What an awesome feeling it is to be picked by someone over everyone else - to be preferred - to be the top choice. We all have experienced this in some way or another. It's not always easy to spot, but I guarantee ya you have! Now there is the other end as well. You are the last one standing when picking teams for dodge ball in gym class - the other person got the job - that one gal gets to go on the misssion trip and she doesn't even know God. This particular side of it is no fun at all but I'm here to tell you that there is good reason for it!
As I continue on in the adoption process God has brought yet another thought to mind. People tell me all the time how lucky "that little girl" is going to be but ya know what? "I" am the lucky one! How blessed I have been to be "chosen" by God to be her momma ... LyLah's momma ... that is me! How blessed I have been to get to go through this process and gain wisdom and knowledge and grow closer to God! How blessed I am going to be when she is officially mine and I get the chance to raise her up to know and love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I my friends, am the lucky one!
God chooses us for many different things in life. Some things we may not like particularly and other things we can't thank Him enough! God has chosen me to be 35 and single - do I like it? Heck no! But I know that if I might have went down another path I probably would not be in the middle of adopting my daughter right now so I can be okay with it in that regard.
God did not only choose us, He adopted us as well! He has adopted those who have received Him and given their life to Him! If God had it in His heart to choose Saul/Paul, a sinner, a persecutor of Christians, to spread the gospel throughout the entire Roman empire than I guarantee you He is just waiting to choose you and me to do something for Him as well if He hasn't already!
If you have never received Jesus I pray that you would consider it today and just see what He might choose YOU to do!
Still waiting on word of my submission to court. Once I get submitted, I should be traveling within 4-5 weeks. I have received updated measurements and some info about her. She is now 18 lbs and 26 inches long! Yes! She is quite the bundle of joy! She responds to her name - rolls over onto her belly and then pushes up and looks around! She turned 6 months on Thursday! She has been prayed over by the gal from my prayer group that went a couple of weeks ago which makes me very happy and more at peace. So thankful for her.
Praise God for choosing us! Praise God for adopting us as His own! Praise God for His wisdom and plans for our lives! Praise God for Jesus!
Pray for God to come into your heart if you haven't already - Pray for ears to hear just what He might have for you to do - Pray for open minds and hearts when God's plan doesn't fall exactly in line with what "ours" looks like - Join us in prayer at 6:30 daily for court dates and decrees before they close!
"But the Lord said, "Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel." Acts 9:15
Love-
amy
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
He > I
Time is getting shorter and God is still working on me! Ha! Oh how I love to be pruned! It's funny how you think you're doing pretty good really and then WHAP! You get that smack upside the head with a big "duh" to go with it. Over the last few weeks I have had my eyes opened big time to this thing called being critical. You see I would never have thought of myself that way, because if I have a strong opinion about something it is only because it is not done my way, you know, the right way! Lol! I'm just trying to make people understand what it truly means to have a relationship with Jesus ... my way, you know, the right way. So come to find out I have been pretty critical in the process, and I have learned that everybody has a chance to succeed. Everybody has potential. Everybody has been handcrafted and uniquely designed by this awesome creator we have called God, our Father. We may have differing opinions about "stuff" but what really matters is Christ Himself. A relationship with Christ is key, but that will look different in each and every one of us.
I have learned that I need to make sure I have studied and read the whole Truth before I open my mouth sometimes. I have learned that I need to focus on God alone and giving Him glory. I have learned that He needs to be greater and I need to be less because it's not about me and what I think is true. It's about Christ living in me and through me, the way He would live, full of compassion and mercy and forgiveness and grace. It's all about Him ... to God be the glory!
As far as the adoption process goes, no new news ... yet! I do however have lots of new pictures! Oh how I love that little girl and am so very anxious to get my hands on her! Our prayer group is still going strong. There definitely has been a bond created even though we've never met. God continues to bring us closer each day through our daily prayer time together!
Praise God for conviction! Praise God for teachable hearts! Praise God for His wisdom! Praise God for Jesus!
Pray for God to continue to convict in whatever area we may be struggling with - Pray for an open and teachable heart, ready to learn and grow in Him - Pray for spiritual wisdom with ears that would hear God alone - Pray for my sweet baby LyLah and for all six of us to go to court and pass before the courts close!
"He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." John 3:30
Love-
amy
I have learned that I need to make sure I have studied and read the whole Truth before I open my mouth sometimes. I have learned that I need to focus on God alone and giving Him glory. I have learned that He needs to be greater and I need to be less because it's not about me and what I think is true. It's about Christ living in me and through me, the way He would live, full of compassion and mercy and forgiveness and grace. It's all about Him ... to God be the glory!
As far as the adoption process goes, no new news ... yet! I do however have lots of new pictures! Oh how I love that little girl and am so very anxious to get my hands on her! Our prayer group is still going strong. There definitely has been a bond created even though we've never met. God continues to bring us closer each day through our daily prayer time together!
Praise God for conviction! Praise God for teachable hearts! Praise God for His wisdom! Praise God for Jesus!
Pray for God to continue to convict in whatever area we may be struggling with - Pray for an open and teachable heart, ready to learn and grow in Him - Pray for spiritual wisdom with ears that would hear God alone - Pray for my sweet baby LyLah and for all six of us to go to court and pass before the courts close!
"He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." John 3:30
Love-
amy
Saturday, June 16, 2012
We Have a Choice to Make!
I find it very interesting that two of the top songs played on Air 1 and K-Love this week have been about forgiveness. I pay attention to lyrics as music is something that I love and can get pretty connected with God through. I feel like God is trying to tell us something through these new tunes! One of them is by Tenth Avenue North called "Feels Like I've Been Losing" and the other one is by Matthew West called "Forgiveness".
Both song lyrics consist of similar themes: forgiveness is hard and the last thing on our minds, it feels as if it goes to those who don't deserve it, its the very opposite of how we feel, and it actually feels like "we're" the ones losing when we forgive. Both song lyrics mention the freedom it gives "us" when we forgive, how "we" are actually the prisoners when we hold the grudge.
These lyrics are true and I'll be the first to admit it! It's hard to forgive. It does feel like others are getting away with things that aren't right but you know what? We ALL fall short and are in desperate need of the grace, mercy and forgiveness that our Father has already given to us. The next time you're finding it hard to forgive someone, think about the cross. We have a God who gave His one and only Son to be the perfect sacrifice because we could not do it, we are not and will never be good enough to obtain eternal life on our own but the good news is He did it for us! That price has been paid! And through the cross, Christ forgave us our sins ... in advance! Our circumstances can never be compared to the cross so I guess it's time to start giving forgiveness a closer look. We have a choice to make! We can either hold onto the grudge or circumstance that is eating at us, making us bitter and angry and pretty much miserable, OR we can attempt to let it go and look through the eyes of grace and mercy and set it free! Seventy times seven! Not an easy choice, but certainly the right one!
As for the adoption process, I still am awaiting a submission to court. I did hear from the program director that there is in fact a great chance of getting to court before they close, though! Praise God! Thank You, Jesus! He can not be sure of course but that's okay, this is good news to me! One of the gals from our prayer group is actually in Ethiopia right now getting to meet her baby girl and love on some of the others! She has court on Monday so prayers for her family would be appreciated! We also had another prayer answered and was what we were praying for in the group! Praise God!
Praise God for the forgiveness He gives - Praise God for the freedom He gives through forgiveness - Praise God for song lyrics and using them to speak to us - Praise God for Jesus!
Pray that we would be able to see not only others but circumstances through eyes of mercy and grace ... through His eyes - Pray for relationships to strengthen and grow through forgiveness - Pray for a better understanding of God and how He loves and works - Pray for my sweet baby LyLah and the rest of the babies and families in our group at 6:30 daily, for court dates and decrees before they close!
"Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32
Love-
amy
Both song lyrics consist of similar themes: forgiveness is hard and the last thing on our minds, it feels as if it goes to those who don't deserve it, its the very opposite of how we feel, and it actually feels like "we're" the ones losing when we forgive. Both song lyrics mention the freedom it gives "us" when we forgive, how "we" are actually the prisoners when we hold the grudge.
These lyrics are true and I'll be the first to admit it! It's hard to forgive. It does feel like others are getting away with things that aren't right but you know what? We ALL fall short and are in desperate need of the grace, mercy and forgiveness that our Father has already given to us. The next time you're finding it hard to forgive someone, think about the cross. We have a God who gave His one and only Son to be the perfect sacrifice because we could not do it, we are not and will never be good enough to obtain eternal life on our own but the good news is He did it for us! That price has been paid! And through the cross, Christ forgave us our sins ... in advance! Our circumstances can never be compared to the cross so I guess it's time to start giving forgiveness a closer look. We have a choice to make! We can either hold onto the grudge or circumstance that is eating at us, making us bitter and angry and pretty much miserable, OR we can attempt to let it go and look through the eyes of grace and mercy and set it free! Seventy times seven! Not an easy choice, but certainly the right one!
As for the adoption process, I still am awaiting a submission to court. I did hear from the program director that there is in fact a great chance of getting to court before they close, though! Praise God! Thank You, Jesus! He can not be sure of course but that's okay, this is good news to me! One of the gals from our prayer group is actually in Ethiopia right now getting to meet her baby girl and love on some of the others! She has court on Monday so prayers for her family would be appreciated! We also had another prayer answered and was what we were praying for in the group! Praise God!
Praise God for the forgiveness He gives - Praise God for the freedom He gives through forgiveness - Praise God for song lyrics and using them to speak to us - Praise God for Jesus!
Pray that we would be able to see not only others but circumstances through eyes of mercy and grace ... through His eyes - Pray for relationships to strengthen and grow through forgiveness - Pray for a better understanding of God and how He loves and works - Pray for my sweet baby LyLah and the rest of the babies and families in our group at 6:30 daily, for court dates and decrees before they close!
"Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32
Love-
amy
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Strip down, start running, and never quit!
... and I ain't talkin' about gettin' naked and goin' for a run, Forrest! Ha! There actually is some pretty good meaning to these words!
Strip down: get rid of all the crud in your life - you know, the stuff that makes you think twice before doing it but then you go ahead and do it anyway - the stuff that makes you feel "good" about yourself - the stuff that in reality has merely temporary effects.
Start running: begin to "do" life with eternity in mind - be ready for anything that might come across your path - wherever God is leading you by golly GO!
Never quit: be filled with that strength that only God can give, strength that endures - build yourself up in order to stay spiritually fit and not lose ground -
never give up even when it feels like you've got nothing left because you know what? God does!
Yes! Another race down today! More points for this middle aged momma! Troubling to hear let alone write, but the truth of the matter is it is in fact, truth! I am getting older and definitlely am beginning to notice it. God being humorous OR Satan trying to bring me down? Either way, I've got some work left to do so I'm gonna do my best to strip down, start running, and never quit!
Nothing new on the adoption process. Still waiting ... patiently nevertheless!
Praise God for His Truth - Praise God for His strength - Praise God for His timing - Praise God for Jesus!
Pray for more of His Truth to be revealed in new ways - Pray for His strength to take over when you are feeling weak - Pray for trust in His timing in everything in life - Continue to pray with us daily at 6:30 am for court dates and decrees before they close!
"let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us." Heb 12:1
Love-
amy
Strip down: get rid of all the crud in your life - you know, the stuff that makes you think twice before doing it but then you go ahead and do it anyway - the stuff that makes you feel "good" about yourself - the stuff that in reality has merely temporary effects.
Start running: begin to "do" life with eternity in mind - be ready for anything that might come across your path - wherever God is leading you by golly GO!
Never quit: be filled with that strength that only God can give, strength that endures - build yourself up in order to stay spiritually fit and not lose ground -
never give up even when it feels like you've got nothing left because you know what? God does!
Yes! Another race down today! More points for this middle aged momma! Troubling to hear let alone write, but the truth of the matter is it is in fact, truth! I am getting older and definitlely am beginning to notice it. God being humorous OR Satan trying to bring me down? Either way, I've got some work left to do so I'm gonna do my best to strip down, start running, and never quit!
Nothing new on the adoption process. Still waiting ... patiently nevertheless!
Praise God for His Truth - Praise God for His strength - Praise God for His timing - Praise God for Jesus!
Pray for more of His Truth to be revealed in new ways - Pray for His strength to take over when you are feeling weak - Pray for trust in His timing in everything in life - Continue to pray with us daily at 6:30 am for court dates and decrees before they close!
"let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us." Heb 12:1
Love-
amy
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Three Times a Day!
It's pretty easy to be in prayer when things are a bit shaky ... waiting for test results from a medical test - when things aren't going so well at the job and your position may be on the line - a child may be hurting - a death has occurred. It's actually pretty easy to be in prayer when things are going really great, too ... that medical test came back with good results - your job was saved and included a raise - your child is happy and healthy and full of life. So, what about everything else that goes on during the day? The "little" things ... waking up each day - having a roof over your head - getting a green light when you're late for work - getting a red light when your're late for work and realizing God may just have prevented you from something worse - having internet/phone access - having clean water to drink. This particular list could go on and on and on and on! The bottom line being we need to be in prayer daily. And not only under the circumstances that are looked upon as "normal" times to be in prayer, but under any cirumstance about anything at any time! Pray for God to refine you, for God to prune you in order to strengthen your relationship with Him. Praise God for that circumstance that didn't end up the way you were hoping, because He is God and He is good and knows exactly what we need when we need it! Get out of the norm and on your knees whether it be three times a day like Daniel did or several times throughout the day. Keep the line of communication with God open and wait and see just what He can do!
No news as far as the adoption goes BUT our prayer group did receive an answered prayer this week! We have a few things we are praying specifically for and God not only answered the prayer, but He provided exactly what we were praying for! As we continue on in our daily 6:30 prayer time, I know that more prayers will be answered and whatever the outcome may be God is good, He has a plan and He will be praised!
Praise God for examples like Daniel, that NOthing stopped him from being in prayer - Praise God for having a plan for our lives - Praise God for the grace and mercy He gives that goes unseen - Praise God for Jesus!
Pray that we would let NOthing get in the way of daily prayer - Pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit when in prayer - Pray for trust in knowing that God is good no matter the outcome - Join us in prayer at 6:30 am daily for court dates and court decrees before they close down in August!
"He (Daniel) prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God." Daniel 6:10
Love-
amy
No news as far as the adoption goes BUT our prayer group did receive an answered prayer this week! We have a few things we are praying specifically for and God not only answered the prayer, but He provided exactly what we were praying for! As we continue on in our daily 6:30 prayer time, I know that more prayers will be answered and whatever the outcome may be God is good, He has a plan and He will be praised!
Praise God for examples like Daniel, that NOthing stopped him from being in prayer - Praise God for having a plan for our lives - Praise God for the grace and mercy He gives that goes unseen - Praise God for Jesus!
Pray that we would let NOthing get in the way of daily prayer - Pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit when in prayer - Pray for trust in knowing that God is good no matter the outcome - Join us in prayer at 6:30 am daily for court dates and court decrees before they close down in August!
"He (Daniel) prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God." Daniel 6:10
Love-
amy
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