Be Prepared

I awakened early this morning to spend some much needed time alone with my King. As I was praying, I heard Him telling me many things. [I did not audibly hear the voice of God; it's more of a quiet thought, just as one hears their own thoughts running through their head.] I kept hearing, "Be still and listen." As I tried to quiet the thoughts swirling around in my head like fallen leaving rustling along the ground on a fall windy day, I kept hearing, "be prepared." Be prepared to offer encouragement to Ross along the way when he gets discouraged that this adoption isn't going to happen. Be prepared to weild the sword of truth; armed with Scripture, to stand firm against the evil one when he attacks. Be prepared because this is going to happen quickly—rapidly and radically actually.  My children need to know so they can be prepared, and so they can teach Ross and I how to wait with excited anticipation. Our house needs to be prepared. For now, it is time to begin getting prepared. Today I will make a list of things that need to be done in order to do just that; be prepared.

A Child's Prayer

I am overwhelmed with emotion today. I literally do not know where to begin. I don't know what to say, what to pray, what to think. I feel confused, but excited. I am filled with curiosity about what is to come. In December I began praying, asking the Lord to give me a life verse, to complete what seems like an impossible God-sized task in me, and to give me a new direction over the 2011 year.  Well, I think I just got what I asked for! A God-sized task indeed! My verse for 2011 keeps running through my mind, "Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I am about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I am making a road through the desert, rivers in badlands" Isaiah 43:18-19.  He is definitely working in brand new ways in the life of our family, and I am anxious to see what He has in store.

I found out today, while walking through Academy with Ross and the kids, that Mary Grace has been praying that God give us a China baby. The thought just suddenly popped into my head while we were walking around the camping section, that I should ask her if she had been praying for a China baby. So I asked, and she replied with a matter of fact tone, "Yes, but not this week." Yes, but not this week!—The beauty of a child. She had been so intrigued with Chinese children since we first look into adoption three years ago.  She would ask us when we were going to adopt a baby from China nearly every week, and sometimes even multiple times a week.  I never knew the impact our conversations would have on her; especially since she was only 5 at the time. It finally go to a point where I had to say, Mary Grace, "I'm not sure if we are going to adopt or not.  Maybe you are supposed to adopt a baby from China when you are older. I just don't know yet. We will have to wait and see." Now, three years later, we find out that she has been praying all along that we get a China baby. A seed was obviously planted in her sweet little heart, and her prayers alone may be the reason we are on this journey.

Our Journey East, Begins

Pure and undefiled religion before God and Father is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.  - James 1:27 

Ross went to the NWA Men's Conference 2011, hosted by Cross Church, this weekend. The focus of this year's conference was very convicting. It was about God’s vision for your life.  Bruce Wilkinson, author of The Prayer of Jabez, The Secrets of the Vine, and many more, was one of the guest speakers. Most of Mr. Wilkinson’s lesson focused on trusting God to do a great wonder in our life. He explained that doing God’s will is the most important thing we could ever do. After he was done speaking;, he held an invitation where most of the men felt convicted to go on a mission trip to fulfill the Great Commission; which is God’s commandment to us to tell every tribe, tongue, and nation about His love for them (Matthew 28:18-20). Ross’ vision was a little different. He did not feel the call to go on a mission trip or witness to a foreign country. He felt called to adopt. More of a, “go forth and bring home” kind of conviction.  After the conference was over, the Lord led Ross to fill out a communication card with his name, address, and prayer request (like the men committing to go on a mission trip were doing). Then he felt that nudge from the Holy Spirit to hand Bruce Wilkinson the card himself. The request that he wrote down was that he needed to not have unbelief on getting the money needed to adopt a child from China. Mr. Wilkinson read over the card and looked at Ross and said, "It's not about the money, it is about the child. Pray for the child." Mr. Wilkinson prayed over Ross and then told him that he would have his child this time next year. Wow!