OUR DAUGHTER

We are going to {her}.We have a daughter.

 

The dossier is in. The homestudy has been amended. Immigration too.

And God never ceases to stun us with His perfect plans.

I can honestly say...we didn't see this one coming.

Even I, the girl who thinks of every possible scenario under the sun for even simple things,
did not see this one coming. But God...He did. He knew all along and we follow.

"I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me. 
I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say: My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.
From the east I summon a bird of prey;
from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that will I bring about;   

what I have planned, that will I do."

Isaiah 46:9-11

The email came in. The question was asked. The answer prayerfully and joyfully given...yes!

She needs a home, a family, a mommy, a daddy, the love of Jesus in her life. We were already prepared to say yes to such an email, we just didn't realize that we would be saying yes to our girl. This is why I thank God that He is God and I am not. He knew all along that this little bundle was to be our daughter.

Looking back, the preceding weeks had brought preparations that seem obvious in retrospect. 2 groups of 2 little girls had stayed in our home on 2 different occasions and my heart knew that it longed for more daughters. I must have told everyone that week, because it was so clear. I just laugh thinking back that God knew the surprise package He had waiting for us. How delightful to be the parent with the secret gift for a beloved child. It makes me smile to think of it. :)

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God."

Deuteronomy 29:29

And what of the other son our hearts have been prepared for?

He has a name. He is already in our hearts. We will still go to him too, should the Lord lead.
In God's perfect timing he will be made known to us if he is meant for our family. Time will tell...

For now, it looks like God's plans are (and were all along) for one precious little boy
and one teeny baby girl to join our growing family...and gratitude overflows.

"May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace."

Psalm 144:12

Another whirlwind of a week under our belts, and God continues to lead us every step of the way. We learn of the God-sent ones who care for them now. We thank God for employing their nurturing arms and hearts. How special to know that our children are in good hands/Good Hands. I'm thankful for both, thankful as well to be sharing this journey with dear friends. What a gift!

Nothing this week happened as we expected, but (again) that's what we expected. We remain prayerful, trusting, holding loosely to the reigns as we follow the Lord on this journey to our daughter. She is very young and vulnerable but her life is in God's hands.

So, God has revealed the other little soul we were waiting for...we just didn't know she was a "she" until now.

We're thankful this is how our adoption journey is playing out, because it's clearly God's story planning ours.
 

We're thankful that He is in control and we are not.

We're thankful that God is always good and His plans are best.

And we're deeply thankful that He has led us to our daughter.

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west. 
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the ends of the earth —
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made. ”

Isaiah 43:5-7

ADOPTION IS BEAUTIFUL

...and a sweet reflection of what God has done for us. He gave us hope when we were hopeless, welcomed us into His family, and loves us as His own Son. What a privilege to overflow with that which we've received.

Adoption is beautiful!

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." 1 John 3:1

"Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace." Ephesians 1:4-6

What an honor to mirror the Father's love as we embrace new little ones into our home. Sometimes I ask myself, how did I miss this before? How did I not clearly see the beauty of adoption? For years I had children and thought adoption "was noble, but not for me". And my empathetic heart asks, how in the world could I have missed it? The answer, of course, is that God has appointed a time, a perfect, beautiful time according to His sovereign plans. There's no mistaking it now, this is His timing for our family.

When I look back on the catalysts to our adoption's beginnings I am spurred on to encourage others to simply put their eyes on adoptive families, videos readily available on the internet, sermons that sing of the heavenly Father's heart for adoption, books that inspire and educate. I look back and see how God worked in our hearts and I long to encourage as I was encouraged before.

I've noticed that if we are willing to open just the tiniest crack in the window of our heart, the Lord swoops in and reveals His heart to ours. He opens wide the doors which were closed and bit by bit, we become changed. It becomes undeniable, if we willingly take the first step of faith.

I realize that sometimes that's just too scary. What if everything changes? It might. What if I lose the life I'm used to? We will. What if I'm inadequate to take on another child? We are, but God's not. What if, what if, what if?

The answer to every what if is GOD. He is able. He is strength. He is peace. He is joy. He is LOVE and...

"We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19

"If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
1 John 4:11

Once we set our eyes on the needs of the world and allow God to open our eyes to His will, we realize that we become responsible, accountable to that which we've been called as imitators of God.

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children." Ephesians 5:1

And Paul confirms:

"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1

"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." 1 John 3:16-18

"Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, 'Behold, we did not know this,' does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?" Proverbs 24:11-12

I once was blind, admittedly, but now I see, thankfully. I praise God for giving me His sight and even His courage to follow Him into a new season in our lives. He makes everything beautiful in its time and He will bring to fruition His appointed time. We cannot thwart His plans.

We've been adopted by our Father God and we've been given the opportunity to extend His love as an expression of He who lives within us. What a privilege!

Adoption is many things, but mostly, adoption is about God's love. He loves us. He loves them. He loves you. He's grafted us into His family and He's asking us to express His love to others...and it feels beautiful.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time."
Ecclesiastes 3:11

"For the coastlands shall hope for me...to bring your children from afar...for the name of the Lord your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has made you beautiful." Isaiah 60:9

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations."
Isaiah 61:1-4

ADOPTION IS UNEXPECTED

...and that's to be expected. Considering we went into our adoption pretty open-minded, we sure have been surprised as this has all played out.

Adoption is unexpected!

We've learned a lot about letting go of our "plans" and surrendering our lives to the will of God instead. His plans are always best and better than our own. When we yield to Him, He's trustworthy to reveal what He intends.

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand." Proverbs 19:21

Will we resist when changes come?
Will we fear when the unpredictable arrives?
Will we plant our suppositions on what we've thought we would do?

[OR]

Will we prayerfully surrender our lives to God's perfect will?
Will we cast our anxieties on Him, since perfect love casts out fear?
Will we follow the Good Shepherd into the unknown?

These are absolutely questions we've asked ourselves this past year of our adoption, in particular as we have had key decisions to make.

A twist of unexpected events has landed in our inbox and we've made our choice to say yes. No picture was needed, just prayer, and unity amidst our family.

"The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever." Psalm 138:8

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Psalm 23:1-3

Soaking in truth, we proceed, and another member joins our clan. Mystified (stupefied, really) we wonder how this all happened and yet we walk through the open door, knowing that God is in control. Guarded, my heart awaits the next chapter of this unexpected journey, but I trust the One who's leading...SO much more than myself and I welcome His unexpected adventure.

We pray and cling and trust and pray, knowing we're in Good Hands. We could never have written our story as wonderfully as God has chosen to write it. We could never have predicted what He already knew. And we've settled our minds to just watch it unfold as the Lord deems best, keeping our focus on Him, no matter what the future brings.

My heart rejoices as we welcome a new little precious soul into our family and I love that God has chosen for us what we never saw coming. Nevertheless, we resolve that it's alright with us that adoption is so predictably unexpected, because we know that there are no surprises for Him.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

ADOPTION IS SUBJECT TO IDOLATRY

...and yet God warned us clearly.

“You shall have no other gods before me...For I the LORD your God am a jealous God." Exodus 20:3,5

"Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry."
1 Corinthians 10:14

We see it all the time and in almost every facet of life. Idolatry in it's sneakiest form comes by way of seemingly good things that become idols of the heart, and adoption is one of them.

The way I tend to test my heart for any impending rivalry with my devotion to God is to ask myself what I think of first when I wake in the morning. Do I greet God with, "Good Morning, Lord! I can't wait to see what you have in store for me today...?" or is my mind racing with thoughts of other things and agendas of my own? The first thoughts of my heart in the morning are a sure sign of where my treasure lies and how my priorities are ordered.

Do I turn to my Bible and prayer first in the morning and return throughout the day or do I get distracted by the inevitable tasks of life? Do I read books or talk to people before I read God's Word and talk to Him? What portion of my day is spent at His feet, seeking His council, and praying to the only One who has the power to influence every circumstance?

Do we really think we can (with permanence) accomplish anything in our own strength? If we do, we are sadly mistaken and destined for disappointment at some point down the line because the only true source of sustenance is God alone. Nothing good, even adoption, even successful human relationships, can fill our longing for purpose. That position is God's.

"For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place."

1 Chronicles 16:25-27

Our sinful nature lures us into temptations of all kinds everyday, idolatry being one, but just like any other sin we are accountable to God for how we respond. Thankfully, we're forgiven when we turn from our sin in repentance. And gratefully, we are restored when we put God back in His rightful place in our hearts. He should be number one...everything else follows.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33

It takes some redirecting and a dose of intentionality, but once we have established that loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength comes first, He reciprocates by directing our path straight according to His best design. We yield and He leads. It's as simple as that. May the first thoughts of our morning be:

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, 

for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Psalm 143:8 

When it comes to our adoption, I am frequently asked about the waiting and the longing and the efforts involved in the process. So I ask myself as well, how am I doing with all of that? My honest reply is that I'm doing my best to ask God to continually keep me focused on Him, believing that He will accomplish the rest. I'm thinking about Him, knowing that He is with our children and more capable of caring for them than me.

I believe with all my heart that if my focus remains the Lord, then He will fulfill all my other needs and desires. He will orchestrate the dealings of our adoption according to His flawless plan and I will, with childlike faith, follow His lead as He does.

So, my perpetual prayer is that we may resist the temptation to idolize seemingly good things (including our adoption). And, by God's grace, that we may remember He alone is worthy of our wholehearted devotion. When we get this underlying truth straight and permanently foundational in our lives, the rest of the details resolve, we find ourselves at peace, joy overflows, and rest invades our souls.

Thank you, Lord for showing us clearly in your Word what we should and should not idolize. Thank you for adoption and for also reminding us that it is you alone we worship. We need the intercession of Christ to pray as we should and keep our hearts ordered as you desire. Thank you for loving us in spite of our failures. Thank you for the cross, where we lay our sins down in repentance and gratitude for your mercy and grace. May you alone be glorified through adoption as we remain at your feet in spite of all the other things we can busy ourselves thinking about and doing. And may you alone be the reason why we love others with your love to the praise of your great name. Amen.

"Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.' But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'" Luke 10:38-42

{What can we learn from Mary?}

ADOPTION IS SPIRITUAL WARFARE

...and God said it would be.

 

In fact, raising children and parenting in general is spiritual warfare.

The Bible tells us so.

"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth."

Psalm 127:4

Make no mistake about it, there is a real enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour,

and he does not like adoption. He does not like fatherless children landing in loving, God-honoring homes.

And he is bound and determined to discourage all involved.

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

1 Peter 5:8

So this is where we cling to the promises given.

This is when we take captive our thoughts, focus on the good, and pray to the One who is really in charge. This is when we don the armor of God with rightful authority, and the peace of God follows in victorious triumph over our defeated foe.

"Be strong and courageous.

Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you.

He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

"Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

James 4:7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Philippians 4:6-8

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance."

Ephesians 6:10-18

So, when tempted to despair the spiritual attacks that will come with adoption and raising arrows of warfare for God,

we must remember the promises given in Scripture.

We must remember who is really in control.

We must remember why we are doing what we are doing.

And we must remain alert, watchful, and faithfully reliant upon God,

knowing full well that the battle belongs to the Lord.

"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD."

Proverbs 21:31

Thank you, Lord, for your promises. Thank you that we can trust you for all things. Thank you for loving us and keeping us in the shelter of your wing. Thank you for victory over the defeated evil one. Thank you for training us in battle and leading us in conquering procession when adoption brings with it spiritual warfare. Thank you for your perfect peace.

 "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

Isaiah 26:3

ADOPTION IS ETERNAL

...and God planned that it would be, both for us as His children, fellow heirs with Christ, and for the deposits we make in an eternal treasury.

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." Romans 8:15-17

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

Adoption is eternal!

I have a precious friend who has adopted a very special little girl. When asked if she thinks her daughter will ever speak fluently, she has decided to answer with eternal perspective...and I marvel. How wise her words. How hopeful her story. "Yes!" she says. "Most definitely, she will one day speak clearly every thought from her heart and she will dance and she will live in a perfect heavenly body where sin does not exist and everything is restored to perfection." I listen and learn just how eternal adoption is for their family and God is glorified. They store up treasure in heaven as they sacrificially love their daughter and they serve the Lord as they do.

"And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’" Matthew 25:40

May we realize the eternal implications of the lives we live out on earth. May we stand in awe of a merciful God who would chose to bestow His grace upon undeserving sinners like us and welcome us into His forever family. May we worship Him and give Him thanks for plucking us out of the mire and seating us beside Jesus Christ, His Son, as we obtain eternal adoption by grace through faith. And, may we mirror this lavish love as we exemplify our heavenly Father to the fatherless here on earth with the realization that adoption is absolutely, consequently eternal.

"He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure." Psalm 40:2

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."
1 John 4:11-12

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:3-14

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"The law says, 'do this,' and it is never done. Grace says, 'believe in this,' and everything is already done."
-Martin Luther

ADOPTION IS HARD (PART 1)

...and it's not supposed to be easy.

 

In fact, we were fairly warned that following Christ would come with a cost.

"Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me,

let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'"

Matthew 16:24

Adoption follows Jesus' example of love and predictably, adoption is hard. But, trusting God, we decide 

we can do hard  because we're not functioning in our own strength, but the strength of the Lord.

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:13

"But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'”

Matthew 19:26

"But [Jesus] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Adoption is riddled with potential difficulty (isn't life in general?), but every challenge is prime

opportunity for God to sweep in and use our circumstances to train us to be more like Christ.

The fruit of the Spirit grows through adversity, so may we never shy away from such privilege.

Here's the tip of the iceberg of the HARD = FRUITFUL/GOOD THINGS we realize we can

anticipate and have already experienced through the blessing of adoption with gratitude:

WAITING = PATIENCE/SUBMISSION TO GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY & RELINQUISHING CONTROL

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord and submit to His perfect timing and plans. When we let go of control, God takes control.

He is always in control anyway, so we realize it's best to recognize this out the gate and allow Him to be God. I remind myself often,

He is very good at being God...and patience takes root.

"But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with

wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31

"Even from eternity I am He, and there is none who can deliver out of My hand;

I act and who can reverse it?"

Isaiah 43:13

PERSECUTION = FAITHFULNESS/CONFIDENCE IN GOD & SUBMISSION TO HIS PERFECT PLANS

Not everyone will understand adoption, but that's to be expected. Most things that clearly identify the Spirit of God stir discomfort,

even opposition, from others who may not clearly discern what God is doing.

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

2 Timothy 3:12

As it is, not everyone can relate to our love for our big family or our choices to live things out differently from our cultural norms, but God gives us confidence in Him and His plans, so we stand firm on what He has chosen for us and follow Him into more. In all areas of our lives, we should be most concerned about what God thinks of us and fight the temptation to fear man...and faithfulness multiplies.

 

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Romans 12:2

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:11

DIFFICULTY, EVEN TRAGEDY = JOY IN TRIALS/ INCREASED FAITH IN A TRUSTWORTHY GOD

The email came through and it hit us like a ton of bricks. Malaria. Typhoid. Scabies. Etc...And those are just the physical ailments. Undoubtedly, the spiritual and emotional battles will come. But God is in control, I remind myself (again), and trust returns.

Even through tragedy, sometimes especially through tragedy, God draws us to Himself and we find His strength, not ours.

We trust that He is good no matter what and that He uses all things for our good and for His glory.

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,

for those who are called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:28

We pray for our little ones so far away in Congo and entrust them to God's loving care. And I think, How can we know what we have signed up for? We can't. But can we know this in any aspect of our lives, even in the things that seem to be "certain"? Nothing is certain except that God knows what He is doing and whatever comes to pass is of Him and His will. In that we trust and follow Him into the unknown, expectant that He will work all things, especially the hard things, for ultimate good...and joy takes flight!

UNKNOWNS/FEAR = PEACE/BELIEF & TRUST THAT GOD KNOWS ALL & HE IS LOVING, WISE, & GOOD

Being in the "paper pregnancy" stage of adoption, I'm well aware that my understanding of just how hard adoption is remains quite naive as of yet. As I reflect on the last 12 years of parenting my firstborn and five others since, it's glaring just how much I didn't know when I was pregnant with my first. And, this is a new first, but God will use it all as He teaches me new, of this I am certain.

I'm in...and peace flows like a river.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6

I don't know much, but this much I know: We've stepped out with a simple answer, yes, and made a choice to trust God's plans for our future (come what may). I jest, it's just life on earth. And, after all, if the goal is God's glory (not our prosperity), then He is glorified in our weaknesses even more than in our strengths. He is glorified more when we hold fast to Him when everything else fails. He is glorified when we retain joy, even amidst trials. He is with us in the storms and especially when life gets hard. So, we'll cling to Christ through whatever trials we encounter, deciding by faith that God's good/hard is alright with us because we trust Him.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

James 1:2-4

ADOPTION IS CONTAGIOUS

...and it should be. I can't contain the enthusiasm when I realize what God is doing in our community and others like ours.

Adoption is contagious!

I remember how we felt when we found a church body that was living out the gospel through adoption. We felt an instant kindredness because of what God had been doing in our hearts and sharing that with others matters. We thank God for uniting us with people to share our adoption experiences with and we pray for more to come!

God is doing something great! God's Spirit is moving hearts to do things we thought we'd never do and what makes that so special is that He gets all the glory for what He is doing through His people.

"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." Romans 11:36

We've found ourselves on this journey now with dear friends and family linking arms into the unknown together. Children are encouraging parents to take a childlike leap of faith and parents are teaching their children that caring for others with Christ's love is just what Christians do. We dream of raising our children together and rallying for the unadopted in their birth countries. We pray to spur one another on and encourage even more hearts to link up with ours.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

There's something to be said for traveling a windy path with comradery.

com·rad·ery  (noun):  The spirit of friendship and community in a group, like the comradery of soldiers at war who keep each other upbeat despite the difficulty of their circumstances.
(example): the special comradery that exists between soldiers that have experienced the crucible of combat together

There's something to be said for normalizing adoption and orphan care as it should be....a GIVEN. God's Word commands us to defend those who can't defend themselves. God says He is a father to the fatherless, but He accomplishes this through His body...me and you. Jesus said:

"Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Hebrews 10:24

May we spur one another on as we seek God's will for our lives on earth. May we realize that He is in control and we are not. May we link arms, rise up, and realize that God is looking for people to be His hands and feet. May we find joy and comradery in the body of Christ as we obediently do what the Bible says to do, even when it comes with a cost. And, by God's grace and for His glory, may orphan care and adoption become more and more contagious!

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." Proverbs 31:8

"Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed." Psalm 82:3

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing...Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
James 1:22-25, 27

"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them." Matthew 7:12

 

The Great Awakening - Leeland
One man wakes, awakens another
Second one wakes his next door brother
Three awake can rouse a town
And turn the whole place upside down
Many awake will cause such a fuss
It finally wakes up the rest of us
One man wakes with dawn in his eyes
Surely then it multiplies
Surely then it multiplies

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

THE BRACELETS

One of my favorite people in the whole world gave me 2 bracelets for my birthday this year to wear in prayer for my sons.

 

She remembered how I wore the jade bracelet for my daughter as I prayed through her time in my belly. (Her middle name is Jade.) My sentimental mommy heart dreams of how I'll give it to her one day, perhaps when she has her own first child, perhaps on the day she marries, perhaps for no reason at all.

I want to tell her how I've prayed for her from the start, how I've always loved her.

"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Matthew 21:22

I am beyond blessed to have been doing the same for my boys as they grow in my heart. Of course with them, I think about how someday they'll each ceremonially give their bracelet to their wife and my fairytale mind wanders away...what if??

 

The beads are from Uganda, helping women as we buy. My friend purchased them from 31 Bits, a ministry focused on giving internally displaced women in Northern Uganda an opportunity to counter poverty as an expression of Christ's love.

 

I'm thankful for this tangible way to connect with my sons through prayer and I'm thankful for the support of sister-friends.

"A friend loves at all times." Proverbs 17:17

OUR SON

We are going to him. We have a son.

The dossier is in. It's been a whirlwind of a week, but God has led us every step of the way.

This has definitely been one of those back-seat-moments in life where we are certain that He has been in the driver's seat and we definitely are not. Twists, turns, ups, downs, He is in control.

We took in the few details we were given...

"He's a fighter," she said.

And we prayed for the boy...a stranger at the time, but now with a name so personal, so sought after, so loved already.

And we made a choice...

"He's been a fighter...now let's fight for him," he says.

And I agree.

For now, the details and photo will have to wait, though they are etched permanently on my heart. His sweet eyes tell a story.
I long to know what they say. My mother's heart prays for his broken heart, yet I know he's in Good Hands.

His good God has never left him and I can't wait to tell him that He never will! I can't wait to tell him that he belongs. He belongs with us. He belongs to God. He belongs. These, the simple words the Lord keeps whispering in my ear for my son.

"For he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'"

Hebrews 13:5

Nothing this week happened as we expected, but that's what we expected.
We are prayerful, trusting, holding loosely to the reigns as we follow the Lord on this journey to our son.

Would you join us in prayer for him?

Knowing there is another little soul somewhere out there has my heart in a knot, but I know that I don't need to find him either.

God will bring him to us just as He brought his brother.

Would you pray for him as well?

How wonderful to trust in the One who controls it all. How free to exhale (as I often do) and release it all to God.
He loves us. He loves you. He IS love and I praise Him for all that He is and I'm not.

May God be glorified in and through this journey. May He be known as great because of what He has done and what He is doing and what He will do. May His story be told through the lives of our sons as we come to know what those little eyes have to say.

Thank you, Lord, for linking us into what you are doing.

Thank you for grafting us into your family.

And thank you for leading us to our son.

"You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you."

Deuteronomy 3:22