Giving Thanks

This year I gained a few more things to be thankful for...
~I am thankful for this call that God has put on our hearts and what it means for the future.
~I am thankful for our family and friends that are supporting us and cheering us on as we navigate this adoption process.
~I am thankful for Stephanie, our wonderful social worker, who is a voice of wisdom and reason.
~I am thankful for all the ways that God has provided and for all the ways that he is going to provide.
~I am thankful for the sweet baby that is in my heart; I can't wait to meet her!

"O, Lord that lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness." Shakespeare

Hearts that are Captured by a Higher Calling

On Veteran's Day, I was in Chicago for a conference. As we walked downtown, I saw a group of soldiers walking and smiled to myself as someone called out a "thank you" to them, and everyone started cheering. It is amazing to me that these soldiers are aware of the thousands before them that paid for our freedom with their lives, yet they still enlist to serve their country. They are giving all they have for a cause greater than themselves; their hearts are captured by a higher calling.


Tomorrow is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. In countries around the world, believers face violence, imprisonment, and death because of their faith. Yet, they still believe. They do not wait for conditions in their countries to improve for them to serve the Lord; their hearts are captured by a higher calling.

"O use me, Lord, use even me, Just as thou wilt, and when and where..." -Frances Havergal

Orphan Sunday

The first Sunday in November is Orphan Sunday.  There are an estimated 147 million orphans worldwide.  If you're like me, that number is hard to wrap your mind around, but we can't let that number discourage us from being the hands and feet of Jesus.  Let's keep our hearts open to opportunities for us to show God's love to a child in need.

"Seek justice; encourage the oppressed; defend the cause of the fatherless; plead the cause of the widow."
Isaiah 1:17

God Already Knows

Yesterday we had our 3rd home study visit, and we were filling out the paperwork that goes along with that.  One of the forms requires you to put the child's name that you're adopting, and it says write "child unknown" if you don't have a referral yet.  I wrote "child unknown."  If I could go back in time and change what I wrote I would write "child known only to God at this time" because that is the truth that God showed me this morning.  Although Jeremy and I don't know yet who our child will be, God knows.  And that realization gives me peace.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb; I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."  Psalms 139:13-14