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.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
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.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
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.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
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.”
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.
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.
Friday, April 18, 2008
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...
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...
Thursday, April 17, 2008
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!
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!
Monday, April 14, 2008
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.
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.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
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
“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
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, April 7, 2008
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.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
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.
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
