So I've been thinking alot this week ... alot about my sweet baby LyLah, that is! My mind has been flooded with about a million and one thoughts. Things have crossed my mind like "I wonder what she is doing at this very moment", "I wonder if she is happy", "I wonder if she is crying", "I wonder if she is hungry", "I wonder if she is scared", "I wonder if someone is holding her right at this very moment", "I wonder if she is hurting" and the list could go on and on. There are so many things that I could get myself wrapped up in wanting to know that it could very well have sent me into a panic attack, but this time it did not. This time, it was different. This time, I felt a calmness sweep over me. You see this time, I felt the Holy Spirit within me reassuring me that she is in fact okay. It is actually kinda scary, really. This is not typical for me by any means as I am a worrier ... big time usually. So, I am an impatient worrier! Ha! Not a good combination in the adoption world, or any world for that matter! I now know though that I am beginning to learn that characteristic of trust just a little bit anyway, in a different kind of way. A way that involves the care of my sweet baby girl. This definitely will be a necessity as I continue on in this awesome journey God has laid out for me!(at least if I am planning to attempt any kind of sanity through it all!)
So as I think about the calmness God brought me this week, I was led to Psalm 23. Then, as I dug a little deeper, I learned even more from Matthew Henry's commentary. In verse 2 David says, "He leads me by still waters". To me the term "still waters" had a calming affect anyway without really putting much thought into it, but the more I read into it I learned that the "still waters" are in fact the Holy Spirit. The "still waters" in which flow from the Fountain of the living water, whom which is God Himself! God gives us the Holy Spirit to come alongside us when we are going through whatever trial or difficulty life might bring, to offer a feeling of comfort, of peace, knowing He is in control. A comfort that has such a calming affect that it can actually lead to trust! Amen?! Next time you and I are going through the rough waters of life, I pray we would remember that God is with us, leading us by the still waters, that He is stronger, more than any other ... hallelujah, He is Savior!
As far as the adoption goes .... oh my goodness, oh my goodness I am #2 on the waiting list for my baby girl! Thank you, Jesus! What this means is that when it's my turn, I will get a phone call from my coordinator with the referral for LyLah and then I will have approximately 5 days to accept her. Yeah right, like I wouldn't??!! Anyway, they also will email me a picture of her with a little bit of medical information as well. I will then have to await a court date. Yes, more waiting! Bring it on!! =) So I am still awaiting that phone call BUT I am so much closer!
Praise God for filling us with the Holy Spirit - Praise God for that feeling of comfort He provides through the Holy Spirit - Praise God for bringing me another step closer to my sweet baby girl - Praise God for Jesus!
Pray for all to be overwhelmed by the presence of the Holy Spirit within us - Pray that we would allow that feeling of comfort into our lives knowing God is in control and we can trust Him completely - Pray that God would use those rough waters we go through in life to bring us closer to Him - Pray for my sweet baby LyLah!
"What a Savior" Laura Story
http://youtu.be/vSXpFsjSc-4
"He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters." Psalm 23:2
Love-
amy
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Go!
All of us have been through it in some form or another. Maybe it was through that long and dreadful wait for the results of a medical test ... or maybe it was the waiting period on the acceptance letter into the college of your choice. Perhaps it could have been the time when your child was supposed to message you the minute they arrived at the airport halfway across the world, and you have yet to hear from them ... or like me, maybe it's the wait on that phone call with all of the information on your child that has been born in your heart through the wonderful world of adoption. Whatever your circumstance is or has been, we go through a similar emotional rollercoaster in which I would like to label "the fear of the unknown". We live in a world where we want answers NOW! I, as most of you know by now, would be the first on the list of people who fail daily at patience, if there were such a list. Not a truth that I enjoy sharing with others, but it is exactly that ... the truth! The waves of emotions that go through our heads are ridiculously absurd sometimes. We often times tend to speculate and the end result is usually not a happy thought. This in turn, brings about feelings of worry, anxiety, fear, sadness, maybe even a depression in some cases. All in all, we create alot of stress in our lives because of the "unknown". These feelings can be brought on not only by the stuff going on in our own lives, but in the people whom we love as well. Some of our circumstances that bring on these feelings of the "unknown" might very well be small when compared to the "big picture", and some of them might in fact be huge with the end result changing lives for the good or the bad. Big or small it does not matter. What does matter is that you are going through it, and you feel like nobody else knows what you're going through and it pretty much stinks. And that is perfectly understandable and okay, BUT I have a little bit of info I would like to share that I hope will be encouraging. You see, there is this book that is pretty well known actually, and is filled with a whole lotta Truth that you really don't want to miss out on. It's called The Bible. These words of God are actually living and active ... they were written by God through other people! God speaks to us through this book and He shared something with me this week that I'm gonna hold onto. He told me that I need to go to Him for any help that I might need and to worship Him continuously. Go to Him, in prayer as well as through His word, with anything! Whether big or small it makes no difference! He is there and available, ready and willing to hold us together and to keep us lifted up! And let us not forget the worship aspect of it all! Will ya lift God up with me today ... well, everyday actually! So, when we are on that emotional rollercoaster of the "unknown" I pray that you and I would "Go!"
As for the adoption process, still nothing new. I am still anxiously awaiting that phone call for my referral for my sweet baby LyLah! I did get 2 more of my vaccinations yesterday so only one left to go! Yay!
Praise God that He is willing for us to come to Him 24/7 - Praise God for His words of Truth that we have so easily available to us - Praise God for all of those "unknowns" that we might go through that draw us closer to Him - Praise God for Jesus!
Pray that we would "Go!" in each and every circumstance we are brought before - Pray that we would soak in The Truth and claim every promise He has made - Pray that we would indeed draw closer to Him when going through the "unknowns" and hold onto those promises He has made - Pray also that we would then remember to give Him praise for who He is and all that He has done - Pray for my sweet baby LyLah!
"Go to the Lord for help and worship Him continually." 1 Chronicles 16:11
"Be Lifted High" Bethel Church
http://youtu.be/1090DWL3zUc
Love-
amy
As for the adoption process, still nothing new. I am still anxiously awaiting that phone call for my referral for my sweet baby LyLah! I did get 2 more of my vaccinations yesterday so only one left to go! Yay!
Praise God that He is willing for us to come to Him 24/7 - Praise God for His words of Truth that we have so easily available to us - Praise God for all of those "unknowns" that we might go through that draw us closer to Him - Praise God for Jesus!
Pray that we would "Go!" in each and every circumstance we are brought before - Pray that we would soak in The Truth and claim every promise He has made - Pray that we would indeed draw closer to Him when going through the "unknowns" and hold onto those promises He has made - Pray also that we would then remember to give Him praise for who He is and all that He has done - Pray for my sweet baby LyLah!
"Go to the Lord for help and worship Him continually." 1 Chronicles 16:11
"Be Lifted High" Bethel Church
http://youtu.be/1090DWL3zUc
Love-
amy
Friday, March 16, 2012
Immovable
Disappointment comes in a variety of shapes and forms. It is not something we look forward to or enjoy by any means. Sometimes it even creeps into our lives when we least expect it. Disappointment is not something that we usually prepare ourselves to enter in to. Some people have a tendency to get disappointed very easily where for others, it might take something huge to bring it on. The truth of the matter is everyone goes through it, and how we deal with it will have a direct impact on our lives either positively or negatively.
I am one who has the tendency to get disappointed, to get my feelings hurt very easily. It doesn't take much .... at all sometimes! This is not one of the characteristics about myself that I am proud of by any means, but it is something that I know I need to work on and thankfully God is trying to do just that. You see the thing that God has been reminding me of this week is that He is the only one we can count on always! Now, this doesn't mean that we will never "feel" like God has disappointed us. I very well have felt that way and I'm sure you have to at some point or another. What this does mean is that anything and everything that is of Him is for our good and even though we may not be able to see it at the very moment in time, it is everything BUT a disappointment. This means that we can not put our trust in man, but rather in God alone. People will do whatever they have to, to get ahead or feel better about themselves, but God will not! People will make poor decisions and let others down, but God will not! People will fail us, but the good news is ..... God will not!
We've already been warned that life is going to bring about disappointment and hurt, trials and suffering. Yes, Jesus actually guarantees it in His word. We're going to be hurt and disappointed and angry throughout this life and that is okay. But when those times do come, the difference in a positive or negative result will depend upon who we put our trust in, who we seek out for comfort. My prayer tonight is that we would choose the only One who does not disappoint, who does not hurt, who will never fail us! The Lord Jesus Christ! The One who is secure and immovable! So, this leaves me with one question ... who are you gonna put your trust in?!
As for the adoption process I am still anxiously awaiting that referral. I am attempting to put my trust in God in His timing of it all, rather than being disappointed by man who I have yet to get that phone call from! My clearance that I received a few weeks ago is on the way, or it might actually be in Ethiopia right now. I received a letter saying it was being forwarded and I also received a case number!Yay! I have a case number for when the time comes to go to court over there! I received 2 of my vaccinations already and have 3 more to go.
Praise God that He is our rock, our refuge, our anchor that will never fail us! Praise God that His love is forever and true! Praise God for giving us those trials, only to make us stronger! Praise God for Jesus!
Pray that we would put our trust in God alone, knowing He is the only One who will never let us down - Pray that we would use our disappointments and hurts as opportunities to grow stronger and closer to Him - Pray that we would keep our eyes fixed on Him, the author and perfector of our faith, who is immovable - Pray for my sweet baby LyLah!
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Love-
amy
I am one who has the tendency to get disappointed, to get my feelings hurt very easily. It doesn't take much .... at all sometimes! This is not one of the characteristics about myself that I am proud of by any means, but it is something that I know I need to work on and thankfully God is trying to do just that. You see the thing that God has been reminding me of this week is that He is the only one we can count on always! Now, this doesn't mean that we will never "feel" like God has disappointed us. I very well have felt that way and I'm sure you have to at some point or another. What this does mean is that anything and everything that is of Him is for our good and even though we may not be able to see it at the very moment in time, it is everything BUT a disappointment. This means that we can not put our trust in man, but rather in God alone. People will do whatever they have to, to get ahead or feel better about themselves, but God will not! People will make poor decisions and let others down, but God will not! People will fail us, but the good news is ..... God will not!
We've already been warned that life is going to bring about disappointment and hurt, trials and suffering. Yes, Jesus actually guarantees it in His word. We're going to be hurt and disappointed and angry throughout this life and that is okay. But when those times do come, the difference in a positive or negative result will depend upon who we put our trust in, who we seek out for comfort. My prayer tonight is that we would choose the only One who does not disappoint, who does not hurt, who will never fail us! The Lord Jesus Christ! The One who is secure and immovable! So, this leaves me with one question ... who are you gonna put your trust in?!
As for the adoption process I am still anxiously awaiting that referral. I am attempting to put my trust in God in His timing of it all, rather than being disappointed by man who I have yet to get that phone call from! My clearance that I received a few weeks ago is on the way, or it might actually be in Ethiopia right now. I received a letter saying it was being forwarded and I also received a case number!Yay! I have a case number for when the time comes to go to court over there! I received 2 of my vaccinations already and have 3 more to go.
Praise God that He is our rock, our refuge, our anchor that will never fail us! Praise God that His love is forever and true! Praise God for giving us those trials, only to make us stronger! Praise God for Jesus!
Pray that we would put our trust in God alone, knowing He is the only One who will never let us down - Pray that we would use our disappointments and hurts as opportunities to grow stronger and closer to Him - Pray that we would keep our eyes fixed on Him, the author and perfector of our faith, who is immovable - Pray for my sweet baby LyLah!
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
Love-
amy
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Find You on my Knees
"Troubles chasing me again,
Breaking down my best defence,
I'm looking, God, I'm looking for you
Weary just won't let me rest and fear is filling up my head.
I'm longing, God I'm longing for you
But I will find you in the place I'm in, find you when I'm at my end,
Find you when there's nothing left of me to offer you except for brokenness.
You lift me up, you'll never leave me thirsty,
When I am weak, when I am lost and searching
I'll find you on my knees.
So what if sorrow shakes my faith,
What if heartache still remains,
I'll trust you, my God I'll trust you.
'Cause You are faithful and
I will find you in the place I'm in, find you when I'm at my end,
Find you when there's nothing left of me to offer you except for brokenness.
You lift me up, you'll never leave me thirsty,
When I am weak, when I am lost and searching
I'll find you on my knees, my knees.
When my hope is gone, when the fear is strong
When the pain is real, when it's hard to heal
When my faith is shaken and my heart is broken and my joy is stolen, God I know that
You lift me up, you'll never leave me thirsty,
Find you in the place I'm in, find you when I'm at my end,
Find you when there's nothing left of me to offer you except for brokenness.
You lift me up, you'll never leave me thirsty,
When I am weak, when I am lost and searching
I'll find you on my knees."
http://youtu.be/sx2e58cL8r4
Heavenly Father, I thank You for who You are - God, there is none like you - You are a God of love, of mercy, of grace, of forgiveness - You are a God of hope, of peace, of joy, of happiness - You are a God who sees beyond what is visible on the outside - You are our comforter, our protector - God, You are there when it feels as if no one else is around - You know what we are feeling when our own words cannot even describe ourselves - God, You are filled with wisdom and know our every need. I pray God, that You would find each one of us on our knees - not because we want You to hear our every prayer, but because we know that You will be there, where we are - because we long to meet with You and feel Your very presence - because we know that You already are aware of the very reason that brought us to our knees - because we know that it is only when we seek You that all our worries will disappear - God, I pray that we would seek You, and You would find us, where we are .... in Jesus' name - Amen
"Most blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is." Jeremiah 17:7
Love-
amy
Breaking down my best defence,
I'm looking, God, I'm looking for you
Weary just won't let me rest and fear is filling up my head.
I'm longing, God I'm longing for you
But I will find you in the place I'm in, find you when I'm at my end,
Find you when there's nothing left of me to offer you except for brokenness.
You lift me up, you'll never leave me thirsty,
When I am weak, when I am lost and searching
I'll find you on my knees.
So what if sorrow shakes my faith,
What if heartache still remains,
I'll trust you, my God I'll trust you.
'Cause You are faithful and
I will find you in the place I'm in, find you when I'm at my end,
Find you when there's nothing left of me to offer you except for brokenness.
You lift me up, you'll never leave me thirsty,
When I am weak, when I am lost and searching
I'll find you on my knees, my knees.
When my hope is gone, when the fear is strong
When the pain is real, when it's hard to heal
When my faith is shaken and my heart is broken and my joy is stolen, God I know that
You lift me up, you'll never leave me thirsty,
Find you in the place I'm in, find you when I'm at my end,
Find you when there's nothing left of me to offer you except for brokenness.
You lift me up, you'll never leave me thirsty,
When I am weak, when I am lost and searching
I'll find you on my knees."
http://youtu.be/sx2e58cL8r4
Heavenly Father, I thank You for who You are - God, there is none like you - You are a God of love, of mercy, of grace, of forgiveness - You are a God of hope, of peace, of joy, of happiness - You are a God who sees beyond what is visible on the outside - You are our comforter, our protector - God, You are there when it feels as if no one else is around - You know what we are feeling when our own words cannot even describe ourselves - God, You are filled with wisdom and know our every need. I pray God, that You would find each one of us on our knees - not because we want You to hear our every prayer, but because we know that You will be there, where we are - because we long to meet with You and feel Your very presence - because we know that You already are aware of the very reason that brought us to our knees - because we know that it is only when we seek You that all our worries will disappear - God, I pray that we would seek You, and You would find us, where we are .... in Jesus' name - Amen
"Most blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is." Jeremiah 17:7
Love-
amy
Saturday, March 3, 2012
There is Love in a place ... of ... Hope
I don't know about you, but when I hear a song with a "catchy" beat, it's hard to get it out of my head. There is this certain song I have been hearing for some strange reason over and over and over again, but this actually is a song you will not find on K-Love or Air One. I first heard it performed on the Grammy's, and ever since then I recognize the song right away as it uses synthesizers and has that "catchy" beat to it that gets my attention. The radio at work has been on alot lately and I hear it there. If I am out and about in a store and it comes on, it draws my attention almost immediately. The strange thing about it is that pretty much the entire song consists of one single line ..... "we found love in a hopeless place".
I finally got on google last night to figure out who sang this song and yes, you would have thought I would know after watching it on the Grammy's but I did not! So Rihanna is the one, and I'm not exactly sure what the meaning of the song is but that does not matter. I probably don't want to know anyway! What does matter is that there are alot of people out there who are doing just that ... looking for "love" in a world full of hopelessness. I just can't seem to get these lyrics out of my head knowing how true they actually are to so many people. It makes my heart hurt knowing that there are people who are in desperate need for something. Something that makes them feel better, feel loved, feel good about themselves, and when they finally think they have found it, it's just a matter of time before they come to realize it was in fact NOT what they were looking so desperately for. They are right back to feeling hopeless and unloved again. It makes my heart hurt because I have been there and I'm sure alot of you have too at some point in your life. It makes my heart hurt because I know there is a Love that is full of hope. A Love that will never leave you or forsake you. A Love that loves on you just the way you are. A Love that forgives and is full of grace and mercy. A Love that gave up His one and only Son so you and I could have life eternal. A Love that if you go through this life never knowing and receiving, will eventually lead to an eternity of Hell. This Love that I am referring to is the Lord Jesus Christ! There is in fact Love in a place of Hope! Jesus is Love and I can confirm to you today that you DON'T want to miss out on His offer of Hope!
So, because these lyrics have stuck in my head all these weeks, and I am certain God allowed me to hear them for a reason, I am wondering just what I will do with them. I'm not sure what it will consist of exactly, but I can't wait to see just what God might have in store if I listen and obey!
As for the adoption process I am now number 6 on the waiting list! Woot, woot!! I moved up one spot! So, I am still awaiting that phone call saying they have my baby girl for me if I would accept her!
Also, I am at the point where I need to start thinking about vaccinations and I have had lots of good feedback already - God continues to provide! My agency has a yahoo group that I am a part of and people post on it daily about court dates, embassy dates and bringing their babies home so this has been a huge encouragement to see things continue to move!
Praise God that He is Love - Praise God for giving us Hope - Praise God for using Rihanna to bring to mind a world full of hopelessness - Praise God for Jesus!
Pray that God would bring to mind anyone who we could be praying for that has not found His Love - Pray that God would then make them cross our path and give us His words to speak - Pray that God would give us the desire to help spread His Love across the nations, among those many people groups who have yet to hear the Gospel in whatever way He would have us to do - Pray for my sweet baby girl and that when the time comes for me to bring her home, that I would be able to raise her up knowing there is a Love in a place ... of .... Hope!
Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail. Love is eternal ..." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love-
amy
I finally got on google last night to figure out who sang this song and yes, you would have thought I would know after watching it on the Grammy's but I did not! So Rihanna is the one, and I'm not exactly sure what the meaning of the song is but that does not matter. I probably don't want to know anyway! What does matter is that there are alot of people out there who are doing just that ... looking for "love" in a world full of hopelessness. I just can't seem to get these lyrics out of my head knowing how true they actually are to so many people. It makes my heart hurt knowing that there are people who are in desperate need for something. Something that makes them feel better, feel loved, feel good about themselves, and when they finally think they have found it, it's just a matter of time before they come to realize it was in fact NOT what they were looking so desperately for. They are right back to feeling hopeless and unloved again. It makes my heart hurt because I have been there and I'm sure alot of you have too at some point in your life. It makes my heart hurt because I know there is a Love that is full of hope. A Love that will never leave you or forsake you. A Love that loves on you just the way you are. A Love that forgives and is full of grace and mercy. A Love that gave up His one and only Son so you and I could have life eternal. A Love that if you go through this life never knowing and receiving, will eventually lead to an eternity of Hell. This Love that I am referring to is the Lord Jesus Christ! There is in fact Love in a place of Hope! Jesus is Love and I can confirm to you today that you DON'T want to miss out on His offer of Hope!
So, because these lyrics have stuck in my head all these weeks, and I am certain God allowed me to hear them for a reason, I am wondering just what I will do with them. I'm not sure what it will consist of exactly, but I can't wait to see just what God might have in store if I listen and obey!
As for the adoption process I am now number 6 on the waiting list! Woot, woot!! I moved up one spot! So, I am still awaiting that phone call saying they have my baby girl for me if I would accept her!
Also, I am at the point where I need to start thinking about vaccinations and I have had lots of good feedback already - God continues to provide! My agency has a yahoo group that I am a part of and people post on it daily about court dates, embassy dates and bringing their babies home so this has been a huge encouragement to see things continue to move!
Praise God that He is Love - Praise God for giving us Hope - Praise God for using Rihanna to bring to mind a world full of hopelessness - Praise God for Jesus!
Pray that God would bring to mind anyone who we could be praying for that has not found His Love - Pray that God would then make them cross our path and give us His words to speak - Pray that God would give us the desire to help spread His Love across the nations, among those many people groups who have yet to hear the Gospel in whatever way He would have us to do - Pray for my sweet baby girl and that when the time comes for me to bring her home, that I would be able to raise her up knowing there is a Love in a place ... of .... Hope!
Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail. Love is eternal ..." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love-
amy
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