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January 4

01.04.2010

Today’s Reading: Genesis 11:1-26, 1 Chronicles 1:24-27, Genesis 11:27-14:24

It’s not too late to jump in our read through the Bible in 2010 if you are just now catching today’s post. The pdf printable file for reading through is linked on the January 1st post.

Thoughts from today’s reading:
Gen.11 – The Tower of Babel – STINK! Can you imagine how the Lord was pained to see the people ALREADY falling into disobedience and sin?! This was even during Noah’s lifetime! The people wanted to, once again, be like God. God reacted differently this time. He had, afterall, promised to never flood or distroy the earth again. So instead, He scattered the people ALL OVER the Earth. Don’t you wonder what THAT looked like?! They weren’t scattered to the next neighborhood–but countries and countries away! Let’s add that to my question list for the Lord one day. I have always had this picture of me getting to heaven and the Lord sitting us all down in a ginormous cinema to see the way it all really went down. And seeing people scattered “safely” (after all, they were still alive when they got there) to other countries…now that would be one thing I’d like a replay on. YET…I can’t imagine how this must have saddened the Lord.

On an interesting note for those of you concerned about the small population (sisters, brothers, cousins, etc) having to marry one another check out verse 11:29–Nahor married Milcah. Milcah’s father is Haran…and um–Haran is Nahor’s brother. OK…so if you are slow–that means Nahor married his niece. OK…just a little interesting point there.

Gen.12This chapter is when Genesis takes a turn. You go from broad creation to general run down of who’s who–and then in chapter 12 God narrows in on Abram. And chapter 12 is like the best and worst of Abram all in one. He obediently drops EVERYTHING and follows the Lord. The Lord says He will bless Abram and his discendents will populate the earth…and everything is going great–UNTIL…he decides to lie to Pharaoh because he is scared Pharaoh will kill him to take his wife. Abram is always noted for his faith–but here it is his distrust in the creator that leads him to sin (lie) and expose both his wife and the Egyptians to sin. I don’t know about you–but makes you wonder what Sarai was thinking during all of this!

Gen. 13 and 14 Much can be said of these two chapters but the highlight to me is Lot’s choice, Abram letting him chose and then coming to rescue him from his bad choice. I thought Matthew Henry’s commentary of these verses said it best:
Abram having offered Lot the choice, he at once accepted it. Passion and selfishness make men rude. Lot looked to the goodness of the land; therefore he doubted not that in such a fruitful soil he should certainly thrive. But what came of it? Those who, in choosing relations, callings, dwellings, or settlements, are guided and governed by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, or the pride of life, cannot expect God’s presence or blessing. They are commonly disappointed even in that which they principally aim at. In all our choices this principle should rule, That is best for us, which is best for our souls. Lot little considered the badness of the inhabitants. The men of Sodom were impudent, daring sinners. This was the iniquity of Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness, ( Ezekiel 16:49 ) . God often gives great plenty to great sinners. It has often been the vexatious lot of good men to live among wicked neighbours; and it must be the more grievous, if, as Lot here, they have brought it upon themselves by a wrong choice.

OH…that I will cling all the more tightly to the Savior! Help me Lord to look to you and not to the world. Help me to make decisions based on what is best for my soul and the souls of my husband and children rather than appearances. When I mother my children throughout the day–help me to remember that I am impacted souls. I need you Lord!

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Charisa - January 4, 2010 - 6:19 am

Andrea, It makes me laugh when we have the same thoughts on stuff..such as Sarai’s thinking during all that!

And I love the t-shirts! Also, I sent you an email on the zambia t-shirts…did you get it?

Genesis 11-14:24 and 1 Chronicles 1:24-27

Wow, lots of different things going on today. I love to place myself in the Word and pretend that I am there and imagine all that’s going on. It’s a way that I keep God’s Word alive…It is so easy to just read it to get it done—a legalistic kind of thing. But God’s Word is here to change your life and to change your heart…Let it do both.

Gen 11. Tower of Babel

vs.4 “Make a name for ourselves” What towers am I building in my life to make a name for myself? What am I doing just to be higher so that other can see? A tower of self-righteousness? A tower of good works? A tower of seemingly to know it all? May God destroy all the towers that I build publicly and in my heart that only I see.

vs. 5 “But the Lord came down” Okay..imagine that! The Lord coming down. What did that look like? Could they even see him? It says “Let us go down” which speaks to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Did they all stand upon a mountain and watch and talk? I just love that reference. One thing that I like is that They did come down. Didn’t have to. Could see just fine from Heaven but God chose to come down and be among. Remind you of anything ? The cross. Didn’t have to. Chose to. I am so thankful that He did.

Gen 12..vs. 13. Okay Abram, only half lied, right? Sarai was his half-sister! It’s interesting to me that Abram made a decision there without ever consulting the Lord. He imagined what could happen (and it very well could have) and came up with a scheme. I’d like some more details to all of this…How in the world did Sarai feel about all this? She was taken to his palace…I’m assuming having perform certain duties…I would have been ticked off a bit. I know there is a different culture and such, but that would have been a hard thing to submit to! God being God, intervened. It doesn’t say though how Pharaoh came to know Sarai was his wife…hmmm.

Gen 14…Abram and Lot… Vs 8 –some of the men falling into tar pits…doesn’t that paint quite a picture? vs. 22 Abram accepted nothing from the king of Sodom so that he couldn’t say that he made him rich…It would have made him richer…but here he chose the high rode and accepted nothing.

Everyone have a great Monday!

Amy @ Filled With Praise - January 4, 2010 - 7:41 am

Great pics Parker. Looks like you might have another photographer in the family 🙂
Blessings,
Amy

Jennifer - January 4, 2010 - 8:31 am

I was thinking the same thing as far as the “airport t-shirt”…but just hadn’t ordered it yet! Thanks for the prompting…I just got one for my hubby and me! I am starting to feel like our case is moving and excited with anticipation! We need the judge in India to pass us through 4 court hearings b/f we can travel!!! AND…we don’t hear anything until they are all done! Praying for a March Miracle!

Excited that the kids are in the new HH and for the referral list to start crack’in:-)
Blessings,
Jenny

Jenny - January 4, 2010 - 9:55 am

haven’t read today’s reading yet but looking forward to it:)
Where did you get your shirt you are wearing in the pics? I’ve seen it before on a site but I don’t remember where??:)
Jenny

Megan - January 4, 2010 - 12:10 pm

I can’t believe that I haven’t noticed before how when God speaks, he keeps using the words “lets” and “us” referring to the trinity! I’m also noticing that since the flood, when God gave them shorter life spans…men are having children (or their wives, whatever) at a younger age and dying younger. Still much older than us, but quite a difference!
Reading the story of Abram, I was really struck by his comment to the king that he won’t take any reward because he doesn’t want people to say the king made him rich. He wants to give the glory to God, where it belongs! Not everyone put in that situation would make the same choice.

Megan - January 4, 2010 - 12:16 pm

Oh, and what size did you get in your ordinary hero tshirt? I thought I heard from Kristi that they ran small, but I can’t remember….

Heather - January 4, 2010 - 12:46 pm

I noticed the shortened life span too. Before the flood they lived 800-900 years old. Then after it was around the 400’s then it went down again to the 200’s! I also noticed how Abram did have faith to immediately drop everything & go where God told him, but when it got tough, he lost his faith. Do I do that when the going gets tough? I hope to fully rely on God & remember that He is in ultimate control. However, even though Abram messed up, God still used him. Abram lied about Sarai being his sister, but then several verses later God blessed him tremendously! God uses us reguardless of ourselves. He can still accomplish His will & it’s not contingent on our faith.

Melissa - January 4, 2010 - 1:51 pm

I loved this t-shirt too. It is the first Orphan Advocate shirt that I have bought! I get lots of comments too from other people! I can’t wait to wear it to the airport when you bring your 4th baby home!

January 3rd Reading – Packing up Christmas

01.03.2010

Today’s reading – Genesis 7:1-Genesis 10:31-32 and 1 Chronicles 1:5-1:23

Just some thoughts on today’s reading…
v.7:2 – I honestly never knew that Noah was asked to bring 7 of every clean animal and 2 of every unclean animal. Did you know that? All this 2 by 2 stuff—I had it all wrong. It says in verse 9 that it was done “as God had commanded Noah” so it was in fact a lot more animals than I EVER imagined! I was reading John Wesley’s commentary on this. Wesley says this was really God’s care and kindness to man. Thank goodness he writes that the Earth was created to be populated with heards of Buffalo and sheep rather than tigers! Yes, God’s care and kindness indeed!

v.7:24 – Ok…I always thought of Noah and the animals sitting in that stinky boat for 40 days. But it was actually 6 LONG stinky months. For 150 days the waters remained floading the earth–and then several weeks later after sending the dove out twice they finally got off the boat. Can you imagine SIX long months!

v.9:3 – Did you realize that in the beginning God instructed Adam and Eve to eat the plants but NOT the meat. BUT–here in verse 3 we get the go ahead to eat meat. It just has to be dead without lifeblood. I like my hamburgers well-done.

Chronicles reading—How about that description of Nimrod? Nimrod “grew to be a mighty warrior on earth”. So…the next time someone calls you a nimrod—don’t get your feelings hurt;)

Packing up Christmas:(

I’m in denial. I finally packed up Christmas. The real tree went to the curb on Christmas day making me look like a ba-hum-bug to my neighbors (I forgot to water it and it HAD to go!)…but it was very much still Christmas here with 4 artificial trees. 3 of them came down today. 1 left to go tomorrow. Because I’m in denial…here’s a picture pulled from our Christmas family time…

The YOUNG women…
IMG_8905 copy 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.

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Melissa - January 3, 2010 - 8:06 am

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!

Andrea - January 3, 2010 - 8:39 am

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;)

Amy @ Filled With Praise - January 3, 2010 - 10:06 am

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

Amber - January 3, 2010 - 10:57 am

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!

Heather - January 3, 2010 - 12:32 pm

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!

Charisa - January 3, 2010 - 1:34 pm

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!

julie johnston - January 3, 2010 - 2:44 pm

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!

Nikki - January 3, 2010 - 3:54 pm

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.

Megan - January 3, 2010 - 4:06 pm

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!!!

becky - January 3, 2010 - 4:44 pm

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!

admin - January 3, 2010 - 6:01 pm

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!

Lena - January 4, 2010 - 6:05 pm

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!

January 2nd

01.01.2010

Today’s Reading January 2nd – Genesis 4:1-5:32, 1 Chronicles 1:1-4, Genesis 6:1-22

– It didn’t take man very long to fall into even deeper sin did it? Sin is sin I know…but gosh–you have Adam and Eve…and they have 2 kids—and before you know it one murdered the other. WOW. Over what? Jealousy. This is the very first murder in the Bible. And you expect God to just take ole Cain out. But He extends His grace and mercy. And the Lord even puts a mark on Cain where no one will ever kill him. Doesn’t this make you wonder what the mark was?

– verse 17 – “Cain lays with his wife” This verse has always made me wonder. You have Adam and Eve. Then you have Cain and Abel. So…if that’s all there is…who did Cain marry? We know that Adam and Eve had other children–Seth being one of them. So, most likely Cain married either a sister or a niece. Bible commentaries say though that at this point the human race was still “genetically pure” so there was no fear of side effects from marrying relatives. Nice…but still—in our culture…seems so strange. BUT…I guess it was the beginning…and you just didn’t have many options. Still interesting to think on.

– The Arc – WOW…can you imagine a boat the size of one and a half football fields and as high as a four story building? I think the really cool part though is that God is the one that gave Noah these instructions and that modern shipbuilders STILL, STILL, STILL use the same ratio God gave Noah! 6x longer than it was wide. VERY COOL. How smart is our God?! If you have never seen the replica built of Noah’s Arc in the Netherlands, click here I think you will enjoy these pictures and your kids will too.

So far…so good—2 days into our reading…and I’m loving it! And I have some lots of really fun Christmas pictures to share to get me through cold January;). Have a great day!

Andrea

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Amy - January 2, 2010 - 12:54 am

Okay, seriously your family is too cute 🙂

Also, I honestly think you will have a referral by the end of March but maybe I am just being to optimistic about things moving quickly. I am still hoping we have our referral by the end of February but am prepared for it to take longer. We shall see! I am so excited to start seeing referrals again!!!

Amy @ Filled With Praise - January 2, 2010 - 7:09 am

Love the pictures! I will get back yo you on the readings.
Blessings,
Amy

Kim J - January 2, 2010 - 8:27 am

Happy New Year Andrea. Love the pictures, love the reading. I prayed this morning I would find my Bible as I stuck it somewhere in the mad dash to “clean up” for our Home Study interview. Found it! So very excited about 2010!

Ashley Scott - January 2, 2010 - 10:47 am

Hi Andrea, first of all, your pictures are amazing…and your kids are so cute!! On to commentary…I love to read lineage passages. Weird, maybe,but I have a good reason. I’m not the type of person who is really going to remember who was born to whom at what age, but I am always fascinated by the verses that are slightly different than the rest. In this case, vs. 21-24 – Enoch. Everyone else lived, had kids, and died. Enoch lived, walked with God, had kids, and then was taken to be with God. I hope my life stands out as one who “walked with God”.

Megan - January 2, 2010 - 11:43 am

As I’m reading chapter 4, Cain is talking about when “they” see me they will kill me, and he gets married…where are all these people suddenly coming from, I wonder? Did God create more people but Genesis just focused on the FIRST people he created? Did Eve give birth many times over and Cain married his sister? I don’t think I ever really thought about this before, because it’s hard to imagine the world before it was populated. Or like I said yesterday, nothingness before the world was created! Then it says that Cain founded a city? Was it populated, what defines a city at that time?
When God said He put a mark on Cain, it seems to me that its purpose was to protect him and not to shame him. Isn’t amazing how God protects us even before we seek to have a relationship with Him?
I’m also noticing how long people lived in that time. Adam lived another 800 after his third son was born! Do you think it would be a good or a bad thing to live that long?!? I picture people at even 90 years old today and how frail they are…it’s just incredible to think of the lifespan. Wow!
It seems random to me, but in chapter 5 it says that Enoch suddenly disappeared because God took him! He lived less than half the amount of time the previous men were listed…I wish I knew more of his story! The Bible says he had a close relationship with God…I just wonder why God took him, and why so “young” in comparison to the rest! It just seems funny to me that the Bible would mention that, but not explain…
In chapter 6 I found it hard to swallow the words that God regretted ever making people because of their wickedness. I guess the only way that I can relate to that is if Skyler grew up to be an awful person – a murderer, a thief, an adulterer…I can’t even imagine how horrid that would feel. Would I regret ever birthing him??? God must have been furious! But, no wonder it broke His heart!
Reading the dimensions of the Ark, it doesn’t even seem big enough to house two of every living creature on the earth and Noah’s entire family, does it??? I know it’s huge…I don’t know how huge…but that’s a lot of people/animals to fit in one boat!!! Or maybe that’s just me…but there are a LOT of animals on this planet. Do you think every animal that exists now existed then? Or do you think, for example, that birds bred with each other to make new wonderful birds…hmmmm. Not to mention, it never fails to amaze me the exact instructions God sent Noah! Does God still send exact instructions today? Are we just not listening carefully enough to hear them?

admin - January 2, 2010 - 12:22 pm

These are GREAT thoughts!!! I had many of the same thoughts—I, too, thought it was interesting how Enoch died…said the Lord took him…I wonder what that looked like. If it was an Elijah thing or what. Very thought provoking questions too Megan…hmmm…a city. I totally didn’t even think of that one. I guess it just looked different than how we would think. Great thoughts. Munching on these thoughts for the rest of the day. This is going to be a great year digging in the word with you all!!!

admin - January 2, 2010 - 12:24 pm

And on a side note—Amy (babydash) I would love to think of a referral coming by March…but they said to think May…so I like to “plan for the worst and hope for the best”…and for me…May is the best–that way, if it’s earlier I will be super excited instead of a wee bit disappointed:). But I could see it being earlier too when things really start moving again:)

Heather - January 2, 2010 - 1:18 pm

I was wondering the same as you this morning when I read the verses. Did Cain & the others marry their sisters or nieces? It does seem strange in our culture today, but I didn’t know what you said about the race still being “genetically pure.” That makes sense I guess! I also noticed (even though we haven’t gotten there yet) that people before the flood lived a lot longer than people after. Since God regretted making man, I wonder if that’s is a consequence…a shorter lifespan?

I was also amazed that Enoch walked with God. He’s the only one that He really talks about having a relationship with Him, except Noah having favor in His eyes. God took Enoch to be with Him, he didn’t really die a death like we would think. Can you imagine?

Well, it’s all good stuff & I’m so excited to be able to share with all of you & learn from you! Looking forward to lots more!

Oh, & your family is precious!

betsy - January 2, 2010 - 1:27 pm

Where did you find the dolls? I have been doing some online searching for a nice one. (:

admin - January 2, 2010 - 1:56 pm

Betsy—sadly, brown baby dolls are harder to find! I had the same problem finding a brown Santa. The doll Frank got and the one they are playing with in these pictures is a Molly P. Original. I bought mine on Overstock for $35. They are out now, but check back. I found the same one online for $70. I am not an American Girl fan–but I bought the Bitty Baby from a friend who bought one not knowing her mom had also bought one for her little girl. It is really cute and her eyes open and close. I think the bitty baby is probably a much better size for your little ones to play with. Just my 2 cents Betsy:) -Andrea

kristi j - January 2, 2010 - 6:02 pm

love the pics…ok, so where did you get those car things…I’ve never seen them before…too fun..my kids would love them…Our mini vacation is so nice…it’s good to get away..oh, i forgot one more weird thing that happened this week…i can’t believe i haven’t told you this one yet..i’ll call ya on my way home tomorrow while in the car…happy new year, kj

Megan - January 2, 2010 - 10:42 pm

Oh, and I got my son a black cabbage patch doll off of amazon.com for $17 this last summer…I haven’t checked to see if they are still available though!

Christie - January 9, 2010 - 10:47 am

Wow! I got so excited commenting on yesterday’s blog that I just realized that I didn’t even comment on the reading, per se. As mentioned in yesterday’s comments, I am just joining in. Today is the 9th and I just started reading last night. Thankfully I stopped on Jan 3rd reading because I didn’t want to breeze through it. I let it marinate for a while 🙂 Yes, Andrea, I also thought to myself, “wow, it didn’t take long for all this drama to occur!” The sin, jealousy, murder. Wow, and I’m just in the first few chapters. This reading is shaping up to redefine my definition of action, drama, comedy & mystery. I’m sooo excited! But back to the reading commentary 🙂 I immediately wondered what the mark was that God put on Cain. Was this a physical mark or a spiritual mark. Does that make sense? Then as you mentioned, where did Cain’s wife come from? Thanks for the “genetically pure” note, as I never even thought about that. Wow, this is WAY better than trying to understand it on my own. It really IS a Bible “study”. I felt worn out by the time I finished with the men and their sons and their sons, whew! I did remember that Enoch walked with God and lived 365 years until God took him. I wondered why but couldn’t help but notice that Enoch’s son was Methuselah. Might I mention that I smiled when I read that he lived 969 yrs?!?!? Now I know where the term “old as Methuselah” comes from 🙂 So I thought…maybe God took years from Enoch to give to Methuselah who in return gave him Noah. I know it wasn’t THAT many years, since Enoch only lived somewhere between 1/2 to 1/3 less than the others. Is this a stretch? I tried to just read and not try to over-think it but I just couldn’t help but wonder about Enoch. What made God TAKE him? I long to be “taken” by Him as opposed to just “dying”. Shouldn’t we all?

365 Days to a beautiful year…today is your first!

12.31.2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

On a really fun and must have note—I have a friend making dresses and bows to help fund their adoption! If you have a girly, have a niece, or you just want to help a family with their adoption–will you pretty please with ice cream on top…and a cheery—head over right now to her adorable site and get a dress, 2 or 3 for a little love in your life?! You can tell your hubby that it’s going toward an adoption—the dresses are custom made and you get to pick our your fabric and everything!!! Julie is also doing our read through the Bible this year…and I’d love to help her start her year off with a handful of orders to help her! And when you get your dress, love your dress and want more—you can find her link under my “mommying” tab on my home page. Check out her goods here: http://flitterbugs.blogspot.com

For those of you bravely joining in the commitment to read through the BIBLE in 2010…today—is our first read! January 1 – Genesis 1:1-3:24. To print off the entire year reading plan, please see the previous post.

And for those of you who haven’t read yet—oh my word…talk about some MEAT…some seriously good stuff…to start our year off with! These 3 short chapters are full of theology, explanation of why we are the way we are and amazement of God’s creativeness. Creation is one of the essential truths of the Christian faith. In these 3 chapters, non-believers will argue and deny almost every verse written. I mean, seriously–who wrote Genesis anyway? I mean…who was around to document the part before man was created? (See–you follow along with me this year in this chronological read through…and I’m gonna make ya think;) Well, lemme tell ya–some say Moses wrote it–we know as believers we believe the Word is God breathed. But who actually wrote it? Scholars argue the answer. The more important matter to me–is WHO believed and trusted it? Jesus did. In Matthew it is written: And he [Jesus] answered and said unto them, “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Matthew 19:4-6 (KJV) Maybe it was Moses–maybe not–Moses never claims authorship. BUT most likely it was a writer during that time. And can you imagine God laying that story on your heart and mind and telling you to write that?! For real—I would have been doing some double takes nailing those words on a tablet! Ok Lord—if you say so! Regardless who wrote it though, Jesus gives Genesis credit! And I believe in Jesus! I believe Jesus on this one. And that is enough for me. YET…it’s a great question and it might be fun for you to bring up just to make your spouse think;).

Back to Genesis. These 3 chapters…the first reading for our year…will rock your world when you really think about them. In just 3 chapters, you have CREATION…and as if that isn’t enough…you also have the first mention of the Trinity…unity of man and woman—the miracle of becoming one flesh…instructions to be fruitful and multiply…temptation…the beginning of sin…the curse of man, women and Satan…and being thrown out of the garden. WOW…told you we have some meat in the first day of our reading! SO…dig on in—rejoice in our Creator…His grandness and power!

Here are just a few things that stuck out to me in a new way…

Genesis 1:1-2 – If the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters—yet there wasn’t an Earth, there was no land—there was no sky even…just waters and the Spirit of the Lord was hovering over the waters…what does that look like to you? What do you imagine the grandness of that to look like? HOW GRAND IS OUR GOD?

Genesis 1:26 – I love that God uses the word US here. He makes it a point in the very beginning that He is not alone in Creation. In the beginning was God—the Trinity.

Genesis 2:4 – Before verse 2:4, we only see God’s name as God. In verse 2:4, we are given another name of God – LORD. LORD with all caps translates to “Jehovah”. SO…any time you see LORD in all caps as we read through this year–remember it means Jehovah. Jehovah is often refered to as “God as Creator”. Jehovah is that name of God, which denotes that he alone has his being of himself, and that he gives being to all creatures and things (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary). Don’t you wish you spoke and understood Hebrew? I sure wish I did! Everything seems to have such deeper meaning when you dig into the Hebrew meaning doesn’t it?!

Genesis 3:16 – I thought it was interesting in the KJV how the curse of sorrow is seperated here—almost like women have a curse of sorrow AND pain in childbearing: Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Hmmm…is that why we are more emotional than men? WAAAAA! I’ll admit, I sure can be a roller coaster while my husband is so even keel! UGH. To think we could have lived a life without the curse of sorrow. Man, do I need Jesus all the more if I’m now created…preprogrammed this way!!!

And as for the pain in child-bearing…I am so thankful for epidurals—that’s my 2 cents on that one–YET…there was definite pain in recovery…and I definitely felt the curse of Eve in that one.

OK–don’t expect full commentaries on all our readings this year;). I’ll be doing good if I just post the reading each day! YET…I am SOOOO thankful for you sweet friends keeping me accountable! I am so excited to dig deeper in His word this year! 365 days of knowing HIM…our Creator…our Jehovah…the Trinity…more intimately. Oh how we need Him. The serpant saw Adam and Eve in communion with God and couldn’t stand it. Temptation came and they gave in. Let us hold TIGHT to the LORD and HIS WORD this year. The Lord is going to do great things this year—but procrastination, tiredness, busy lifestyles will all try to keep us from our commitments…I pray this year I can put the LORD and knowing Him FIRST. Let my house be dirtier if it means knowing Him more. I might not look perfect to the world–but the only One who really sees us…all of us…is the Lord–our Creator. The world will tell us we need to do things that the Lord would not…so let us aim to hear the Lord over the world this year. Speak to us Lord this year. Change our hearts. And let your glory be revealed.

I would LOVE to hear from you…your thoughts and even your prayers for 2010!

XOXO!

Andrea

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julie johnston - January 1, 2010 - 7:12 am

Thank you. thank you Andrea 🙂 Oh, and tomorrow I am adding new patterns and some boys designs 🙂 Really excited about today’s reading!

Asher Collie - January 1, 2010 - 11:32 am

Yes! I am in with you! What a great idea to use your blog to spur others on in this area!

Megan - January 1, 2010 - 11:48 am

Thank you for your insight! You are an inspiration! Here’s to a word-filled 2010!!!

Andrea - January 1, 2010 - 12:49 pm

Julie–I’ve heard from some friends that they have already purchased some this morning! YAY! Can’t wait to see the boy designs too:).

So excited to walk through the Bible in 2010 with you all!!!!

Andi O'Bryan - January 1, 2010 - 6:59 pm

I love reading your blog and I LOVE the idea of reading the Bible in a year. I’ve been wanting to do this for awhile, and this is just the little push (and accountability!) I needed! Thanks for doing this, Andrea!

Nikki - January 1, 2010 - 7:39 pm

Day 1: Done! 🙂

Amy @ Filled With Praise - January 1, 2010 - 8:45 pm

First, thank you for the dresses link…I will check it out. You know how I love to help adoptive families.

Secondly, the kids and I read this first reading together. It is amazing absolutely amazing to think of total nothingness…then God begins his creations. Not only does he start creating…the earth, but every single detail about it too…not only does he create each animal, but he gives them complex systems of digestion, circulation, reproduction…THEN he creates man. Do you know how complex we are, yet to God so simple. I LOVE IT! I also love that he knew all along our need for Jesus…Oh how I need Jesus.

Blessings,
Amy

Andrea - January 1, 2010 - 9:34 pm

That is so good Amy! SO AMAZING! And wow…tomorrow’s reading—even more eye-opening how I need Jesus! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts about tomorrow’s reading!!!

Ashley Scott - January 1, 2010 - 9:38 pm

Hi Andrea! Thanks for starting this…I’m totally in! It has been so fun to “get to know you” and a few other adopting moms through your wonderful blogs. I feel like we’re friends…though you don’t know me! The Lord is finally giving me the confirmation on getting back into blogging. Our adoption story is going to be an interesting one…and a long one. But God is so good and has been so faithful. I look forward to documenting just how GREAT He is through this process.
Again, thank you for the Bible reading challenge. I look forward to how the Lord will bless us, teach us, and move us this year!
Happy New Year!!
Ashley

Heather - January 1, 2010 - 10:05 pm

These passages were filled with so much! I caught the “Us” in Genesis 1:26 too! They have always been. Another thing (out of so many) that I found very interesting is that Adam & Eve had a very personal relationship with God. Because it says that after they sinned they hid themselves, and God came to walk with them in the Garden of Eden. He actually was there in every sense. That’s one of the things we suffer due to the sin. Anyway, there’s so much there it’s hard to pick just a couple of things! Blessings!

Megan - January 2, 2010 - 2:32 am

I’m ashamed to say, it’s been a while since I’ve read about the creation! On the plus side, it made some things stand out to me in a whole new way!
For starters, in the first couple verses it talks about the spirit hovering over the surface of nothingness that would be the earth! Wow! Just trying to envision that over here! And from an artistic standpoint, imagine what joy it must have brought God to create every animal! I think of Planet Earth (since we own every DVD)…think of all the birds or all the undersea creatures! Wow! It used to be when I read this I would think about all the animals here, in Washington. That’s a lot! But now I am thinking of Africa, and all the beautiful creatures that roam the land there! I think about how their beauty inspires the décor in my own home – so really GOD inspires the décor in my home! Wow!
Another thing that stood out to me is that from the moment God informed Adam and Eve that they had sinned, he was already designating their roles as husband and wife. Eve will have the babies (yes, painfully) and Adam will work to provide a living (and no, it won’t be fun). We are paying the consequences for their actions. Although I’m sure any of us would have done the same, being born sinners and all.
And then I can’t help but think, every time I read this, what if Eve had never taken a bite?!? What would it be like to live in this world, never even realizing we were naked! I think, how embarrassing! All my cellulite and weight gain for the world to see! But, if we didn’t know we were naked, would we never be self-conscious?!?! Hmmm….something to think about!
And I just gotta say – did you notice that Adam was, in a sense, incomplete until God made Eve? I tell you ladies, they need us! =) Sorry, but I can’t be completely serious! It’s just not me! =)

—-I’m blogging about it to (this is straight out of mine) and linking back to your page! You are welcome to check it out if you would like, but it is a private sight so you would have to sign up with your email and create a password. http://www.rossientertainment.net

Thanks again for doing this!

Christie - January 9, 2010 - 9:59 am

Hi everyone. I have made the commitment with you guys to do the reading, I just joined a little late. I used to would shamefully admit this but my life has changed lately and now I’m letting Him lead me. I have never even read a whole chapter in the Bible but I won’t let that keep me afraid, nor will I be ashamed as I join your group. In the last couple of days as I prayed for understanding as I opened my Bible, I also couldn’t help but feel bad for not doing it sooner. I kept singing the song I learned as a kid…”in His time. In His time. He makes all things beautiful, in His time”! Wow! You can imagine the weight taken off my heart as I read the first sentences. He really DID make all the things beautiful, and it WAS “in His time”. Oh, guys, I’m soooo excited for what the future holds for me and I can’t wait to share my daily thoughts on the reading. Since I just started last night and only got through Genesis 10 (just through Jan 3rd’s reading), I have a lot of catching up to do. I had planned to do all of that last night. I mean, how HARD could it be? I had no idea. I found my self re-reading and soaking up every word!!

Expecting and waiting for 2010!

12.30.2009

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.

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kristi johnson - December 30, 2009 - 11:00 am

awesome post my friend!! that is a FABULOUS new born shot!! The wait was easy for me UNTIL I got to the #1 spot..and there I sat FOREVER!! I lost all patience and thought I’d throw up every day…THEN…losing referral was HARD…then waiting the 3 extra weeks to get LLM’s referral was EXCRUCIATING!! (sp?) THEN, it was hard all the way up until I boarded the plane…then I could deep breathe and finally relax…crazy, but yes, so worth it 🙂 kj

Andrea - December 30, 2009 - 11:27 am

Kristi–honestly, the Lord continues to use those of YOU who have traveled this road before to REMIND me how HIS plan and wait is WORTH it! Seeing those chubby cheeks and BIG happy smile on LLM’s face…SO WORTH THE WAIT. I love how God brings others in our lives at the perfect time to remind us…and He has been using you in my life during this journey and others who have traveled this road to remind me of His perfect plan…so I wait with joy:)…most of the time;)

Amy @ Filled With Praise - December 30, 2009 - 12:04 pm

Thank you for sharing your heart. Your story is much like our story with Ryann. I posted it a couple of few weeks ago. I think that God has been aligning our lives to make this journey together and we will forever be friends.
Blessings,
Amy

Andrea - December 30, 2009 - 4:11 pm

I agree sweet Amy! So funny how similar our stories are…and even crazier that we are right beside one another in line! And even crazier that our family lives in Columbia, TN…so getting our babies together during special holidays and visits will be so much fun!!! I remember reading your story of Ryann a few weeks ago and smiling that it reminded me of ours!!! XOXO!

Pam - December 30, 2009 - 8:35 pm

Well, I wasn’t on an adoption waiting list, but the month it took after our in-vitro was the LONGEST one of my life. When we found out that not even one of our 4 babies (embryos) made was probably one of the hardest things I have ever dealt with. Talk about crying, I was a basket case for quite a while. But thankfully, we serve an on-time God who knew there was going to be a sweet lady who was pregnant and couldn’t raise her baby. Had even one of the 4 babies survived, I wouldn’t have my Sam and my life wouldn’t be anywhere as wonderful as it is with him in it. God already knows your baby and the exact time He will give him/her to you. I too am not a patient person, but God’s timing is perfect and He is smiling at you right now even through your tears and impatience. Know that I love you and cannot wait to meet baby #4!!!!!

admin - December 31, 2009 - 7:17 am

Pam–thank you so much for your words of encouragement!!! I think of Mr.Sam ALL THE TIME…and what a MIRACLE he is!!! I love seeing pictures of your sweet family and how full of JOY you ALL are…so complete! The Lord has done great things for you!!! I am so thankful to be a part of your story and to have you a part of mine! Love you sweet cousin!

julie johnston - December 31, 2009 - 7:32 pm

I am so in for the Bible reading! Really excited about this! Oh, and that is by far the cutest announcment ever :)Could just eat him up!
The past few weeks have been terrible hard with frustration and waiting…. we are trying to come up with our AGCI fees to move onto the dossier….needless to say, we anticipated the first part of the adoption costs to come in quickly. It has been discouraging, to say the least. Today, I almost hit despair….how will we ever get to 22K when we can’t even come up with agency fees? I so covet your prayers! I know our precious peanut in ET belongs to the Lord, but I want Him to bring here home NOW, on my time, not His! O, for a steadfast, trusting heart!

Jenny - January 2, 2010 - 1:46 pm

I don’t think I’ve commented to tell you I’m reading with ya:) I have a few fbook friends reading with us, too!