BRAIDS AND BEADS

I have gotten better each time I have done Bereket's hair. Last night I got fancy and did braids and beads together. She loves it. Here's a pic of my 2 hr work!!

VBS

VBS(Vacation Bible School) was this past week and the kids had a blast. Kylie fell in love with the kids who just finished kindergarten. She was a teachers helper. Parker always has fun at VBS. Madison had a great time. She was able to catch up with some friends from school last year. Dawit and Bereket could not wait to go back each day. They all sang songs for us at the end of the week and mom and dad couldn't be prouder. Here is a pic of the kids in their VBS shirts.

DOING GREAT!!

We are a blessed family. The Lord has been so gracious to us. Everyone is continuing to transition smoothly and we are bonding tremendously as a family. It feels as though Bereket and Dawit have always been a part of our lives. Madison even said, she couldn't imagine what life was like before they got here. A little about the kiddos...
Bereket is a ham. She and Parker make a great pair. She has the greatest laugh in the world and a crazy personality like the rest of us. The girls are getting along great. I'm so proud how Kylie and Madison have understood and exampled their roles as the older sisters. I've cornrowed her hair and even beaded it. She seems so excited that mom can do her hair. Neither she nor Dawit remember their mother, so I think this is special for her. I'll post a pic of her beads. I only did a few because we ran out of time for VBS.
Dawit is the sweetest thing in the world. He truly desires to please us but most often his curiousity gets the best of him. He has the most beautiful smile and genuinely seems happy. He looks up to Parker so much and just adores him. Parker is understanding that little brothers are sometimes "annoying", that's a quote from Parker. Parker said he is understanding his sisters more and more each day by having a little brother.:) Dawit is already trying, with the small amount of English he can speak, to tell us about his life in Ethiopia. Selfishly, I'm not sure my heart is ready to hear about his hard life. I am so thankful for these precious children and pray to raise them by Christ's example.
Here are a few pics...more later.

GOD IS GOOD!!!!

For those of you who have been stalking the blog, I'm sorry to have kept you in such turmoil and delay!! My computer is finally fixed. Things are great! Everyone has adjusted with ease so far and each day gets better. It has been such a joy to see how our older children have been dying to self daily for the needs of their new siblings. I am a blessed mom. I will fill everyone in on the details of the trip at a later date, but just wanted to quickly write and say God is GOOD and FAITHFUL and we are blessed!!Here's a few pics to tide you over!!

We arrived in Addis only 10 hours ago and I am already falling in love with Ethiopia and its people. We have witnessed two ceremonial weddings and it is amazing to be face to face with our cultural differences. I love the assembly at the wedding singing and clapping to the beat of  the drum. I am humbled that a people who seem to have to so little seem to have so much joy.  This has challenged my faith today. I wonder if when they look back at me if they see joy. By joy I mean a happiness from deep within. I pray that Christ would resound from my heart and my mouth. We also witnessed a little more at the pool than we bargained for!! 

I met Roxanna today, a friend from the web board. I knew I liked her and now I know I love her. Her entire family is beautiful and sweet. Roxanna has the sweetest spirit. I did not meet her two youngest children as they were asleep, but the four I met were magnificent. They are polite, funny and my favorite, modest. Oh, how I love the passion for modesty Roxanna and her daughters share with me and Kylie. I am one thankful mom for the respect Kylie has for herself and her body. Kylie has truly been a joy and I am so glad we brought her with us. She is already in love with the children here and I am excited to see what the Lord will do with that love.

I cannot tell you how hard it was to be in the same city with our children and not have met them yet. We are meeting them tomorrow. I have slept  a total of 5 hours the past 3 days and I cannot even think about sleeping tonight knowing they will be in my arms tomorrow. I am speechless at the thought. I have so many more thoughts to write, but alas I am at the internet cafe( just for you Joy P.). Please pray for us and our children as we begin the rest of our lives together as a family tomorrow. For tomorrow, we meet face to face.

WE'RE ETHIOPIA BOUND!!!!!!!

I am utterly beside myself that the time has finally come to go and meet our children. I have dreamed the initial meeting at least a hundred different times. I will be so grateful if it is even a portion of what I have dreamed. I hope our children immediately see our love for Christ and for them. We want to radiate Jesus Christ to anyone we come in contact with. Oh, I cannot wait. As I have said many times before, this has been such a long and hard process, but so totally worth it. We are talking about two children's lives forever being influenced by the Gospel. We are talking about our 5 lives here being stretched and challenged by the Lord to be faithful and sacrifice ourselves. I am thankful God has called us to be their parents and pray we are faithful to the call in raising them in the Word. My biggest prayer request would be that the love I feel so in my heart is real and when I wrap my arms around my children, God would be pleased. Thank you, Lord for these gifts and miracles you have allowed us to nurture. I pray you would be pleased with us as their parents and You would find us faithful. You are worthy of our praise and Your grace is sufficient.

See ya on the 31st!! Bereket and Dawit, here we come.

NOW COMES THE FUN PART!!

PACKING!!! We have begun packing for our trip to Ethiopia. We are packing light for ourselves since we have to take two sizes for our children, because we are not really sure which size will be a better fit. We are also packing light for all the donations we will be taking to AHOPE. I am so excited about visiting there and loving on the children. All of the children at AHOPE are HIV+. They have no one to tuck them in at night and tell them of their great love for them. I want to be that person in the upcoming week. We have blankets, crib sheets, stuffed animals, blow pops, sunglasses and Airheads to give the kids. I know it will be an emotional trip, but I am already asking the Lord to change us forever. Please be in prayer for our hearts to be forever changed.

GOD HAS ANSWERED US AGAIN!!

The Lord has heard our cry and answered our petition for an embassy date of May
27th. I am absolutely in awe of all He has done this entire process. He has had to move mountains more than once for us. We do serve a mighty God!! My heart is overflowing with joy and thanksgiving knowing in 8 days we will meet our children for the very first time. This is the very plan set forth before time began. It is playing out as the Lord has ordained it to be. Dawit and Bereket have waited so long to have a family. Our children have lived through so much pain, losing their parents at such young ages due to AIDs, cancer and severe poverty. The Lord knew all along we would be their parents and they would be our children. I will sing praises to the Lord for all He has done. Your lovingkindness is better than life. My lips will praise You!! Be still and know that He is God!!

THURSDAY'S HERE AND STILL WAITING...

Thursday wasn't the day either for us to receive our birth certificates either. We are hoping and praying still for an embassy date of May 27th. Please join us in praying for them tomorrow. They are ready, today just no one went and picked them up. It is very frustrating when a week's different of embassy date means $1500 more dollars for our plane tickets that we don't have. We are continuing to trust the Lord that we have asked and believed we will receive this date. We are praying it is HIS will. We will praise Him whatever is the outcome. We cannot wait to meet our children and love them face to face. More tomorrow.

WEDNESDAY'S HERE AND STILL WAITNG...

Well it's Wednesday and we still haven't gotten our birth certificates we were promised this past Friday. We are still hopeful and have been told again we should get them tomorrow. Hopefully, this is the Lord's will and we will receive them tomorrow. If we get them before Friday,we should still be able to get the embassy date of May 27. This is the date we have been praying and specifically asking the Lord for. We are trusting in His sovereignty and His will for this adoption...every single part. Hopefully, tomorrow I can post the announcement that we have received our birth certificates.

TUESDAY'S HERE AND STILL WAITING...

Well, we still didn't get our birth certificates today for our children, but we were told our agency did pick up the letter needed to get the birth certificates. I'm going to call that progress. We are hoping and praying for them tomorrow. If we get them tomorrow we should still be able to make the 27th embassy date. If we had gotten them today, we could have left this Friday and had an embassy date of
May 20th. The Lord is sovereign and His timing is perfect. I cannot tell you how peaceful I feel in my heart after a hard day last Thursday, the Lord has worked much in my heart. After I repented on Friday, I felt so much peace. It has been a peace that has stayed with me since Friday. Not to mention, our pastor preached a sermon on our Considering Our God of Peace. Imagine that...the Lord spoke to me throughout the entire weekend and has continued throughout today. His Word is powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword. Thank you, Lord for being my peace.

MONDAY'S HERE AND STILL WAITING...

We were told we would get the birth certificates for our children today, but in Ethiopia today, there was no power. They need power to print them. Everything has been done that can be done by hand, so please pray they have power tomorrow so we can get our birth certificates and an embassy date. We are still praying and trusting the Lord. We are asking God specifically for May 27th, if it be His will. The plane tickets are a part of the reason we are specifically petitioning that date of the Lord. The tickets go up $200/person June 1. Another reason and probably the main one is we just want to get our children. We have been at this for a total of 17 months...and it has been a long 17 months. We are ready to be a family and start bonding face to face. We have been blessed to send many gifts to our children with other families traveling, so we have been bonding thus far only through pictures. May God grant that we would meet face to face May 25. May He also grant our birth certificates tomorrow. In Jesus Name. Amen

STILL WAITING

We were told our agency would have our children's birth certificates on Friday, well...let's just say we're still waiting for them. Now they have been promised for Monday. I have to admit the waiting for me just came to a head on Friday and I felt a moment of discouragement that I hadn't felt before. It is so hard to be so close to meeting your children for the very first time and bringing them home forever, for it to just be pushed out of your grasp a little further. I know and trust in the Sovereignty of the Lord, but Friday my heart struggled. Soon after my repentance of wavering, the Lord granted me peace once again. Thank you, Father that You are merciful to me, though by Your grace alone I am saved, I am still a sinner. I wouldn't want to be who I was before this process began, but it is ever before me how far the Lord still need to bring me. I am His and He will refine me. Refining has to hurt so we won't want to be who we were before. So, why are we always fighting going back there, because the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
I am weak, Lord and desperately thankful for your grace. Praying Monday the Lord will provide our birth certificates and get an embassy date for the 27th of May still. With God, all things all possible.

PRAYER REQUEST

Please go to the Lord on our behalf for His intervening on us getting our children's birth certificates. We cannot get an embassy date scheduled until we have these in our hands. We are truly praying for an embassy date of May 27th, this is a very feasible date being 4 weeks after our passing court. Plane tickets are going to be hard to come by this month, but we are trusting our Savior. Thank you for your continued prayers for us to bring our children home. This has been a long journey and we are ready to be a family.

WAIT UPON THE LORD

Each of us have our own feelings of nervousness, excitement, joy, anticipation and even fear as we await the homecoming of Dawit and Bereket. I'm not sure words can even express all the emotions we are feeling around our home these days. We have been in this process for so long, it almost doesn't seem real that they are finally coming home.

I think may all be the busyness of the "getting ready". We have so much to do and as soon as you think you're finished, you only find more to do. We appreciate all of your prayers as this will be a touch time of adjustment for everyone involved. We are trusting God because we know this is His plan for us. Even if our children desired to be adopted this is still an unknown to them and also one more transition.

We have spent the last 17 months preparing our kids and trying to consider every scenario we best as we can. We are fully leaning on the Lord to fill in the gaps. We have felt the strength of the Lord and His leadership of our steps as we have walked this journey to our children. We are so thankful for God and His grace.

Through my struggling during this process, the Lord has reminded me to trust Him and Him alone and trust in His timing. I have to admit this has not been easy. We still don't have a confirmed embassy appointment. This makes booking tickets nearly impossible. We were told May is almost completely booked for travel to Ethiopia since it is the last month before ticket prices rise. We will trust you anyway, Lord. I know the Lord has been growing me during this process as I have felt the pain of each growth spurt. He has been challenging me and keeping me in His will and not my own.
I have often read and reread the following verse In Isaiah 40.

Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.

Here's a video to remember to wait on the Lord...

TRAVEL

I cannot wait to be on our way to Addis Ababa to meet our children for the very first time and bring them home forever. Just the thought of this overwhelms my heart with joy. I wonder what they will think and if they will even understand. Our daughter, Bereket, doesn't speak Amharic, which is the primary language in Addis Ababa. She is from a region known as Kembatta. Dawit is actually from the same region, but has been immursed in Amharic for the past 17 months. I am trusting the Lord to prepare their hearts and speak to them...the Lord knows all languages. The only language I know to show them is LOVE. I am sure they will recognize this language even though it has been a long time since a parent has loved them due to death and being placed in the orphanage. I am thankful the Ethiopian people care for one another and am sure our children have been loved in our absence. Several families traveling before us have met our children and loved them for us. They have told them of our great love for them and assured them we are coming soon to bring them home, of course through an interpreter. Everyone says Dawit is all smiles and seems very excited at the opportunity to have another family. This is so sweet to my heart. He lost his parents to death so young. They say Bereket is sooooo shy. I'm sure she'll come out of that with this bunch. Again, I am anxious to go and trying to remain patient for the Lord's perfect timing. This is the hard part....more waiting.

GETTING READY!!

There has been much preparation anticipating the arrival of our children from Ethiopia. We looked for a home with an unfinished bonus room when we moved so we would be able to complete it ourselves making sure to use every square inch, knowing 3 girls would be sharing a room. It is completed and is right at 455 sq ft. We made built ins in the closet and a window seat for extra storage. There is a queen bed on one side and a king on the other, each have their own dresser as well, and the girls still have plenty of room in the middle of the room to play. We added a half bath and a huge walk in closet. I am so thankful Michael is able to do this kind of work. It saved us thousands of dollars. I am blessed to have such a God-fearing man as my husband. Thank you, Lord for Michael. He is a gift from you.
The boys room is a typical bedroom with a double closet. There is a full-twin bunk bed which Parker is excited about. He wants his brother to sleep on top, so he can look out for him. Pretty sweet big brother. Needless to say, we cannot wait to hear of our embassy date so we can meet and bring our children home. Please pray we receive on this month while we have people willing to watch our other children before school is out and people begin to vacation.
With much prayer, we have decided to take Kylie with us. With her heart for missions and orphans, I know God will change her heart forever and grow her much during this trip. I am trusting the Lord will grow and change Michael's and my heart also.
Dawit and Bereket we love you and are coming to bring you home.

THE LORD ANSWERED....

It is with a gratful and full heart that I am able to introduce our precious son to you, Dawit Addisu Lane Stephens. We are so thankful for the Lord granting us his custody to be our son. We are so blessed to have two new additions to our family. No more waiting, here they are.


Psalm 68:3-5;33-35

3 But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God;
Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name;
Lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts,
Whose name is the LORD, and exult before Him.
5 A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows,
Is God in His holy habitation.
33 To Him who rides upon the highest heavens, which are from ancient times;
Behold, He speaks forth with His voice, a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe strength to God;
His majesty is over Israel
And His strength is in the skies.
35 O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary.
The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people.
Blessed be God!

NO NEWS YET!!

The power was out all day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia so we have no news of our court hearing. Hopefully, we will hear first thing in the morning. I have to admit this waiting is hard, but it has been good for my faith. The Lord has been exercising my faith and it is so hard to die to myself.
The Lord was very gracious to me today by extending me mercy and giving me a peaceful heart all day. I got anxious for about 30 mins and then was quickly reminded to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. So, I sought the Lord and His Word to comfort my heart and He was and always is faithful. We will rest in Christ tonight and wait for the Lord to answer us tomorrow.
I am anticipating that the son in our hearts will be legally ours tomorrow, Lord willing.

COURT TONIGHT !! #5

Wanted to remind everyone reading to please pray about our court date tonight as we sleep. It will hopefully be our last one. Maybe #5 is a charm?! If not, we are trusting and resting in the grace of the Lord to sustain us until such a time as we will be able to celebrate the custody of our son. Thank you for your prayers. The Lord is good and withholds nothing from those who walk upright.

UPDATE

We received an update on our son's brother. We found out he actually has at least one more brother, that makes at least 4 brothers he will leave behind in Ethiopia. This makes me sad, as I do not know how he will deal with that or how his brothers have coped with not having him around. I cannot imagine what these children go through. They have lost everything.
His oldest brother that we know of is 16, which makes him the legal living guardian for our son. He is in region called Kembatta, which is about 7.5 hours away from Addis Ababa. The good news is they have contacted the social worker from the orphanage there and he knew exactly who they were inquiring about and says he knows where to find him. He assured my agency that the brother will be there for court on the 30th. We cannot wait to bring him home and post a picture for everyone to see how handsome he is.
I have conflicting feelings about this as our son has not seen his brother for about 18 months. I hope the Lord has resolved in his heart that he is ready for a family from America to bring him home forever. I cannot fathom the things our children have seen or experienced. Our son was living on the streets with his brothers for almost two years before his brother brought him to the orphanage because they were really struggling to find enough food on the street for all of them. I hope his brother wants our son to be adopted and come to America, as he is old enough now to contest or consent to our adoption of his brother.
Please be in prayer for our son and his brother and the emotions both of them may face on April 30th.
We cannot wait to bring both of our children home.

BEAUTIFUL BEREKET

I just got this today. What a beautiful daughter the Lord has given me.I cannot wait to hold her and tell her how much she is loved. We're coming soon, Bereket, Lord willing.

ISAIAH 25:1-9

1 O LORD, You are my God;I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name;For You have worked wonders,Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.
2 For You have made a city into a heap,A fortified city into a ruin;A palace of strangers is a city no more,It will never be rebuilt.
3 Therefore a strong people will glorify You;Cities of ruthless nations will revere You.
4 For You have been a defense for the helpless,A defense for the needy in his distress,A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat;For the breath of the ruthlessIs like a rain storm against a wall.
5 Like heat in drought, You subdue the uproar of aliens;Like heat by the shadow of a cloud, the song of the ruthless is silenced.
6 The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain;A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow,And refined, aged wine.
7 And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples,Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death for all time,And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces,And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth;For the LORD has spoken.
9 And it will be said in that day,“Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us.This is the LORD for whom we have waited;Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.
29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.
30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly,
31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

PRAISE AND PRAYER

First of all, God blessed us so much at Chick-Fil-A last night. We were able to raise $432.00 and spend the time with friends who truly are excited about our adoption and the burden we feel for the people of Ethiopia.
Secondly, we were postponed again. Our 5th court hearing. ARGHH!! Lord, I do trust You and know You are perfect...that is why we are required to have faith, to believe in the things and the plan that we cannot see. I pray Lord that You do find me faithful regardless of the testing and trials. My aim is to please You.
Please join us in praying for our son. Our next hearing will be April 30,2008. Hopefully, it will be our last court hearing and we can still bring our children home in May.
Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength...

2 PRAYER REQUESTS

1. Tonight is our sons 4th court hearing. Please pray God would grant us custody of him tonight, so we can bring our children home soon. The Embassy dates for our agency have been scheduling about 4 weeks out. If that is still the case, we would meet our children for the first time on Mother's Day!! God is so good.
2. Also, we are doing a Fund-raiser tonight at Chick-Fil-A. More than anything we want the Lord to be glorified and be able to share the Gospel and God's heart for adoption.

Hopefully tomorrow I have wonderful news to post!

CALLING

I've been thinking lately about my calling. What is my calling in life? I am primarily called to be a daughter of the King. The primary role the Lord has given me is wife and mother. I praise the Lord that I have been called to be a mother to our two children from Ethiopia. This calling has changed my life and my heart forever. I pray God continues to work on my heart and that I heed any and all callings from Him in this area. I hope the Lord calls us to another adoption. I am so eager to mother our Ethiopian children and teach them of our Lord. I am so thankful for a God who has given very defined roles and expectations. There is no guessing what God requires of me. I pray to want no glory for myself.
My desire in all of my life is to bring glory to my Savior. I write about things I am striving to be and at times where I am struggling. My hearts desire is wanting my life to glorify Christ. I hope in some small way the Lord is magnified in my writings. I hope I am putting into practice what I know to be true. I hope I am encouraging anyone reading to know God's Word better and to live out our faith. I hope to seek to honor Christ. These are all goals I am pressing toward. In no way, shape or form have I perfected anything, but sinfulness. Sanctification is a process begun by the Lord throughout my life. I enjoy writing about my journey with the Lord and the goal I am pressing toward...living out my faith in the Gospel, by the truth of the Word, by a life that seeks to bring honor and glory to my Lord.
Phillipians 3:7-14
7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Jehovah Tsidkenu

I came across this and thought I would post it. The Lord is my righteousness.

“Jehovah Tsidkenu” Jeremiah 33:16

which means “The Lord Our Righteousness”

by Robert Murray McCheyne
November 18, 1884

I once was a stranger to grace and to God,
I knew not my danger; and felt not my load;
Though friends spoke in rapture of Christ on the tree,
Jehovah Tsidkenu was nothing to me.

I oft read with pleasure, to soothe or engage,
Isaiah’s wild measure and John’s simple page;
But even when they pictured the blood-sprinkled tree,
Jehovah Tsidkenu seemed nothing to me.

Like tears from the daughters of Zion that roll,
I wept when the waters went over His soul,
Yet thought not that my sins had nailed to the tree
Jehovah Tsidkenu — ’twas nothing to me.

When free grace awoke me by light from on high,
Then legal fears shook me, I trembled to die;
No refuge, no safety in self could I see —
Jehovah Tsidkenu my Saviour must be.

My terrors all vanished before the sweet name;
My guilty fear banished, with boldness I came
To drink at the fountain, life-giving and free—
Jehovah Tsidkenu is all things to me.

Jehovah Tsidkenu! My treasure and boast,
Jehovah Tsidkenu! I ne’er can be lost;
In Thee shall I conquer by flood and by field—
My cable, my anchor, my breastplate and shield!

Even treading the valley; the shadow of death,
This “watchword” shall rally my faltering breath;
For while from life’s fever my God sets me free,
Jehovah Tsidkenu my death-song shall be.

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’
Jeremiah 23:5-6

LET ME...

I just finished watching a slideshow of a friend that just returned from Ethiopia bring home her two daughters. I am overwhelmed in my heart with the need in Ethiopia. Oh, God let me help where You have called me to help, let me go where You have called me to go, let me give where You have called me to give, let me go get and bring my children home and let me love with Your love.

Bereket's name means BLESSINGS. She is our gift from the Lord and we are indeed blessed.


Psalm 10:17-18
17 O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear
18 To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, So that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror.

ONE DOWN... ONE TO GO

Here's our beautiful daughter...



It is my privilege to introduce our daughter after all these months. Bereket Adnew Faith Stephens. I am so thankful to the Lord for giving her to us. She is 5 years old and already the apple of Michael's eye. She has no idea how much she is already loved by a family whom she has never met. We are so honored to be her parents and to have the opportunity to share Christ with her, to bring her up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We are so humbled today by the grace our Lord has given us. This has been an emotional journey and much growing has taken place. Thank you, Father for filling our hearts with such joy. Bereket, your big brother and sisters cannot wait for you to come home.

We will continue to pray for our son. His court case has been postponed until next Friday. Our case manager said it seems to be a formality with one piece of paperwork. Hopefully, Lord willing, next week I will be introducing him to you and praising God for His goodness to us by giving us another son.

1 Thess 5:24
He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

1 Thess 5:24 in Amharic የሚጠራችሁ የታመነ ነው፥ እርሱም ደግሞ ያደርገዋል።

Psalm 19
The Works and the Word of God.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard.
4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
6 Its rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
13 Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

COURT TONIGHT !!

Please pray that the judge would have all the required paperwork, that our daughter's dad would show up and we God would grant us legal custody of our children tonight while we sleep. Thank your for your prayers. I am hoping to post great news tomorrow.

My Portion

"Then I was senseless and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
With Your counsel You will guide me,
And afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. "
{Psalm 73:22-26}

The past couple of weeks as I have been meditating in the Word, I now realize, I have let other desires creep into my heart, and God is not willing to share His place with anything other than Himself. I unknowingly created my own gods. Like Calvin said, my heart is an idol maker. Our nature is not to turn to the Lord, it is to turn to the world and to the culture to bow down to the gods of today. I didn't realize I was giving myself over to the god of the moment. It really is the god of foolishness. Being completely overwhelmed, I ended up being paralyzed from doing anything at all and left myself to be tossed by the waves of each day. When a light calm or break did arise or, I would attempt to open God's word, yet everything would faithfully come and distract me. That time was not my joy or delight because I had no room in my heart for its treasure. I sacrificed an unfailing treasure for demanding flesh. And it all started with my focus, my mind. When my focus turned to flesh, when my priorities became flesh oriented, when my desires revolved around my flesh, I left no room for treasuring God, even if I wanted to, because the flesh and the Spirit are in opposition to one another. (Gal. 5) Even when I tried to delight in God, it was in void because I had already opposed God in my heart. I was unable to say with the Psalmist, "And besides You [God], I desire nothing on earth" (Ps. 73)

God has planned out paths that he desires each of us to take. He has given us clarity to understand His guiding. He will be waiting for us. We have the choice to dismiss, misinterpret, or heed to the clues He has given to us. Sometimes, the path He has chosen for us doesn't make sense, or is difficult or even dark, yet we can trust that He has gone before us, and that He has a reason for having us take this certain route to Him. His grace and His strength is enough for you.

Don't let your flesh, your wicked, evil heart keep you from delighting in God. Be on your guard against every form of greed. There is a path He lovingly chose for you to follow. Don't miss it, it leads to the greatest treasure ever...God Himself.

POSTPONED AGAIN!!

I just got home and there was another email from our case manager postponing our court date until April 8th. No real good reason why...but just that it was postponed. I wish they would have heard one child's case instead of postponing both. On March 18th they postponed until today because of B, today it is postponed because of D. I'm thinking today may have something to do with Gelgela, which is the orphanage our son is from. I've heard they are notorious for not having their paperwork ready for court on time.
Oh well, we'll just continue to pray and trust. The Lord has stretched me much during this process and I guess the refining is not over. I so want to be found faithful and pleasing in the sight of the Lord. Thanks for your prayers.

A friend gave me this today. Thanks Theresa M. It is a quote from Jerry Bridges book, Is God Really in Control? a chapter on "The Wisdom of God".

Quote:
He knows infallibly with infinite wisdom what combination of good and bad circumstances will bring us more and more into sharing His holiness. He never puts too much of the salt of adversity into the recipe of our lives. His blending of adversity and blessing is always exactly right for us.

God is infinitely wise and faithful. I know His plan is perfect even when I don't understand. I am reminded often by the Lord it is about His plan, not my own. All things will happen in accordance to His will, not mine. I'm choosing to trust with the strength of Christ. I am thankful as I look back over all the adversity of this trial through this process and can honestly say I am closer to the Lord for it. Thank you, Jesus. Again, You will sustain us and keep us.

NO NEWS YET!!

This is a copy of the email I received from our Agency's case manager. We are still trusting and praising the Lord whether we hear today or whether we get the results we want today or not. God's grace is sufficient for us and in Christ we are sustained. Please continue to pray. We are so thankful for your prayers for our family.

Dinah,
Before I leave for lunch I just wanted you to know we still do not have news on the court hearings today. We've tried to call but the connection is bad and has made it unable to hear. It appears we will have to wait until tomorrow to hear any news of today's court hearings by phone at least. This is really not unusual...not what we want but it does happen.

We will continue to try today via e-mail.

THE IDOLATRY OF DECISIONALISM

Please turn off the music on the right bottom so you can listen to this video. I know too many people in my family that are basing their eternity on a decision. Some of these decisions are over 50 years old, yet there is no evidence of Christ or the gospel in their lives today. The gospel is sufficient!!

The greatest mission field on the face of the earth are Southern Baptist churches because so many of the people in there have no godliness about them, no passion for Christ, no desire to know His Word, but they are secure because one time they prayed a prayer and asked Jesus to come into their lives...they stay in church not because of Christ, but for entertainment...but it has nothing to do with God...-missionary Paul Washer of HeartCry Mission

God's Potent Word

Lately the Lord has been reminding me of the efficacy and power of His Word. The opening verses of Psalm 19 remind us that all creation bears witness that there is a God. It bears witness with our conscience as well as our mind. It speaks of the existence of God, but without words. Is that sufficient? We must be aware of what God demands of us. And that is the function of God's Law.

In Psalm 19, we read (beginning at verse 7):

"7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making the simple wise.8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandments of the LORD are pure, giving light to the eyes.9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether,10 more to be desired than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.11 And Your servant is warned by them; in keeping them there is great reward.12 Who can understand his errors? Oh make me pure from secret faults ;13 and keep Your servant back from presumptuous sins ; do not let them rule over me; then I shall be upright, and I shall be innocent of great transgression.14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

Postponed for Court!!

Well, we didn't make it through court today. The Women's Ministry is requesting more information on both of our children. They have both been abandoned to the orphanages for over 14 months, but alas, they still are wanting more information. Our son's parents have been deceased for almost three years. Our daughter's mother died over two years ago and her father did not show up today for court, so he is either too sick to come or has already passed. We are hoping someone else will show up on his behalf and our daughter's behalf to state what his condition is so we can proceed with a favorable court decision. I'm sad, but not discouraged today. We were praying and hoping for a successful court date today, but we are trusting the BIG picture of God that neither or us can see. We have no idea why these delays are His plan, but we trust His sovereignty!! It feels good to say that and not be wavering in your thoughts as you type as I have done so often. So, for that, Lord, I praise You for Your grace and mercy in my life, for the refining You have accomplished in me and for all that you plan to do to sanctify to Yourself. Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise YOU!!
We are postponed until April 1, 2008. Please join us in praying for that court date to be successful. That is also my Dad's birthday. Thank you.

PRAYER REQUEST

Please pray as tonight while we sleep the judge will decide the legality of our children. We are praying God has granted us favor with the judge and the children will from this day forward legally be ours. They have been ours in our hearts from the beginning. We are prayfully hoping to receive a call first thing in the morning with congratulations on our two newest members of the family. Thank you for your prayers. Below is a description of the wonderful, powerful, holy God we serve.
"The Sovereign Lord"

"God is sovereign Lord and King, and exerciseth a dominion over the whole world, both heaven and earth. This is so clear, that nothing is more spoken of in Scripture. The very name, "LORD," imports it.

Stephen Charnock

Smooth and Rough Places Alike

"The heart of true religion is to glorify God by patient endurance and to praise him for his gracious deliverances. It is to live one's life, through smooth and rough places alike, in sustained obedience and thanksgiving for mercy received. It is to seek and find one's deepest joy, not in spiritual lotus-eating, but in discovering through each successive storm and conflict the mighty adequacy of Christ to save. It is the sure knowledge that God's way is best, both for our own welfare and for his glory. No problems of providence will shake the faith of the one who has truly learned this."
... J.I. Packer in Hot Tub Religion

Adoption Greater than the Universe- John Piper

Is God calling you to adopt? Please listen carefully and consider what Scripture has to say to us. Please turn off the music down on the right hand side to listen. Enjoy! I pray God would speak to your heart.

Spritual Adoption

I realize that while adoption is a very familiar concept in our family (since we are currently finishing the process of our two children), it may be an unfamiliar topic to many others. However, for believers we should love this topic.

The concept of adoption has been on my heart and mind on and off my whole life. I've resolved that adoption should not be something whisper about. It is something I want our children to embrace and really not have to think about. I want them to be proud of their adoption and not feel different or left to feel awkward. I want them to have a deep sense of belonging in and to our family by the One who has ordained all things. My desire is for them to have a healthy sense of being a part of our family, truly belonging, not because of their own adoption, but in understanding adoption by God's grace they have become our children. I want adoption to be something we don't have to focus on. We may have to answer the following...as to why our skin is not the same color, why we don't have the same blood type, why our eyes are a different color. They are only different in the fact that they were not born to me, but alike in the fact that all of our children were ordained to us whether by birth or adoption by God. As I said, I don't want adoption to be our focus, because God has made them my own and my prayer is He will make them His own. I can only example and teach this to our children in understanding and reveling in my deep sense of belonging to my Heavenly Father! Adoption is God's heart and His design. Consider what J. I. Packer has to say about the doctrine of Adoption:

"Paul teaches that the gift of justification (i.e., present acceptance by God as the world's Judge) brings with it the status of sonship by adoption (i.e., permanent intimacy with God as one's heavenly Father, Gal. 3:26; 4:4-7). In Paul's world, adoption was ordinarily of young adult males of good character to become heirs and maintain the family name of the childless rich. Paul, however, proclaims God's gracious adoption of persons of bad character to become "heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ" (Rom. 8:17).

Justification is the basic blessing, on which adoption is founded; adoption is the crowning blessing, to which justification clears the way. Adopted status belongs to all who receive Christ (John 1:12). The adopted status of believers means that in and through Christ God loves them as He loves His only-begotten Son and will share with them all the glory that is Christ's now (Rom. 8:17, 38-39). Here and now believers are under God's fatherly care and discipline (Matt. 6:26; Heb. 12:5-11) and are directed, especially by Jesus, to live their whole lives in light of the knowledge that God is their Father in heaven. They are to pray to Him as such (Matt. 6:5-13), imitate Him as such (Matt. 5:44-48; 6:12, 14-15; 18:21-35; Eph. 4:32-5:2), and trust Him as such (Matt. 6:25-34), thus expressing the filial instinct that the Holy Spirit has implanted in them (Rom. 8:15-17; Gal. 4:6).

Adoption and regeneration accompany each other as two aspects of the salvation that Christ brings (John 1:12-13), but they are to be distinguished. Adoption is the bestowal of a relationship, while regeneration is the transformation of our moral nature. Yet the link is evident; God wants His children, whom He loves, to bear His character, and takes action accordingly. "
I find it interesting and telling that God calls us His children/His son/His daughter.However, God does make it clear how we have come to be His children and that avenue is adoption. He primarily calls us "HIS children". God makes it no secret that we have been adopted, it just isn't the focus. We are no longer strangers or enemies of God, we have been made His very own.

This of course, is a facet of Biblical truth that has become very noticeable to me because I am an adoptive mom to a son and daughter from Ethiopia. I/we will not call our children or refer to them as "our adopted children". We will not introduce them as such, because they ARE our children. We have set our affection upon them and they are entitled to everything that a biological child would be entitled to. The fact that they are adopted merely sets the stage for our relationship, it doesn't define it or weaken it.

I pray that you would rejoice in your adoption to God as His son or daughter by His goodness and choice.

ALL SUFFICIENT GRACE

God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all-sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good word and work.”
2 Corinthians 9:8

All-sufficiency in all things! Believer! Surely you are “thoroughly furnished!” Grace is no scanty thing, doled out in pittances. It is a glorious treasury, which the key of prayer can always unlock, but never empty. A fountain, “full, flowing, ever flowing, over flowing.” Mark these three ALL’S in this precious promise. It is a three-fold link in a golden chain, let down from a throne of grace by a God of grace. “All grace!”—”all-sufficiency!” in “all things!” and these to “abound.” Oh! precious thought! My need cannot impoverish that inexhaustible treasury of grace! Myriads are hourly hanging on it, and drawing from it, and yet there is no diminution—”Out of that fullness all we too may receive, and grace for grace!”

My soul, do you not love to dwell on that all-abounding grace? Your own insufficiency in everything, met with an “all-sufficiency in all things!” Grace in all circumstances and situations, in all vicissitudes and changes, in all the varied phases of the Christian’s being. Grace in sunshine and storm—in health and in sickness—in life and in death. Grace for the old believer and the young believer, the tried believer, and the weak believer, and the tempted believer. Grace for duty, and grace in duty—grace to carry the joyous cup with a steady hand, grace to drink the bitter cup with an unmurmuring spirit—grace to have prosperity sanctified—grace to say, through tears, “Your will be done!”

*John McDuff “The Faithful Promiser”

Isaiah 64:4

For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.

When circumstances arise in which you feel that something must be done, for safety or for service, wait for the Lord, and He will work for you. First, pray, seek His counsel, submit to His wisdom and power. Second, if He says to be still, then leave it all in His hands, trusting His supernatural involvement in the situation. I don't mean laziness or shirking of duty. I mean that when you are most prepared, most capable, most primed for battle, and think that most hangs on you, He may say, "Stay home, be quiet, pray, and watch Me act." Third, if the Lord says, "Prepare, train, work, fight, argue, struggle," even then maintain that humble reliance on the Lord. Have a spirit of expectancy that, though your labors are shabby, the final issue is the Lord's, and He loves to work for people who wait for him.
By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org

You Know You're An Adoptive Parent If. . .

I saw this on another adoptive families blog and instantly realized how true it is for us...

YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN ADOPTIVE PARENT IF...

1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.

2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love & family.

3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.

4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you. (This statistic was checked out by another mom and found to be true)

5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who've experienced the blessing of adoption.

6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child's "real" parents.

7. You've been "pregnant" with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)

8. You'd no idea how you'd afford to adopt, but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing He'd provide. (& He does!)

9. You've taken an airplane half-way around the world with a child you just met.

10. You believe God's heart's for adoption.

11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart & family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.

12. You know what the word "Dossier" means & you can actually pronounce it correctly!

13. You've welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.

14. You shudder when people say your child's so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you're the blessed one to have him or her in your life.

COURT DATE!!!!!!!!

We are another step closer in this process. We just found out we have a court date for March 18th. We are so excited. We were praying about getting a date in March and God has granted us this date. If God blesses us with a successful court date, March 18 our children will be legally ours. We will be able to post their pictures and share all kinds of information about them. They are already our children in our hearts, but this will legally make them ours forever. Thank you, Lord for answering our prayers. There will be only one more step in our adoption process and that will be to go get them and bring them home. This finally seems like this is happening. I am so grateful to You, Lord!!

JOY AND SUFFERING

I've been thinking alot about joy lately and these are some quotes that ministered to my heart with truth.
"The joy of the Lord is your strength." (Neh 8:10)
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5
Joy in the bible is the means by which we are sustained in suffering - - - - - - - and joy is that for which suffering is preparing us..... John Piper
"We do not choose suffering simply because we are told to, but because the one who tells us to describes it as the path to everlasting joy." John Piper
"The difference between shallow happiness and a deep sustaining joy is sorrow. Happiness lives where sorrow is not. When sorrow arrives, happiness dies. It can't stand pain. Joy, on the other hand, rises from sorrow and therefore can withstand all grief. Joy, by the grace of God, is the transfiguration of suffering into endurance, and of endurance into character, and of character into hope--and the hope that has become our joy does not (as happiness must for those who depend upon it) disappoint us." Walter Wangrin, Reliving the Passion
"I miss my wife in numberless ways and shall miss her yet more and more, but as a child of God and as a servant of the Lord Jesus I bow. I'm satisfied with the will of my heavenly father. I seek by perfect submission to His holy will to glorify Him and kiss continually the hand that has thus afflicted me." George Mueller
"We ought to celebrate the positive glorious gifts of God, but the worth of God shines in a powerful way to the world when in the midst of suffering we still don't curse God but say "the Lord gave and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord." John Piper
"Joy is that deep settled confidence that God is in control of every area of my life." Paul Sailhamer.
"The things we try to avoid and fight against - tribulation, suffering and persecution - are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. Huge waves that would frighten the ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. "We are more than conquerors through Him" IN all these things - not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn't know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said "I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation". Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (Rom 8:37, 2 Cor 7:4)
"Those who dive in the sea of affliction bring up rare pearls." Charles Spurgeon
"The discontented person thinks that everything that he does for God is too much and everything God does for him is too little." Kimber Kauffman
"joy is a much sought after quality of life....Joy comes with giving away - losing, not gaining." Evelyn Christenson
"This is the secret of joy. We shall no longer strive for our own way; but commit ourselves, easily and simply, to God's way, acquiesce in His will, and in so doing find our peace." Evelyn Underhill
"Suffering is a short pain and a long joy." Henry Suso
"Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal." Thomas Moore
"Strength is born in the deep silence of long suffering hearts; not amid joy." Felicia Hemans
"How happy a person is depends upon the depth of his gratitude." John Miller
"Affliction is a treasure, and scarce any man hath enough of it." John Donne
"We are healed of a suffering only by experiencing it in full." Marcel Proust
"As soon as a baby enters the world, the baby is immediately introduced to pain. It is somewhat symbolic that life begins with a cry." RC Sproul
"The true Christian reaction to suffering and sorrow is not the attitude of self-pity, fatalism or resentment; it is the spirit which takes life's difficulties as a God given opportunity, and regards its troubles as a sacred trust, and wears the thorns as a crown." James Stewart
"Once you see your affliction as a preparation to meet God, you won't be quick to call it suffering again. Even though I have rough moments in my wheelchair, for the most part I consider my paralysis a gift. Just as Jesus exchanged the meaning of the Cross from a symbol of torture to one of hope and salvation, He gives me the grace to do the same with my chair. If a cross can become a blessing, so can a wheelchair. The wheelchair, in a sense, is behind me now. The despair is over. There are now other crosses to bear, other "wheelchairs" in my life to be exchanged into gifts." Joni Eareckson Tada
"How much more pleasant this world would be if we magnified our blessings the way we magnify our disappointments." Unknown
Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing something of my own choosing. The joy our Lord experienced cam from doing what his Father sent Him to do. And He says to us, "As the Father has sent me, so I also send you."(Jn 20:21). Have you received a ministry from the Lord? If so, you must be faithful to it - - to consider your life valuable only for the purpose of fulfilling that ministry. Knowing that you have done what Jesus has sent you to do, think how satisfying it will be to hear him say to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant." (Mt 25:21). We each have to find a niche in life, and spiritually we find it when we receive a ministry from the Lord. To do this we must have close fellowship with Jesus and must know Him as more than our personal savior. And we must be willing to experience the full impact of Acts 9:16 - "I will show you how many things he must suffer for my name's sake." Oswald Chambers
"It is the very joy of this earthly life to think that it will come to an end." Charles Spurgeon
"It is an unfortunate thing for the Christian to be melancholy. If there is any man in the world that has a right to have a bright, clear face and a flashing eye, it is the man whose sins are forgiven him, who is saved with God's salvation." Charles Spurgeon
"Your sorrow itself shall be turned into joy. Not the sorrow to be taken away, and joy to be put in it's place, but the very sorrow which now grieves you shall be turned into joy. God not only takes away the bitterness and gives sweetness in it's place, but turns the bitterness into sweetness itself." Charles Spurgeon (on John 16:33)
"Sorrow for sin should be the keenest sorrow; joy in the Lord should be the loftiest joy.: Charles Spurgeon (on Phillipians 4:4)
"Thankfulness is the secret of joy." Unknown

John Piper on the Prosperity Gospel

Turn off the music on the lower right side to listen to this video.

WAITING ON A COURT DATE

Six families from our agency were given court dates yesterday of March 6, well, we were not one of those families. I am really okay with this....for once I am not questioning the Lord. Thank you, Father for this peace right now you have given me in this process. I wish I had learned from the start adoption is a hurry up and wait process and it doesn't matter anyway...it is all in God's timing. Why is it we try to manipulate the Lord's timing? All of our efforts are in vain. I am still praying about traveling the end of March, but it is not looking like that will be the case. We will probably be traveling sometime in the middle of April. It all depends on how quickly we get a court date. The great outcome of the court date is, if successful, the kids are legally ours. I can post their pictures and post their names. That sure will seem surreal at this point, but not as surreal as arriving at the care center to meet them for the first time. Oh, I cannot wait. My heart longs for that day!!

ANOTHER STEP CLOSER

We received the results on the second medicals on our children today. The kids have just undergone a complete physical and comprehensive lab work. Everything looks pretty good, so our documents will be submitted to the court for a court date. We are hoping to hear of a court date in the next two weeks. I am so thankful to the Lord that we got our kids results back a week earlier than we were told. I am hoping we will travel to get them by mid April. We are praying that the Lord would continue to help our kids transition well and protect them. Our children's greatest need is for a Savior, Jesus Christ. We are asking the Lord to begin to work in their hearts and soften their hearts to the truth we will begin to share with them. With God's grace, we are finally getting closer to bringing our children home.

Why Does God Answer Me?

Psalm 27:7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice, And be gracious to me and answer me.

It is an amazing thing to me that God would even once hear me, let alone answer! I never get used to the miracle of prayer. It is truly moment by moment. Why does God answer me? In small and large moments in my life, I choose my own agenda over His. I so often run to Him for help with the messes I have made in my foolishness and rebellion to Him. I have no present argument that He should hear me. I have no wisdom to present to gain His attention. I have no constant record of good deeds that would warrent His attention. I've been more often waivering than faithful. I often try to justify my sins rather than seek His forgiveness. I struggle with contentment and am often attracted to temporary pleasures this world offers. The desires of my heart seem to wander again and again. I often seem to forget to Whom I belong and what all I've been forgiven for. Again and again, I seem to contradict the theology that I say I believe with all my heart. I seem to find myself asking for forgiveness for the same sins over and over again. Underserving is the way I stand before Him. This is why I must follow David's example in Scripture by appealing to God's great mercy when I pray. David cannot look to himself for any reason God would listen and answer and neither can I. Yet, there is still a miracle before us, we do not have to fear God's rejection. I have been found righteous in His eyes by the imputed righteousness of Christ. So, why does God answer? He answers because of His own reason. Prayer finds its hope in the character and plan of God, not in the qualifications of the one doing the praying. He answers because of who He is. He answers because of what He is doing. He answers because He loves to provide grace for the moment. He answers to ulitmately bring glory to Himself. God delights in having a people for Himself and in His great love His eyes and ears are attentive to our cries. Throughout Scripture God answers the cries of His people. He commands that we bring all of our cares to Him and assures He really does care for us. The prayers of His people never fall upon deaf ears. God still hears my cries and answers me even in my weakness and failure. He delights in using His power and glory to meet the needs of His struggling child. If it were not for the grandeur of His forgiving grace, I would not be able to have a relationship with the Lord at all. Because of God's amazing grace, I will one day be transformed completely and no longer stand in the need of prayer or forgiveness. God continue to hear my cries and transform me into the likeness of Christ. Lord, Your commitment to Your own glory is my only hope. Because of God's commitment to His own glory, I am assured He will hear and answer my cry. This is the only reason I can approach in confidence. My hope in prayer is never found in me, it is must be found in You.

ONE STEP CLOSER

Our kids were moved this weekend to the final transitional foster home. This is actually where will be pick them up when we travel. They will have their second medicals done and once we approve those we will be given a court date. We are still hoping to travel the end of March, but it depends on how quickly we get a court date. I am writing this in tears this morning in awe of God answering my prayers this weekend. He placed this dream in my heart and it is finally coming to the end and becoming reality. We will also be getting updates on our kids and new pictures in the next week or two. We haven't had a new picture on our daughter in 1 year, so we cannot wait to see how much she has changed. I'm so excited and grateful to God for answering me. Thank you, Lord. You have moved us one step closer!! Please pray for our children as they have another transition before them and then another one when we bring them home. God has been so gracious to bring us this far on the journey He has called us to, He will be Faithful to bring it to fruition and bring us home as one family, whose desire is to bring glory to our God and enjoy Him forever.

SEEKING GOD, BEING REFINED?

Prov. 2:4-5
If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures;Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God.

I often wonder if I am as diligent about seeking godly things as I am the things of this world? Am I truly seeking the Lord as my treasure? What are my priorities and where are they? Is the Lord first in my life as my greatest treasure? Do I have a biblical fear of God? Am I truly seeking Him with my whole heart? If I have to be truthful, there are many days my heart stinks and my priorities are not where I wish they were. My desire is to seek the Lord more fervently, so why do I fail? I could tell you how much better I need to do, but in the strength of myself I will only accomplish constant failure. This is my greatest struggle to rely and rest in Christ and count on Him for everything. I do need to do better, but not in my works, in my belief that the God I serve is Great and Sovereign and do better in believing and counting on these things. I need to die daily to myself, to live is Christ and to die is gain. God, forgive my complacency. Forgive my unbelief. Help me be more like Christ, refined by Your Word and Your Spirit. Sanctify me for Your pleasure. Help me to serve with a glad and joyful heart. Cause my heart to be broken over my sins. Help me to find joy in the midst of trials and let patience and perseverence be my fruit, but mostly Lord love. Lord, perform your work in me and refine me I am Your clay. Change my heart, O God. May I be more like you, Lord. Make me holy, Lord, this is Your will. Lord, give me wisdom and more knowlege of You that I may fear You as I should!
REFINER'S FIRE

Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold

Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will

Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin
Deep within

chorus again

171 RECEIVED!!!!

Today we received our approval, from Homeland Security, to bring our children back into the United States! This is great news. This is all we were waiting on to get our children moved to the care center to get their second medicals completed, as well as, getting in line for a court date. We still are hoping to travel in March, but it will all depend on how quickly we get a court date and if we pass our court date the first time around. We have two unrelated children, so a family member or family representative from each child's family will have to show up at court to state before the judge that they are truly available for adoption. I'm not sure who will show up for either child's family, our daughter's mother is deceased and the father was dying when he brought her to the orphanage. Our son's parents died two years ago and his 11 year old brother was raising the three younger siblings. I am so thankful at this point, I don't have to worry about it, if this is the Lord's will He will accomplish it. There have been many hurdles and obstacles through out this entire process, but I will be quick to give God the glory due Him, He has moved them all. Michael and I are so thankful and humbled to be loved and chosen by a God so great. We are blessed to have been called on this journey and want the Lord to be pleased with our hearts and lives. Please continue to pray for our faithfulness to God and for His protection of our children, especially for their purity....this is my heart for all my children. I stand in awe today at all the Lord has chosen to do in my life and what He will do. Thank you, Faithful Father.

FAITH

If there were only one word to describe our Lord, the word faithful definately comes to mind. The Bible emphasizes being a people of faith, a people who would be shaped and characterized by the God of their faith. We cannot be a godly people with being people of faith. Hebrews chapter 11 talks of men and women who lived out the faith deep within them. They were people of faith, and God delighted to associate with them. Does God delight in my faithfulness toward Him? This is something I contemplate often. Am I faithful based on my circumstance? Those described in Hebrews 11 clearly showed their resistance against temptation, lusts and sufferings, so they would gain something greater for enduring and persevering. Their strong faith made them faithful. We must pursue this same kind of faith regardless of its effect on our lives. This one thing matters to our God, for those who know Him... to obey and enjoy Him. What does it require to please God....faith. Am I a pleasure to my God or am I shaming His name and His glory by a lack of faith?

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. Hebrews 11:1-2
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16
And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Hebrews 11:39-40
In Ephesians 2:8, we can be sure though faith is a gift from God, we will be faced with situations to apply our faith. Genuine faith produces faithfulness. Faithfulness is the appropriate response to what God would expect from His followers. What areas in your life have you been tested with? Each test is a test of our faith. "For without faith, it is impossible to please God." I so desire to be more like Christ, being full of faith. God often speaks of His pleasure in the Son. God spoke,"Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well-pleased" (Mark 1:11). Do you realize we would always succeed if we were always faithful and did what God desires. Tests of our faith are an opportunity to trust God. Each circumstance is an opportunity of growing in faith. In Romans 4, Paul speaks of Abraham not waivering in unbelief, but growing strong in faith, giving glory to God. Oh that I would bring such glory to my Lord. I am guilty of becoming too self-reliant and less dependent upon Christ. I sometimes forget whose I am and the price that was paid for my remdemption.

The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me… John 12: 25-26

God promises us our faith is strengthened by a firm belief in His Word and being tried. I think this starts with a simple question...how much do I love God and His Word, and do I believe He will answer my prayers. Oh, Faithful One, help me to see past my circumstances and believe more in You. Lord, let me be known as a woman of faith who finds her pleasure in You and is pleasing in Your sight.

GOSPEL PURPOSE

What is the purpose of the Gospel? Mostly it is thought of and presented as the means that enables us to be saved from our sins, so we will go to heaven instead of hell. It is good news being saved from pain, suffering, and torment for eternity, but I feel the chief of the Gospel is to allow us to have our eyes opened and be able to savor the eternal glory of God in Christ. Isn't this really what makes the good news good? It is good that we can be saved spiritually from our deadness and depravity to be who we were intended to be in Christ. But these things, do not to the root of why the Gospel is good news. There is only one thing that can satisfy our souls and give us freedom and it is not heaven. Heaven alone is still just a place, yes a wonderful place, but a place nonetheless. It would not be heaven without God's presence and glory there fully revealed in the face of Jesus Christ. The forgiveness of our sins brings us spiritual freedom, but what is the heart of the Gospel that makes it so beautiful? If our confidence and faith are in God's gifts, rather than in God, then it is fair to assume we will never see God. As precious as these gifts are, they in themselves do not hold the power to redeem or rescue us. Only the redeeming work of Jesus Christ can rescue us. Don't forget that God's redemptive gifts are not worth having in their own right. The intrinsic worth is God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Seeing and savoring God's glory is the chief and ultimate end of the Gospel. In 2 Corinthians 3&4, we find what the end of the Gospel means to all who believe. We find our clearest explanation of what makes it good news. The good news teaches us that seeing and savoring the glory of God in Christ is the ultimate purpose of the Gospel. Only the Gospel displays the beautiful spectrum of God's grace and mercy alongside His holiness and justice. Paul refers to the Gospel as, " the ministry of the Spirit, the ministry of (imputed) righteousness, the ministry of the mercy of God and a treasure." Apart from God's intervention, we are left blind in the perception of our hearts and minds not being able to taste and see that the Lord is good. God's glory is what He miraculously enables us to see as being ultimately desirable. If you never get beyond desiring the gifts and not seeing and savoring God's glory, then you have missed the Gospel for what it is intended to do....delighting in God. What I don't want to miss or you to miss is DELIGHTING in Christ's glory!

“There is a difference between having an opinion that God is holy and gracious, and having a sense of the loveliness and beauty of that holiness and grace. There is a difference between having a rational judgment that honey is sweet, and having a sense of its sweetness.”(”Divine and Supernatural Light”), Jonathan Edwards

The Gospel is good news because it provides a way of grace for God to forgive our hostility and rebellion toward Him and change our hostile hearts and nature by pouring out His wrath on Jesus Christ in our place. By eliminating both our hostile condition and His own just wrath, He is able to bring us into the condition of seeing and savoring His glory in the face of Christ.
This is the treasure of the Gospel! Make God's glory in Christ your ultimate satisfaction.

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Psalm 37:23
Great are the works of the LORD; They are studied by all who delight in them. Psalm 111:2
Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

GOD REVEALED

Everything we know about the Lord has come from what He has chosen to reveal...not that everything is known of God. So often, we are deceived into thinking we need a " new and fresh revelation from God" more than we need the knowledge He has already given us about Himself. I do feel revelation is necessary if we are to understand who God is; however, He has revealed this to us in many ways. 1. a physical revelation... God has given each of us a conscience and has stated that the truth is written upon every man's heart. ... --Romans 2:15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
--2 Corinthians 4:2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.-- Our conscience is designed to discern right from wrong. Our conscience is limited in that it cannot and does not provide enough truth to believe and bring one to faith in salvation because there is no revealing of Christ and His redemption through our conscience. 2. creation's revelation...-- Romans 1:19-20... because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.--
Psalm 19:4 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
Revelation is critical for our sinfulness and finite minds. Our lack of knowledge and sinfulness must be remedied if we are to truly know God.
-- Isaiah 55:8-9" For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
-- Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear."
-- Romans 3:11-12 " There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have altogether become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."

There are many other ways God has already revealed Himself in Scripture, audible voice, dreams and visions, speaking through angels, miracles, healings, and so much more could be said on this, but God has revealed what He has chosen to, whether we understand or accept it or not. To act as though we need something new and fresh is to say what we already have about and know about God is not enough and that deceit at its finest....instead we must keep our eyes focused on Christ, the author and finisher or our faith, and meditate upon God's revealed Word.

A HEART OF GRATITIDE

Col 2:7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

My heart overflows with joy in recognizing it has always been the Lord who has been at work. I am so undeserving. I am amazed at the difference of what I receive from the Lord and what I deserve from Him. I receive grace and mercy daily, when what I merit is judgment and hell. Who am I that you are mindful of me? Who has changed my heart, but thee O Lord. I could have never loved You before you changed my heart and loved me first, nor could I have ever been willing to accept Your gift of salvation if You had not made me so. It is not until we realize our greatest problem has been cured.... the indebtness of our sin, can we fully feel gratitude for what God has done for us and lead a life of response to Him. The blood of Christ alone has redeemed me and I am grateful. The thankfulness we feel should motivate us to follow His teaching and precepts all the days of our lives. Although gratitude can mean thankfulness, it is a much deeper response when our hearts are filled with gratitude for the many blessings God gives us. David was considered by God to be a man after His own heart....why would God give him this title? I believe it is because David recognized the greatest gift God had given him.....HIMSELF. More than being chosen to be king from the least of his family, he had not earned this position and when sin abounded in David's life God's grace restored him. It is more than being thankful for all God has done for you and all the promises that await those who believe and persevere. It is about not missing the fact that God Himself is the greatest gift, more so than eternal life, no more sin, no more pain... Perhaps we will not be able to completely understand God's goodness to us in giving us Himself until we see Him face to face, but for now our mindset needs to be focused on Him being the greatest gift, not the blessings He bestows upon us. This praise to and for His name should overflow out of those of us who are saved. Let our worship be true not just because of what He has done for us, but because of who He is. God is great and greatly to be praised!!

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Col 3:16

NEW REFFERAL!!

Michael and I were asked to pray specifically about a young boy who is 7 years old. He was brought into the orphanage by his oldest brother a year ago. Both of his parents had been deceased for almost two years. His brother at the time was 11 and was caring for his three younger brother. This child is the only one up for adoption and is the youngest of the four brothers. I showed the kids all 9 pages of the secured website where these children are and never told them I was asked to pray specifically about this one child. After viewing all 9 pages, all three kids chose the same boy. It was nothing less than a miracle before my eyes. God has spoken to us through our children. I do not believe in coincidence, I believe in divine intervention. After much prayer, Michael and I have decided to accept the referral of this young boy as our son and look forward to picking him, Dawit and Bereket up in the next couple months. Please continue to pray for their purity and safety as we wait for the Lord's timing to pick our children up. We are so thankful for God's Sovereignty in all things. We have always known we would bring home whomever the Lord ordained for us to have. Thank you, Lord for our children.

I REST IN THEE, LORD

This morning our case worker called to tell us we have lost the referral on our son. We just went through this a month ago. It is so hard, but we must continue to rest and trust in our Savior. I have no idea who the Lord has chosen for us to bring home, but I do know our desire is to be obedient and following His voice. Our hearts are heavy and humbled this morning, but both are a good thing. So this is my prayer and praise to my God this morning.
O Sovereign Lord, Most High God, My Heavenly Father,
To you and you alone do I cry out to this morning.Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass? When the Lord has not commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that woe and well-being proceed? Father, cause Your daughter to trust and rest in You and none other right now. For You alone are all I need. Great are Your ways, O Lord and wonderful are Your works. Nothing I can fathom can ever compare to Your greatness and the power of Your Word. Father, that I would always be thankful- recognizing and rejoices in Your goodness toward me. Who will show me any good? Lord, life up the light of Your countenance upon me and my family today. you have put gladness in my heart and unto You I will sing praise. For you will not cast off forever, though You cause grief. You will show compassion according to the multitude of Your mercies. Let the righteous be glad. Let the righteous rejoice before the Lord God. Yes, Lord let us rejoice exceedingly over Your work. You are the God of my Salvation and may I find rest and peace in the shadow of Your wings. Let me mindful that Your ways and thoughts are higher than mine. For the Lord Most High is awesome and greatly to be praised. He is a great King over all the earth. Whoever offers praise glorifies You, O Lord and to him who shows his conduct aright, You will show salvation. Father, that You would find my soul pleasing to You today. Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul. I cried to Him with my mouth and He is extolled with my tongue. He will attend to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be our Great God, Who has not turned His mercy or His ear from me. For Your lovingkindness is better than life. My lips will praise You.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

YOU ARE GOD ALONE

I have been pondering God's Sovereignty and the implications of proper understanding. I believe Scripture clearly teaches us that God requires us to approach Him with proper understanding of His Sovereignty. I think to understand, we must understand and recognize our self-centeredness in Worship. Today, there is much distorted "gospel" being taught related to such things as self discovery, self nurturing, resolving your personal problems and strife. Being taught our needs are as important as others' needs. Self- improvement. So much humanism being taught, man-centered theologies. Christianity today is being viewed through self-concern.

God's Sovereignty oversaw creation.
God's Sovereignty ordains and oversees the government of the universe.
God's Sovereignty has provided all life with beauty and freedom.
God's Sovereignty is beyond what man can comprehend and expect.
God will not respect our self-centered cries and complaints, just as He did not tolerate Job's.
God must allow us to see, so we can understand.
God is to be worshipped as the sovereign and awesome Lord of creation.
God cannot be judged by man's limited view point.
God is the measure of all things, not man.
God's nature must not be distorted based on man's suffering and the evidence of evil.
God's goodness should not be obscured due to real evil.
Sustained only by God's faith can a man bear anything and find life as joyous and secure in the knowledge of God and the truth of His Word.

Isaiah 46:9 9"Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me,

For Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You.