Monday, January 2, 2012
Radical Faith
We have been doing a faith study in our Sunday school class for several months now. Throughout the study, Jim and I have talked about what real faith looks like. We share a mutual desire to live radically on faith alone. But how does that happen? Are we suppose to quit our jobs, sell all our assets and walk the streets telling people about Jesus? I don’t know why we are ever surprised when we pray for God to open our eyes and he actually does. As the topic of adoption came up more and more in our conversation, the questions and doubt started to lure. How much is this going to cost? What if the boys don’t transition well? What if we have to wait 4 years? Are we capable of taking on a special needs child? What if the child we adopt passes away? What if the birth mother wants her child back? We prayed that God would give us an opportunity to live radically by faith alone…and he delivered. We submitted our application, doctrinal statement, and first payment last night at 4:52 pm to Lifeline. As we started researching where to start and what the first steps were, Lifeline was the only agency that continued popping into our minds. Perhaps it was because a friend of ours worked for them some time ago, or perhaps God is asking us to radically trust His plan. Since then, I messaged a dear friend to ask if I could use her as a reference, mentioning nothing about adoption. She inquired if it was about adoption because she had some friends she could reference me to. Long story short…her friends had just switched agencies…to Lifeline. As I’ve spent time looking at pictures on their website I have found that a close friend of Jim’s once dated a girl who works there now, and a lifelong friend of mine’s father is affiliated with their organization. While Jim and I were in college, we attended the same church and the guy who led the praise band and his wife have been in the process of adopting, but I did not know with who….its Lifeline. Thank you Lord for giving us faith and giving us assurance over and over of your great plan! We don’t know what 2012 holds. We don’t know how the whole process works. But we do know we want to have radical faith and that our hope comes from Christ alone. To God be ALL glory!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
To my great surprise, we have already heard back from Lifeline. I had an email this morning from a delightful lady. Her words were so kind and encouraging. Unfortuantley, Satan is already schemeing. I’ve got news for him, not gonna work. The documents we submitted yesterday were not all able to be opened so she suggested I either scan and email them in or fax them. When I attempted to open the documents I had saved, some information was missing. Just a minor hiccup, nothing major or intimidating.
After applying, we had to designate whether we chose to pursue Domestic or International adoption. Jim and I have truly felt called to care for the kids who are uncared for…leaving us open to whoever needed the most help. After talking with one of Lifelines workers she explained to me that there are great needs in both areas..but there are parents waiting to adopt in the US where there are children waiting to be adopted in other countries. So, we chose International. The next step was choosing a country. Lifeline works with 13 countries that we had to choose from. How to choose…wow…what a task. You’re basically asking us to look at 13 countries, thousands among thousands of orphans, just a little overwhelmed. All my life I’ve wanted a little black baby, something I’ve told my parents for years. While pursuing my Elementary Education degree at Auburn I had the chance to study abroad in Port Elizabeth, Africa. I wanted to go, to make a long story short and spare feelings, I was unable to go. However, my desire and passion for Africa did not dwindle. I used Africa as one of my senior projects and incorporated African history into my lessons. Graduation was drawing near and everyone was scurrying around applying for jobs. During my Junior year I had the privilege of traveling to Brazil for a mission trip. While there, we worked with a NICS school (Network of International Christian Schools). These schools teach children of the embassy and can be found world-wide. So…my senior year, I applied to teach with NICS in Africa. I waited and waited and never heard back. In the meantime I had other interviews and even job offers. My heart continued to burn for Africa and I prayed that God’s divine will would be done and that he would give me discernment in knowing whether to turn down the job offers on the table and continue to wait or accept them. I waited until the last day of the offer and accepted a position in Auburn City Schools. The VERY NEXT DAY I received a call from NICS with a job offer. I was overwhelmed with greatfulness for the Lords promise and deliverance of timing. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was not time for me to teach in Africa. However, by being given the offer God said “Don’t close your heart to Africa….but its just not time now”. Desiring to be a Woman of my word I continued with the contract I had signed with Auburn, still feeling as if a little part of my heart was in Africa. We narrowed it down to three countries, wrote it on a sheet of paper and put it in front of the boys. We asked them where their brother or sister was and they both pointed to the Congo. So tomorrow we pursue international adoption with Congo.
Sweet Jesus, we thank you for your provision, guidance, and discernment. Thank you Lord for giving us direction and peace. We pray now Lord for our baby’s mother. Lord, keep her safe and protected. Guide her in her daily steps and guard her from harm and destruction. Sweet Jesus, I pray that you hold her in your warm embrace Lord and draw her near to you, Father I pray that through her pregnancy she feels a closeness to you like never before. If she does not know you personally, Father I pray that you tug on her heart and bring her to your kingdom. Bring her to know a freedom greater than any other. Thank you Lord for this gift, for this blessing. May all glory be to you Lord. Amen.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Who is your chosen one?
How do you make choices? How do you come to a conclusion? Decisions to be made. Some flip a coin, some use a “flip a coin” app. Some use a spinner. Some draw out of a hat. Some make a pro/con list. What do you do? How do you decide? Does it just happen? Do you just always know the answer instinctively? Do you consult your best friend? Your mom? How about your spouse? What if we lived in a world where everyone let their best friend make all the decisions for their life? Where would you be today? Where would I be today? Perhaps a better place…perhaps not as well off. Perhaps married to someone else. Who would you say knows the absolute most about you? God. He knows your ins and outs. He knows your talents, skills, and gifts. He knows your secrets, fears, and sins. He knows how many hairs are on your head and wrinkles in your skin. He knit you together in your mother’s womb. He knows you by name. So then, let me ask you…why would we take advice from anyone but Him? Why would we let others change our minds, change our path, or alter our direction?
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
