There was no fancy podium...
or big building.
Simply believers gathered together...
to worship the Lord.
It's a beautiful thing.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
To Mom
You are such a blessing to me... my beautiful mother.
You are loving and kind... patient and considerate... you are a true example of Jesus as you serve others so faithfully.
Thank you for loving me so well... for supporting me... and encouraging me. Thank you for faithfully praying for me... for always listening... and offering wise advice.
This day... I celebrate you.
I thank God for making you my Mom.
I pray that our loving Father will bless you and cause His face to shine upon you. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in you inner being... I pray that He will grant you the desires of your heart and that His joy will fill you... that His peace will cover you and that He will grant you good health and long life. I pray that He will bless the labor of your hands and that you will bear fruit in every good work... being strengthened with His power. I pray that you will know His love that surpasses knowledge - that you will be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Happy Birthday, Mom.
I love you... more than words can say.
You are loving and kind... patient and considerate... you are a true example of Jesus as you serve others so faithfully.
Thank you for loving me so well... for supporting me... and encouraging me. Thank you for faithfully praying for me... for always listening... and offering wise advice.
This day... I celebrate you.
I thank God for making you my Mom.
I pray that our loving Father will bless you and cause His face to shine upon you. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in you inner being... I pray that He will grant you the desires of your heart and that His joy will fill you... that His peace will cover you and that He will grant you good health and long life. I pray that He will bless the labor of your hands and that you will bear fruit in every good work... being strengthened with His power. I pray that you will know His love that surpasses knowledge - that you will be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Happy Birthday, Mom.
I love you... more than words can say.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Celebrating a Victory
My friend, Mindy, was awarded guardianship
of this beautiful girl today...
We are praising God for His faithfulness!!!
I go back to court on Mondy to receive my ruling.
Please continue to pray for a favorable ruling!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Remember
"Remember this moment," was what Mindy whispered to me while we were waiting for the judge to enter the court. "Remember this is the moment we have been fighting for for so long."
There were moments during the hearing that I questioned myself. Am I doing the right thing? Is there a better way? Do these children really understand? The judge made some comments that had me asking myself, "Am I being selfish?" "Would they be better off staying here with their mother?"
When I found out they had a mother, it knocked me to my knees. I had believed they were full orphans for so long that I had a really hard time processing that truth. It took me several days of crying out to the Lord, asking Him, "What am I supposed to do?!" before I remembered (again!) that this was God's plan. He brought us to this place. He showed us these children. He spoke to our hearts. This was His plan!
Through every trial, every disappointment, every discouragment, every sad day, every anxious day, every frustrating day... God has been working. He has a beautiful, perfect, marvelous plan for these children and for my family. I can not see it clearly... but I trust Him and I will remember His faithfulness.
As I sat in court, listening to this judge that has the authority to keep these children from coming home with me... I could only pray. God has a plan and whatever the outcome is, it will be His doing.
Now... we wait for a ruling. It was supposed to come on Friday... but the judge wants to see the children's uncle. My friend has had to travel very far and search for him, since he has no phone. There was some concern that he wouldn't be found. Praise God! he is now here in the city and ready to appear in court on Monday.
When I enter the court on Monday, I will remember the One who has brought us here... and that He will finish what He has started.
"Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced."
1 Chron. 16: 10-12
There were moments during the hearing that I questioned myself. Am I doing the right thing? Is there a better way? Do these children really understand? The judge made some comments that had me asking myself, "Am I being selfish?" "Would they be better off staying here with their mother?"
When I found out they had a mother, it knocked me to my knees. I had believed they were full orphans for so long that I had a really hard time processing that truth. It took me several days of crying out to the Lord, asking Him, "What am I supposed to do?!" before I remembered (again!) that this was God's plan. He brought us to this place. He showed us these children. He spoke to our hearts. This was His plan!
Through every trial, every disappointment, every discouragment, every sad day, every anxious day, every frustrating day... God has been working. He has a beautiful, perfect, marvelous plan for these children and for my family. I can not see it clearly... but I trust Him and I will remember His faithfulness.
As I sat in court, listening to this judge that has the authority to keep these children from coming home with me... I could only pray. God has a plan and whatever the outcome is, it will be His doing.
Now... we wait for a ruling. It was supposed to come on Friday... but the judge wants to see the children's uncle. My friend has had to travel very far and search for him, since he has no phone. There was some concern that he wouldn't be found. Praise God! he is now here in the city and ready to appear in court on Monday.
When I enter the court on Monday, I will remember the One who has brought us here... and that He will finish what He has started.
"Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced."
1 Chron. 16: 10-12
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Do You Trust?
On Sunday, we visited a church in a small village where my friend preaches. The message was about how many people have faith in God, but so many do not trust Him.
He used the example of a child trusting his parent to provide for him. The child does not go to a neighbor, or a friend, or anyone else to get what he needs. The child goes to his parent, trusting that his needs will be met. If the child were to ask a guest visiting the family to meet his needs, the parent would be "annoyed" that the child was asking their guest. The parent wants the child to make his requests known only to him, so that he can meet his child's needs. So often, the child does not even need to ask because the parent already knows what the child needs and he is happy to provide for his child.
How much more so is this true with our heavenly Father?!
How often do we trust in man? How often do we turn to our friends in search of answers? How many times do we rely on our own abilities instead of asking our Father for His good provision? How often do we "annoy" our Father because we look for answers and provisions from everywhere else before we turn to Him?
We say we have faith in Him, but are we trusting Him?
Are we trusting Him to complete whatever He has begun? Are we trusting Him to finish what He has started? Are we trusting Him to work out His good plan for us?
Or... Do we get impatient when we face delays? Do we grumble when the outcome is not what we desired? Do we fear man because he holds a position of power? If so, why?
The only answer is that we are not trusting our Father completely.
This morning before court, Juliet, Kenneth, Sharon and I gathered for prayer.
Kenneth was the first to pray. He began by thanking God for a new day, a good night's sleep, food to eat, and every other thing that most of us in the US would skip over merely because we take so much for granted. He then began praying for our court appointment. He prayed, "We are only human beings, O God. But You are Lord of all and King of kings. We are unable to make a good outcome in court, O God, but with You all things are possible. We ask that You will finish what You have started, O God. We pray, O God, that You will bring to completion that which You have begun." Amen!
I was so moved by his faith. He completely trusts God to work out His good plan.
O God, forgive me for not trusting You completely. Forgive me for relying on my own strength. Forgive me for complaining and for being impatient. Forgive me for fearing that man could oppose Your good purpose and plan. Thank you for working in me, as you work out what You desire. You are so good! You are faithful! I will TRUST You! In Jesus name... Amen!
When we returned from court, Kenneth turned to me and said, "Mummy, our prayers have not gone unanswered." Praise God... to Him alone be the glory!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5
He used the example of a child trusting his parent to provide for him. The child does not go to a neighbor, or a friend, or anyone else to get what he needs. The child goes to his parent, trusting that his needs will be met. If the child were to ask a guest visiting the family to meet his needs, the parent would be "annoyed" that the child was asking their guest. The parent wants the child to make his requests known only to him, so that he can meet his child's needs. So often, the child does not even need to ask because the parent already knows what the child needs and he is happy to provide for his child.
How much more so is this true with our heavenly Father?!
How often do we trust in man? How often do we turn to our friends in search of answers? How many times do we rely on our own abilities instead of asking our Father for His good provision? How often do we "annoy" our Father because we look for answers and provisions from everywhere else before we turn to Him?
We say we have faith in Him, but are we trusting Him?
Are we trusting Him to complete whatever He has begun? Are we trusting Him to finish what He has started? Are we trusting Him to work out His good plan for us?
Or... Do we get impatient when we face delays? Do we grumble when the outcome is not what we desired? Do we fear man because he holds a position of power? If so, why?
The only answer is that we are not trusting our Father completely.
This morning before court, Juliet, Kenneth, Sharon and I gathered for prayer.
Kenneth was the first to pray. He began by thanking God for a new day, a good night's sleep, food to eat, and every other thing that most of us in the US would skip over merely because we take so much for granted. He then began praying for our court appointment. He prayed, "We are only human beings, O God. But You are Lord of all and King of kings. We are unable to make a good outcome in court, O God, but with You all things are possible. We ask that You will finish what You have started, O God. We pray, O God, that You will bring to completion that which You have begun." Amen!
I was so moved by his faith. He completely trusts God to work out His good plan.
O God, forgive me for not trusting You completely. Forgive me for relying on my own strength. Forgive me for complaining and for being impatient. Forgive me for fearing that man could oppose Your good purpose and plan. Thank you for working in me, as you work out what You desire. You are so good! You are faithful! I will TRUST You! In Jesus name... Amen!
When we returned from court, Kenneth turned to me and said, "Mummy, our prayers have not gone unanswered." Praise God... to Him alone be the glory!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
This Place
The sights and sounds and smells of this place come fast and furious once I arrive here...
no words or pictures can capture it.... not fully.
Joy rises up as we land here... even more so when we head towards the city.
This place... It's overwhelming... and tragic... and beautiful... and in the most desperate situations, hope rises up.
I am so thankful for this journey the Lord has brought me on.... this plan that He has allowed me to be a part of in such a beautiful way.
I don't know what this journey holds... but I know that He has a good plan.
I trust Him.
Court on Friday...
no words or pictures can capture it.... not fully.
Joy rises up as we land here... even more so when we head towards the city.
This place... It's overwhelming... and tragic... and beautiful... and in the most desperate situations, hope rises up.
I am so thankful for this journey the Lord has brought me on.... this plan that He has allowed me to be a part of in such a beautiful way.
I don't know what this journey holds... but I know that He has a good plan.
I trust Him.
Court on Friday...
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Court Date
That's right!
We FINALLY have a court date for September 10th!
I am getting on a plane tomorrow. I can hardly believe it!
Please PRAY!
We FINALLY have a court date for September 10th!
I am getting on a plane tomorrow. I can hardly believe it!
Please PRAY!
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