***You guys know this momma doesn’t advertise…but when it comes to FAMILY inventions…I just have to share–because this one is just too cool!!!***
While I wait for my gazillon baseball and daddy-daughter-date pictures to download–I decided you all just need to see what our Uncle Buck has been up to! Sooo…when I married Richard–I not only married into a FOOTBALL lovin’ family–but one that is serious about tailgating, creating community and COOKIN’! The last few years, Uncle Buck has been dreaming up this Grill–and now…it’s actually a reality. I can’t say ENOUGH about the precious family behind this invention (they are…after all my family!) BUT you absolutely have to check this out and make your hubby sit through the infomercial too!
Here’s cousin Lucy…quite the model–and QUITE the cook just like her daddy!
If you go to the GoGally website here: http://gogalley.com/ you can see Lucy in action behind the fully portable grill…how ’bout taking that to tailgates, camping or on vacation!
Not sure how long they’ll be doing the cookbooks–but you can sign up to be a part of the community and if you are married to a man that likes to grill…then you’ll definitely want to check out the cookbook deal HERE. (My apologies if you are reading this post weeks after I wrote it if it’s no longer!) And how COOL is that how it is motorized and raises to the back of your vehicle???
SOOO…now you know what we’ll be eating from when we go to Uncle Buck’s throughout the year!!! And you don’t mess with Isaac and ribs. Uncle Buck is sure to win his heart!!! Here’s a picture of Isaac with Uncle Buck…whom I think doesn’t have to use his ribs or his GoGally to win his heart…that was done a long time ago;).
Yep…this is the same Uncle Buck that wins them over on the tractor too…
So…take a minute and go watch cousin Lucy showing off her daddy’s grill…and if your hubby is in need of grill–and getting one that you could take ANY where…you have to check out the video: http://gogalley.com
Parker had his FIRST baseball game of the season–but I can’t blog about it tonight. (Although he did AMAZING!)
Frank–oh you should SEE the picture of Frankie Baby helping his daddy coach this morning…they’ll melt you! But can’t blog that either.
Laney…she and I went shoppin’ today–found a table and chair set for just $25 in an antique store for their new clubhouse that I want to show you guys…but it’ll have to wait.
And Isaac–a HIT at the park today…pictures of that to come too. BUT as I watched him WALK…WALK (something we were unsure with his hypotonia WHEN or IF he’d do)…all I could do was think about the hundreds upon thousands (even millions) of orphans in Ethiopia…who will be effected by the new policy in Ethiopia.
I’ve heard some say they don’t like how the petition is worded. I’ve heard others say it might not even help. But the bottom line is–that this petition just MIGHT be the ONLY thing you and I can do to play a VERY, TEENY part in letting the MOWA and Ethiopian government know how many thousands of people here in America love them…and love their children. We are moms and dads whose hearts have been CHANGED by adoption from this beautiful country. Some look at us and say, “Your son is lucky…your son is so blessed…” and without fail…and without knowing how each of YOU respond—I know in my heart that we all most likely respond the SAME, “We are the lucky ones…WE are so blessed. WE are the ones who are changed.”
Signing this for ME–is showing the government that we were not only called to grow our family through adoption…but we aren’t just going to walk away either and live our normal, happy lives. We are INVESTED in this country, and it’s children. Whether they have HIV, HEP A,B or C, walking or not…we love each and every one. We are changed–and we will spend our lives investing in NGO’s, nonprofits and ministries that pour into this beautiful country…
While some may see a petition as requesting things on our terms…it is not. It is a PLEA. I plea to take our hands and interlock them with theirs…and to say–we don’t care that we are a world apart–but we really want to be in THIS together. We support your overseeing orphan investigations to protect the family until–and if it means waiting a bit longer to open our hearts and homes to orphans–then we will not walk away–but we will wait…and while we wait–we will support you.
Some times I look around my world, and I get frustrated by worldy things I see…but right now I feel like I’m looking around and I’m seeing a lot of people who REALLY CARE…and they just don’t know what to do…how to help…how they can do something. THIS might not look like a lot–but joining us in signing this petition IS something. And while you might not have a child from Ethiopia…while you might never adopt…you just happened upon my blog and you’ve read thus far–and I’m going to just type among tears and say it would mean the world to me if you prayerfully considered joining me by signing this petition and sharing it with others.
And while my words just bleed my heart–my dear attorney friend and fellow adoption mom Angela does a much better job explaining this petition and the current state and what is happening on her blog: WITH LOVING ARMS.
Here’s a walk down memory lane…to think how MUCH our boy has grown…how much he is THRIVING…all because of the openness of this PRECIOUS country. We have until SUNDAY NIGHT to hopefully reach around 250,000 signatures. How thankful I am for these memories…and praying that EVERY single orphan will one day have a family to make moments like THESE with…
His FIRST week home he started imitating and he learned to shake his head (he thought this game was SO funny!)
Just his SECOND week home he starting SITTING unassisted—and playing peek-a-boo too…(STILL MELTS MY HEART!)
He had a first birthday party!!! With a BIG crazy family!
He started bearing HIS OWN weight!!! We were SO proud!
At 14 months…another miracle moment for us he started crawling!
AND THEN…the finale! He started walking just before 18 months!!!! WE were ALL so excited!
*OUR* lives are the ones that are changed!!! And it has been a PURE JOY to go to physical therapies…doc visits…late night wakings…finally getting rid of parasites (YES…this is a JOYFUL thing!)…and to watch Parker, Laney and Frank fall in LOVE with their baby brother. Praise be and glory to God for these memories…I pray that EVERY. SINGLE. ORPHAN HAS MEMORIES LIKE THESE!!! For those of you adopting…and waiting…and wondering–we hold our hands with you and support your choice to stand firm and wait–in love and in perserverance because He called you love one of these most precious of His perfect creation.
Our weekend happenings and a really cool invention from my uncle is soon-to-be-shared…but my heart can only share THIS this weekend…and pray for those little ones who need us to be their voice.
HE is enough for me–and I know He can and will be enough for all of those who wait.
Leviticus 2613 I am the LORD your God…I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high…. Psalm 56:12-13 12 I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you. 13 For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life…. jOB 29:3 his lamp shone on my head and by his light I walked through darkness!… Genesis 48:15-16 15 “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and ISAAC WALKED FAITHFULLY, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, 16 the Angel who has delivered me from all harm —may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and ISAAC, and may they increase greatly on the earth.”…. Isaiah 40:31but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint….Proverbs 4:11-1311 I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. 12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble!!!! AMEN! (Praying for Ethiopia & for the children!)
Bobi Bobbitt -March 13, 2011 - 11:23 pm
LOVE everything you said, Andrea! We must interlock hands and fight for the well being of the Ethiopian children! In a world where there is so much evil, it is heart warming to see so many people banding together and praying that this policy WILL NOT come to pass! I have to be honest, I am very worried, but I am clinging to what I know is true, God loves adoption and I know that He will be glorified through this trial so many of us are facing!
i came here after seeing you had a lot of the same friends as me on facebook. your boy is PRECIOUS. your family is precious. =)
our life has been changed by a watching our son grow, learn, love, too. and it’s getting ready to again. my prayer is the same with you…that every orphan have memories like these.
[i have to tell you that when i opened your blog i was so confused at what happened to my music. it sounded like it was double playing. it was! i was listening to Better Together and that’s what came on here.] =)
I thought I’d mix things up a bit and write about something I don’t write about enough…personal things to my heart…like…my MARRIAGE! I mean, the crazy at our house is pretty crazy and there’s ALWAYS something fun to write about–but our crazy did START first with just 2. And a few nights ago I caught a special some one looking at me and I just had to ask what he was thinking. It reminded me what a blessed girl I am. Thankful to be his bride.
“You know what’s crazy,” he said. “You’re the only girl I’ve ever loved. Do you know how crazy that is? To marry the only girl you’ve ever loved?”
Melt. And it’s true. I was my sweet husband’s first girlfriend…and I’ve still got the title;). And I think you should hear about the night we met. I actually have a picture to prove it. SERIOUSLY–*WHO* has a PICTURE of the night they met their mate? I actually have a picture of the MOMENT believe it or not, and truthfully I can’t believe he still asked for my number because I was a school teacher–it was a Friday night and I was NOT fun to be around…in fact, my friend Melanie persuaded me to come with her to meet some friends…and I begrudgingly went.
I was 25…and so was he. I was teaching MIDDLE SCHOOL English–and he was selling insurance. We had our first “real jobs” I had just come home from missionary work in China…while HE had just come home from a year of living at Lake Tahoe and Pebble Beach (quite the extremes right?!). Melanie, Kelly and I met Melanie’s friend Jeb and a few of his friends at a Mexican restaurant. Richard came in and plopped down RIGHT beside me–and my bestfriend Kelly was on my other side. Some one snagged our picture (the MOMENT we met). Crazy right? Gotta find that picture to share…I have one from the night though to post today:). It’s comin…
SO…he asked me to dance. Only problem. This was NOT that kind of restaurant. It was a mexian restaurant but NO one was dancing–I laughed and politely declined. I thought to myself “What a nut!”
He asked again. And I thought about how I wanted to be HOME…in the BED…ASLEEP. Then I thought, “You only live once…and it’d be really funny to see everyone stare at us…and give all these folks a good laugh. I mean–why not?”
I stood up and told him to come with–and we danced. I think a few tables literally dropped their forks. WHY ARE THEY DANCING?
Because there’s music!
With ALL eyes on us–and even servers staring–we danced. Not SLOW…but the crazy Cha-Cha type. And we LAUGHED. I felt like I may have just met my bestfriend–but nothing more because who would want to risk ruining such a fun friendship!? Or so I thought…
We finished our performance…we got applauded…and we sat down to eat our meal. And off to Jake’s ice cream we went. I remember thinking there was something special about the night–and as everyone sat and chatted around the fireplace at that old ice cream shop–I asked a worker if they would take our group’s picture. If you would have told me THEN that I had my hand on my future husband’s shoulder I would have FLIPPED…
He asked for my phone number…just so we could hang out again some time–and he jotted it down on his Jake ice cream receipt. We had carpooled from the Mexican restaurant–so Craig (friend above all the way to the right) drove Richard, me and Kelly back to our car. On the way back—I remember seeing how adventureous this boy was…I already knew he was a believer but this momma also knew her hubby would have a splash of crazy too. He took a road map (remember this is BEFORE navigation systems!) and he flipped the pages.
He looked at me and said, “Wherever this lands–will you go with me tomorrow?”
This boy has lost his mind! I contemplated but I’m a girl who sticks to her commitments and the NEXT day was my grandmother’s birthday. I had made her a delightful three layer cake–and the icing was setting at my apartment at that very moment. (I know…I know…I was a wild girl in my 20’s wasn’t I?!)
“Biloxi! Oh wow—would you come?
I remember looking at him with his having that look in his eye…I know he thought I WAS going to say yes, but instead…”Absolutely not. It is my grandmother’s birthday and I have made her a cake with flowers and such–and I just can’t miss that. You have fun in Biloxi–and call us another time to hang with you boys.”
Here’s the cake could have cost me my marriage;-)…
Call he did that…and he perservered through my crazy. He called 3 times to ask this girl out–and 3 times I said no. The first time I was leading a group of high school girls in a Disciple Now weekend. The second I had out-of-town plans. And the third time he called on Thursday…and a lady never says yes to a date requested just one day before;). I explained my plans for the weekend are typically made Wednesday or prior…and he then asked about the weekend after. I agreed to go on a group date–unsure if this was to just be a friendship–but at the LAST minute the group date turned into a one-on-one date…
WHICH has a funny story to it! I am DEALTHY afraid of roaches. So this is where he saw my TRUE colors! Our first date was at Fire of Brazil and as we were starting our meal a BIG, NASTY roach crawled UNDER our table. I LEPT on TOP of the table and SCREAMED! Once again everyone stared at us in the restaurant but it wasn’t QUITE the same as our dancing. I was so embarrassed and all of the sudden a bit vulnerable as he had seen my BIGGEST FEAR. And after that…it was just history. We’ve been together ever since! And it’s been once crazy ride.
FOR EXAMPLE…remind me to tell you about almost getting eaten by a bear on our honeymoon in Banff…the choice was THAT or driving off the forbidden road (closed down b/c of bears) all the way down BACKWARDS…another story for another day! Our life has just been so much fun together and crazy since we met–we stepped off the plane from our honeymoon and he sent his bride to his church camp to stay in the WOODS with 5 middle school girls while he stayed on the other side of camp with a cabin full of his high school boys. I had to make a mosquito net to b/c the cabin had no air or windows…but it was ministry and we were doing it together and it was so fun! Here’s a picture of the week following our honeymoon at camp…
Soooo…this JUNE we’ll celebrate 8 years of marriage. In this short time…we’ve celebrated 4 children–3 births and 1 beautiful adoption…losing 4 grandparents and 1 parent…two moves…helping start a ministry in Africa…and I know many more wonderful things to come. Today I called my man at work and I asked him to pray about something CRAZY, good that the Lord has put on my heart.
“Absoluletly. Let’s pray. When I’m 80 and rockin’ on a chair beside you–I wanna be able to talk about how we wouldn’t have done one thing differently. I wanna have no regrets.
And that my friends is how we live and how truly, I think it’s a match made in heaven. Lord, may YOU receive the glory in our lives! We asked for an adventure…a life of no retreats, no regrets and no reserve! Thankful to be his first girl…and to get to dance like we did the night we met—it won’t always make sense to the world…and some may even laugh–but oh the laughter we will have from living the adventure in His name will be WORTH IT!
LOVE this!! Seriously, I have told Jody so many times, “When we are old and gray, sitting at Chick-fil-a eating lunch together, I want to be able to look back at our lives and have no regrets! I want to know that we said YES to whatever God was calling us to!” Ya’ll have a great weekend!!!!
Love that you shared this story! I’ve been thinking an awful lot lately about the beginnings of my marriage and the oh so much wonder it has been in the journey! Wonderful husbands are pretty much just rockin’ awesome and I’m SOOO thankful for mine! It’s great to hear other wives proclaim how SOOOO thankful they are for theirs as well. I enjoyed this read this Friday afternoon while I’m at home waiting on my man to arrive. I think we might dance before dinner! Maybe a little during dinner just to see how long it takes for the kids to join us! 🙂
Oh Andrea. How wonderful. It is so fun to read so much detail and to see a piece of your heart. Thanks for sharing about your beautiful marriage and the pictures to ‘prove it’ (haha). What a joy! The Lord has really blessed your marriage!!
–Kristen.
Leslie Word -March 11, 2011 - 10:05 pm
Love this and love you guys. I can’t believe it’s already been eight years. I can still remember sitting at Panera with you, six months after the wedding, in disbelief, demanding proof from your doctor that you REALLY did have a bun in the oven 🙂
That is too cute! My hubby tried to get me to go out with him several times with me turning him down too!!! Praise the Lord for our husbands and all these fun memories He’s given us!
If you were to stop and create a story board, like they put together for scenes in movies, you would know beyond any shadow of a doubt, that God went to a great deal of trouble to put the two of you together with a perfection and precision (both timing and pairing) that only the most pathetic of cynics could ignore. The seemingly unrelated paths and sequence of events were timed with a perfection that is beyond any human’s capability. And to think, He does this time and again, in so many ways, and all we have to do is be in the right frame of mind to accept His gentle (and sometimes not so gentle 😉 nudges along the way.
Okay–first…wanna see what life is REALLY like at our house?! I mean, we aren’t right by any means–but we sure have fun. I couldn’t find my little Flip video there for a bit but I’ve taken snippets of life here lately–and these are just funny things I always want to remember…
We built a playset years ago at our old house, and we’ve been in the home we are in now for about 3 years. We did NOT want to put together another one by ourselves–so yesterday a playset company came and built a clubhouse and seperate swingset while the kids were in school. They set the ends of each piece in concrete, so when the kids did get home they just had to look at it and drool! We had dinner last night at a friends house SO that helped ward off temptation a bit–but when we got home and I found the concrete was dry–ALTHOUGH it was past bed time, I just couldn’t resist letting the older two break it in. They were so excited…silly excited…and this is one of the memories I will cherish. Oh to be a kid again!
Okay–and this next one is too funny, so I have to post it on a larger scale;). This is just typical us. We aren’t right–but we have fun:). And there is JOY here…and lots of laughter. LOVE my crew…here’s their karate interpretations…they came up with this out of no where today…
I figured we might as well make their karate chops useful and put them to work with some cookin’ tonight…(Yummy recipe from the Wiphan cookbook!)
Okay, are you bored with us YET?
WELL…we have officially given up TV (our whole family…kids even agreed on it) for Lent…and although we used to do NO TV well–after Isaac came home I really needed cartoons for the older kids while I calmed Isaac for naps. It became a habit to watch cartoons after school, and it was honestly a nice break for me to check email and such. Only problem–it was time that I could be hanging with my kiddos and investing in them. SO…off goes the TV and back to things like “Go Fish”…and they think it’s funny to say “Go Piggy” some times too… {40 days of no TV for us…and I’m excited about it in a weird but good way}
LAST BUT NOT LEAST…THIS is what happens when your kids get your Flip camera and you DON’T KNOW IT! The funny thing about this one is that this reminds me of RICH! {The apple never falls far from the tree!} Love this little nut saying, “Let’s do this thing!” SOOO something his daddy would say before he does something crazy!
Sooo…those are my sweet memories from the last 24 hours at our house…a few I just want to remember–a reminder how the day-in-day-out can be so sweet and even FUN!
The season of Lent…
For those of you doing the Lent Tree with your families (or those of you who would like to…it’s NOT too late)–remember that during Lent Sunday’s are days of rest–so the ornaments are set up to have your own personal time and even share things you are learning during your week together…so the 40 ornaments will take you right up to Easter if you skip Sundays. I am sending my last year’s ornaments to a sweet mom who needs some extra hugs right now–so I am putting another set for our family last minute…SO IT’S POSSIBLE! And guess what the first day was today??? THE MUSTARD SEED! Oh, how beautiful to open up the season of Lent with our family focusing on the mustard seed!
The mustard seed? What does the Bible say about it?
FAITH.
This Lent season, Jesus wants us to seek Him. To have faith. In Matthew, he says, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Are you going through a time of question? Of doubt? Of uncertainty?
Stop looking at the problem. My daughter, look to ME. Things are not always what they appear. And if you have faith the size of a mustard see, I can do wonders through your faith. Trust me. Take a deep breath and trust me.
I have been praying about the children of Ethiopia with the news of MOWA slowing down adoptions–which would leave thousands of little ones in institutions to grow up. I do believe the Lord is in this–and OVER this. I’m sure there are many families wondering, “Lord, that was your voice I heard…right? You did call me here. Didn’t you?”
As I prayed, “What is your heart Lord? What would you want those feeling this way to know? What would you want others dealing with disappointment, fear, sadness, uncertainty…what would you want them to know…to hear right now?”
I prayed…and every so softly but strong all the same…
Lazarus
I didn’t have time to read as I was running out the door to carpool for the children and then straight to an 18 month checkup for my Isaac. I asked the Lord all the way as it poured down raid, “Lazarus? What do you want to teach us about Lazarus?”
{Now side note story–we have NOT been to the pediatrician since Isaac started walking. IMAGINE the cheers he got walking in and waving to the staff. “And they said he might never walk!” I beamed! Clapping. Cheers. And this momma whipped away a tear. If you have faith the size of a mustard seed…I will move mountains. We waited for the doctor to come in, and proudly–I got to say YES to almost every 18 month milestone. The pediatrician once again was in awe of the gains–and Isaac showed him all his tricks…all the while–this mom melted and fell in love with her son even more. My pediatrician does a beautiful job reminding me of how far Isaac has come and what a miracle he is. And that breaks me to think about all the children like him who would THRIVE if placed in a family. It was a good day…and encouraged this mom’s heart!}
Lazarus…I couldn’t wait to get home and read…but of course the above video craziness happened first–and finally after all was quiet…I read. If you are going through a time of uncertainty, disappointment, sadness, unknown…just asking “LORD, what are you up to?! You are in this RIGHT?” Read on…
Bear with me–you have to read the whole chapter. But before you do–ask the Lord to prepare your heart and reveal what He wants you to see…
John 11:1-45
Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?”
Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. “But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
This He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.”
The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”
Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off; and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house.
Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”
When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”
And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
Jesus wept.
So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!”
But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?”
So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.
Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
So they removed the stone Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”
When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”
The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.
Some truths to share about HOPE in, during and after disappointment…
*It will not always make sense–AT FIRST. But this is not for our glory–but for HIS GLORY. REST in Him and trust He works all things to the good of those who call upon His name. What is happening is happening so that “the Son of God may be glorified by it”
*We must follow and trust Him through the trial–even if it means dying to ourselves and surrendering EVERYTHING to Him. Thomas said, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.” Thomas followed Christ at all costs. Many years ago I stood at Thomas’s tomb in India–and his life alone is such a testament to obedience in all circumstances…and to this day–God receives the glory. Oh…for that to be our story!
*Things are not always what they seem. His ways are not our ways–they are much higher and glorious! Jesus said to Martha, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Martha believed–whole heartedly she did. But she needed mustard seed faith…to believe Him for the impossible…and trust Him to do great things among that impossible.
*Although it may FEEL like the Lord isn’t in your circumstance–He is. Mary couldn’t help herself. When she finally spoke with Jesus she just had to say it, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” But because of Lazarus’s death–MANY believed when they saw Him raised. Our God of raising Lazarus…this God of miracles–is YOUR God…and He still performs miracles today!!!
*It is okay to grieve. Grieving does not mean you do not have faith. You can grieve and trust the Lord to come through–your heart may be broken…and as you cry out, “I trust you Lord” He hears you…and He weeps with you. The crowd was confused as they saw Jesus, Himself, weep. Jesus wept…not only for his love of Lazarus but at seeing Mary and Martha’s broken hearts.
*If you believe, YOU WILL SEE THE GLORY OF GOD. That is HIS promise. Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” It may not be in your timing. And this miracle didn’t happen in Mary or Martha’s timing either. BUT He did receive the glory in it! And their hearts rejoiced.
*God will use you even in your time of dispair as you call out to Him to bring others closer to Him. Those who saw God work in this hard circumstance came to faith in Jesus through it. God was glorified. And WHO was it that came to believe? The very ones who came to mourn with Mary and console her during this time of pain. Never underestimate how God might even be using you now–as you open up and share your heart with others…what you are going through and how God is carrying you.
Love all that crazy! I have an old family hashbrown caserole recipe that my family calls “funeral potatoes” because at any funeral it is a guarantee that those potatoes will be served! And you are BRAVE giving up the tube. My 4 year old is a bit of a cartoon junkie and it can be a real fight to keep the cartoons to minimum.
Great word Andrea! He is the author of all HOPE! As I have been praying for and over the situation, I too have been reminded that God is sovereign over this…There is such peace in that!
Oh, Andrea! I love this post! So cool b/c those truths are exactly what God has been teaching me through this time…I have to surrender everything to Hi. Even my daughter!! I love her so much, but I love HIM more and want Him to be glorified on every step of our journey to Caroline Faith!
What great truth…I needed to hear this today! I’m so thankful we serve a God who works out everything for HIS glory…even in the middle of a painful journey, when we don’t understand, He is working out His perfect plan and allows us the opportunity to experience Him in a rich way through it all!
Thank you so much for your insight and your encouragement through this verse. We only JUST began the adoption process a few short weeks ago, but strangely have a weird peace about all that is going on. We know God is bigger than our circumstances and that nothing that is happening right now is a surprise to Him!!!
What a beautiful reminder! For He is able to do more then we could possibly imagine! Our trust should be completely in Him and nothing else! thank you for sharing this message and reminding us of our need to trust in Him in all things!
love ITY’s happy visit! enjoyed the videos of your kiddos…soo cute:)
Thank you SO much for this….I needed to hear/read these words today. You often find those bits in scripture that I seem to miss and I LOVE reading what you get out of it. This has been a bleak week, but I am so HOPEFUL that things will all work out. There have been too many miracles in our little T’s story already that I believe He can and WILL knock my socks off once again.
Today–is Ash Wednesday. I woke up this morning…fixed my coffee…my heart was heavy.
I thought about the thousands of little ones in Ethiopia who may be stuck in the middle of a new Ethiopian MOWA policy. I began to ask Him, “What is your purpose and will here Lord? What is Your heart?”
Do not worry. I have overcome.
This song came to my heart…this is for those of you who share this heartbeat…those of you saddened…those of you with pictures of children waiting with uncertainty for their futures…those of you with husbands who have lost jobs—homes—people dear to your heart.
RISE.
RISE.
He is telling you with Him…to RISE.
Look to me. Not to the world. Look up my daughter…and RISE. Trust in ME. Trust in MY plans. I have them…and I, my daughter, I have overcome this circumstance in your life. I want you to come to ME. When troubles engulf you–to bring them to ME. To CAST YOUR CARES on ME! You’ve held them long enough–know I want you to hold them tightly ONE last time and CAST them on me…once and for good. I want you to HEAR the SPLASH as they fall on the Living Water. Let me deal with this problem–am I not big enough for it? Why do you worry? Do you add one day to your life with worry? Do you trust me? And do you love me? Look up–and RISE.
Bring your children with you as you come. For a day by day Bible story guide during this Lent season, go to the Crafts section on this blog and scroll down to Easter and Easter Tree. You can simply read those stories or tell them in your own words to littler ones each day. Remember during Lent you REST on Sunday and you do not do one of the stories…and the number of stories will take you all the way to Easter. What will our children know of Easter? Bunnies? Eggs? Or the resurrection? Each Biblical story foreshadows the risen Savior. Join me on the journey to the cross.
Pray today what the Lord would lead you to do without until Easter…lead us Lord to something that would bring you more glory as it reminds us to come to You…to have less busy and more time to mommy, more time to rest and more time to seek You.
May you RISE in a new way today as you CAST your cares on Jesus.
Thank you, Andrea. I, too, needed to read your words of wisdom this morning. Thank you for making time to encourage me (as well as many others, I’m sure).
Jenn Bachman -March 9, 2011 - 10:38 am
Thank you for listening to God!! We are waiting for our referral and the news about what might happen in Ehtiopia was heart breaking. But I am encouraged by your post today – Do Not Worry. I have over come. I needed to hear those words – and even though God spoke them to you they were meant for our family as well. You are a blessing!!!
Erin -March 9, 2011 - 11:48 am
Andrea,
This morning through a conversation with my friend God showed me this:
For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart,
life is a continual feast.
– Proverbs 15:15
And I love the amplified version:
15All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].
sara -March 9, 2011 - 10:27 pm
beautiful, thank you. we accepted our referral last thursday, the day before this latest talk started. i am clinging to the fact that God is protecting my baby and all of the other children that need to come to their forever homes. thanks for your encouragement…
by admin
Watched. Watched with Bob. I’m a good friend like that. 🙂