Waiting Part II

I realize I haven't posted in awhile and I've been sitting on this post for awhile.  Not able to post it because, well I'm not sure and yet for many  reasons, but mostly  because I haven't wanted to, haven't had the words really to share what's in my heart.  So, today, I took a look at this post and decided I would share it.  I pray that it reflects my heart right now. 

After writing the post below, I started to think of the littles that are all WAITING for someone to come and choose them to be a part of their forever family. Many have been waiting for such a long time. And yet, so many of us have chosen not to do anything. We have made our decisions based on us. Where we are in our lives, what we are doing, where we are going (or not going) in our five year plan. We base it on what we will have to give up and yet, there are 163 million + children waiting for you, me, our neighbor to get on the ball, to make a decision to be the ones to go and choose them. The endless faces who have nothing.  They don't even know what a 5 year plan is.  They worry about today.  About where their next meal will come from.  Whether or not someone will come to take them home.  To give them a safe place, a haven, to be loved on and cared for.

Have we chosen to worship ourselves and not the One who created us if we sit and do nothing?  If we move on behalf of the orphan, widow, child who has been trafficked into something more heinous than we could ever imagine, are we not moving in a way that would worship the God of the universe?  Would our hearts really be the heart of God if we move towards the lost, the broken, the one who is deemed unworthy? 

Several weeks ago, there was a child who was needing a family.  It is a dire situation.  I pledged to pray and even blog about her.  I shared her plight with my husband.  We were sitting in bed while reading about her and I could see the wheels turning in K's head.  I have to admit that I was got quite nervous.  I KNEW what that look meant.  I could tell he was thinking about this little girl.  He was contemplating what we could do to possibly commit to her.  I walked away for a minute and that's all it took for Kevin to start looking up all of the diagnoses that were listed.  I read along with him and got scared to be honest.  The list was massive and for me, very overwhelming.  Yet, here was a child that desperately needed a home.  Otherwise she was facing emanate death.  I knew there wasn't anyway we could commit to her because the agency needed people who were paper ready.  And we are definitely NOT that family.  Not even close.  But the fact that Kevin was even considering her after 6 months or so not wanting to consider a child with special needs much less severe special needs was a God moment.  The good news is M has a family!!!!  With in 48 hours (less I think) this family had stepped up to be this child's forever family.  When I mentioned it to Kevin, he was a bit disappointed I think.  I'm not sure he even knew what he was feeling. 

So, what does this have to do with waiting?  A lot really.  There are so many kids out there just waiting.  Can you imagine their patience and endurance?  I can't.  I have really never had to wait for anything like that.  Giving birth, 40 weeks, not a long wait in comparison to our sweet S.H. who has been waiting for a mommy and daddy to come get her for what will be 2 years when she is finally listed again (at the minimum).  She's been in the orphanage since she was born and we still can't get to her because of the timing.  What about this little guy, Peter, (third picture down) has been waiting for a very long time as well.  There are soooo many.
I think I just may be rambling.  This post may be all over the place.  Not intentionally.  I have so many thoughts going through my head.  Kids who are beaten, abused.   Looking for love in all the wrong places. Street kids.  Orphans.  Widows.  Kids who are lost and broken.  Special needs.   HIV/AIDS.  Money~lack thereof.   People wanting to go but can't.  Won't.  Will limit what we will consider because it may be too much.  Selfishness.  Telling God what we can handle.  Truth is, we are telling Him what we WON'T handle.  I'm looking in the mirror and not liking who I am seeing at this point.  I'm not seeing Jesus reflected because I was too afraid.  I'll share in a post at a later date on how God didn't leave me sitting in that fear.  He's such a good God.

I'm not sure how I wanted to end this post honestly.  So, I'm just going to end it by asking, "What won't you do for God and the children He has commanded us to serve, bring home, love on, care for~ despite their circumstance in life?"

May He be glorified in your obedience to lay it before the LORD,  being honest with Him and then acting on what He has called you to do.

STWTHE,
Laurie

Wait...

Wait:
1. to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens (often fol. by for, till, or until ): to wait for the bus to arrive.

2. (of things) to be available or in readiness:

3. to remain neglected for a time: a matter that can wait.

4. to postpone or delay something or to be postponed or delayed:

5. to look forward to eagerly:

6. to continue as one is in expectation of; await: 

7. to postpone or delay in expectation: 

8. Archaic . (of things) to be in readiness for; be reserved for; await:


This seems to be my word from the LORD.  When seeking answers from God.   When I really am wanting to know what to do next?  Where do we go now?  What road do we take?   Should you or shouldn't you?  And all you get is the word:

Wait. 

wait. 

WaIt. 

wAit.

WAIT. 

Ummmm, not quite what I was looking for God and not something I do well when I feel like I'm in a time crunch when making decisions.  But You know that don't You?

I also think of the book by Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go.  You know the part that talks about the waiting place?   That's where I feel like we are at this point.  That waiting place. 

I know, waiting is something most of us DO NOT like to do.  So, I don't feel like I'm being punished, ok, maybe not all of the time.  My issues are not any less important to God than the person whose prayers  got answered the very next minute.  I know, mine get answered right away as well, it just seems like I have to wait to see that answer a lot longer.  No, I'm not feeling sorry for myself, just a little impatient at times.

During my fast, God kept speaking this word to me and I decided I should look up the word wait in the Bible.  God used a friend to help out with a devotion she had read which had some of these verses in it (God's perfect timing) and I looked up a few more.  So, here's what the Bible says:

First off, the word wait is used 92 times in 89 verses in the NIV translation, 106 times in 102 verses in the KJV, and 90 times in 86 verses in the NASB.  So, God told us to wait through out history. 

In the morning, o LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7

Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. Isaiah 26:8


But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:25


And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. Hebrews 6:15


So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many peeps, and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:28


 That is until I got this from a friend last week

"You really have to trust God to wait. You must believe in his divine love. You must lean into His arms and stop fidgeting with your own agenda. you must surrender your five-year plan and give up your pride. Waiting requires so much maturity that I understand why most of us just get out of line, ABANDONING what we've been made for because the wait seemed too long."

Angela Thomas from her study When Wallflowers Dance, Wk. 5 day 1 entitled NOT YET.

So, for those of you in the waiting place with me, I pray that we are doing this for the glory of God.  That as we are seeking His face, we are truly learning to wait patiently for His best in His perfect timing.

STWTHE,
Laurie

Busy busy busy

What's been going on here? Lots and lots of sewing. Between trying to raise money for a friend who travels November 12th to go get her daughter (they still need $15,000 -would you consider donating to them by buying a bucket bag or going over to Seemingly Reckless Faith blog and donating through either their puzzle fundraiser or their button for Janna which will be tax deductible) and trying to raise money for our adoption, homeschooling the littles that are already in our family, cleaning house (which is getting done but not to my satisfaction really), doing laundry, cooking, teaching 4 year olds at church (yes, you read that correctly - what were Kevin and I thinking agreeing to that?) car not working, computers getting viruses (I'm typing on my i*pad) me getting a cold (I rarely get sick), dishwasher leaking water all over the floor, whole in the roof that has made a hole in our bathroom ceiling that allows rain to come through (patch was done yesterday finally, after 4 months of waiting for our landlord to make a decision about putting on a new roof and several rains later. Obviously that's not going to happen. At least it's patched and will hold for a while) and this being the longest run on sentence in the world! Life has been busy. Don't get me wrong! We are enjoying every bit of it. Ok maybe not the cold part but slmost evereything else gets a thumbs up! Some days are more productive than others, but that's a part of life. Our hands are busy and productive. We pray that we are glorifying God through it all.

Have I been discouraged? Sure! Most definitely! But God being God has sent us reminders that we are His children, that we are in His will and we are doing exactly what we need to be doing. I have struggled with doubt. I have struggled with the questions and the overwhelming amount of money that must be raised in order to bring Our little girl home. Doesn't help that we have been attacked beyond measure. If this has started so early in the game- Our blue-eyed angel must be really important for the advancement of the Kingdom in my opinion.

Here are some of the words and verses God has encouraged me with this week alone:
Psalm 77:7-15
 11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
       yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

 12 I will meditate on all your works
       and consider all your mighty deeds.

 13 Your ways, O God, are holy.
       What god is so great as our God?

 14 You are the God who performs miracles;
       you display your power among the peoples.

 15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
       the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
       Selah

God will make away where there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me. - Don Moen

I am seeking a sign from God and this requires that I trust. Not that God would act, but that I will act when God directs. - Mark Brown


‎"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16

And the one that seems to be our family motto for the last 12-18 months:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I did not include the notes from people I cherish and love dearly. Those wonderful people who God has given me to love on as well as to be loved by.

This morning as I was getting ready to say good-bye to my sweet man before he left for work, I was praying a silent pray for his day. I could literally feel the LORD reach down His hands for me to grab. I did and He pulled me to my feet. All I really want to do was climb into his lap and stay there for the day. I know he's saying to me that I am not alone in this journey. We are in the Father's hands and He will supply our needs according to his riches. I'd be dishonest in not saying that I wish the supply would be right now, but there's something said about patience and waiting. So, I must wait upon the LORD, rest in his peace, in the shelter of his wings and know that the Great I AM, the ineffable name, is in control of this journey. He is for us not against us.

STWTHE,
Laurie