If you’ve never heard of Maria’s Big House of Hope…you must! (Turn off music up top before viewing!)
This is where precious little Jaelynn lives…for the last 3 years. Let’s pray for her a family. Let’s pray her home.
You, Lord, are the God of our stories. I pray you write each of them–for Your glory.
We had the SWEETEST reunion on Thursday with the Smith family and their sweet ones! What makes their family super special to ours is they got their referral for their sweet baby girl just after we returned home with Isaac. Her crib was actually in the SAME ROOM as Isaac’s at Hannah’s Hope in Ethiopia—and I got to see her and spend some time with her when I was there. I had not seen her in almost A YEAR (the 27th of June is Isaac’s ONE YEAR Gotcha day and July 2nd is the day our family was all together! We’re celebrating with our family and close friends on the 2nd…AND guess what–THIS Wednesday is our readoption here in the states where Isaac will be a US Citizen and adopted in the States once and for all!!! BIG stuff ahead!!!!)
Back to our sweet reunion (got side-tracked there with all the fun ahead!)…the LAST time I saw these two together–Isaac was 14 pounds and she was just 6 pounds. Amazing what happens when love comes home isn’t it???
Laney just LOVED her and didn’t want to leave the little princess’s side! BUT we did steal a picture or two of the Hannah’s Hope roomies together…
We ATTEMPTED a big group shot…but no worky…
They just wanted to PLAY and NOT have their pictures taken…so we let them–so no more pictures of our fun afternoon together! The kids all picked these in the backyard together…
And we whipped up lunch and a fun dessert with the raspberries…Raspberry Cream Cupcakes!
This is a must make recipe if you have raspberry bushes (or find some good ones at the local fruit stand or grocery)!!! You can get the recipe HERE. Anything that gets 227 five-star reviews on the FoodNetwork site is worth trying in my opinion:)
THEN…later that day I photographed a precious little man from Ethiopia, little V, and the Parker family! I donated a session for a fundraiser for the Cook family (another AGCI family adopting from Ethiopia–and the Parker family won!) SO I got to spend the later of my day with the precious Parker family and this scrumptious little man who will soon have surgery in August…
This kiddo is FULL of life and personality–and he gave me QUITE the workout chasing him around!!!
Finally–I raced to the hospital from the photo shoot to see my VBFF in the whole wide world new baby–baby #3!!! It was such a sweet time with Kelly, Tami and me (and of course her hubby Shawn who has to endure us all together rain or shine!). This time–it was all SHINE of course…and we are so, so thankful to welcome this precious little girl into the world!!! I know she will be such a big part of our lives–so it was just so meaningful for me to get to hold her—and to think I will be a part of ever birthday, so many playdates and just fun. Isn’t she beautiful???
Hope ya’ll all have a great weekend!!! We got ours started off right with yet ANOTHER Hannah’s Hope reunion–BUT I forgot my camera for that one! Got to spend the day with the McBrayer family and little Luke! Another one of Isaac’s old HH roomies!!! They are MOVING to our town just a couple of miles AWAY FROM US all the way from TN!!! How crazy is that??? Don’t you know God was smiling when I got to meet him at HH!!! Laura and I got our referrals for Luke and Isaac the SAME DAY. We wanted to travel together so badly–but court craziness had us traveling first. Only God knew that He WOULD put us together–only it’d be a year later just down the street from one another!!! HOW AMAZING IS THAT?! What are the chances that 2 boys from the same orphanage in Ethiopia would end up just up the street from one another in our town! Gotta love how God orchestrates details!!!
Y’all stay cool!
Andrea
P.S. Ahhh! I ALMOST forgot to show you my future jockey!!! Thought this would start your weekend off with a smile:) How cute is he?? Thumbs up folks!
Simply irresistible!
I was hoping you would post a few pics. They are so cute! We had such a great time and really appreciate your hospitality. And it is always so good to be united with people who share your heart for adoption and God’s eternal plan for His children. And the cupcakes were delicious, too! Praying for God’s direction and peace for these next steps for you all! With love, the Smiths
Something REALLY funny happened today–and I was completely ministered to by a past post–and I had to share.
SO–today was ONE of those crazy days. Like…one of those I had about 2 years ago and I posted the comical run down here.
Once AGAIN I was at the doctor office–for a check up with Loo-bear and Frankie baby. BUT this time–I also had P-man AND ITY in tow.
It was a checkup for just 2 littles. BUT I also needed to get the pediatrician to sign off a form for our homestudy that my kids are well, and her recommendation that all is well for us to bring home another sweety.
WELL…today was the ONE day my kids didn’t get a nap because we had the most precious family over for lunch (I LAST saw baby girl when I was in ETHIOPIA…the VERY weekend she came to the orphanage and I got to see her again TODAY–almost a YEAR later!!!! AMAZING, right!)
It was so amazing. BUT no nap at doctor office with all 4…not so much.
They call us back–nurse hands me 2 cups and asks me to take all 4 to restroom to get urine samples for 2. Nice. THAT ALONE—could have won a grand prize of American’s Funniest Home Videos. I fell off the stool trying to sit in front of the potty and coach my 2 year old into pottying in a cup…and it just got better.
2 kids got shots…Isaac was trying to get the heck out of Dodge for fear he’d be next…and my phone was ringing off the hook. THEN–Frank is telling the doc all about how he is 2–he likes pizza place…AND that he has bunnies that live in his ears. Isaac is laying on the floor looking up the doc’s skirt. Parker is spinning on that round chair. Laney is interrupting Frank’s conversation with the doc to say, “Excuse me—am I all done. And can I tell you something. We are adopting a sister from China!”
AT WHICH POINT…it made me SMILE…and think of that post I posted 2 years ago…I mean, CLEARLY doc–can’t you see that I need more children.
I looked at her and said what I’m sure many might think, “You think I’m crazy don’t you? Am I crazy?”
And she looked me in the eye, smiled and said, “No. You are not crazy. Your kids are beautiful. You have a calling.”
SUCH a reminder–that it is NOT ME but HIM that works through my craziness. That dispite our crazy, even a doctor can see beautiful. And trust me–it really wasn’t beautiful but there is something about my precious crew that did have all the nurses in the hall smiling today. And dispite my crazy, I just felt constant reminders of WHAT life is really all about. Our lives will often feel very overwhelmed and crazy–but He will always carry us through.
SO…today I rejoice in our crazy–and in just TODAY–I am thankful for all we did…
Successfully visited our homeopathic doctor…we heart our homeopathic doctor.
Remembered I needed to buy new camera battery…so sad it was $50–hurt pulling a $50 out of the “fun envelope” (we are trying the envelope system and I made one of these to help me)
Came home–and went through junk drawers and FOUND another battery charger!!! YAY…I get my $50 back in “fun envelope”!
Had precious Smith family over and got to see precious baby girl again (I’ll share a picture soon! OF COURSE we took pictures!)
Picked raspberries with kids for raspberry cream cupcakes for dessert with friends:)
Successfully survived checkups with all 4 kids at pediatrician…comical–crazy–but good:)
Photographed a friend’s family who brought home their beautiful baby boy and got to capture his beauty before cleft surgery…MELT MY HEART
Had dinner with a bestfriend…and we raced to hospital together to meet our bestfriend’s newests baby girl
Got to end my day meeting a baby just a few hours old who I will love for a lifetime.
Life is good…and I’m so thankful!
One of the coolest parts of all was remembering that doc visit 2 years ago–as we prepared to bring home our son. AND what do you want to know that I just know God had that on my heart for a REASON. I was so ministered to by that old post tonight! That whole post made me smile–and I am reminded of this all over again…
Written Sept. 2009:
Mamma said there’d be days like this…and yes…even among crazy days and possibly an already crazy life…we are adopting. There will be crazy days no matter how many kids we have…and we aren’t gonna let crazy days or how crazy we may look be our meter for what we can handle or if we can open our home to grow…because it will not be by our strength, but through Him. We are gonna keep our main thing—the main thing—keep our eyes focused on Jesus the perfector of our faith…and continue to run this race with perserverance. We are going to adopt a PRECIOUS child…who I am literally dying to get matched with…fly across the world for…and welcome into our hearts and home FOREVER…and we are going to continue to hold our hands out remembering that our lives our not our own and saying “My life is not my own…what can I do for your glory…use our family for your glory.”
So thankful for how He leads us!!!! Hope ya’ll have a good day!!!
Precious.
Also loved your “beauty in wating children” post … hop over to my blog and you will see our hearts are in the same place.
Love & Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim
That is one FULL day! 🙂 Totally thinking about trying the envelope system, too. 🙂 I think it would help me make less frivolous purchases, so that we could make much more meaningful investments. 🙂 And those envelopes are so cute!
~Gini 🙂
I’ve been MIA the last few days–and with a consistent writer like me–that usually means one of two things. Either something BIG has happened in our lives–OR something is heavy on my heart. It has been the latter of the two, and for me–this is a hard post to actually POST. But I am prayerful that THIS is part of His plan and He will use it for His glory. You see, we recently got an email about a sweet little girl…who needs a family…and although she is not with our agency and we are no where near done with our home study–she has melted our hearts. As we have prayed for her, we have tossed and turned at whether she is our daughter or brought to us to advocate for her. We went on a time of family retreat this weekend, and for now–we know we must let her go and ask others to pray…and trust in His perfect plans…
Every child deserves a family…to have a mommy and daddy…someone to love them and nuture them. And while thousands ARE loved by nurses and nannies in orphanages–deep down I just believe that every child knows the difference in having a mommy and daddy OR not having one…and many have to wonder, “Will anyone ever want me?”
I think of my children upstairs sleeping as I write. What if it were them. What if tonight they were sleeping in a bunk room full of beds…wiping away tears from their own eyes…sad when the bed beside them is empty because their little friend left with a family–and they wonder…if it will ever be their turn. While it seems babies have many waiting in lines for them–and they are too little to even really know…it is often the older children whose hearts ache–and who desperately long for someone to wait in line for them. I am quite sure–that ONE of them is OUR child…and I can’t wait to bring home a waiting child to our family.
When we decided to adopt–one thing I just never felt called to…was to WAIT in LINE when there are thousands WAITING. Not because I’m impatient (although I can be–for us, it just didn’t make sense.) We signed on with our last agency before knowing their birth order policy which made our perimeters tight and tough–BUT ultimately that was God’s will for us…and to put us out of the line we just didn’t feel called to, we inquired about EVERY waiting child on our old agencies list–and we got “turned down” for those children because of their birth order policy (we started our first adoption with a 5 year old, 4 year old and 8 month old–not leaving much room for age ranges with a wee one already here). We also called frequently (probably annoyingly often) to remind them our family was open to special needs, and we are so thankful for how our eyes continue to be opened. SO–for this adoption we are using a different agency as we feeled called to ADOPT AGAIN–but with thousands of WAITING children, we feel called to bring home a child who is WAITING–to stand where no one is standing and to persue a child who is ALREADY waiting for a family…and to fight for that child–forever.
Now, let me say this–some families will be called to adopt newborns and babies–and I’m so thankful for these families who quickly open their hearts and homes to tiny ones—and I rest knowing that are so many families willing to bring home these sweet ones! What a blessing!!! (Now–if you are one of those families called to bring home a healthy baby–thank you and I PRAISE HIM for your family’s open arms and open hearts!)
BUT–if there are MORE families WAITING in line for babies—with MORE waiting children with NO families–I have a feeling that as the Lord calls more to adopt–that more and more families are going to open up their perimeters and ultimately their hearts to precious children just like the one we have been praying for. I really believe that these waiting children were created to be in FAMILIES–and that the Lord wants to raise up a family for EACH one–to be fought for, brought home and deeply loved. Choosing to stand where no one is standing may be uncomfortable–but it just may be that no one is standing there, because it was a line created JUST FOR YOU.
And I can’t promise much–but I can promise that bringing home a waiting child will be the GREATEST blessing you ever step out on faith in!) RIGHT NOW–there are thousands of waiting older children and special needs children. I think about children like little Isaac in China who put his hands on his hearts when he once thought of family and said “no have, no have”…who NOW has a family stepping out in FAITH to persue him…God in His amazing soverignty called a very normal family who already had 3 healthy children (one adopted from Ethiopia) to bring home this boy…who in less than a years time will be able to finally meet his mommy and his daddy!!! You can read about his JOY here and I’m going to be sharing more of this family’s story later this week.
Last week, we got an email about a little girl–who our hearts continue to pray for. I believe in my heart that there IS a family out there for her–and I have to confess she has changed our family’s perspective as we have prayed for her. It is almost hard to even step out in faith and advocate for her, because part of my heart really wants/ed her to be our daughter–but we feel the Lord right now telling us to ADVOCATE for her and PRAY for her.
We want to humbly ask any one reading–who has just happened to read this far so far…to pray for her. And to pray that God brings her a family…
Meet Jaelynn
This August, Jaelynn will have been at Maria’s Big House of Hope waiting for 3 years. I read a precious article about her heart for others HERE and her heart for family HERE. In one of the articles, the nanny at the orphanage writes about how Jaelynn plays with Little People and knows EVERY ONES role…the mommy and daddy and sister and brother and grandma…YET she has never had any of these of her OWN. Have you ever heard the question about knowing the desire of your heart??? You simply ask: Where does your heart and mind go when it wonders? Seeing how little Jaelynn plays–I just know the desire of her heart is to have a mommy, a daddy, a brother, a sister, a grandma…and I desperately want this sweet girl to have these things too.
So, if you are reading this today–will you PRAY with us…
Pray that a Christian family will be led to inquire more about Jaelynn–and ultimately fall in love with her and bring her home.
Pray that God will heal her and ease any pain she may have (if you feel led to Jaelynn you can email me and I will share more about her needs). She just turned 5 years old–and her needs are big–but not too big for God to work through.
Pray that God would not only raise up a family for Jaelynn–but for EVERY child who RIGHT NOW…sits and waits and wonders–if they will ever have someone to persue and love them.
As we prayed for Jaelynn, God has truly opened up our eyes and hearts to the need of families for these children. I admit, part of me wants to check special needs on the special needs list that are easily treatable and don’t require much care. HEART CHANGED. Life is so short…the Kingdom of Heaven so LONG–and life is just too short NOT to have a family. To love one of these most treasured ones–is to love Jesus. And I know this little girl’s family has so many blessings ahead of them as whoever they are…pray for her and then step out in faith to bring her home. Will you pray for a family for her???
Jaelynn has needs that may be permanent–but she has PERMANENTLY changed our hearts as we have prayed for her. I know in my heart she is one special little girl!!! Will you join me in praying? Will you share this opportunity with a family who the Lord may place on your heart as you pray for her??? You NEVER know whose heart may be touched as we pray for her where ever we are!!!
I have to tell you…this little girl has changed our family–as well as our perimeters. We know now that we are open to so much more than we ever thought…and that although we might look like we are crazy to think we could handle MORE–we serve a God who can do anything through willing hearts and hands…and lots of love. I pray that the Lord brings to our family one as dear and special as Jaelynn. Our children are already hoping and praying that they will have a sibling with a wheelchair to push–and I’m 100% okay with that…although this momma will always be in the business of praying for miracles for her children too.
If you would like to know more about Jaelynn, please email me through my contact page. We are praying for a Christian family for this sweet girl, and for the Lord to bring a family to her quickly. This August will mark 3 years at her current orphanage–wouldn’t it be AMAZING if she got news before then that she was coming home!!!
If you would like to know more about children with special needs who are already waiting–you can visit these sites to see child profiles:
Children in foster care who are now available for adoption: ADOPT US KIDS – http://www.adoptuskids.org
Children with special needs both domestic and international: Adopt A Waiting Child – http://adoptawaitingchild.com
Waiting Children with special needs, older children, HIV: Rainbow Kids – www.rainbowkids.com
AND
Every agency also has access to the 2,500 waiting children in China and also in other countries. If you already have an agency, be sure to ask for access to the waiting children listing.
We will join you in praying for Jaelynn!!! She is a beautiful girl and deserves a family. Our hearts ache with you for the children out there who are waiting. Best wishes to you in your journey to find a child who is meant to be with you. XOXO!!!
Be. Still. My. Heart.
Praying for Jaelynn from Hong Kong,
Kim
My husband and I are in the process of adopting two waiting children from Ghana. These siblings were on a list and immediately melted my heart. It is hard to go through the process knowing the children are waiting, they are old enough to see the world around them for what it is and I want them home now. We met them a couple of weeks ago, and I am confident that we are the ones that will be blessed by having these children join our family. I am glad we didn’t join a waiting list for a specific gender or age, God brought us these children after they were able to be loved by the birth mom for those crucial developmental years. They have bonded and they will bond again. I would encourage all adoptive families to pray for and search these waiting children. God will stir our hearts for the right child regardless of any disability, age or gender.
I love your blog and read it frequently. We adopted a waiting child from Ch*na in November 2010. She is the sweetest little girl and our lives have been changed because of her. I think about our first SN list, we were so conservative. I read so many stories of these waiting kiddos and realized that SN do not define a child. I was so scared of the CL/CP need, but I felt God telling me our child would have this. So, we revised our list including many more needs. A month later, we had our little girl with cl/cp and VSD. All her surgeries are complete and she is living a happy, healthy life with a FAMILY. Next time we adopt, we will be even more open to different needs as our perspective has changed greatly!!!! Good luck! We had an amazing experience with our adoption from Ch*na.
Andrea. Admittedly, I have remained too silent about my thoughts and feelings regarding waiting children and families that HAVE opened their hearts, hands and homes and yet sit at 100+ on a waiting list. It is simply something I cannot wrap my head around let alone my heart. Having our 4 yr old join our family and looking at the giftedness God has given her for His Glory (as He has so given each of these precious children) my heart struggles. With the slow downs in Ethiopia that will undoubtedly have a lasting impact, I see a waiting 11 or 12 yr old girl and think…”this precious one who longs for a family is potentially the birth mother of the families that are sitting on a huge list.” And I just ask God to change hearts as only He can do.
Very well written- can totally see God’s Heart!!!
There is sooo much need for all adoptions from everywhere. In fact for those who feel that adopting an infant isn’t enough- let me tell you- it is! Our Joanna would have gone into foster care if we hadn’t been ready and willing within a day to go get her! Why- because she has dark skin- make you want to vomit- it should!!!
And I am all about older children really desiring a home!!! My heart breaks for them. I hear them in my heart crying out. So please if this is where you are called don’t ignore that!!!!!!
She is soo very beautiful- and I will be praying!!!
***Also for anyone reading this – speaking of a need there is a boy sibling group of 3- ages 3,4,5 that need a home now. If you want more information go to my blog, and go to my e-mail. They have been on my heart and I really know God has a home -wish it were mine, but I know it can’t be right now 🙁
So if you would mind praying for them- I would really love it!
Thank you Andrea for your heart felt post! God is WORKING!!!
Andrea, you said it so well. This post is humble, gentle and full of truth. Just like you.
Wow. Thought provoking and heart moving post. I think it’s really great that you are causing people (us included) to double check God’s plan, to investigate further, and be willing to go wherever God leads to bring children home, not just sign up on a waitlist because that’s what everyone is doing. I can totally see your heart in all of this, so I hope this comment doesn’t come off as rude or insensitive because that’s totally not how I mean it!:) It’s just hard sometimes to read some of these posts (from various folks) and want to help EVERYWHERE and yet know that God has specifically told us to get in line for Ethiopia. (And not that I get this sense from you, but sometimes I get it from others that there is almost a judgment towards those on a wait list…which I totally understand they probably don’t mean it that way, but it still hurts a bit. I hope this is coming across the way I mean it and not defensively!:)) In my rational mind I hate the idea of being on a wait list, but we know that’s where God has called us to go for this adoption. I know you probably went through this when you guys were waiting for Isaac too, so I think you totally get where I’m coming from. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I am compelled to always go where the need is “greatest” in my heart and mind…I mean honestly that would probably send me to the Congo or Sudan right now or to adopt a down syndrome sweetheart from Russia…but my point being that it’s hard for me to sit back and feel like others might look at our adoption journey with any sort of disdain (don’t know if that’s the right word to use–and again I don’t think you’re doing that, just got me thinking of all the posts I’ve seen from others regarding this issue recently.) And I guess I sometimes I want to respond to those posts by saying, “Isn’t God the only one who can determine where the greatest need is? And aren’t all orphans in need?” Well, shoot, this comment feels like I’m trying to hijack your blog. So sorry! Keep the great posts coming. I know God is using them.
Love,
Rory
I found your blog by searching for Jaelynn at Maria’s Big House of Hope. My 18 year old daughter was part of a Show Hope group that went to MBOH on June 17th. She came home changed and head over heels in love with Jaelynn. We have been praying for Jaelynn and whether or not our family could be the answer for Jaelynn’s forever family. My husband is a pastor and we have asked our church family to also pray for her and for a forever family.
The website link I listed is my daughters blog and has her journals from her trip to MBOH.
Tonight I was driving home from having dinner with my sweet girlfriends (YES! I actually manage to get OUT for my girls…thank you Tammy and Kelly for a much needed night of laughter!), and I was praying in the quite as I drove home–one of those times when you just sense the presence of the Lord speaking to your heart was at hand.
Do you ever have those seasons of life…or opportunities placed on your heart–that just seem so big…too big for YOU to actually bear? I was telling the Lord that I WANT to live for Him. I really want to live the GOSPEL…I mean REALLY live the gospel. I want to have a KINGDOM perspective…to actively live out Jesus calling me and our following Him–no matter the cost…because REALLY–isn’t that what really matters?
But some times–Kingdom living feels scary.
Whether it’s because it’s not the norm–whether it’s because the world around you might think you are crazy…whether you don’t feel equipped–it just feels scary…so unpredictable, unknown and UNSAFE.
If you know me–you know I adore The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe series by C.S. Lewis. There’s a part in that particular book where Lucy asks if Aslan (representing Jesus) is safe-and Mrs. Beaver quickly responds that of course He isn’t safe–but He is good. There is another part in the book that I love the picture it brings to mind…
“Aslan?” said Mr. Beaver. “Why, don’t you know? He’s the King. He’s the Lord of the whole wood, but not often here, you understand. Never in my time or my father’s time. But the word has reached us that he has come back. He is in Narnia at this moment. He’ll settle the White Queen all right. It is he, not you, that will save Mr. Tumnus.”
“Is—is he a man?” asked Lucy.
“Aslan a man!” Mr. Beaver said sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion—the Lion, the great Lion.”
“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he—quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
There are so many part of this dialogue that I love. I love that Mr. Beaver reminds Lucy that it will be ASLAN who saves Mr.Tumnus–NOT her. I can do no good thing without Him. Whatever He asks me to do–will NOT be ME doing it…IT WILL BE HIM. And I especially love how Mrs. Beaver prepares Lucy–INDEED she’ll be nervous to be in Aslan’s presence! And I believe when we LIVE in His presence–if we are serving an ALMIGHTY God–He will INDEED ask us to follow Him into things that will have our knees knocking together too.
Doesn’t it make SENSE that if are knees are going to shake in His presense–then they will most definitely shake as we follow Him to waters only that He could walk on?
As I drove home, I just started praying…and then my praying turned to singing. And as I sang to Him…I no longer was I worried…or fearful…OR did I even have a clear answer what He really wanted me to do–BUT without realizing it I was coming closer to Him, and I had a VERY clear picture in my mind as I sang…
With His reached out hand in my mind–I also pictured water all around ME as I sat in a boat in the middle of the water…and really–without my following Him…I was going no where. No matter how content or perfect or peaceful I thought my life was sitting there–without taking His hand and following Him…I could very well sit right there in that boat…forever. Or–I could take His hand with knees shaking…and walk on water with Him….
This is an AMAZING piece of scripture to read through a few times…and just SOAK in:
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
I couldn’t wait to get home to read this scripture as I knew the Lord wanted to teach or show me something in it. For each of us, it may be different–but I really do sense the Lord calling many believers to be a part of the new generation of Christians who radically take His hand WHERE ever He calls. For many of us–His calling will look as CRAZY as walking on water. In our calling–we may even be quick to get out of the boat and walk toward Him, but as we allow words of discouragement, unknowns and fears to creep in–our hearts and spirits…and the JOY of our calling…will begin to sink if and when we doubt His call. {We can absolutely doubt OUR strength–because it will NOT be anything of us to carry us on water…but HIS alone.}
But when we doubt…and feel our hearts sink…
There is hope.
Call out to Jesus.
Peter did.
SURE–we hoped he would never doubt in that story–but he did.
And so often, so do we.
It’s OKAY…because He understands–and He promises to never leave or forsake you.
And you have to love how quickly Jesus came.
IMMEDIATELY.
He caught him, He carried him–and God would be the one to work the wonders. It was just like Aslan who would be the one to heal Mr. Tumnus…it will be HIM doing the miracles…healing others, bringing children into families, caring for the needs of the poor and needy, loving dispite fatique…THROUGH us. Maybe Jesus isn’t really asking YOU to do anything at all–other than simply WALK toward Him…to take His hand–and to trust Him.
Where your heart is–so your treasure is…and Oh…to live a life living for the Kingdom of Heaven rather than ourselves on Earth. This life, let us remember, is a BLINK in the eyes of eternity–and I want to have the courage to take His hand and follow Him…and to walk on water no matter the cost.
Praying for a generation of believers that live seeing the BIG picture. I so want to follow Him as I see His arm stretching out. Don’t you??
Your sister in Christ,
Andrea
You read my mind, er, rather you wrote my heart tonight! I just finished publishing a post along similar lines, just trying to lay out what God is doing in my heart and then I clicked over and read this (and you said it so much better than I ever could have)–so cool when you see that God is doing a BIG PICTURE work in the lives of believers. I’d totally link you (because I think it only fair since I read your blog that you have access to my life as well) but it’s set to private for a few reasons…of course I’d be glad to still email you an invite if you wanted, but most of all just wanted you to know what a blessing your heart and words are in my life even though we’ve never met. Feels like we could be sisters.:)
Love to you and your fam,
I just love those precious moments with Jesus! I, TOO, just wrote a post on Jesus walking on the water last WEEK! I love how He will take us back to a certain passage just to really drive it home, and I LOVE what He gave to YOU to pass back on to ME! 🙂 Your “visuals” were great! Thanks or sharing!!!
How I’d love to share a girls not out dinner date with you! I feel like we could talk for hours. I love the Narina Series so much my daughter is named LUCY. And I too have posted on the layers of lessons surrounding that very section of scripture.
Love & Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim
I needed this post desperately. Our paths look a little different, but as I read – it spoke to me greatly, because we are both Walking toward Him for what He’s called for us to do. Different paths coming from the same heart for Him and His will for us. Thank you, Friend!!! Bookmarking this post for future reminders. =) xo
WOW! WOW! WOW! So true… everything said! Makes me tear up reading this post, thank you Andrea! We definitely all need to be reminded!
Beautiful. I read the full series aloud to Trey and Shockley from the Magicians Nephew and onward. I carry a mustard seed either in real life or in my mind. That is all that God requires of my faith and sometimes I don’t even have that BUT I look at the teeny tiny etsy bity mustard seed and swallow hard and ask God to accept just that …He does magic with just that little bit and grows that faith. Recently at Hope Lodge serving cancer patients I shared the mustard seed. It brought out some hidden mustard seeds that people had on them….when life is going great we tend to not step out on the water ,to exercise true faith in action…but,when we feel totally out of control…sweet Jesus is holding us over the water. He is doing great things with you,Andrea. Keep it going girl. You are helping to build the kingdom of God.Blessings and Pax,m
AMEN- I DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for this encouraging post!
Your heart is magnificent. I greatly admire your faith and your ability to convey words from the Lord in a way that causes me to see more clearly what HIS desires are for my life and my family. I was struggling with knowing for certain what His plan was…and now I know it was just doubt trying to creep in.
Love you friend…thanks for being obedient in sharing your heart with others. You are used daily.
