The Hiding Place

I love to read. One of the many things I enjoy about the adoption yahoo groups and blogs that I have been following the past year or so is the reading lists. I keep my own list of the books I read about that I would like to read. I have just finished Corrie ten Boom's "The Hiding Place". There are many extraordinary things in Corrie's tale about surviving WWII in Holland. I love to open my eyes to the struggles of the world both now and in the past. It gives me such an appreciation for how truly blessed we are. I checked this particular book out at the library and the version I received has a section at the end titled, "Three Ways to Put This Book to Work in Your Own Life". I would like to summarize this section.

(1) God governs all things, even those that appear to us senseless or cruel.

Like waiting to pick up our angel, like watching a 3 year old suffer from cancer, like war, and on and on. One by one, transfer your worries from your own care to God's "Lord, because I do not have the answers to these things I do not therefore conclude that there are no answers. You know why, Lord, and when I am strong enough-wise enough, loving enough-you will show me, too." Amazing to think that we may not be ready for the "whole story", but God in His wisdom knows when the perfect time is.

(2) God supplies grace for present need.

Don't run ahead of God's supply of grace and strength. Don't "borrow trouble". Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." And verse 27, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life." This is especially good for me to remember when I have two children on the other side of the world/equator.

(3) God wills us to give thanks.

Now, not when every issue is resolved. "Our praise and gratitude in some mysterious way open the door for Him to bless us as He wishes." Think about some issues that you are most definitely NOT thankful for. Now set yourself the discipline of giving thanks daily for these things as well. See how God is able to use your changed attitude to change facts. For Corrie, it was fleas in her bunk in the concentration camp. Yuck! What possible good could come from that? She found out that the guards avoided their room for this very reason allowing them freedom to share the gospel!

Our God is amazing!!

Encouragement

Romans 11:33-36

"Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are His riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His methods! For who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who knows enough to be His counselor? And who could ever give Him so much that He would have to pay it back? For everything comes from Him; everything exists by His power and is intended for His glory. To Him be glory evermore. Amen."

Hebrews 11:1

"What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see."

Thank you, Elke and Angie!

This stinks!

I don't know how else to put it...this stinks!! Jessica from CHI just called and we have been given a court date of October 3. So almost 3 months from now we may hear the status of our adoption, assuming nothing goes wrong. I have no idea how those adopting from China can handle the long wait that they endure. I feel just sick right now. I can't see the sense in this.

Isaiah 55:8&9
"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'"

Adoption is not for the feint of heart. Someone said that, and it is so true. Last April when we decided to pursue adoption, I was 40 years old. Tomorrow I will turn 42. I so wanted to hear that we would be traveling soon. I know that time goes quickly, but October seems like forever. My darling child may learn to walk before I meet her. It is breaking my heart.

For those of you that know our sweet son, Jake. You can be praying for him. He is now in Argentina for a month long trip with Teen Mania/Global Expeditions. Noelle says that being an only child is no fun! Pray for his safety, that he would draw close to God, and for his food choices (he is fructose intolerant).