Isaiah 40:27-31 Everlasting God (LB)

God always gives us just what we need when we seek Him, doesn't He?

"How can you say that the Lord doesn't see your troubles and isn't being fair? Don't you yet understand? Don't you know by now that the everlasting God, the Creator of the farthest parts of the earth, never grows faint or weary? No one can fathom the depths of his understanding.

He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. Even the youths shall be exhausted, and the young men will all give up. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

but then look at the next chapter....vs 2-4....

"Who has stirred up this one from the east, who victory meets at every step? Who, indeed, but the Lord? God has given him victory over many nations....He chases them away and goes on safely, though the paths he treads are new. Who has done such mighty deeds, directing the affairs of generations of mankind as they march by? It is I, the Lord, the First and the Last; I alone am He."

Thanking God for renewed strength in Him, and that He truly does direct the affairs of all generations.

Praying you all have a super-duper blessed day and that you experience God's provision in ways you never dreamed. God is soooo much bigger than we can even fathom- You Go God!!!!

Habakkuk 2:3

Last year, we had a person post this verse on our adoption website. It meant so much to me. I found it in the Living Bible and re posted it soon after. One of the ladies in our group, after a particularly rough week, with no movement or anything being said in Russia about our children, doctored it up in her program at work- and this colorful language has been on my fridge for months. I needed to pull it out again today- so I thought I'd share.





Thank you God for your presence, filling all the voids, calling us back so gently to your arms. You are the mighty comforter- the awesome warrior- our awesome loving father. Thank you that you are in charge, and your plans are perfect- promising us a hope and a future. Thank you that we can rest in that- thank you for surrounding us with your peace!

Romans 5:1-6

Romans 5:1-6 ----I love the way the Living Bible says this.....

"So now, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith in his promises, we can have real peace with him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. For because of our faith, he has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to actually becoming all that God has had in mind for us to be.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials for we know that they are good for us- they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

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There is still no word on our being submitted to a baby home. It is amazing how true this scripture is- this learning to be patient and trust in God does make our faith and hope more strong and steady.

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Holding tight to the hand that controls the future, knowing that He is a faithful and loving God, resting in His love and timing-----

Child Of My Heart

It has amazed me since we started this process how "weepy" I've been over the slightest thing.... My girlfriends giggle and say I'm truly acting "pregnant" :)

I just ordered this figurine called Child Of My Heart. When I saw it, I literally had to wipe several tears from my eyes as I showed it to Tim. It is a Willow Tree figurine- it says "Child of the world, Into my heart you came -- Bringing sun into my life, Making family our name."

I also purchased an ornament. I pray beseechingly that we will have our child home before Christmas, but have the total awareness that it may not happen this year. This beautiful ornament is called "Angel's embrace" and it says, "Hold close that which we hold dear ."

I thought what a beautiful reminder now and always that we never will truly hold our child completely on our own- He or she is and always will be first and foremost God's precious child, for whom we are given the great joy and blessing of raising.

Thank you God for holding our child closely in your arms, now and always, but especially close until we can hold them ourselves!

Thank you to my 2 mom's- I used the birthday monies you sent- and said to buy something special with that I normally wouldn't treat myself to- I'll treasure these forever :)

In the Waiting

Many exciting things have happened in the last few weeks. There are 3 families in our chat group that got referrals (info on their children) and 2 of whom are traveling within the next 2 weeks to meet their children for the first time. It is so exciting for us to see something happening.

We are quite hopeful that we will be hearing this week sometime that we have been submitted to a specific baby home. Once that happens, we will then wait for our child's information (the referral) and then we'll be able to make travel arrangements and fly to Russia to meet our precious child. My heart is longing for our child with a great passion.

One of the songs that has meant a lot to me during this process is a song by Shannon Wexelburg called In The Waiting. These are the lyrics to the song:

I've tried to be strong
Is there something I've done wrong?
'Cause I've been waiting here so long.
You see each tear
As the months have turned to years
For some reason you must want me here

I can see You're breaking up my fallow ground
In this season of such barrenness, Lord, I have found

Chorus:
You are in the waiting
In that moment of my life
When my faith and hope collide
While my heart's anticipating
How and when You'll move
Oh, that's when You prove
You are in the waiting, too

So, plant Your seed
'Til it's living, Lord, in me
Make me all you want me to be
Unveil my eyes
If I've exchanged the truth for lies
Give me faith so I can see

The work that you began You will complete in me
And I don't have to understand the place You're keeping me

Chorus

You give me water in the desert
You lift me up on eagle's wings
So from way up high, I can see my life
From Your view of things
Though I've cried out for an answer
I believe that I can say
Thank you, Lord, for every answer
You've delayed.

The last three lines, in particular have become part of my plea. When we can all look back at what the "big picture" was, after we are home with our children, I know this will be much easier to do. I've been learning to focus more on the present- we really do not know what tomorrow holds- no matter how "organized" or prepared we wish to be. So my biggest prayer has been draw me close to you God- help me begin to see more with your eyes and hear with your ears and speak with your words.

Second on that thought has been that life is a journey. I'm learning to thank God because He is always enough! When I think I've reached the end of my rope, all I have to do is remember He's there- and then I'm in His arms instead of "hanging by a thread." Thank you God for reminding me this week that my whole life is the journey you have planned for me, it doesn't begin after...... After I graduate, after I meet the man you have for me, after we have children, after we decide to adopt, after the adopting process is complete, after the children go to school, after the children graduate, after I become a grandparent. I live in the now, and thank you for your gentle, subtle, sometimes crack with a 2X4 reminders(depending on how dense I'm being) that you control tomorrow, and I should enjoy every moment I have on Earth, and not be constantly striving for something in the tomorrows.

Hoping to post exciting news about our child soon- becoming more content with His timing- it's perfect!