OK—first before I get going…for those of you who are (YAY! SO EXCITED!) going to be accountability with me in 2010 in the chronological 1 year read through of the Bible (see previous post if you haven’t already! And join us!)–someone made a GREAT suggestion to post a link we could ALL print off to follow! I’ll still post the “reading scriptures” each day—and any “WOWs” that spoke to me and please, please post in the comments the WOW moments you are learning too so that we can all learn from one another! This is going to be SOOOO good I just know it! And…I also know there are some WHO REALLY WANT TO read through with us;)…but they aren’t comment fans…so please join us in digging into scripture this year as we wait on Him for BIG THINGS in 2010! OK…so maybe you aren’t adopting—not EVERYONE is called to adopt! BUT…we ARE all called to do SOMETHING. Not hearing it yet?! Well…join us this year in digging into His Word and knowing His heart deeper…so you can better know His heart, hear His voice and THRIVE in your calling!
The 1 Year Chronolgical Reading Plan that us, women, will be holding hands following together in: http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan/oneyearchronologicalbiblereadingplan.pdf
Print that baby off. Print off two…one to tuck in your Bible and put one some place that will serve as a reminder for ya! Pray about joining us…scared you can’t do it?! You can do ALL THINGS through Christ who gives you strength…and this will be way fun to do with others. And if you get behind—no biggie…you can easily read a few days at once to catch up. I think it’s going to be so cool to be on the same page with so many of you…together! I am praying that the Lord speaks mightily to each of us this year and uses His word to call us deeper into His heart and into being used for HIS GLORY in 2010!!! JOIN US!
Daily, I feel the Lord cultivating a heart of waiting and patience in me. Now…if you know ME—that IS A MIRACLE! I am the most impatient person on the planet…ask anyone who knows the “want it now ME” and they will shake their head affirming this statement for me. When we signed up with our agency back last summer, I thought, “With three children to keep me occupied—this is going to be a cake walk.” Not so much.
There have been tears. Lots of tears. Tears of frustration. Tears wondering, “Lord, is this really what you want me to do? Stand in a line for a 0-12 month old Ethiopia baby when there are 145,000,000 orphans in the world?!” Yet, the Lord has NOT asked me to move. I feel His hand consistently saying BE STILL. SO…here I am. Still. Still waiting. OK, so maybe I get a bit (or VERY) antsy from week to week—but I’m sitting here. There have been very FEW referrals since we got on the waitlist–but this was to be expected. Hannah’s Hope, our agency’s home in Ethiopia, is upgrading to a BIGGER, NICER orphanage and the move took place on the 28th…and I’m sure they are STILL moving. Now after the move, the referrals will start finally coming—but even knowing this information, it hasn’t made the wait easier—except for the Lord is truly cultivating a heart of patience in me. YES…it is a MIRACLE!
I have to think back to the Lord’s goodness on me. One of the hardest times in my mommy life was when we were trying to get pregnant with our 3rd child. For months I would take both ovulation and pregnancy tests. Every month, I would sit on the bed and depending on the month I would either say, “Well, it’s just not the Lord’s timing—maybe next month!” OR I would say NOTHING and just sit there and cry. And you know the Lord has a sense of humor when you and your husband have a ministry in Africa (www.wiphan.org) and you have to buy your tickets early and because we WERE trying and thought MAYBE I could be pregnant by that spring–I would NOT go (spring is the rainy season and malaria in Zambia is everywhere!). So, the tickets were bought in the Fall–just one…for Richard. I would stay back and we were sure I’d be well into my pregnancy by then. Fall went with no plus sign. Winter came and went with no plus sign. And I thought for sure Spring would bring the plus sign. Richard boarded the plane to Zambia and I wanted to go SO BADLY to hug on and love our 400 orphans in Zambia—but here I sat…without a ticket and NOT pregnant. I left, and I came home sad to my sweet little 3 and 4 year old kiddos. I packed them up–and we decided to head to crash Aunt April’s beach trip with her girls:). One hour into our trip South, my Laney got CARSICK—puked EVERYWHERE…so I turned around, headed home and decided to try the trip down again the next day. Not easy to do by yourself. I bathed the kids, cleaned out the van. Put the kids down…and sat there and cried. I tried to call Africa to hear Richard’s voice—but knowing I would get no sympathy from him as he had seen and dealt with MUCH WORSE conditions that day. It reminded me that the Lord had been SO GOOD to us…and to keep patiently waiting ON HIM. I began to sing—worship and just for kicks…even though I knew there was NO WAY—I took another pregnancy test. And…POSITIVE!
I knew the Lord allowed Laney to get sick, bring me home…and HE even allowed Richard to be in Africa when I took this test…to have me all by myself worshipping HIM—to confirm Africa WAS PART of our family story…and WA-LA! ANOTHER GIFT FROM THE LORD! It took me over 24 hours to get in touch with Richard to tell him the news! And as soon as he heard, he was so filled with joy and praise that He screamed out our news to a village in Africa! I heard the ladies cheering—and I remember fussing at him that we weren’t going to tell anyone for 12 weeks. He laughed and said, “Seriously Andrea, who are they going to tell?!” Good point. And it was VERY appropriate for 400+ in Africa to know our news before anyone else did. God was simply confirming who our family in HIM was…and where He wanted our hearts to be planted here on Earth.
This is what God’s Word says about developing patience–(from the Message – Romans 5):
By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us–set us right with Him, make us fit for Him–we have it all together with God because our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open His doors to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand–out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting praise. There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary–we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
I wouldn’t trade that wait for our Frank for the WORLD. And I recognize that all stories DO NOT end the way we dream for them too. But there is power in the waiting WHEN we are waiting ON Him. There is teaching in the waiting when we are waiting WITH Him. And in the end–when we THROW OPEN those doors with joy—we will see Him already standing there…saying, “Sweet child. I told you. I told you that it would be worth the wait! Thank you my child–for waiting on Me. My plan is FAR greater than the plan YOU could create for yourself. Rejoice—rejoice and be glad and worship. I love you sweet child, and this—this is my plan, my beautiful perfect, pleasing and good plan for YOU.”
Because in this moment…
I forgot the pain of the wait—of the unknown…of the desperation. I will never forget the tears I shed—but I have to say in the end…every tear was part of it. And I am now thankful for every tear. My wait now for a new number—is still with anticipation…but it is filled with more trust and a WEE BIT more patience (I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t super ready for movement on our waitlist!). But I am reminded through my last wait that there is no ONE that I would rather wait through this with than my Savior. How people do life without the Lord–I just don’t know. But this is another reason I’m excited to dig deeper into His Word while I wait.
Okay…it’s the Young women and I’m represented BEHIND the lens;). Can I just say I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the family I married into? Not only are they so fun to around–but they are so encouraging and edifying too. What a blessing that EVERY woman in this picture KNOWS the LORD! What a blessing and a gift! I look forward to all of our get togethers–and we travel near and far to be with them. I just LOVE.
by admin
I am really impressed you are getting up so early and then getting to your blog! Oh,I remember in East Asia when you were petrified by hiking up that mountain, I think you held onto me the whole time! And I remember when you made that magnetic board for parker, I am impressed that the kids still really like it! It really is a great idea! I think when I finish all my paper work for the adoption, maybe getting to make this would be a reward! I love creating things! You truly are blessed with such great in-laws! Have a great Sunday!
I do remember that Melissa!!! Still as just afraid of heights! And don’t let the post time fool you;)…I wrote that the night before and put it on a scheduled post time:) I am NOT a morning person either!!! But I know some people do their reading in the morning so with our scripture reading I wanted to post early. My brain actually doesn’t begin functioning normally until at least 11am;)
My husband and I are reading the bible readings at night when the kids are in bed, so my comments might be a bit delayed in relation to the reading for the day.
I love what you did with the magnet board…so cute. The pics of Frank in the chair are so cute. Ryann thinks she is as big as her siblings too. Guess that’s what happens when you are the baby. It won’t be long though and she will be trying to love on Elijah like Taylor and Cade love on her 🙂
Blessings,
Amy
Hey! I’m not doing the exact same reading plan, but Scott and I are doing our own together. But, like most reading plans it started out just the same as yours. 🙂 Something that stuck out to me (us) is that when Eve ate the apple from the tree…she wasn’t alone. Adam was right there beside her. So many times women get the bad rap about “causing sin in the world” – but we really can’t take all the credit. 🙂 I’m enjoying reading your blog, and even though we’re not doing the same reading plan, I still feel some accountability.
Oh, my fantasy is to go in a hot air balloon ride. If I ever get to, I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures for you!
The readings were good this morning. Everyday will be though! That would stink to live on the boat for 6 months! There are a couple of questions I thought of. Do you think the animals while on the boat had offspring because it says when Noah got off the boat, he immediately made an animal sacrifice/offering to God. I guess there were 7 of the clean animals, so they may not have had offspring. It would have gotten a little crowded. Also, do you guys think that fish and sea creatures died as well? They were already in water, so……? Just a thought. There may be something I missed in the reading. Thanks for your thoughts! I never would have put the Nimrod name together! That’s cute!
Hey gal…kids are making a movie (rather loudly I might add) and hubby is watching a game on the tv..and I’m sitting here drinking tea and doing Bible Study with ladies who I really don’t even know where they are…kinda sweet! (Also..I am going to post the readings on my blog too and link back to yours if that’s okay) Kinda neat to see how many people God can move through this!
Alrighty, Here are my thoughts!
I love thinking of all those animals walking up into the ark! I am an animal lover and that just excites me so! Can you imagine..all those animals–BIG ones at that too with the tiny ones…I would have LOVED to have been there for that part..(the everyone dying..not so much)
Neat thing to do is measure that out for your kids..(ark size) I did that for children’s church one time and they were blown away..it so hard to just imagine a size..but seeing it is so more real. I would love to see that one in the Netherlands.
ch. 8 vs 1 . I did a bible study once on the God ‘remembering’. From what I ‘remember’–it’s not that God forgets. But it is when He acts. Like when we do something in remembrance of someone. We never forgot that them but we acted and did something because we have them on our minds. I kinda like that thought of God ‘remembering’ me.
Ch 8 vs.10 Noah waiting 7 days to let the dove back out…I think I would have tried every morning and been frustrated! God is still working on my patience!
Chapter 9 re-iterates to me how precious life is to God. I can’t fathom how bad it must have really been that Noah and his family were the only ones that were able to be in the ark. That ALL the people were that corrupt. I can’t imagine how that must have grieved God and even Noah.
Ch 10 vs. 8–Nimrod, mighty warrior and hunter..I loved that too! Made my heart smile when I read it. I always wonder how God would describe me in His Word. Humbling thought!
Also..for question whether fish/sea creatures died. I always understand that they didn’t. Re-reading it, it says the ‘face of the earth’ so I am taking that to mean land. But I haven’t researched it for the root meaning.
Thanks Andrea for starting this!
Oh, Heather, that’s a good thought on the animal sacrifice. My husband is in semianry, and I love to pepper him with questions! On an adoption note, some of you have sent me the most ENCOURAGING notes over the past week….. I have printed them all off and am saving them in my “adoption journal”. I received a lot of orders this week, and am so thankful! Also, a fundraising opportunity just “fell out of the sky” (hum, wonder who made it fall?:) I am kindof a coupon nut, and have spent months learning how to regularly walk out the grocery store with $200 or so worth of food for under $50. I love getting “paid” to take things from CVS. I mentioned this on face book a couple weeks ago, and there are masses of ladies wanting a couponing class!!!! I am setting a few up and am going to charge a $10 donation to our fund! I am THRILLED about this! I think we could come up with about half the agencies fees through these classes…a church is even thinking about hosting it with a nursey for a “ladis retreat” type thing!!! Yea!!! Praising the Lord…and so ready to sign that AGCI contract and start with the process!
3 for 3 so far… whew! Thanks so much for your insight… I, too, was surprised to read about the numbers of “clean” animals brought aboard the ark, and I’ve read Genesis how many times in my life? 🙂
These first few readings especially brought to mind the book “Many Waters” by Madeline L’Engle. So many unanswered questions re the Nephilim, the “Sons of God” intermarrying with humankind, etc. I’ll just add those questions to the long list I already have, all of which I hope will be answered in Eternity… when we will see not just in part but in the whole.
One thing I noticed for the first time was that the waters gushed from underground as well as from the sky. I suppose I just always pictured it as a heavy rainfall. But God is more creative than I am! =) After all…He created my creativeness! But how depressing to see nothing but rain for 40 days!!! Yuck! And I thought Seattle was bad! I am just in awe of how much water it took to cover the earth…and twenty-something feet above even the highest mountain…and for 150 days! 10 and a half months is a LOOONG time to be cooped up on a boat – talk about cabin fever!!! This story really is just incredible.
Now this is really random…maybe…but when did animals live on our planet? My husband’s theory was always that they died during the flood…but God said to take every animal on the boat, so that can’t be it. My theory was that that during the creation…it says a day was as 1000 years. So maybe when God created all of the animals, dinosaurs roamed the earth, but died off before God even created man! Hmmm…that’s a question I want to ask God when I get to heaven!!! Good thing we’ll have tons of time for question and answers!!! =)
Anyway…it saddens me to think of how God felt during the flood. I picture a tortured look on His face as the water levels rose, drowning all those animals and people.
Thanks for being so great about posting early…it gets me all geared up…I’m not a mornign person either but I find I’m a much more positive person if I immerse myself in the word right away!
Also, love the chalkboard/magnet idea! So cute!!! Frank and my boy seem to be about the same age. I wish we could get them together!!!
I came across your blog from another blogger friend. I recognized Rebecca in your photo and showed my mom who recognized all the girls! Such a small world…my mom and Rebecca were best childhood friends. We adopted our son from Ethiopia in April and came upon your blog looking through adoption blogs, which i still love to follow!
Love your blog!
SUCH great thougths and insights!!! Loving reading these comments throughout the day. It’s so great to read different perspective! Yes—I’m with Charisa–I always understood it as the sea creatures didn’t die. Good stuff girls:) This is going to be a great year!
I always enjoy reading your blog Andrea. I need just an ounce of your creativity. 🙂 So I’m in love with your small chairs that Frank is sitting on in the pictures. Can you share where you found those treasures? I’m searching for some play chairs and nothing has made me happy so far. Way to go on the auction by the way. I can’t get on ebay because I get so determined to win if someone else is bidding. I go nuts!