FINAL CHINA ADOPTION UPDATE

This is it. The finish line that leads to the next starting line. We're ready to tee up.

The long awaited journey to our little ones in China is about to take place. The paperwork is done, the funds have been raised
(by miraculous provision...praise the Lord!!), and we are as ready as we can be for what's next.

What's next?!

We have NO idea! But, God does. He has planned it. He has written this story. It's a privilege to be part.

With wide open hearts and hands, we're set to take the step we've waited for.
We're ready to say goodbye to loved ones in order to say hello to new ones.

The time has come to travel.

Bea and Beck, the wait is over...China, here we come!!!
 

"Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth,
everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Isaiah 43:6-7

JAMES 1:27

"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 1:27

 

In our family, we value highly God's plans to care for the vulnerable. We read James 1:27 like so many others and see clearly that God values our attentiveness to the orphans and widows, those who need protection in our world, and it makes us want to do something.

 

But, there's another instruction in James 1:27 that strangely is often overlooked by orphan care enthusiasts and it's not to be dismissed.
I'm sure God was intentional when He wrote ALL of the verse, so I'm taking a close look.

 

James 1:27 clearly follows up care for the needy with God's intent for those who love Him, who call themselves His disciples, who call themselves Christians, who take their "religion" seriously and long for it to be pure and undefiled that they would likewise be...

...unstained from the world.

 

James adds in chapter 4:

 

"Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?

Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

James 4:4

 

Yikes...enemy of God?! No thank you.

 

Thus, my thoughts today as we anticipate the arrival of our new, dearly loved already, precious children all the way home from China swirl intent not only upon loving them and caring for them as would be pleasing to the Lord, but likewise I pray that we as a family can live a life set apart for God's glory, a life of faith that exists pure and undefiled, unstained from the world.

 

May we love the people of the world as Christ loves them. May we go into the world as salt and light like we've been commissioned, sharing the hope we have in the saving truths of the Gospel. BUT, may we live the whole of James 1:27 in our pursuits, caring for orphans and widows, yes, but also reading and being doers of ALL of what James said...living unstained lives, set apart from the world to the glory of God. Lord, please open the eyes of our hearts that we might see what you intend.

 

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

1 John 2:15-17

WORTH IT!

It's just not right when Mom is sick...I start to miss our "normal".

 

 

But, this is God's will for now so we accept, and we'll make the most of it, grateful.

We will.

 

 

I've done this before...I remember how the memories fade (for the better).

 

 

And, I'd do it all again for the blessing of a best friend to love, rear, share life with.

 

How much more has Christ done for me?? This is a sacrifice I can make.

They're SO WORTH it!

And He will carry me...He always has. He always will.

 

 

I love you too, little ones. How I love you!!!

(Thank you for my signs :))

 

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Isaiah 40:31

SURPRISE!

"God's timing is perfect," (I remind myself often...laughing just a bit this time).

 

He is the Giver of life!

 

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Psalm 139:13-14

 

His wisdom so FAR supersedes our own, how could we ever doubt His plans?

 

 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:9

 

We trust Him because He is trustworthy and good...in ALL things.

 

"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

 

We delight ourselves in Him, knowing that when we do, He gives us the desires of our hearts/His heart.

He is faithful to do this when we trust in Him!

 

"Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act."
Psalm 37:4-5

 

And with that, we thank the Lord for His precious new gift to us.

 

 

What a blessing...what an honor...to have been given this most wonderful surprise!

 

"Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him."

Psalm 127:3

 

"Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!"

Psalm 127:5


TITUS 2

I love it...the most beloved opportunity to train up my daughters for God's glory.

How I love them and pray they will love Him.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your strength and with all your mind.”
Luke 10:27

 

There is no ministry I would rather invest myself in more than the training up of my children.
Truly, what an amazing gift!!

Thank you, Lord, for all of my children and for my sweet girls.
Thank you for blessing us with another daughter/sister very, very soon!
Please lead me so that I can lead them well and teach them what your Word says.

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."
3 John 1:4

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine.
They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,
to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands,
that the word of God may not be reviled."
Titus 2:3-5

COOKIE LOVE

 

Aw...thanks, Aida.

 

You sure know how to make your mama feel loved.

 

"And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them."

Luke 6:30