Well, an update from our agency, regarding the meeting we are all trying to cover in prayer (see yesterday's post for details), states that MOWA and the Ethiopian courts plan to continue meeting throughout this week. Until a decision is made, MOWA will produce fewer letters each day. I will keep you updated as we are updated.
Jeff and I are blessed enough to be a part of an agency (AWAA) that believes in the POWER of prayer, and the stories on our yahoo group of God showing up as individuals pray over this meeting has been remarkable. One YG friend was even given the opportunity to share the situation in front of her entire church yesterday, and every single 500 members began praying on.the.spot. and did God ever show up BIG in that church yesterday!
Our church sermon yesterday was quite timely for me, in that Pastor Trevor spoke of our personal Mountain Top experiences and Valleys. He discussed how both are a natural part of life, and how we need to remember to remember those Mountaintop experiences where God showed up, to help carry us through the valleys. It is God's past faithfulness that will help us cling to Him as we endure the valleys ~ and even the steep climbs back up to our next mountaintop.
Jeff and I feel that we are climbing ~ and about to summit ~ a very precious mountaintop, and we simply cannot wait to see the view from this particular mountain of parenthood! I will admit that yesterday I was feeling pretty defeated. Lacking of the strength required to endure the last how-many-ever steps we must take to reach this mountaintop. Yesterday's sermon reminded me that God is walking with us every step of this climb. I don't have to be strong enough to endure the remainder of this journey to our little one(s). GOD IS!!!! HE will give us what we need, as we long to look into the face(s) of our babe(s). As we wait to travel. As we journey to bring them home. God loves not just our children, but ALL orphans EVERYWHERE. He WILL provide for His children!
My friend, Connie, gifted me the "Jesus Calling" Daily Devotional Book. If you don't own it, I HIGHLY recommend you do! I want to share yesterday's devotion with you (italics mine). It soothed my heart and I feel it will touch the heart of everyone of you. No matter where you are in your life journey:
Jeff and I are blessed enough to be a part of an agency (AWAA) that believes in the POWER of prayer, and the stories on our yahoo group of God showing up as individuals pray over this meeting has been remarkable. One YG friend was even given the opportunity to share the situation in front of her entire church yesterday, and every single 500 members began praying on.the.spot. and did God ever show up BIG in that church yesterday!
Our church sermon yesterday was quite timely for me, in that Pastor Trevor spoke of our personal Mountain Top experiences and Valleys. He discussed how both are a natural part of life, and how we need to remember to remember those Mountaintop experiences where God showed up, to help carry us through the valleys. It is God's past faithfulness that will help us cling to Him as we endure the valleys ~ and even the steep climbs back up to our next mountaintop.
Jeff and I feel that we are climbing ~ and about to summit ~ a very precious mountaintop, and we simply cannot wait to see the view from this particular mountain of parenthood! I will admit that yesterday I was feeling pretty defeated. Lacking of the strength required to endure the last how-many-ever steps we must take to reach this mountaintop. Yesterday's sermon reminded me that God is walking with us every step of this climb. I don't have to be strong enough to endure the remainder of this journey to our little one(s). GOD IS!!!! HE will give us what we need, as we long to look into the face(s) of our babe(s). As we wait to travel. As we journey to bring them home. God loves not just our children, but ALL orphans EVERYWHERE. He WILL provide for His children!
My friend, Connie, gifted me the "Jesus Calling" Daily Devotional Book. If you don't own it, I HIGHLY recommend you do! I want to share yesterday's devotion with you (italics mine). It soothed my heart and I feel it will touch the heart of everyone of you. No matter where you are in your life journey:
"Continue on this path with Me, enjoying My Presence even in adversity. I am always before you, as well as alongside you. See Me beckoning to you; Come! Follow Me. The One who goes ahead of you, opening up the way, is the same One who stays close and never lets go of your hand. I am not subject to limitations of time or space. I am everywhere at every time, ceaselessly working on your behalf. That is why your best efforts are trusting Me and living close to Me."
(Hebrews 7:25; Psalm 37:3-4 are good verses to study this)
(Hebrews 7:25; Psalm 37:3-4 are good verses to study this)
May we ALL feel God holding our hand this week as we walk our individual paths of life. May we ALL carry in our hearts the children in Ethiopia awaiting their forever families. Join us in praying for them every.single.day this week! Together, let's watch God MOVE BIG on their behalf. However that may look to us.
7 comments:
I felt really defeated about this whole thing yesterday too...we are SO close and it felt like the rug was pulled out from under us. We are also committed to constant prayer for the families and precious children in this adoption process. I hope you see a sweet face (or faces!) soon! =)
Although our adoption journey was much different, I have learned that the road of adoption is full of many dark nights. Its these dark nights that we are left to do nothing but fall on our face before Him. The dark nights lead us to hide under the shelter of His wings, and to cry out to Him. Those dark nights bring us closer to Him and in the end we look back on our situation and know that God was in it all along...and then when the night is over and the Son shines through...our children come home to us, there is nothing left to do but praise the One who brought it all to pass. Be encouraged that the greater the battle seems, the sweeter the victory will be.
My mother in law was just reading me a section of that book about being anxious...much needed =)
Wonderful thoughts, Debb! We are praying too, and waiting in confidence that God will move, and that His plans will be accomplished.
I want to tell you that I have been following your blog for quite a while, and I have been blessed and inspired by your attitude of joy and thankfulness in the midst of this long season of waiting. Even thought I don't know you, you have came to my mind quite often in the past month, and I am lifting you up in prayer. I cannot wait to see the news that you have a referral!
Joining with you in the praying and the waiting.
P.S. Kelly, your comment touched me so much, thanks for sharing encouragement for those of us who are in a dark night. Your comment reminded me of a favorite verse from Psalm 30, "weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning."
Oh, Ashley! May God be giving you a feeling of HIS solid ground beneath your feet again! :)
Kelly, you are SUCH an encouragement to me! I cannot THANK YOU for your sweet, kind words! You are so RIGHT! When the Son shines through the darkness we will only be able to see His glory in all of this! Darkness be gone! :)
Megan, may your momma heart be able to stay focused on God and His desire to provide for His children, as we await the results of these meetings!
Carrie, it is SO GREAT to hear from you! THANK YOU for following along with us and for lifting us up in prayers! I also THANK YOU for the reminder of Psalm 30......such wonderful words to cling to!
You girls SO BLESS ME! May God continue to move on our behalf as well as on behalf of the babes in ET!
Even though you are really close to the top of a mountain that God has helped you climb, don't forget that even once your kids do get home, there are many more mountains and valleys to keep climbing all through life. Once the kids get home, it won't be life on the top of the mountain. There will be many valleys too. Clinging to God will be a constant through the entire adoption process and child raising process.
Oh, YES!, JJ! Thus far in life I have learned that with every valley comes a mountaintop and with every mountaintop, one must return to another valley...at some point....otherwise, we might be tempted to "handle life on our own." Clinging to God is the ONLY way through ALL of life! The joyful times AND the times of struggle! :)
I do, however, look forward to the days when I can stare into my children's face(s) and hold them in my arms ~ for during such blessed moments, whatever valley we may be facing will seem more than worth it; and every mountaintop will be that much richer!
Blessings to you in your mountaintops as well as valleys, as you cling to the TRUTH that God is FAITHFUL! :o)
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