Ups and Downs

After discovering that there could be some hiccups in our road to adoption (or as we were thinking, a complete "no" to our adoption attempts), I immediately starting thinking of our Plan "B."  God had just given us this verse of being strong and courageous and here I go trying to take matters into my own hands because the path didn't go exactly the way I had envisioned....and this is only the beginning.

Isn't that just like us?  God gives us a promise and we immediately doubt when it doesn't go like our minds' eye envisioned.  We think perhaps we didn't hear God right to begin with.  We think we can help things along.  We think we should have a backup plan in case God's doesn't work.  And then we have the audacity to look at the Israelites and wonder how they could complain after God had provided so many miracles.  We are no different.

We've been studying about the Exodus in school, but before the Exodus was Abraham and Sarah.  God told them they'd have a baby - and Sarah was old.  Really old.  She wasn't getting any younger so, they decided to take matters into their own hands and Abraham had a son, Ishmael, by Hagar, their slave.  That wasn't God's plan.  They jumped the gun and it caused major rifts and turmoil in their family because of it.  When God did finally give them the child they were promised, out of that lineage came the 12 tribes of Israel.  God gave them their hearts desire and fulfilled the promise he gave them, but it was in his timing.

So, as we wait for this child, even though our desire to have him with us is growing stronger, we will wait until God moves and opens and closes doors.  We will be strong and courageous, even though this road could be bumpy.

Meanwhile, a private organization in L.A. has contacted us again to discuss details and get information.  They seem willing to work with us and our circumstances, as it looks as if private organizations will be able to work more in our favor through adoption.  So for now, that's what we will look into.

I will not be terrified or dismayed for the Lord our God is with us wherever we go.

Be Strong & Courageous; Not Terrified or Discouraged

I originally printed this for Isaiah, who needed some extra encouragement that God was with him at night after a bout of very dark and scary dreams.  He wouldn't enter a room by himself or walk down a hallway by himself if it was dark, and sometimes even during the day.  After a lot of prayer with him and for him, he seems to have broken free of the fears that were holding him, Praise God!

This scripture from Joshua 1:9 was something that was on my heart for awhile to help him memorize, so I made the above image to hang on his wall for him to see at night and for him to review.

It seemed odd to me, then, that I kept coming across this verse in random places, almost like it was more than just for my son.  It almost seemed as if it was for ME!

Yesterday morning I casually mentioned to my husband that this particular verse seemed to be everywhere right now and that maybe we should expect something big that God was going to do and use us in, that we would need strength for.  God used these words to speak to Joshua right before they would go into battle to claim the promised land God had for them.  I asked Matt if he thought we'd be going to battle somehow and maybe it would be with the adoption, as that is a big priority and goal right now.

Wouldn't you know it, but a friend that has been helping us along in this adoption journey stopped by Matt's office yesterday and chatted with him.  Come to find out, our income COULD play a role in whether we can adopt or not.  And then there's the many, many instances of social workers overstepping their boundaries in the news right now.  And we're going to invite these people in?  Lord, help us have faith that what you are bringing us to, you'll bring us through.  Coincidence that God was telling us to be strong and courageous?  Nope, God knows exactly what he's doing.  He gave us this scripture for such a time as this, and not a moment too soon.

I only hope that through our journey of adoption and more importantly, faith, that we are strong, courageous, not afraid or discouraged, because our God is with us and goes before us wherever we go!  I pray we can shine for others and God would get the glory for it all.

Remaining Pure For Life, Not Just Until Marriage

"I am committed to remaining pure until marriage."  I said it.  Thousands upon thousands have said it.  I'm not one to nit-pick.  But somewhere along this road, I've had to work through things I was taught as a child, and sexuality was one of them.  And it still is something I work through.  But this quote gives the impression that once you are married, you are no longer pure.  I beg to differ.

There are certain thoughts I have had to wrestle with and even though I know the truth about them now, I still have skewed ideas about them.  When you've been taught from a young age about something that you view as truth, you have to consciously make an effort every time you think about that thing until slowly, after time, your new views sticks as truth.  And even then you have to make a conscious effort to stand by your new truth and not default to the old. It doesn't usually just change and that's it!  New truth!  You struggle with it.  You wrestle with it.  You claw your way through the muddled thoughts.  But when you do finally make it through the mud, you know what you believe.  For me, sexuality is one of them.

I don't want to say I'm committed to staying pure just until marriage.  I want to say I am committed to staying pure through life!  

Staying pure after marriage just looks different than pre-marriage and it can be just as much as a struggle.  It requires a healthy thought life where you refrain from looking and lusting at others.  It requires being open and transparent in all areas of communication; on phones, texts, messages, social media.  It requires being aware of how others view your body language and conversations, so as not to be flirting or leading someone on.  It requires dressing appropriately so a secondary message isn't being given and so your body is kept pure for the one you've pledged your love to.  Staying pure is a way of living...even after you're married.  After marriage, "pure" changes, it doesn't disappear.  Our pastor just asked this question last week at service, "Are you a trigger?"  Do you purposefully or even unintentionally dress a certain way to attract looks?  Do you flirt in your conversations?  Do you give parts of yourself that should be reserved for your husband or wife, to others?

God created us to be together with our partners.  Sex is not a dirty or bad thing before marriage and then magically becomes beautiful and wonderful after you're married.  It is always a beautiful thing but is meant to be enjoyed between two married people.  It can become perverted, sure.  But just because you are married does not mean that you are no longer pure.  Purity is required for all - unmarried, married, engaged, teens, or for those celebrating a 50 year anniversary.

For now I will say, "I am committed to staying pure through life!"  After all, that's what marriage vows are for.

The "Buts" Have Got To Go

Have you ever caught yourself saying something along the lines of, "I probably shouldn't say this, but...."?  Or how about "I know I shouldn't do this, but...."?  What about "I probably shouldn't watch this, but...."?  Those "buts" have got to go.

"But" is just a fancy way of saying "ignore everything I just said and listen to THIS!"  If you have to start a sentence with "I probably shouldn't," then you shouldn't.  It's more than likely either gossip, lust, disobedience, spite, or sin and unholiness in some form.  Following up with a "but" doesn't make it any holier.

God tells us clearly he wants whole-hearted commitment.  When we water down God's commands of living a holy, pure life, we do a dis-service to him and as Christianity as a whole.  Do we think this thing we know we're not supposed to do or say is somehow dismissed by our Great Creator and his demand for holiness just because we said we shouldn't do/see/say/think it, but decided to anyway?  The Bible says sin is sin and holiness is holiness.  The two can't mix.  Watering down God's commands is diluting God's commands.  His commands and laws are not written in gray, but black and white.

Purpose in your heart to speak words of life, turn from evil, do good in God's eyes, resist temptation, give love not vindication, and surround yourself with what is holy.

Let's purpose to:

...and happiness will follow.