Still Dreamin'

Naturally, courageous people inspire me. That's why ever since, oh, about second grade I found something so gut-wrenchingly powerful about Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech and the variety of people who stood side-by-side that day to hear.

Tonight I reflect on some of the statements he made that day, statements which follow the precepts of God's Word, the Bible, and are therefore good:

"But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force." -MLK

Soul force.

Matthew 22: 34-40

"Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 Love God. Love your neighbor. That is God's will. MLK stood on August 28, 1963 for a cause that was--right. And he reminds me of my responsibility to do and live with confidence and to confidently act according to God's will.

"I have a dream." I'm no longer talking about MLK (although the reminder of his courage is one of the reason's I'm soul searching this evening). I'm talking about the dreams God has given me--namely to overcome my cowardliness. How quickly I cower in the moment of opportunity, decision, or just plain criticism! But I'm sick of my sin of passivity. I'm sick of NOT loving my neighbor through passivity. I'm sick of being afraid to do something that makes me look "too different." I'm sick of being afraid of criticism. But what do I do about my sin? I've been discussed by my passivity for years. I've tried a more abrupt approach of being courageous that resulted in me being "a clanging cymbal." God says to love (love the way He defines it--not relativistically). God says to love. Love wants to obey God; love speaks the truth humbly; love is concerned for the well-being of the person confronted; love is not intimidated with being confronted; love can only come through Christ.

So I echo MLK's dream for all children when he said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." And I'm dreamin' today too--a dream just as lofty but a bit more personally introspective:

I have a dream:

• That I will love people when they hurt me.
• That I will spit out bitterness of the heart and refuse to ingest self-pity.
• That I will repent and apologize when I hurt others.
• That I will speak against injustice...even when those to whom I speak are deafened by their own prejudices and fear.
• That I will look my own prejudices and ungodly fears square in the face and repent of them with mourning. (James 4)
• That I will take no part in gossip OF ANY FORM as it tears down those made in God's precious image and for whom Christ died. And because gossip and slander is not why God gave me a brain and a mouth.
• That I will not be a complainer. Yes, I have a dream that I will obey God's word and "do everything without grumbling or arguing." Philippians 2:14
• That I will not succumb to fear of obeying Christ because of people's unsolicited contradictory advice.

I have these dreams because at the end of the day...if I lie on my death bed or should I be granted the knowledge that I'm about to die...to leave this world...and meet God face to face, I will care only about whether I loved God and loved my neighbor. Not because my salvation hinges upon my acts of righteousness (for my acts are as filthy rags before Him) but because the love of Christ and for Christ is in me. I am joyful. I am content knowing that my life is pleasing to Him.

If I won't be faithful in the little things, I won't be faithful in the big things. I had a dream (a literal...sleeping dream) one night a few weeks ago. My children were grown. We were dropping them off at college. I was contemplating about all the good God did in my life during college and was hoping the same for him. Suddenly a horn resounded. Everyone was commanded to bow down and worship something other than Christ. Everyone around me bowed. Some of the people I knew. One familiar face cried to me "What are you doing. Get down. You have your children to protect." Just before I awoke.......I started to bend my knees."

I lay awake in bed for a while, then finally went into the living room and sat in our recliner. I was nauseous over the very idea that I would even reflexively bow the knee for anyone or thing other than Christ. I know it was a dream and you can't always control your actions in a dream, but the sight of my knees bending haunted and haunts me. May I never forget the moment. And in my life may the reality of minor and major persecution for righteousness and for Christ be faced with obedience. Holy Spirit please empower me to be obedient. That is my dream. That is my goal in life. For that matter that is my only dream and aspiration for my children...that they will love God and love their neighbor.

Thank You

If the path to a grateful heart is stopping to say thank you, then I have more than a few to list.

1. Thank You Lord for this weather.

Everybody has their ideal for winter weather. Mine...is exactly what we've experienced for the past week: rainy and warm.

Ever since Nathan and I ventured to living in his element (waaaayyyy out in the country...which I might add is becoming my element as well), I have learned to appreciate rain. We have a well. We rely on it to sustain us. We have to have rain to keep the well wet. (It's a drilled well about 300 ft. deep...so we're not in danger of running out...but it does make me think, stop, and thank God for rain.) We all in fact are desperate for water to survive. Our well just brings the need to my attention...and for that I am grateful.

In the Bible, rain is a sign of God's mercy. In the Hebrew world, a rainy day was a beautiful day. Rain brings forth life. Drought in the Old Testament was part of God's discipline. Severe drought meant AND MEANS dehydration and starvation--death. In Jeremiah 14, Judah cried out to the LORD for His mercy (for Him to send rain)...God was disciplining them for their idolatry and decietful living.

So, I'm loving the sound of the rain hitting our metal chimney, falling on our pasture, and filling the creeks. Please let the rain continue Lord.

AND...I enjoying this warm weather--for one reason--our power bill will be cheaper. We are still saving for our China adoption. We budget a certain amount for electricity each month, but if the bill is less, then the difference goes into savings. Thank You Lord that the heater has not kicked on for days!

2. Thank You Lord for the Women's group I will join this semester.

Last week I posted that I badly want to find a group of women who love God's Word and want to study it together. I joined a group women that begin next week for a class called Restoring Your Heart. The class is actually for men and women. Nathan is taking the class as well but at a different time and with a group of men. It's not a Bible study exactly. It's a study of our emotions and the Biblical response to those emotions. I think a sweet friend of mine and I will be able to ride together which would add to the joy of involving myself in a women's group.

I also learned about a women's Bible study offered not too terribly far from home called Bible Study Fellowship. Two ladies at our church mentioned it to me Sunday. I've known lots of women who joined these groups through the years and have always wanted to be a part but could never work it out in my schedule. I'm praying about joining the group next Fall. The ladies sharing with me told how BSF cares for children as well. BSF meets in the morning. They don't just provide childcare. The children learn the same Bible lesson as mom. They study systematically through books of the Bible. I'm kind of doubting that I'll be leaving my two month old in childcare...I would plan to carry Baby in with me until he/she is a little older. It sounds as though the women would welcome that.

SO...I'm grateful for learning about opportunities to grow with others.

3. Thanks Thompsons and McCarthas for our cameras!!!

I haven't pulled out my cameras much since we've returned from visiting family over the holidays. For some reason I have a heirarchy of how I want to spend my time over the next 5 1/2 months. Work then play. I feel an unexplainable need to organize my house in depth. I want the house clean, organized, and ready for Baby. For some insane reason, I invision myself getting this done pretty quickly. (It's actually insane to think I can get it done at all.) Then, while sitting in my clean, organized house I'll play with the fun stuff like our cameras...or painting again (thanks to Santa on my side of the fam who sent me new paint supplies...anothe fundraising idea for adoption). I know the idea is crazy, but that's why I haven't really used the cameras yet. BUT...I'm very thankful for them. ;)

4. Thank You Lord for a healthy heartbeat!

We went again for another check up. Baby's heartbeat sounds healthy! Thank You Lord! Here I probably also should add a thank you to the doctor for seeing me at the 1:30 instead of my scheduled appointment time of 11:30. I also should add a "Thank You to the Lord" for getting me to the doctor's today inspite of my brain malfunctioning. But back Baby...I cherish the moment today when I got to hear the pounding of his little heart. I cherish the doctors words "Oh...sounds strong." Yes Lord, give Baby a strong heart...and one day a new spiritual heart. Give Baby a heart for You during early childhood...a heart that acts justly, loves mercy, and walks humbly before You. (Mic.6:8)

5. Thank You Lord for Names and Surprises!

In 28 days ,February 7, we find out the gender. I AM SO ANXIOUS TO KNOW. We've chosen names for boy or girl. I should say that we like the given meaning of each name. Personally the names also imply a God-given strength.

Boy:  Joshua Randal  (Joshua "The LORD is my salvation")...the account of Joshua in the Bible is one most often retold for courage. God commanded Him to be strong and couragious...do not be discouraged or dismayed for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua also proclaimed "As for me and my house we will serve the LORD."  (emphasis added).  Randal is Nathan's middle name and his daddy's first name. Both of these men are have good, strong, steady character. I'd be proud for our son to carry the name.

Girl: Madelyn Gray  (Madelyn "from Magdala")...Madeline was my great-grandmother's name (although it was spelled Madeline...we're changing spelling for pronunciation symplicity). She lived through the Great Depression. When she was a little girl she stayed home to work and couldn't go to school. She crawled under the house and cried because she so badly wanted to learn. She was a strong, self-taught woman who loved the Lord. I have copies of some of her beautiful poetry. One is titled in "Retrospect and hope" where she prayed that she had raised her children in the Lord. She prayed for her future decendents. I'm one of those for whom she prayed...and so is Baby. "Gray" is my sister's, mother's, grandmother's, great-grandmother's name (it was originally a last name). All of these women possess a solid relationship with Jesus Christ...and once again a God-given strength and determination to persevere. We'd be honored to name our daughter after these women.

6. Lastly for tonight, thank You Lord for my salvation.

I'm reminded everyday of my sinfulness. My attempts to do good are feeble at best. I'm so grateful for the comfort I find each night when I lie down to know that I have that blessed assurance that I'm a child of God. Thank You, Lord.

Racing through 2012!?!?

Finally, our Christmas decorations are put away until next Season. I have list upon list of things to do in the coming months. All of my aspirations of posting videos from Christmas 2011 as well as pictures have...disappeared. Sorry. I just can't keep up with my own outlandish goals. Maybe I'll post these videos later. There's nothing like the Thompson family singing "The Twelve Days of Christmas" in February or March right? For all of the Thompsons reading this...you're probably glad that I never got around to that idea ;)

I've made some January 6th resolutions...running a little late.

• To pray for discernment over my words. I'm sensing God working in this area of my life and know that He cares how I use words. Listening to and participating in gossip and/or complaining about others is a habit that God does not appreciate. He gives us pretty clear teaching on how to handle conflict. Lord, please help me! 
• "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. if he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses'..." Matthew 18:15-16...the instructions continue but I won't quote it here.
• "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." -James 3:9-10
• To pray for a group of women to study God's Word together. (A group to join or start...to follow God's leading)
• To re-organize some part of our house at least once a week to get ready for Baby T.
• To do some form of excercise at least several times a week.  
• To continue to save for adoption.
• We hope to have a Scottsboro yard sale in the Spring thanks to Nathan's grandmother and mom and to all who have and are still donating items...a.k.a. my mom and aunts ;) I have much to sort, price, and deliver to Scottsboro. Please pray for the yard sale...for God to be glorified...and for His will to be done.
• Praise the Lord...we are 1/5 of the way in adoption funding!
• To learn how to use the electronic devices given to us by our parents...new pictures from a new camera should be coming soon.

I have a doctor's appointment next Tuesday. I'm in my 15th week. We'll find out Baby's gender in February...hopefully early February!

Christmas...Remembering Our Story

How easy it is for me to forget that Christmas is the season to remember the coming of the One for whom hundreds of generations waited with anticipation!

Here is a broad story line leading to the coming of our King and also how we hope as a family to remember God's story...given to us:

• He was in the beginning...
• God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) created the Universe
• God created Adam and Eve
• Adam and Eve sinned against God--forever sinful offspring deserving judgment/and death resulted (THE FALL)
• God foretold the coming of Messiah even in the Fall. The One through whom deliverence of our sin would be offered.
• Adam and Eve's sinful offspring multiplied the earth and all people were wicked.
• God sent His judgment over the wicked through flooding the entire earth, but He spared Noah and his family.
• Noah's three sons, Ham, Shem, and Japheth multiplied the earth (Shem was blessed for honoring his father even when Noah sinned).
• God commanded the people to spread out and fill the earth. The people sinned against God and tried to remain in one place. They built a tower in order to make a name for themselves. God confused their languages forcing them to spread out and fill the earth as He originally commanded.
• From the east God chose Abram (a descendant of Shem) to be the man through whom He would send the Messiah.
• God called Abram to leave his homeland and family and move to a strange land which God would give him. He promised to bless him with many offspring and give him the land. Abram and his wife Sarah were old.
• Abraham believed God and his faith (belief and obedient response to his belief) was credited to him as righteousness...evidence that salvation has always been by faith in the Living God through grace.
• God kept His promises and Abram (Abraham) and Sarah had a son Isaac.
• Isaac had two sons: Esau and Jacob
• Jacob was chosen by God to be the family through whom He would send the Messiah.
• Jacob's name was changed to Israel.
• Israel's sons were
• Reuben
• Simeon
• Levi
• Judah (At the end of his life, Israel blessed Judah foretelling that the Messiah would come through him.)
• Issachar
• Zebulen
• Dan
• Joseph
• Benjamin
• Naphtali
• Gad
• Asher
• Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery. He went to Egypt. Through a chain of events Israel's family moved to Egypt...where they eventually became slaves for four hundred years as God foretold to Abraham.
• Israel multiplied into a large nation oppressed by Egypt. Each of the brother's families became large tribes.
• God delivered Israel through Moses (a Levite) and his family.
• God brought the Israelites through the wilderness. There God gave Moses the Ten Commandments (which are God's instructions for obedience to Him). The people sinned against God by worshipping an idol while Moses was Mount Sinai with God.
• God punished the people for their idolatry (something that is and always will be detestable to God).
• God reinstated the Ten Commandments and the Levitical law (the Levites became the priests).
• The covenant God made with Moses is reffered to as the Mosaic covenant. It is the covenant most call the Old Covenant.

 NOTE: Jesus later quotes from Leviticus when He says "Love your neighbor as yourself."

• The book of Numbers is mostly about God's organization of the people to  enter into and conquer the land which He promised Abraham.
• God sent spies into the promised land. When the men returned, only Joshua and Caleb believed that God could and would deliver the people from the current occupants of the land. Every other man doubted God and so did the people. God punished for their doubt and all of that generation perished in the wilderness. Joshua, Caleb, and the next generation lived to see the Promised Land.
• Moses re-gives the law to the new generation in Deuteronomy (hence the title...some say). He is addressing the families of Israel. NOTE: Jesus later quotes Deuteronomy when He says "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength."
• God instructs the people to build a Tabernacle...a place to meet with God. 
• Joshua was given the role of leadership when Moses died (Moses did not get to enter the promised land because of an act of disobedience). God led Joshua and Israel into the promised land...the place through which the Messiah would come.
• Instead of wholeheartedly obeying God, the people repeated sinned and turned to idolatrous ways.
• The book of Judges recounts the cycle of disobedience and deliverence of God's people:
• S in
• W rath
• O ppression
• R epentence
• D eliverence
• God sent judges to deliver the people. Famous judges were
• Deborah (Who went in the place of Barak because he was too afraid)
• Gideon
• Samson
• The story of Ruth occurs during the time of the judges.)
• Then Samuel (who was a prophet and judge...the last judge). Israel asked for a king during Samuel's time. God gave them...
• Saul  (But Saul did not follow God whole heartedly). God replaced Saul with David.
• David was of the tribe a Judah...the tribe through whom the Messiah would come. God established a covenant with David that his descendent would always be on the throne...the Messiah was His descendent...Jesus Christ. Like all people since Adam and Eve, however, David was a sinner and the consequences of His sin was a split kingdom.
• Many of the Psalms were written by and during the time of David...(but not all).
• Solomon, David's son took the throne after his father.
• God allows Solomon to build a solid Temple instead of Tabernacle. A place to meet with God.
• Many of the Proverbs were written by Solomon. As well as Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon 
• God permantly writes His name in Jerusalem.
• Solomon's kingdom split after his death
• North (Israel)...all of whom were evil and idolatrous
• South (Judah)...some of whom followed God and some were evil and idolatrous.
• Most of the books of the prophets occur during the split-kingdom time period. They speak out against the people's idolatry and warn for centuries of God's impending judgment if the people do not repent. God pleads with the people to repent. He also foretells of the coming of the Messiah.
• Because of the idolatry of the people for generations, God sends both the North (captured by Assyria) and the South into captivity (Captured by Babylon). The Babylonians destroyed the Temple as God foretold would occur if His people were idolatrous.
• The Persian Empire ruled after the Babylonians just as God foretold through the prophets.
• Through Divine intervention God's people were allowed to return to their land through King Cyrus.
• The Book of Esther occurs during the Persian Empire.
• In the Book of Ezra the Temple is rebuilt.
• It is believed that Ezra wrote 1 and 2 Chronicles (orininally one book) to remind Judah of its history.
• In the Book of Nehemiah the wall around Jerusalem...God's city...was rebuilt. God's people are commanded once again to follow God with all their hearts.
• Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi prophesied during this time where they spoke out against the peoples rebellious heart and the coming of the Messiah...

Four hundred years of silence... The Roman Empire...the Jewish Nation oppressed by the Romans...but more deeply...all people oppressed by the inherited sin of Adam...all people in need of deliverance.

But God always keeps His promise. His promise to Adam, to Noah, to Abraham, to Israel, to you and me...God surprised sent the Messiah...His eternal Son...just like He said...out of Bethlehem.
 Then the Gospels (Good News) begin...the Messiah has come! The King is here! Fully God..Fully Man...miraculous...as a baby. born in a barn. Mother and adoptive father travel to Bethlehem for the census...they were of the tribe of Judah. And Jesus is born in Bethlehem.

"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David." Luke 2:4

Scripture is so rich with infinately more details than what I mention today. Tonight Nathan and I will read Luke's account of Christ's coming...the Messiah. We read it every year together to remember God's story...the story He's allowed to be ours. We've always read it together on Christmas Eve in the past. But now that we are parents, and we will be with extended family on Christmas Eve (a time we cherish), we are going to begin having this family devotional time before we leave to go out of town.

Another family tradition that we've decided to include starting next year (even though Baby will only be about six months old) is the Jesse Tree. I first heard about the Jesse Tree from Laura Beth Moore. I've included a link to her blog which shares details about the tradition.  Here's the link if anyone is interested.  You can also just Google "Jesse Tree." I'm so excited about it because it is a way of celebrating the Advent season through a December overview of the story of the Old Testament leading up the birth of Christ. Each night the family decorates an ornament which represents an Old Testament Bible story from Genesis leading up to Jesus' birth. Exciting find!

Don't worry...I totally plan to include all of the imaginative, enchanting fun that the season brings to children...so does Nathan. He already says that if his kids want Christmas lights outside...they get them...even though none of our neighbors could see them from the road :)...but in the midst of the enchantment...we're praying that we all fall more and more in love with the Messiah...Jesus Christ...the one who has come to save us from our sinful nature. And that we remember the story...our story.

Merry Christmas!!!

Sniffles, Sneezes, Heartbeats, Nurse Hubby, and Family Time

The title pretty well sums up my week. I'm approaching the end of my first trimester (yay), and I can tell that I'm showing just a little.

Tuesday I substitute taught for one of my favorite children! She home schools, and I absolutely love seeing how she's learned. By the time I reached home, however, I felt achy and tired. Later that evening I was running a fever and the sickness began...whatever it was. I slept reclined in the living room for three nights running a low fever, sore throat, sneezing, and coughing, aching...the typical "crud."

Weeks like this one make me more thankful to be married to Nathan. His mom tells me he's a difficult patient (lol...I've never seen him sick), but he is an amazing nurse! He's also a pretty good chef. I think I drank about 12 orange juice slushies.

-About 1 cup of ice +
-About 1 1/2 cups of orange juice +
-3 peeled clementines +
-4 four strawberries +
-Mixed in the blender
= Delicious!

I think I might make one when I finish writing. :)

Wednesday in the midst of my little illness, Nathan and I got to hear one of the most amazing sounds God created: Baby's heartbeat. The doctor reassured me that my fever wasn't high enough to do any harm.

Friday my parents came for a little Christmas get together. My fever was gone by Friday morning, and I was able to open the windows and let the warm December breeze air out the living room while I disinfected the house. It was such a pretty day that I actually made another slushy and sat outside in the sunshine just for fun.

My mom brought my favorite soup: chicken and vegetable. Friday night we exchanged gifts. Well I'm excited to announce that I we now have a very nice, very new camcorder! Thank you Mama and Daddy!!! They gave us this special gift just in time for Baby. My mom made a good suggestion that I need to make sure and film family now so that our children can see what everyone looked like way back when...

So,

Thompson family: get ready for me to obnoxiously record The Twelve Days of Christmas
McCartha family: get ready for me to record Mamaw and Papaw opening their memory books!
Lauren: I will be recording you extensively. We'll make sure Baby knows her aunt via Skype and home videos. Just think our kids will think they're picking up a celebrity at the airport in December after watching you on TV all year!

Adoption Update: Please take one giant step forward...Please take two baby steps back.

Nathan and I took our first official step towards a China adoption last night. We attended the Discovery Bethany Adoption meeting in Atlanta. We basically made a date out of it and had a delightful time. We window shopped in Perimeter Mall...which means we looked at baby clothes in every store offering them. We went to what we expected to be an expensive Italian restaurant (and the only time we ate out all month) and ended up ordering two very inexpensive meals (Thank You Lord!) At 6:30 our long awaited meeting began. We both had butterflies.

The good news:
We were encouraged to see just how possible a China adoption is for us financially.

The disappointment:
We cannot begin the process until our baby (in my womb) is one year old. At first our hearts sunk. When Nathan and I got into the car later for our rainy drive home, the first thing I asked him is "Are you sad?" To which he replied emphatically "Yeah!"

We kind of envisioned the baby in my womb and our future adopted child being very close in age. We had it in our heads that we had 10 months until I turn 30 and we begin the process. During our hour drive, the Lord encouraged us. We're looking at it this way:

--Basically we have to wait about 5 more months than we anticipated to begin the paperwork. In the grand scheme of things that's not very long.
--Adoption is worth the wait. This is probably just the beginning of our waiting. Scripture mentions the importance of waiting on the Lord at least 20 times in just the Old Testament.
--China's rule for this baby to be one year old is not outlandish. In fact, no doubt God is at work in this process and He has something else in store for us as we parent the precious baby inside of me for the next 16 months. We are no doubt overjoyed to have this baby!

Last night I woke up at about 3:30 and couldn't go back to sleep because my mind was so consumed with all the "what ifs." Do you know the "what ifs" I'm talking about? You know as well as I the uncertainty of tomorrow when we forget God's sovereignty. Thankfully Philippians 4 raced through my head as well. I finally repeated in my mind over and over...."I trust You God. I trust You God. I trust You God." and fell back into a deep sleep.

Philippians 4: 4-7
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I'm reading Jeremiah right now during my morning devotional time. Jeremiah's story is compelling. His time period was beyond difficult. Here are some passages that are gripping for me right now:


Jeremiah 9:23-24
Thus says the LORD,
“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
²⁴ but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the LORD.

Oh then let me boast! I know Him. I know He is good. I've tasted and seen His goodness. My mind fails me. Goodness knows I'm not all that strong...especially these pregnant days. :) God is good...always good. All His ways are right and just. And my little family is in His hands. Rich financially...well thank You Lord for Your blessings...but bank accounts can dwindle as quickly as they grow. But I know that my Redeemer lives:

" I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end He will stand on the earth." Job 19:25

And because I have a Redeemer...I pursue adoption. Because I've been sought after and adopted...I pursue adoption. And I believe that it is an incredible gift for the baby in my womb as well. A beautiful picture. I spoke to a precious little girl today. She is seven years old and she told me today, "Did you know that there really are 140 million orphans out there. But if people would just adopt them they wouldn't be orphans anymore. You see her world view is different because she has experienced adoption herself and her eyes are open. I pray, oh how I pray the the baby inside me will echo similar words when he/she is seven.
Another meaningful verse:

Jeremiah 12:5
“If you have raced with men on foot
and they have worn you out,
how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble in safe country,
how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?"


I'm pregnant with my first child. I'm basically standing at the starting line of this race. I'm only in the beginning needing patience (or long suffering as I prefer to refer to it). I better position myself now in the Lord because this race has just begun.

So by and large the only ways that waiting affects us right now is that Art for Adoption has been post-poned until we begin the paper work next spring and our faith is being strengthened for His glory. Praise His name.

Hallelujah the King is Here!

Merry Christmas!!! I just finished the last of our Christmas decorations. Christmas music is now on the radio. These are some of the ones that cause me to blare the music and sing at the top of my lungs!!! Praise Him.

"Born in Bethlehem"  -Third Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKZ5g6a5Ehs


"This Baby"  -Steven Curtis Chapman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1wlZoN6h9M


"Welcome to Our World"  -Chris Rice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBGZeWYmOUM&feature=related