing was for RIGHT NOW or not..............
Seems the message was about becoming fathers and sons, adoption, and all while having faith.
Next, I was helping our other son with his Bible reading. It is just one verse a day. The verse just happened to be James 4:17 Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Next, we attended a Saturday evening prayer meeting. Our pastor's wife prayed that people would have a willingness to respond in faith, to touch the nations, to not miss opportunity God was making available to love others. She asked for circumstances to be arranged to minister to others and that this opportunity would be hard to miss. Hmmm........the next morning as we attended church we sang a beautiful new song about "hope for the hopeless" and our worship pastor prayed "God you love EACH child, each person, each nation". Our pastor went on to preach from Mark about the woman with the issue of blood, the blind man, and of course another LAME man. The lame man in this situation needed the help of others. He was helpless, hopeless, powerless to do anything for himself. His friends had to have faith that when they lowered him through the roof to be near Jesus that Jesus would help him. They were serious enough to remove all obstacles. I realize that these confirmations may seem just like coincidence or that I'm stretching things. However, when you are diligently seeking He is faithful. Matthew 7:7-12 "Keep asking, seeking, knocking"
On Monday morning another verse spoke to me. It was from a card I have titled "Discovering the Will of God-steps to making good decisions" it has many scriptures written on it. It said "let these words be your weapons as you fight" Nehemiah 4:14 Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your SONS and your daughters, your wives and your homes.
I contacted the agency asking if we could possibly have any more time to make our decision. I was told China was on Spring Holiday for the week. We attended a special Global Strategy Conference at our church. The message on Wednesday night was from Genesis 15 about Abraham struggling with his faith after receiving promises from God. The main point was -allow God to pull you out of your limited perspective to His supernatural perspective. Don't sit around doubting! Pastor also said "People will say you are out of your mind that you are ruining your life." Your job is to first believe. If you don't God will raise up a remnant from another place. There it was again the word remnant!
Greg attended the Thursday night meeting. The message was on THE REMNANT. He brought a book home to me titled "The Remnant". I scanned the whole book before going to bed. Chapter 8 was titled Commandment 8: Faith. I found confirmation again as two scriptures I had previously received spoke to me again. The first was Romans 4:20"He did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God" and Nehemiah 4:14 Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.
We all attended the Friday evening service with great expectation. The message was James 4:17! Basically, if you know what to do and you don't do it = sin. If you ask, God will show you the truth and then you can decide if you want to obey or not. Good intentions do not equal obedience. There is power in the doing, it requires action. If you believe God is calling you but you are afraid-DO IT AFRAID. If you tend to God's business he will tend to yours.
Still I wavered. I did not question if we were to adopt again or if it would be a son or if it would be a "lame" son. I wavered if the timing was for RIGHT NOW or not..............
More confirmation amidst the questions
Our pastor is currently preaching on healing. As I questioned if we were hearing God correctly, each and every time our pastor would preach about a "lame" person being healed in the Bible. At a Wednesday night service, we heard miracle stories of healing at a recent service in Colombia. I silently prayed God if I am hearing correctly have them share something about a "lame" person. They did! A girl was healed when her leg grew providing her with two legs the same length for the first time in her life.
As our oldest son and I read from his daily Bible reading plan the schedule said Matthew 9-it was about Jesus healing the paralytic, Matthew 10-giving little ones a cup of cold water, Matthew 11-the lame walk, Psalm 9-God is refuge to the oppressed, the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever. Psalm 10-You are the helper of the fatherless, God will provide justice to the fatherless and the oppressed that the man of earth may oppress no more.
It seemed God was speaking to proceed. But still I had questions and I struggled with our decision. We did not have any money to bring home another child. Would everyone think we were crazy? Would anyone support our decision to add to our family again? Can we handle another child right now? Do we have room in our home/car to add another child? What will it be like with five?
Each time I would pray, read the Bible, or attend a service peace would come, I knew this would call us to deeper levels in God. I know we need to go forward from here. I know this will require less of me and more of Him in me. We cannot do this alone, we can only do this with Him.
As our oldest son and I read from his daily Bible reading plan the schedule said Matthew 9-it was about Jesus healing the paralytic, Matthew 10-giving little ones a cup of cold water, Matthew 11-the lame walk, Psalm 9-God is refuge to the oppressed, the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever. Psalm 10-You are the helper of the fatherless, God will provide justice to the fatherless and the oppressed that the man of earth may oppress no more.
It seemed God was speaking to proceed. But still I had questions and I struggled with our decision. We did not have any money to bring home another child. Would everyone think we were crazy? Would anyone support our decision to add to our family again? Can we handle another child right now? Do we have room in our home/car to add another child? What will it be like with five?
Each time I would pray, read the Bible, or attend a service peace would come, I knew this would call us to deeper levels in God. I know we need to go forward from here. I know this will require less of me and more of Him in me. We cannot do this alone, we can only do this with Him.
Waiting
I did scan other waiting child lists. I knew we were called to pursue a "lame" 5-6 yr old son. I did not find any other children to fit our calling. Then I received an unexpected e-mail. It asked if we were still interested in this boy? Yes! What had changed we wondered. China had asked for his file to be returned if no family wanted him. So our agency decided we could send required paperwork establishing him as "wanted!!" now and we will send our dossier in September when we have been home for a year. Wow! I had some serious praying to do again! Was God actually saying "Go now"? Or were we just plain crazy?
"The One?"
I was notified of a boy in the 5-6yr old range with a manageable special need affecting his foot. His file was soon to be returned to China as "unchosen". I showed his picture to Greg and he said "Yes, that boy needs a daddy". I said what do you mean??? Greg strongly felt led toward this boy. I requested more information about him. We began to pray.
During my quiet time, I was led to read Zephaniah. Chapter 3 verses 19-20 jumped out at me "Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the LAME, And gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame in every land where they were put to shame. At that time I will bring you back, even at the time I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I return your captives before your eyes, says the Lord."
*we had received a verse at the beginning of Hannah's adoption that also said "I will bring you back" from Genesis 28:15
The word lame had a reference to Micah 4:6-7
"In that day, says the Lord, I will assemble the LAME, I will gather the outcast and those whom I have afflicted; I will make the LAME a REMNANT, and the outcast a strong nation; so the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on, even forever.
Again the word lame had a reference.
Ezekiel 34:11-16
"God the True Shepherd"
For thus says the Lord God: Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock , and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment."
I wanted to understand the meaning of remnant from Micah 4 and it had a reference to Micah 2:12
"Israel Restored"
I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together like sheep of the fold, like a flock in the midst of their pasture; they shall make a loud noise because of so many people.
The footnotes said assemble....gather.....put them together: The verbs are emphatic, demonstrating the certainty of God's determination to bring to pass His good pleasure on His people(see Deuteronomy 30:1-6)
"Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God drives you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, that the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you. If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
The footnotes said verse 1, when all these things come upon you refers to the blessings detailed in Deut 28, which is the first passage I started praying.
We again called the agency and asked what we needed to do to place this boy "on hold". The verses had spoken clearly to his special need and to the importance of obedience when God speaks. There were many changes taking place again in adoptions. The agency told us they had just been notified that families need to be home for at least one year before they are able to commit to another specific child. We had prayed for the door to close if we were not hearing correctly from God through these scriptures. It looked like the door was closed. We would not be able to pursue him until September and his file would be returned to China very soon.
During my quiet time, I was led to read Zephaniah. Chapter 3 verses 19-20 jumped out at me "Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the LAME, And gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame in every land where they were put to shame. At that time I will bring you back, even at the time I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I return your captives before your eyes, says the Lord."
*we had received a verse at the beginning of Hannah's adoption that also said "I will bring you back" from Genesis 28:15
The word lame had a reference to Micah 4:6-7
"In that day, says the Lord, I will assemble the LAME, I will gather the outcast and those whom I have afflicted; I will make the LAME a REMNANT, and the outcast a strong nation; so the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on, even forever.
Again the word lame had a reference.
Ezekiel 34:11-16
"God the True Shepherd"
For thus says the Lord God: Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock , and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment."
I wanted to understand the meaning of remnant from Micah 4 and it had a reference to Micah 2:12
"Israel Restored"
I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together like sheep of the fold, like a flock in the midst of their pasture; they shall make a loud noise because of so many people.
The footnotes said assemble....gather.....put them together: The verbs are emphatic, demonstrating the certainty of God's determination to bring to pass His good pleasure on His people(see Deuteronomy 30:1-6)
"Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God drives you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, that the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you. If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
The footnotes said verse 1, when all these things come upon you refers to the blessings detailed in Deut 28, which is the first passage I started praying.
We again called the agency and asked what we needed to do to place this boy "on hold". The verses had spoken clearly to his special need and to the importance of obedience when God speaks. There were many changes taking place again in adoptions. The agency told us they had just been notified that families need to be home for at least one year before they are able to commit to another specific child. We had prayed for the door to close if we were not hearing correctly from God through these scriptures. It looked like the door was closed. We would not be able to pursue him until September and his file would be returned to China very soon.
Waiting child lists
In asking God what He was asking us to step out and do, naturally my heart turns toward adoption. Many agencies have waiting child lists. This is how we were matched with our daughters. Both Hannah and Sarah were born with cleft lip and palate. This diagnosis, as well as many others, qualify children to be placed on a special needs or waiting child list. Families who choose to adopt can request a healthy baby/child or they can request a child with a medical need. Many conditions are minor and/or correctable with care here in the United States. We have always felt led to pursue children with medical needs. I began to look at children available through waiting child lists. Then Greg and I talked and felt our next child would be a boy between the ages of 5&6 years old.
Unbelievable Blessing
On February 4, 2008, we were contacted by a wonderful Christian couple we know. They said God had spoken to them to "bless" our family and they in obedience to Him had stepped out in faith. It has been very overwhelming; February 4th is the anniversary of our Gotcha Day with Hannah in 2006. We leaped out in faith back in 2005 to begin the adoption process to bring our daughter home. God orchestrated every detail and she and I even share the same birthday! We again stepped out in faith to bring our second daughter home in 2007. Due to the new requirements, effective May 2007, it looked like a "now or never" scenario for us. We desperately wanted another Chinese daughter, a sister for our Hannah. We submitted our paperwork before the change took place and traveled in September to bring Sarah home. Again, every detail was orchestrated from above and miraculously the funds arrived from family, friends, grants, and unexpected checks in the mail. During our travels, I did not feel that it would be our last time to China and we have not felt our family is yet complete. As this couple stepped out to "bless" us I have prayed God please give me specific scripture to pray over them. I have also asked, God what are you asking us to do? I was led to Deuteronomy 28:1-14
"Blessings on obedience"
1. Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: 3. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. 4. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. 5. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 6. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. 7. The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. 8.The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. 9.The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. 10. Then all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. 11. And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. 12. The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. 14.So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them."
Praying this passage over and over has cemented it in my heart for others as well as for me and my family.
"Blessings on obedience"
1. Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: 3. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. 4. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. 5. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 6. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. 7. The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. 8.The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. 9.The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. 10. Then all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. 11. And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. 12. The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. 14.So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them."
Praying this passage over and over has cemented it in my heart for others as well as for me and my family.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Our Faith Journey
We adopted Sarah, our fourth child, and second daughter from China, in September of 2007. During our travels, we were able to tour her orphanage, something we were not able to do during our first adoption. It was overwhelming to walk through an orphanage seeing, hearing, experiencing rooms full of children without families. No one to care, no one to calm individual fears, to encourage, to love these children as they each deserve and long for. The only thing that made it bearable was we already had our new little one to focus on. We knew we were making a difference but leaving the others behind is still heart-wrenching at the same time. I know God has not called us to save all of them but he has called us to obey when he speaks to us about "the one". One little boy did make a huge impact on my heart. His crib was toward the back corner of the room. His eyes were bright and questioning. His special medical needs deemed him "unadoptable". He was darling and his eyes spoke to my heart. He said take me home, love me, I have great things to accomplish and I need a family. I did not have much time to ponder this as we were very busy adjusting to our new and precious daughter. However, after returning home I have had more time to think and pray. Although we did not know then if we would qualify to adopt again somehow I knew we would be back.
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