Kings & Queens

I use to be an avid reader.  These days it seems all I read are facebook statuses and lots of blogs.  But most recently I actually finished a book that has been on my sidetable for at least a year.  I read MaryBeth Chapman's "Choosing to SEE".  I do recommend it, but be ready for laughter and tears.  She wrote some funny stuff and then some gut wrenching "Why God?" stuff.  I believe the overall theme is "Trust God" especially when your plans are not going exactly as you planned.  Appropriate for us, huh?

Then I started Kisses from Katie.  Ugh!  I only have read 3 chapters and boy I can't believe a 22 year old single college girl can convict me so much.  But the night that I read quite a bit I was out of town and could NOT sleep.  For the first time, I had a different longing for my girl.  It was a "Please, she needs to be home now" kind of a feeling, more than our normal, "Please, I want her home now." 

We are getting closer.  I know it.  I know that God is fighting for us and her.  And Ethiopia.  And ALL His people all over the world.  I fear that at times my friends our sick of me and our continual, not-ending-anytime-soon story.  I do believe we are more than this adoption....But sometimes as I shared recently it is SO hard to not just be about the adoption.  All the time.  After 19 months waiting and a 6 month paper chase, it is like I have almost been "pregnant" 3 times as long.  When you are in your final semester and you feel huge and can't eat very much and can't sleep well, it is hard to forget you are pregnant and it is hard not to think about it.  So it is for us as well and yet at this point, my due date has changed drastically---actually I really don't have a due date yet. Anyways, every song on the radio, every sermon my pastor preaches, every blog and book I read now just points to our journey in a blaring way. 

And yet I am continuing to learn.  I'm not sure I can articulate all that God is teaching me.  I know I am memorizing more of His word (although that may be due to Eden's Bible Bowl as well).  I know I am learning what faith means and trust.  And spiritual warfare.  And the all encompassing love the Father has for me. 

                   "How great is the Love the Father has lavished on us, that we should
                         be called children of God.  And that is what we are!"  1 John 3:1

Disclaimer:  I sat on this for 24 hours letting it settle and planning on publishing this post on our 19 month waitiversary (tomorrow).  And then God had me chewing on something for a bit today.  IT IS ALL ABOUT ADOPTION.  Not our particular adoption, or all of our friends adoptions, but THE adoption we all recieve into Christ's family.

              ³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he^[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship^[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he^[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 
Ephesians 1: 3-10

  It has been about adoption since the beginning of time.  He loved us that much he knew he wanted to adopt each and every one of us.  He came down and loved "the least of these" which was me--- and dear friend which was you so that we could become Kings & Queens.  So with that in mind, I am sure you have heard the song.....but if you have not watched the video PLEASE do so HERE. 



Ample Dandelions

On my 6 mile run in beautiful weather Saturday, I penned this poem. Actually I had to write it in my head, and remember it till I got home and it was a long 6 miles. :) But right when I began my run, inspiration struck when I overheard a mother tell her toddler who wanted a specific dandelion, "there are ample dandelions".
Ample Dandelions

There are ample dandelions
to wish on, collect, and see--
Yet is there ample faith and trust
between You and me?

You've granted me everything I need
and plenty of wants along the way--
Yet when I don't always get what I seek
I waiver in my ways.

Because of what you've done for me,
You are worthy of each day's praise
and if I never recieve another blessing,
may my hands still be raised.

Help me be content, dear Lord
and try to grow like you more and more--
and see that there are ample dandelions
and that you are faithful forevermore.

31 Days: Day 30/31

S0...I will be hanging out with my family tomorrow evening for Harvest Night, thus bringing me to my last post of the month.  Obviously, I didn't have 31 posts....I did post 58% of the days (academically that is still an F---but mathematically it is at least the majority of the month).  So for now, I will lay down the "discipline" posts for a bit and either practice what I preach or stop being so hard on myself and my lack of discipline.  But speaking of Harvest Night---I came across this verse tonight:  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.   Hebrews 12:11


I also came across this definition of discipline that I hadn't necessarily thought of from American Heritage Dictionary:  A state of order based on submission to rules and authority.  So I am most excited to share how I am disciplined or where I see discipline in my life: I have submitted to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and have a persevering obedience of faith in Him since age 11 and due to this disciplined lifestyle of faith I will win a crown of glory and live eternally!  I am running the race! And will await the best possible result/reward from any type of discipline.

Excerpt from Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hebrews 12: The persevering obedience of faith in Christ, was the race set before the Hebrews, wherein they must either win the crown of glory, or have everlasting misery for their portion; and it is set before us. By the sin that does so easily beset us, understand that sin to which we are most prone, or to which we are most exposed, from habit, age, or circumstances. This is a most important exhortation; for while a man's darling sin, be it what it will, remains unsubdued, it will hinder him from running the Christian race, as it takes from him every motive for running, and gives power to every discouragement. When weary and faint in their minds, let them recollect that the holy Jesus suffered, to save them from eternal misery. By stedfastly looking to Jesus, their thoughts would strengthen holy affections, and keep under their carnal desires. Let us then frequently consider him. What are our little trials to his agonies, or even to our deserts? What are they to the sufferings of many others? There is a proneness in believers to grow weary, and to faint under trials and afflictions; this is from the imperfection of grace and the remains of corruption. Christians should not faint under their trials..............But the Father of our souls never willingly grieves nor afflicts his children. It is always for our profit. Our whole life here is a state of childhood, and imperfect as to spiritual things; therefore we must submit to the discipline of such a state. When we come to a perfect state, we shall be fully reconciled to all God's chastisement of us now. God's correction is not condemnation; the chastening may be borne with patience, and greatly promote holiness.

Hebrews 12:7-9 (NLT)

⁷ As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? ⁸ If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. ⁹ Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

SO......I finish this series with these questions:  Have you submitted to Jesus Christ's authority in your life?  Are you in fact disciplined, orderly, and obedient in your faith and striving to share in His holiness?  Do you consider yourself His child and planning on living forever?  If not, I pray you will evaluate and become disciplined-----like me!  :)  And if you want/need to talk to someone call me---I would love to share with you my testimony of discipline.

Proverbs 1:7 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Job 5:17 

"Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

Proverbs 10:17 

He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

Proverbs 12:1 

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid

2 Timothy 1:7 

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Hebrews 12:10

Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.

Thanks for listening.  

Love, 

Disciplined Daughter of God

CHRISTMAS in July!!!

Not only were we recently put on our waiting list in July---we just recieved a big gift today. We have been *trying* to wait patiently to hear whether or not we recieved an adoption assistance grant and Praise the Lord we did! The grant covers half of our next big fee---which is the referral fee. The referral fee needs to be in place so that when we are matched with our daughter....we are able to immediately pay that fee (I think technically we have a week or so---to beg, steal, and borrow). To be completely honest, we need $8,235 (for the next step alone) and we have $4,890---so we are more than half way there. (Some of this is from my awesome brother & friends who have graciously given to close the distance between Chloe and her soon to be new home.) [Thanks Brother Greg for running the distance]. Anyways, PLEASE if you haven't already, go "like" Show Hope on facebook so that they can continue to help others on their adoption journeys. For every "like" donors are donating funds to further their work.

Our next thing to bridge the gap will be our Labor of Love Adoption Auction, where YOU get to fight (out bid) for fun stuff and yet all proceeds goes towards the adoption. This will be in late Aug. thru Labor Day (hence Labor of Love)---If you don't know me---I am a sucker for alliteration. And besides a possible crop (which would just be fun anyways)--I think we are nearing the end of our fundraising efforts---Still check out Sweet Madelynne or our Current Fundraisers Tab. God has been so good! Thank you for following our sentiments. We are so grateful for all the support of friends and family.